Methuen Theatre

13 Pelham Street,
Methuen, MA 01844

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Additional Info

Previous Names: Century Theatre

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Methuen Theatre

The Methuen Theatre was the only picture show years ago in Methuen, a far suburb to the north of Boston. It was operated in the 1940’s by Graphic Theatres of Boston. Further information welcomed.

Contributed by Ron Salters

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on February 11, 2007 at 7:33 am

The Methuen Theatre was included in the MGM Theatre Photograph and Report project. The form has an exterior photo dated April 1941. The theatre was a 2-story free-standing building with a center entrance and a store on each side. There is a small, rectangular marquee posted above which is a sign which says “Get Rich Nite”. At the top center of the facade is a fancy emblem but the photo quality is too poor to read what is inscribed there. The Report states that the theatre is at 13 Pelham St., that it has been showing MGM films for over 10 years; that it’s over 10 years old and in Good condition, and has 600 seats. Someone crossed that figure out and wrote in “711” seats. There were no competing theatres in Methuen and the 1940 population there was 21,800. The Methuen Theatre is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as being part of Graphic Theatres of Boston.

hanksykes
hanksykes on February 11, 2007 at 9:10 am

Thanks for the great info Ron, was this theater one of Louis Mayers eUntil soon,hankarly houses? After all he did start in this New England area!

hanksykes
hanksykes on February 11, 2007 at 9:12 am

Try again ,Was this one of Louis Mayer’s early houses?

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on February 12, 2007 at 7:35 am

Hank- I don’t know anything about the Methuen Th. other than what’s in the MGM Report.

jamesvroy@hotmail.com
jamesvroy@hotmail.com on March 22, 2010 at 12:50 pm

According to Images of America: Methuen, Massachusetts:
“The Century Movie House or Methuen Movie House was located in Railroad Square across Pelham Street from the First United Methodist Church. Built about 1918, it could seat around 250-300 people. The Dead End Kids appeared there in the 1930s. The basement contained a bowling alley. The second floor was used by many different community groups. In the 1930s, the Methuen Brownie Club used the second floor as a meeting place. The Brownie Club was a social organization known for the minstrel shows they produced and held in the Central School auditorium. The Brownies also fielded several neighborhood sports teams. In the 1940s, the Civil Defense, Draft Board and Police School, among others, used the second floor for their meetings. The theater was torn down to create an entrance to the Massachusetts Electric Power Station.”

http://www.pbase.com/image/122956419

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on November 22, 2010 at 10:53 am

As the Century, this theater is listed in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook as having 400 seats, open daily.

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