Four movie theaters that were located on Broadway in Lawrence, Mass. at night

Four movie theaters that were located on Broadway in Lawrence, Mass. at night

Item Information

Title:
Four movie theaters that were located on Broadway in Lawrence, Mass. at night
Date:
[ca. 1930–1939]
Format:
Photographs
Genre:
Photographic prints
Location:
Lawrence Public Library
Special Collections
Collection (local):
Lawrence Public Library Local History Collection
Subjects:
Motion picture theaters
Streets
Places:
Massachusetts > Essex (county) > Lawrence
Extent:
1 photograph : color print ; 30 x 36 cm
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/6h445k245
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Notes:
Title from accompanying material.
Just after the turn of the 20th century new theaters began to spring up, some in converted older buildings, most as new theaters. At first the silent film program also included vaudeville shows or celebrities like John L. Sullivan or Helen Keller. At first Toomey & Demara (Thomas F. Toomey and Napoleon Demara) Amusement Co. owned and operated the Empire, Premier, Colonial, and Broadway (built by Louis B. Mayer) theaters. Later The Empire Amusement Co., headed by Dr. Alexander l. Siskind, purchased the Empire, Palace, Broadway, and Premier and took a lease on the Colonial. Dr. Siskind had started his association with the movie industry when he opened the Marquise Theater, one of Lawrence’s earliest cinemas. His next purchase was the Victoria, which sat opposite the “4 theaters in a row.” In the 20s the Empire, Palace, and Broadway were leased to Warner Brothers (the Empire would ultimately be called the Warner). The four theaters were: the Astor, the Strand, the Broadway, and the Modern. This was considered so unusual that it was highlighted in Ripley’s believe it or not! All of the theaters were torn down in the 1970s.
Notes (date):
Date from accompanying material.
Accession #:
2006.48
Identifier:
Astor