Watson JessicaThe rich history of New England encompasses much more than the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock. The region is home to important cultural landmarks, including many famous theaters and movie houses. From the days of vaudeville to the films of Hollywood’s golden age to contemporary musical performances, these venues have made important contributions to New England’s heritage.
Cape Playhouse, Dennis, Massachusetts
Former performers of the Cape Playhouse include Ginger Rogers, Bette Davis, and Humphrey Bogart, and Actors’ Equity has dubbed the space “America’s oldest professional summer theater.” Founder Raymond Moore wanted to build a venue that could serve the communities on Cape Cod, and stars who escaped the hot summers of New York City have graced the stage here since 1927. The nearby Cape Cinema, opened in 1930, has a church-style exterior with an Art Deco interior design. In 1939, the theater hosted the world premiere of a little-known movie called The Wizard of Oz.
Somerville Theater, Somerville, Massachusetts
Built in 1914 by Joseph Hobbs, the Somerville Theater in Davis Square is part of the larger Hobbs Building, which originally housed a bowling alley, billiard room, café, several storefronts, and the Hobbs Crystal Ballroom on the second floor. The theater was designed for opera performances, stage plays, vaudeville and early motion pictures. The Somerville Theatre Players began weekly performances in 1915. Former performers include Tallulah Bankhead and Ray Bolger. Busby Berkeley also directed here.
Newport Opera House, Newport, Rhode Island
The Newport Opera House, which is currently undergoing restoration, plans to reopen in the summer of 2018, the year of its 150th anniversary. The theater was designed by architect James Rudolph as a post-Civil War addition to the Newport stage. Initially, it hosted plays and other performances, and in the 1920s it was converted into a movie palace; it screened films until its closure in 2010. Among the former performers are Harriet Beecher Stowe, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Duke Ellington.
Theater by the Sea, South Kingstown, Rhode Island
The Theatre by the Sea in South Kingstown began as a girls’ camp run by Alice Janes Tyler in a shingle-covered barn on the grounds of her summer home from 1928 to 1933. The Depression forced her to convert the barn into a 300-seat theater that went through several renovations and saw Golden Age performers including Mae West, Marlon Brando, Carol Channing, and Groucho Marx. After a slow decline, producer Tommy Brent saved the theater from demolition in a matter of hours. To this day, Broadway in the Barn can be seen in this historic theater.
Paramount Theater, Rutland, Vermont
The Paramount Theater in Rutland was built by George T. Chaffee and opened in 1914. The building, which was then known as the Playhouse Theater, had an interior inspired by Victorian opera houses, complete with velor curtains and gold leaf ceiling decorations. Former performers included Harry Houdini, Ethel Barrymore, and Sarah Bernhardt. After becoming a movie theater, the Playhouse was renamed the Paramount Theater in 1931.