Gorman Theatre
29 Kendall Street,
Framingham,
MA
01702
29 Kendall Street,
Framingham,
MA
01702
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Ron, I think that’s because Concord St (main thoroughfare downtown) was to the right about a block, and to the left down Kendall St. there are only some houses. Funny how it only took me 2 years to notice the comment. Time flies.
One thing interesting about the old b&w photo of the Gorman posted above is that the marquee only displays down the sidewalk to the right and not in the other direction. Odd! I have encountered this oddity at just one other theater here in MA.
Sorry but I must eat crow because after further research I have discovered that GCC was in existence from 1935-2002. I apologize.
I do not think that the Gorman was purchased by GCC in 1947. They were not in existance till the early 50’s when they opened the first Cinemas at AShoppers World. Richard Smith the Pres. of GCC was manager of the Scituate Playhouse in Scituate in 1947 to at least 1951-52. That was a Lockwood Gordon theatre. I may be wrong but I don’t think so.
According to his listing in the AIA’s American Architects Directory, the architect for the 1947-1948 renovation of the Gorman Theatre was Harry J. Korslund, of Norwood, Massachusetts.
I saw wait until dark here.By this time it was in real bad shape.I can remember huge holes in the seats sticky floors.I am not sure when it was torn down but i am sure it was not long after i was there.
A Sanborn map from 1922 lists 850 seats with 2 balconys. The building was modernized in 1948.
As “Gorman’s” this theater is listed in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook as having 1800 seats and open 6 days per week. The seat count is too high.
To dwodeyla: Your photo is different and much better- clearer, sharper and showing much more. The MGM photo has the cornice above “1902” at the top; the large poster case on the left edge; the other large poster case on the right edge, and the gutter and sidewalk at the bottom. The marquee is the same. There is even a similar black sedan parked in front of the right poster case. The arrangement of photos in that case are different. The MGM photo was taken probably about the same time-frame as your photo. The MGM photographer was standing at the same place as your photographer only he moved closer to the building.
Ron, if you check my photo in this link, http://natickmass.info/Gorman.htm is it the same as your photo? I’ve been searching for a view that shows the marquee, with no luck yet. My email is
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Gorman includes a photo of the entrance made in 1941. The year “1902” appears above the marquee and it is very vintage in appearance. Because my copy of the photo is a washed-out Xerox, it’s not possible to read the attractions. The Report states that the Gorman has beeen a MGM customer for over 10 years, that the theatre is in Good condition; and the seating is: main floor- 406, balcony- 379, total: 785. The population in Framingham in 1940 was 23,200 and the competing theatres for the Gorman are the Hollis and St. George theaters.
Sorry, the Film Daily may have a spelling error. The name of the town is Framingham. The link to the web page is http://natickmass.info/Gorman.htm
The link has changed. It’s a part of http://natickmass.info/
http://www.natickmass.info/chapter2.html is a link to a history of the Gorman, written in 1970 by Virginia Lucier for the Framingham News.