Tim Murphy captured the beginning of demolition at the old theater (and the old Applebee's), which will make way for apartments for senior citizens and a hotel.
But Murphy also forwarded the above photo from the theater's better days, when the restaurant next door was a Howard Johnson's and the T still ran 1940s-era trolleys.
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Comments
Timely photo
By JohnAKeith
Tue, 01/26/2016 - 12:16am
It looks as though one of the movies playing was "The Man Who Fell to Earth" starring David Bowie and Rip Torn. If it was the original run, that would mean the photo was circa 1976.
Oh, and I guess the MBTA had no problem putting up ads for cigarettes at that time!
Good catch.
By Scratchie
Tue, 01/26/2016 - 10:35am
Good catch.
The heady days of cigarette ads
By Spatch
Tue, 01/26/2016 - 11:04am
Cigarette ads were everywhere back then. All those Newport couples smiling and doing silly stuff with cigarettes airbrushed into their hands, etc. I always felt I didn't want to look as dorky as those people, so I never picked up Newports. That's probably for the best.
I am sad to see the Circle building go, but in its last years the cinema was definitely was a shadow of its former self. I wonder where the rats go to see movies now.
HoJo
By Ishmael Jones
Tue, 01/26/2016 - 8:53am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd-Qhspihlc
I moved into the Cleveland
By fox_orian
Tue, 01/26/2016 - 9:30am
I moved into the Cleveland Circle area about 2 years ago and walk by the cinema every day to go to work via the D line. I never got to see a movie there since it was already long closed down. Even if this wasn't the best rated cinema, I always wished it was still in service because 1) I think it looks pretty cool, and 2) it'd just be fun to go to the movies THAT close to where I live (not even having to worry about getting out of a late showing.)
Rat Warren of a Theatre
By John Costello
Tue, 01/26/2016 - 10:25am
Don't cry for the Circle. Before Fandango and the other online ticket services this was the house of disappointment to see movies where you fight a gladiator battle for parking and then the line would be out the door for tickets and more than likely Back Draft or Last of the Mohicans was sold out.
There were two great rooms but the reminder were Copley Place level dollhouse sized rooms. Average sound, average screens and if you were in a room on the south side you would get the Riverside line flying by during movies. Be happy with where movies are now.
80's
By Ishmael Jones
Tue, 01/26/2016 - 11:35am
I loved the place back then. It has a lot of good memories for me. Used to go to midnight shows and walk back to Brighton Center where I lived. I always associate a movie with the theater I saw it in. Went with my wife to movies there when we were first going out. Bull Durham, Full Metal Jacket, which I saw at a preview, Blue Velvet, Die Hard, those lousy James Bond movies with Roger Moore, countless others.
Believe it or not, there once
By anon
Tue, 01/26/2016 - 2:49pm
Believe it or not, there once was a time when there were no 'dollhouse' rooms in that theatre. You got there too late - your misfortune.
This was once a single-screen theatre
By Ron Newman
Tue, 01/26/2016 - 3:22pm
and, in its time, one of the major places to locally premiere a movie before widening out its release to the Boston region. It opened way back in 1940.
it was a dump, and was a
By mikex617x
Wed, 01/27/2016 - 9:21am
it was a dump, and was a ghost town the 3 or 4 times i went there.
Are there any plans to preserve the sign?
By Ron Newman
Tue, 01/26/2016 - 3:23pm
Not the rectangular marquee, but the C I R C L E black circles?
I think so
By adamg
Wed, 01/27/2016 - 10:34am
I think the developer plans to incorporate it with the new project.
they cetrainly have not improved...
By teric
Tue, 01/26/2016 - 6:08pm
..on the design of the 1940's cars...what a beaut.
With your help, the T can STILL run 1940s-era trolleys
By anon
Tue, 01/26/2016 - 7:41pm
Save the Mattapan Line!
If you think about it
By anon
Tue, 01/26/2016 - 10:53pm
A 1940s era PCC car in 1976 was still newer than the 1960s Red Line trains, 1970s Orange Line trains or 1980s Green Line trolleys that roll the rails today.
1940s trolley
By Scumquistador
Wed, 01/27/2016 - 6:08am
reminds me of the classic airstreams
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