Nickel Theater

The Nickel Theater was a former movie theater in Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States. It began as the "New Theatre," opened in 1900 on Lawrence Street near Essex Street, at the northeast corner of Lawrence and Methuen Streets. It was renamed the Castro in 1902 and then the Nickel Theatre by 1907. Reputedly located above Porter's livery stable, it offered continuous performances of "moving pictures and illustrated songs for 5 cents daily from 2 to 10:30 pm," according to Lawrence, Massachusetts: Images of America Vol. II by Ken Skulski. In 1910 it was replaced by a new building at the same location, 1 Lawrence St., called the "New Nickel." According to Americanizing the movies and "movie-mad" audiences, 1910-1914 by Richard Abel, it sat 1,700. The Moving Picture World magazine, in October 1913, reported that Mr. John R. Oldfield (manager) opened his Nickel Theater, Lawrence, Mass., to good business last week. The policy was vaudeville and a good grade of film service. Messrs. Thomas F. Twoomey and Napolean Demara, the owners, made a big winner out of the Nickel, as they also did with the Premier Theater of Lawrence, which they owned. A "Concise history of Lawrence" 1845-1918 noted that "The theatrical business in Lawrence is largely represented in the enterprises of the Toomey & Demara Amusement Company. This concern controls four of the leading playhouses of the city, embracing three branches of the theatrical profession, viz., drama, vaudeville and motion pictures. The Empire, given over to vaudeville, is one of the largest and best equipped theatres in New England. It has a seating capacity of 2,300. The Broadway, with a seating capacity of 1,500, and the Premier,..." The Nickel Theater is no longer in operation and is considered a defunct former movie theater.

The Nickel Theater was a former movie theater in Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States. It began as the "New Theatre," opened in 1900 on Lawrence Street near Essex Street, at the northeast corner of Lawrence and Methuen Streets. It was renamed the Castro in 1902 and then the Nickel Theatre by 1907. Reputedly located above Porter's livery stable, it offered continuous performances of "moving pictures and illustrated songs for 5 cents daily from 2 to 10:30 pm," according to Lawrence, Massachusetts: Images of America Vol. II by Ken Skulski. In 1910 it was replaced by a new building at the same location, 1 Lawrence St., called the "New Nickel." According to Americanizing the movies and "movie-mad" audiences, 1910-1914 by Richard Abel, it sat 1,700. The Moving Picture World magazine, in October 1913, reported that Mr. John R. Oldfield (manager) opened his Nickel Theater, Lawrence, Mass., to good business last week. The policy was vaudeville and a good grade of film service. Messrs. Thomas F. Twoomey and Napolean Demara, the owners, made a big winner out of the Nickel, as they also did with the Premier Theater of Lawrence, which they owned. A "Concise history of Lawrence" 1845-1918 noted that "The theatrical business in Lawrence is largely represented in the enterprises of the Toomey & Demara Amusement Company. This concern controls four of the leading playhouses of the city, embracing three branches of the theatrical profession, viz., drama, vaudeville and motion pictures. The Empire, given over to vaudeville, is one of the largest and best equipped theatres in New England. It has a seating capacity of 2,300. The Broadway, with a seating capacity of 1,500, and the Premier,..." The Nickel Theater is no longer in operation and is considered a defunct former movie theater.

• 1913

  The Moving Picture World magazine reported that manager John R. Oldfield opened the Nickel Theater to good business.

• 1910

  Replaced by a new building at the same location, 1 Lawrence St., called the "New Nickel."

• 1907

  Renamed the Nickel Theatre.

• 1902

  Renamed the Castro.

• 1900

  Opened as the "New Theatre" on Lawrence Street near Essex Street, at the northeast corner of Lawrence and Methuen Streets.

A nickelodeon-style theater offering affordable continuous entertainment in early 20th-century Lawrence, Massachusetts.

• Moving pictures

• Illustrated songs

• Vaudeville

1. 1The Nickel Theatre Photo Gallery by James V. Roy at pbase.compbase.com
2. 2Nickel Theater - Wikidatawikidata.org