Then and Now - The Codman Square Theatre - Dorchester, MA

The Codman Square Theatre, located in the Dorchester section of Boston, was a prominent neighborhood movie house. It officially opened its doors on May 11, 1918. The theater boasted an impressive facade and featured a balcony inside, adding to its grandeur.

The facade was flanked by one-story shops on either side. The theater also had an elegant marquee with four sets of French-style double doors below it. Behind the facade, the substantial auditorium stood tall. According to reports, the theater had a seating capacity of 1,930, with 1,118 seats in the Orchestra, 776 in the Balcony, and 36 in the Loges. However, the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook listed the seating capacity as only 1,200 seats, which seems to differ from later records. Theaters of this era had a tendency to exaggerate how many seats they had when they originally opened and that was probably the case here.

The Codman Square Theatre was operated by M&P/New England Theatres. Additionally, it housed a Wurlitzer Opus organ of style 4X, which featured two manuals and eight ranks. This organ provided musical accompaniment and added to the overall experience for theatregoers.

Unfortunately, the Codman Square Theatre closed its doors in 1957. It was demolished soon after and replaced with a senior center, which is now closed too.