Fairlawn Theatre
561 Smithfield Avenue,
Pawtucket,
RI
02860
561 Smithfield Avenue,
Pawtucket,
RI
02860
2 people
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Pussycat Theatres
Previous Names: Starcase Pawtucket, Pussycat Theatre, Roxy Theatre Town & Country Cinemas
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The Fairlawn Theatre opened in 1940. It was a neighborhood theatre in the Fairlawn district for many decades. On November 11, 1969 it was renamed Pussycat Theatre. It was renamed Roxy Theatre on March 4, 1970. It was closed in 1978. It reopened as Town & Country Cinemas on February 22, 1980, but closed in 1981. It was torn down in the 1980’s.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
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Recent comments (view all 27 comments)
Item in Boxoffice magazine, November 6, 1954:
“The Fairlawn in adjacent Pawtucket, showing "The French Line,” advised patrons it would be omitted at the Saturday matinee, which is largely made up of juveniles."
[Note: that movie feature Jane Russell in a skimpy costume.]
For the record “JOHN AND MARY” was not family fare as mentioned above it carried an R -rating in its day.Today it might be PG.
In Geralds post of 8/22/05 I never saw a projectionist in a suit and tie at work,naybe it was different back them.
Operators of various theatres in the Pawtucket-Lincoln-Valley Falls area in 1951, gave their opinions on ways to combat the effects of TV on their theatres. Written as a report for the Pawtucket Times, the results were also reported in Boxoffice magazine in the issue of January 27, 1951:
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Construction of the Fairlawn Theatre in 1940.
Boxoffice magazine reported in its April 24, 1940 issue:
“Another new theatre in Pawtucket looms, with the city zoning board meeting Wednesday to consider granting of construction permit for neighborhood house in the Fairlawn section of the city. Certificates of business incorporation were granted by the secretary of state’s office to Currie & Harmon, Inc., to carry on theatrical business in the state. Incorporators are Earl H. Mason and Alfred J. Joslin of Pawtucket and Cecelia A. Gilgannon of Lonsdale, R.I.”
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Fairlawn. It’s Card # 534. There is an exterior photo taken April 1941. It’s on Smithfield Avenue. Condition is Excellent. It was built in 1940 and shows MGM product. 800 seats.
There is a comment in here (written in 2004) that the theater closed in 1982. However, we performed the Rocky Horror Picture Show there from December 9, 1983 thru February 4, 1984. An 8 week run. Rough audience some nights, but that was Rocky back then.
I remember both side sections were torn out by then. There was only a center section remaining. I think some rows from the front may have been torn out also. It gave us a lot of space to perform.
The owner was George Mittsmenn. Very nice guy to us.
Reopened as the Pussycat theatre on November 11th, 1969. Grand opening ad posted.
Reopened as Roxy on March 4th, 1970. Another ad posted.
Closed in 1978 and reopened as Town & Country Cinemas on February 22nd, 1980 and closed again in 1981. Another ad posted.