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Then and Now – Adams Theatre – Quincy, MA

February 9, 2023

The Adams Theatre in Quincy, MA originally opened in 1941. It was turned into a theater from a skating rink. The 800 seat theater was named for President John Adams and John Quincy Adams, whose birthplaces are located very close to the theater.  The Adams opened too late for Vaudeville and showed motion pictures as […]

Then and Now – Lincoln Theatre – Quincy, MA

February 9, 2023

The Lincoln Theatre in Quincy, MA originally opened in 1920 as the Casino Theatre. It was owned and managed by J. Alcide “Al” Beaumier, a local businessman. In the theaters early days it showed live acts and silent films, before switching to talking motion pictures. The theater closed after it was damaged by a fire […]

Then and Now – Wollaston Theatre – Quincy, MA

February 9, 2023

The Wollaston Theatre in Quincy, MA, originally opened in 1926, and had 1,100 seats. It featured vaudeville shows and silent films in its early days, but like many other early 20th century theaters, switched to “talkies” or motion pictures with sound in the early 1930s.  The “Wolly,” as it was known to locals, was owned […]

Then and Now – Strand Theatre – Quincy, MA

February 9, 2023

The Strand Theatre in Quincy, MA opened on September 6, 1926. It had 1,800 seats and originally hosted vaudeville shows, political rallies, plays, and silent films. It was converted to show “talkies” or motion pictures with sound in 1928, and the first one shown at the theater was “The Lion and the Mouse” starring Lionel […]

Then and Now – Bates Opera House – Braintree, MA

February 9, 2023

The Bates Opera House was located on the Weymouth/Braintree line. It was built by Samuel Bates in the 1860s and was a four story rectangular building with the 800 seat auditorium and stage on the second floor. The opera house held live performances as well as community events like town meetings.  It was converted to […]

Then and Now – Milton Cinemas – Milton, MA

February 9, 2023

The Milton Cinema originally opened as the State Theater in the mid-1920s, and was part of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios circuit. It became a second run theater in the 1980s. It closed for the first time in September 1987, after a dispute between the landlord and the theater operator. The theater reopened with new management a […]

Then and Now – Capitol Theatre – Quincy, MA

February 9, 2023

The Capitol Theatre in Quincy, MA opened in 1912 as the Kincaide Theatre. It was built by Col. Henry Kincaide, a Spanish-American war veteran and local businessman. The 1350 seat theater showed community productions, vaudeville performances, and silent films. It is best known for hosting Eugene O’Neil’s play “Strange Interlude” in October 1929, when it […]

Then and Now – Art Theatre – Quincy, MA

February 9, 2023

The Art Theatre in Quincy, MA originally opened as the Alhambra Theatre on February 19, 1917. It was built by Col. Henry L. Kincaide, a local Quincy businessman.  The theater opened as a burlesque house and featured touring troupes after they played at the Gayety, Casino or Howard Theatres in Boston. The theater did not […]

Meeting And Drinking Tequila With John Wayne Just Off Route 1

February 5, 2023

1976 was the year of the Bicentennial, the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. Working in marketing at Paramount Pictures in NYC, I was responsible for a one-week publicity tour for the movie, “The Shootist” starring John Wayne. To say that I was excited was a total understatement.  We […]

Doc’s Diner, a family tradition in Key Largo

February 4, 2023

Nestled in a small strip center along the Overseas Highway (Route 1) is an unpretentious diner that’s been satisfying appetites for almost 40 years.  Docs Diner serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week from 6 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon. Doc’s is a family-run business that began when an optometrist of […]