Larcom Theatre

The Fine Arts was my first job as a projectionist in the early 70s. X-rated stuff then. I went there when I was a kid when it was a regular double-feature movie house. Saw kid shows like Forbidden Planet with Popeye cartoons, even a serial chapter. The porn came later. It was never twinned. They didn’t worry about being raided. You could stand in front of the place and look up Wallis St. and see the Police Station. I believe the Magic group removed the old projection equipment. I went into a storage room under the booth one night and found dozens of film cans with decomposing nitrate film trailers that had been there for decades. I’m sure that was cleaned up with the restoration.

The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Larcom Theatre. Exterior photo taken in May 1941 on Wallis Street. It says that the theater is in Good condition and has been playing MGM product for over 10 years. 435 orchestra seats and 309 balcony seats; total: 744 seats. Competing theaters are the Ware Theatre and the Strand Theatre.

In the 1970’s when it was the “Fine Arts” they used to play some pretty good XXX rated movies in there. It was in a perfect spot for adult entertainment because it was fairly hidden on a side street off the downtown area. They occasionally snuck in some really hard core porn but not too often because they were afraid of being raided by the police. I was there a few times and the theater was always packed. Have to admit, it was very well maintained and always kept in great shape for a porn theater. I havn’t been there since it changed back to its original name and returned to stage entertainment.

The architect of the Larcom Theatre was George Swan. Opening night was October 28, 1912 with the film “Count of Monte Cristo” plus a concert on stage.