Lee Theatre

101 Main Street,
Lee, MA 01238

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Additional Info

Firms: J.P. Hampson Co.

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Lee Theatre

Lee is a beautiful little town in the Berkshires that retains much of its classic charm. One must pass through it on the way to Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, after leaving the Massachusetts Turnpike at exit 9 and following Route 20. References are made elsewhere to the existence of this village theatre at one time.

The Lee Theatre was opened in April 1940 and was still open in 1964.

Contributed by Gerald A. DeLuca

Recent comments (view all 12 comments)

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on March 15, 2006 at 11:11 am

The library is on the right heading north toward Lenox. I believe the theatre was on the left, judging by its street number. I never saw the actual theatre. So this is guesswork.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on November 20, 2006 at 8:32 am

There is a MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Lee Theatre in Lee, MA. It has a very poor quality facade photo taken in April 1941. There was a small triangular marquee with the theatre name on top and 2 lines for attractions. Movie playing is “Western Union”. The Report states that the Lee has been a MGM customer for “15 years”, but then says it was built in 1940. (This is typical of the careless info which sometimes appears in these reports.) The date built is 1940. The condition is “New – Good”. The seating is 520, all on one floor. The type of patronage is listed as “Rural & Summer trade”. There is a further note, “New theatre built from former Town Hall.” The address is simply “Main Street”. The 1940 population of Lee is given as 4,222.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on November 29, 2006 at 4:09 pm

On 1/16/56, the Lee was showing a double feature, “The Big Knife” and “The Whitetail Buck” (Thrills of the Deer Trails!).

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on November 22, 2010 at 10:44 am

There is one film venue listed under Lee MA in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook, the Memorial Theatre (or Memorial Hall), with 300 seats.

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on October 6, 2013 at 3:28 pm

The theatre was across from the library. It was demolished. It was wider than the apartment building that is now there,

Joseph Fitzpatrick
Joseph Fitzpatrick on December 29, 2013 at 4:32 pm

I lived in Lee during the 50’s. Went there just about every week. One screen only. Capacity was about 500 people. For a small movie house we had a lot of first run movies. I remember they put in a wide screen. Wide is nothing compared to today. My Buddie and I were walking by and the owner ask us if we would like to come in and review the new screen. Which we did. The Movie was The War Of The Worlds with Gene Barry. We thought it was the greatest thing since slice bread. I was like 13 or 14 at the time. I think the owners last name was Sierra, not sure but close.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on May 30, 2015 at 3:19 pm

Anyone know what year the Lee was demolished? I used to go by there every year on the way to Tanglewood Music Center beginning in 1962.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on August 8, 2015 at 1:57 am

A photo of the rather restrained auditorium of the Lee Theatre illustrates an ad for the Celotex Corporation on this page of the May 31, 1941, issue of Motion Picture Herald The caption says that the Lee Theatre was designed by a Pittsfield, Massachusetts, architectural firm, the J. P. Hampson Co.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on August 9, 2023 at 7:14 pm

Boxoffice, July 27, 1964: “Ned Cristiano has relighted Lee Theatre at Lee, Mass., which is owned by his aunt Elizabeth Sarra. He operated the 400-seat house (with murals in the lobby, French provincial paintings and fine carpets) for a time before 1959.”

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on March 1, 2024 at 8:15 am

Boxoffice, May 4, 1940: “Elizabeth Formento, operator of the Park, has opened her new Lee Theatre.”

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