I remember going to the Columbia theatre on Charles Street mostly on Saturdays, but when it was Dish night my brother and I went with my mom to get 3 dishes. Great movies, newsreels and cartoons. Oh for a return of the GOOD OLD DAYS!
My mother made a set of dishes at the Uptown Theater when she was pregnant with me. That was 90 years ago and we (my wife and I) still have them. They were not csheap items. They had a gold metallic stripe on them and they were very sturdy. Loved the story. Keep them coming. Anthony Capraro
Once again, Ed, you sparked vague memories of my childhood. Growing up in Denver, I remember my mother coming home with dishes for one setting (at a time). I also remember silverware that was also disbursed to happy movie goers. In subsequent years promotional items to encourage patronage went beyond movie houses. Gas stations (not "service stations,") gave out copies of Presidential campaign buttons from the 19th and 20th centuries. I kept those campaign buttons in the recessed frame for many years until I gave them to my grandson who was and remains keenly interested in politics. I recall loads of green stamp books that were turned in to help pay for groceries. I remember my grandmother's breakfront that contained plastic mils (partial cent pieces) used for bus and trolley fares. I remember prizes in Cracker Jack boxes. and cereals. I even purchased a one-foot square of property in Alaska available through the Sgt. Preston of the Yukon TV show. Free prizes made life fun.
Funny, just yesterday I was reminiscing with my girlfriend about our funny memories of the Castle Theater and Mammagool. Everything you mentioned we also remembered 🤣🤣🤣. What good times. Josie
I am envious! I love the movies but evidently our mother didn't and dad acquiesced. The one exception was when larger- than- life movies came to Providence , our parents took all 5 children, all the way from the Valley, to see the likes of Samson and Delilah, Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments, etc....all with a historical and some religious thrust. The very first time I saw a movie without my parents was in 1955 when Bill Simmons took me on a date to see The Country Girl with Grace Kelly and William Holden. The movie had come out in '54 but it took a while to get to the Thornton Theater in West Warwick. There was no movie theater in Coventry where I grew up but I didn't miss what I didn't know about. I was too busy out in the country riding my pony, picking blueberries and apples, riding bikes, climbing trees, developing islands in the swamp, chopping wood, feeding the cat, dogs, turkeys, roosters and dozens of hens. But now that I know about hometown theaters, I am envious!
I remember when they were promoting encyclopedias. The first book was 25 cents and every week a volume in the set of 20 was a dollar. Why would anyone buy this set since it was not a good set compared to the Encyclopedia Britannica which was available at the nearby Mt. Pleasant Library on Academy Ave.? The place to buy candy and ice cream was the Castle Spa next door to the Castle. I experienced a price jump from14 cents for admission to the Castle to 25 cents.
Living in North Providence we went every Saturday to Community Theater in Centerdale, great memories. Did go to Castle Theater a few times but don’t recall the dish giveaway (guess I’m too young for that one haha).
I lived on the Parking and went to the Castle with my friends every weekend. Do you remember the woman selling the tickets always asking how old you were! Same question every week!! I also remember my aunt and uncle every Monday night heading to the Castle for the dishes! They made full sets of dishes!!
Ed, how lucky you were to have a vibrant community, Castle theater and an Ice cream pallor next door. I at the age of six with my four brothers lived in Seekonk moving from Warwick. Seekonk at that time had a population of about 4 to 5000 folks and no movie theaters or ice cream parlors. Our big treat was after Boy scout meetings walking to Crockers drug store, Rumford' for a soda pop with a scoop of vanilla ice cream called a black crow. Now at the age of 14-16 on an occasion we would walk about a mile to Rumford crossing the reservoir to catch a bus to the BIG city, Providence and a western at the Lowes theater. Our treat was to listen to all the radio programs, Lone Ranger, Hop Harrigan and many more.
However, my wife Ann was a MT Pleasant girl and she and her sister would attend the Castle on Sunday afternoon's, never, never on a Friday evening-Daddy an old timer kept a close eye on them.
I did attend one screening when we were married (Valachi Papers). On a rare occasion I drive by the Castle and the neighborhood has change as many others have also.
Great note, Peter. You missed so much but had so much. You may have lived in the only neighborhood that did not have a theater. But you made it to the city. Did you go to The Fays also? Lucky to meet Ann who introduced you to the Big Time!
Fays, no, but my older brother went to a magic store, near to buy magic cards etc. Yes, Country boy meets City girl. We went to all the theaters when dating, Loewe's Strand, Albe, Met but the Loew's was the Grand Daddy of them all. The wisdom to save and now PPAC, were we caught a few beautiful shows.
Thanks for the memory, Ed. My youth was similar at the Shore Theatre on the south side of Chicago. My Uncle Herman worked for Columbia Pictures, distributing the reels of film to local theatres each week, and picking up the previous week's feature films, cartoons and newsreels. Somehow he was an old friend of Gene Autry, so when The Singing Cowboy came to Chicago I got to see the show and go backstage and say hi to Gene and Champion!
Being from Graniteville, we went to the Community Theater in Centerdale on Friday.
We had George…..same as Mamma but a male…small concessions, two movies, cartoon and current events…at the outrageous price of 25 cents….
