Central Theatre in Lawrence, MA
The Central Theater in Lawrence, MA was the last single-screen theater operating in the city when it closed in 1986. At one time, Lawrence had as many as 8 single-screen theaters in operation around the city, with most of them located on Broadway. I took these photos after the Central Theater closed, and as you can see it’s in pretty bad shape. In its heyday this must have been a beautiful theater. Anyone ever remember going to the Central? Blog-in and let us know.
Central Theater
11 Oak Street
Lawrence, MA 01841
Keith, I remember the central theatre like it was yesterday. As a kid you had to sit in the first nine rows, and if you didnt, you would have to deal with Val Jean. He was the owner and he didnt like kids. Also remember his big wife who sold the tickets and the candy. I grew up around the corner on Elm St. (Late fifties and early sixties it was 20 cents to get in)
Keith (or )Doug,
Not trying ti hijack this post, but the old family homes (Keleher), were at 121,123, and 125 Elm street. They were torn down in the Urban Renewal of the70’s, as I’m sure you know. I have a picture from 1900 that I think is these homes. I have been seeking photos of these homes for along time. Can you help me with this?I know from directories, that a marching band was loacated in one of the storefronts around the 50’s.Doug, Where on Elm street did you grow up?
icksanford@yahoo.com
Rick, across the St. from pettorutos was the tripoli club. From there, heading towards Jackson St. I lived in the second house from the Tripoli club. Im 58 years old and i remember back then really well.
We used to go there on weekends and watch creature double feature flicks…Long time ago
I remember the theatre well.. i also remember the star, palace and warner..but central was where the karate flicks were and thats why i went there.
Hi, I grew up in Lawrence in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. I went to the Central theater many times. We usually went to the “rats” (Star)which was on Broadway. The Central wasn’t our favorite and it was out of our territory but we went to all of them.
It looked a lot better than any of these pictures way back them.
I’m a writer and I’ve written a couple of books about Lawrence. I’ve revising one of them and I’m looking for a good picture of the Center at Salisbury Beach. If anybody out there has a nice picture that I could use on the cover, I would be very appreciative. I can’t offer much but I would send you a free copy of the book when it is published.
Great memories of the 40’s&50’s.I lived at 175 Elm street which was right up the street .Elm to Short and straight up Oak street.I can remember as a kid going to the Central on a Sat. or Sun.and spending the whole afternoon watching a double header [2 movies and sometimes 3]and cartoones,news,and a serial chapter.I also remember getting a dish,bowl or glass with admission .I’m not sure if i paid extra for them.I remember the pattern of the dish as colonial like in the George washington era.As a teenager i worked as an usher there at night with my friend Gerry De Lotto which let us in for free and then we would clean up the place after closing time.My brother Mike and i also worked for Val Jean at his bowling alley on Jackson st. setting up the old ten pins.At times that could be a dangerous job for us as we were manually setting up the pins with our backs to the players some drunk would start bowling before we had all the pins up.What an experiance that was.
Hi I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s on Chestnut Street. I remember going to the Central theatre as well! Then we would go to Either Jackson Pizza or the Pizza Pan on Elm Street!!! Great memories!
In addtion to the Central, Star, Palace and Warner, there was also the Premier on Essex Street (12 cents admission). Wasn’t there also the Broadway Theatre on Broadway Street .
I remember going there on Wednesdays because of the CCD classes at St. Laurence School right up the road. We would stock up on candy at Louis Pearl’s on Broadway and take in a matinee. I just couldn’t resist their 25 cent ice cream and always got one of those.I agree that when I went alone I was stuck up the front, but when I went with my mother I got better seats. It was one of the last places to have a double feature and as a kid it was great. Why pay more at the Showcase Cinemas for one movie than to see two at the Central with no “Snack Police”.
I sometimes went to the central theatre with my boyfriend ricky filz to see double creature feature flicks.. then when i was 16 i worked part time at the ticket booth at the palace theatre. i miss those movie theatres.
I also went to tne central theater every weekend. I remember the star, the state, capital, primier, warner, modern, palace and broadway. I lived at 179 elm st. in the Dr. Howard Apartments