Paris Cinema
68 Franklin Street,
Worcester,
MA
01608
68 Franklin Street,
Worcester,
MA
01608
10 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Architects: Roger Garland
Styles: Atmospheric, Spanish Renaissance
Previous Names: Capitol Theatre, Paric Cinema 1 & 2, Coupes Theatre & Adonis Film, Adult Penthouse
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Apr 28, 2012 — Paris Cinema sign in Worcester to be auctioned
The 2,500-seat Capitol Theatre opened on December 11, 1926 with Dorothy Revier in “The Better Way” & Dorothy Mackaill in “Just Another Blonde”. It was designed by architect Roger Garland in an Atmospheric/Spanish Renaissance style. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer theatre organ.
On March 4, 1967 it became the Paris Cinema and was twinned, reopening as the Paris Cinema 1 &2 with Charlton Heston in “Planet of the Apes” & Warren Beatty in “Bonnie and Clyde”. It closed on May 31, 1977. It reopened on September 26, 1980 screening classic movies. On July 31, 1982, it went over to screening adult movies renamed Coupes Theatre and Adonis Film. The upstairs cinema went over to adult movies on September 26, 1973, renamed The Adult Penthouse playing “The Hustler” & “Bird of Love” In April 1982 the name changed to Paris Cinema. The original Atmospheric style theatre auditorium was still in use.
The Paris Cinema was closed down by the authorities in January 2006. The building deteriorated over the years and it was demolished in July 2017.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
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Recent comments (view all 46 comments)
The theater’s sign is up for auction, and a developer has plans to raze the theater and adjacent structures: View article
Is there another still-operating Paris Cinema (perhaps the one in NYC) who could use the sign?
“…the building behind it is due for replacement.” Ah, euphemism.
As of early 2016, the building is still there intact.
Recent photos of the inside of the theater: http://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/index.ssf/2016/08/we_explored_the_old_paris_cine.html
I photographed the theater before demolition started. Check out some images and a short history at After the Final Curtain
Grand opening ad as Capitol posted.
reopened as Paris on March 4th, 1967 by Esquire theatres. Grand opening ad posted.
The second screen opened on April 12th, 1968, which became the adult penthouse on September 26th, 1973. Grand opening ad posted.
The Paris closed on May 31st, 1977, and reopened on September 26th, 1980, showing classic movies. It switches to adult movies July 31st, 1982, with Cinema 1 being “The Coupes theatre” and Cinema 2 “Adonis Film”. More ads and articles posted