Hyde Park Theatre
1254 Hyde Park Avenue,
Boston,
MA
02136
1254 Hyde Park Avenue,
Boston,
MA
02136
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The Hyde Park Theatre was a popular old neighborhood movie theatre in the Hyde Park section of Boston. Further information welcomed.
Contributed by
Ron Salters
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
The Hyde Park Theatre is listed in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook as having 800 seats and open 7 days per week. In the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac it is listed twice- under M&P Theatres and also under Marget Theatres. The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Hyde Park Theatre has an exterior photo dated April 1941. The theatre had a grand facade like a Greek temple. There was a big rectangular marquee with “Hyde Park” in big letters at the top. Attractions posted in white letters on a black background are “Play Girl” and “The Legion of the Lawless”. The Report states that the theatre is at 1254 Hyde Park Ave., that it has been playing MGM films for over 10 years; that it’s over 15 years old, is in Fair condition, and has 521 seats on the main floor and 215 balcony seats, total: 736 seats.
Here is an undated photo. Sorry about the quality. The photo caption says Hyde Park, MA, but given the description above I believe it’s the same theater:
http://tinyurl.com/2gwgcc
In ken mc’s old photo, the theatre and the building to the left are the same as in the 1941 MGM photo. By 1941, there was a rectangular marquee on the front of the theatre.
I too have a copy of the MGM Theare Report. When and why did it close? Why did the Fairmount survive? I first moved to Hyde Park in 1965. To my knowledge the Hyde Park Theatre was already gone. As of today all that’s left is an alley way.
In a 1918 Boston street directory, the Hyde Park Theatre is listed at 1256 Hyde Park Avenue, at Cleary Square.
Where was the Waverly Opera House in Hyde Park? I have seen it referenced in the old Julius Cahn theatrical guides. The 1906-07 edition says that it was on the second floor, had 900 seats and a stage 24 feet deep with a proscenium opening 30 feet square. There are no street addresses in the Cahn guides, unfortunately. Was the Waverly the same as French’s Opera House where the Riverside Theatre Works is today??
In 1912 there was a Waverly Hall at 1231-1243 River street – that’s a short way from Hyde Park ave.