Holiday Cinema
756 Broad Street,
Central Falls,
RI
02863
756 Broad Street,
Central Falls,
RI
02863
4 people
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To M_R_G: I found and posted in the photo section a scan of a movie ad for the Lafayette from July 1950 of “The Big Hangover” with “Angels with Dirty Faces.”
Saw a James Cagney double feature with my late father there in its 1950s “Lafayette” days. One was “Angels with Dirty Faces” which made me a lifelong James Cagney fan. Later on, all grown up, I was proud and delighted to have worked with him and co-star Pat O'Brien in their final film appearance, “Ragtime.” I still review “Angels with Dirty Faces” which I bought on DVD years ago.
I went to many weekend matinee shows at the Lafayette as a young boy in the 1960’s, and saw the classic Disney films at evening shows. My mother grew up on Ledge St, where her parents lived in the same building as the Rocheleau family. (Ledge St, is the adjacent side street in the photo showing the place as a church). I helped with odd chores as a way to earn a free pass into shows at the Holiday Cinema. The projection booth is the small, square brick room seen above the front marquee. The fire escape hanging over the Ledge St. sidewalk is at the side of a small (rarely used) balcony in front of the projection room. I recall the large projectors that always needed the carbon arc rods changed (projector light was blinding because it used rods similar to welding rods for cutting metal), and the way a projectionist needed to watch from the small window for the cue markers in the corner of the screen which signaled to swap between the two projectors. The leader for the cue on some 2nd run and older films sometimes got damaged, so film studios tried making projector swap coincide with ‘fade-in/out’ to avoid cutting a chunk of action or dialogue.
When I was a little girl I used to walk by that theatre everyday on my way to Notre Dame elementary. I remember the Jaws poster being in the display and begging my mom and dad to take me. I used to love the big drama masks and the black and white pictures of the movie stars on the walls. They don’t make theatres like they used too.
This was one of the few (if not only) cinemas to show the controversial SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT in Rhode Island.
Lafayette becomes Holiday in 1967, Boxoffice magazine piece, August 28, 1967:
Central Falls Lafayette Open Under New Lessees
CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. —– The former Lafayette, under the new name of Holiday Cinema, was reopened Saturday (12) by Andre Papineau and Donald Rocheleau, newcomers to motion picture exhibition.
Papineau and Rocheleau installed a new marquee, remodeled and redecorated the interior and carried out needed repair jobs prior to reopening the theatre with “Hotel.” They wil play second run, seven days after Providence. Gerry Goven will continue to book for the theatre.
Item in Boxoffice magazine, October 9, 1954:
“Melvin Safner of the Safner circuit has taken over the Bellevue Theatre, Central Falls, R.I. on a long term lease. This theatre has been operated for many years by the late Phil Marget and now makes the second house in that city to be operated by the Safners, who have the Lafayette Theatre there.”
Roland, in that photo the theatre marquee says C.Scope (CinemaScope), Interrupted Melody, Glenn Ford, and Run for Cover, James Cagney. Those films came out in the spring of 1955. So this may be a bit later in 1955, perhaps summer.
KenRoe, thank you for guidance. I’ve not been that active lately and I guess I forgot my way!
Roland L; Cinema Treasures policy is usually to name the theatre by its most recent, or last name, with an aka above, which can also be searched on the site. Thanks for your input, and the above photo is much appreciated.
I don’t know why, but Cinematreasures won’t let me add a Lafayette Theater to the list.
So, here’s a photo from the 50’s of the Lafayette. I know it is from then because my father took it.
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Michael, Do you have a sister named Susan? Did your dad deliver pies and bread? Was he a den leader for the cub scouts? I too went to Notre Dame Elementary and CF High in the 60’s and 70’s. Looks like you have an awesome job. Write back if you’re still checking out this site.
On January 10, 1965 a newspaper ad for the Lafayette announced, without giving a specific title, a “new Portuguese feature film.” The only other theatre in R.I. I know of for sure as showing occasional Portuguese-language films for the ethnic audience was the Hollywood in East Providence.
Also saw Greased Lightning with Superman here on July 2, 1979.
I went to an Italian-horror double bill here on September 15, 1976. The films were Deep Red (Dario Argento) and The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave (Emilio Miraglia). The genre is not my cup of tea and I don’t think I really enjoyed it.
Nope, no Kurt in my family. I am the oldest of 5 kids, went to Notre Dame Elementary and HS till it closed in 1977. I went to school with two folks with your last name (David and Michael, both of CF, both of whom would be in the early to mid 40’s now). My father met my mother when he had a job at the Bowlaway as a pinsetter.
The Ritz is a true gem, and I’m lucky to be here. We still use the pair of 1940’s carbon arc projectors, though we don’t show film too often anymore with the new super-mega-giantplex in town. I do have to edit the comments on The Ritz.
Thanks for your reply!
Michael
If you are interested in old R.I. theatres, check out the Paramount and Colonial in Newport on this site. Their exteriors still exist and I just photographed them after believing that they had been completely demolished.
MSStrong, your grandfather owned Bill’s Bowlaway!?! OMG, I spent a great deal of time on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. I remember you could get three strings for a dollar!!
I miss the Holiday Cinema and particularly when it was the Lafayette.
I am going to assume something on my part, but do you have a brother name Kurt? No need to say more than yes/no..
Gerald gives an awful lot of dedication and time to this particular website and I appreciate all that he has contributed.
I just got started! Congratulations on your appointment to the Ritz in Ohio!! Must seem like a dream come true. I envy you.
Have you given any comments about the Ritz on this website or if the theater entry doesn’t exist, why not start one going?
Dear Gerald and Roland,
Thank you for your comments and research on the theatre’s of Pawtucket and Central Falls. I grew up on Clay Street in the 60’s and 70’s and remember many fond trips to the Holiday Cinema, the Leroy, Darlton…My last trip to the Leroy was to have seen Jethro Tull, but the performance was cancelled. My mother still lives in CF and I get back there at least once a year. My grandfather used to own Bill’s Bowlaway, which is now the Credit Union Central Falls parking lot. It’s sad to see what has happened to my hometown, and I can’t drive down Broad Street without feeling melancholy
Even as a kid, I always hoped to have the money to buy the Leroy or the Holiday with a friend of mine from Cross St and save it. I guess that stuck with me…as I am now the director of The Ritz Theatre in Tiffin, OH, a restored 1928 movie palace. If you ever find yourself in Ohio stop on by and see what can happen to a theatre when people care.
I’m from Johnston and managed to get to the Lafayette/Holiday only a few times over the years, but I liked it, and have a great findness for all “village cinemas.” Here is a relatively recent photo I took:
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I was born, bred and raised in Central Falls and it aches my heart to see this theater closed. It was very plain, I mean, the interior was your basic screen, stage and sticky floors!!
I frequented this theater just about every weekend when it was the Lafayette. I laughed about the ticketing and concession booth. The ticket window was to the right and the concession stand was to the left. Sometimes, the same person did both jobs!! I recall a very elderly lady working there at the concession booth and would go about with a flashlight making sure all the teenagers were behaving during the movie.
I also recall that they use to raffle off dogs and silver dollars as a means to get people to come to their Saturday and Sunday matinees and not stroll down to the Leroy in Pawtucket or the Strand.
I miss the Lafayette Theater.