Saturday was a sleep in morning, followed by baseball with the gang, bike riding or whatever…..almost always with other people…not like today’s environment…
Ah, lucky you! I LOVED Autry and Champion. I did see them live at a local vaudeville theater one year. Also saw Roy Rogers and Trigger. I had trouble deciding my favorite.
Thanks for another great story, Ed. I did the same thing at about the same time at the Union Theater in Attleboro. I had my first date there with Janie Levis and I never sweated so much as I screwed up the courage to hold her hand!
Funny, Charles. As I reached around my dates shoulder with one hand, I somehow nervously probed under the seat with the other and discovered mounds of gum as petrified as I. How unromantic.
Yes, I remember walking from Home Ave with my friends to the Castle (and Tommys Pizza for that matter) but this was in the late 60's and early 70's. Also remember going to Bennys and the five and dime across the street ! Yes, great memories from back then when we used to walk or ride our bikes everywhere!
postscript and the prices!
Especially the prices! LOL
I remember going to the Columbia theatre on Charles Street mostly on Saturdays, but when it was Dish night my brother and I went with my mom to get 3 dishes. Great movies, newsreels and cartoons. Oh for a return of the GOOD OLD DAYS!
Three at a time. Pretty effective
Thanks for the challenge for my memory. That is, coming up with the actors' first names. Surprised myself with remembering so many. Good fun.
Thanks, Muriel. I'm pleased I jogged the memory of another movie afficionado.
My mother made a set of dishes at the Uptown Theater when she was pregnant with me. That was 90 years ago and we (my wife and I) still have them. They were not csheap items. They had a gold metallic stripe on them and they were very sturdy. Loved the story. Keep them coming. Anthony Capraro
Wow! Not many have those dishes I'll bet.
Once again, Ed, you sparked vague memories of my childhood. Growing up in Denver, I remember my mother coming home with dishes for one setting (at a time). I also remember silverware that was also disbursed to happy movie goers. In subsequent years promotional items to encourage patronage went beyond movie houses. Gas stations (not "service stations,") gave out copies of Presidential campaign buttons from the 19th and 20th centuries. I kept those campaign buttons in the recessed frame for many years until I gave them to my grandson who was and remains keenly interested in politics. I recall loads of green stamp books that were turned in to help pay for groceries. I remember my grandmother's breakfront that contained plastic mils (partial cent pieces) used for bus and trolley fares. I remember prizes in Cracker Jack boxes. and cereals. I even purchased a one-foot square of property in Alaska available through the Sgt. Preston of the Yukon TV show. Free prizes made life fun.
Loads of good stuff, Larry. I'll bet you have your goodies from the Cracker Jax boxes. Hmmm? Ovaltine giveaways? Hmmm? Your Lone Ranger mask? Hmmm?
Funny, just yesterday I was reminiscing with my girlfriend about our funny memories of the Castle Theater and Mammagool. Everything you mentioned we also remembered 🤣🤣🤣. What good times. Josie
So nice to rekindle your memories. Fun days
I am envious! I love the movies but evidently our mother didn't and dad acquiesced. The one exception was when larger- than- life movies came to Providence , our parents took all 5 children, all the way from the Valley, to see the likes of Samson and Delilah, Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments, etc....all with a historical and some religious thrust. The very first time I saw a movie without my parents was in 1955 when Bill Simmons took me on a date to see The Country Girl with Grace Kelly and William Holden. The movie had come out in '54 but it took a while to get to the Thornton Theater in West Warwick. There was no movie theater in Coventry where I grew up but I didn't miss what I didn't know about. I was too busy out in the country riding my pony, picking blueberries and apples, riding bikes, climbing trees, developing islands in the swamp, chopping wood, feeding the cat, dogs, turkeys, roosters and dozens of hens. But now that I know about hometown theaters, I am envious!
Beautiful story. A country girl, Eh? But you caught up pretty quickly. Thanks, great comments.
I still have a couple of stray pieces of silverware!
Maybe Antiques Road Show worthy?🤨
I remember when they were promoting encyclopedias. The first book was 25 cents and every week a volume in the set of 20 was a dollar. Why would anyone buy this set since it was not a good set compared to the Encyclopedia Britannica which was available at the nearby Mt. Pleasant Library on Academy Ave.? The place to buy candy and ice cream was the Castle Spa next door to the Castle. I experienced a price jump from14 cents for admission to the Castle to 25 cents.
You were a frugal shopper in those days, Vin. I think my father got the encyclopedias. Funk and Wagnalls maybe.
Living in North Providence we went every Saturday to Community Theater in Centerdale, great memories. Did go to Castle Theater a few times but don’t recall the dish giveaway (guess I’m too young for that one haha).
Every neighborhood had a theater. Would that we could get back there. I’m sure your mom collected the dishes. Look around. Ha!
I lived on the Parking and went to the Castle with my friends every weekend. Do you remember the woman selling the tickets always asking how old you were! Same question every week!! I also remember my aunt and uncle every Monday night heading to the Castle for the dishes! They made full sets of dishes!!
Yes, I remember the lady very well. Tickets were cheaper if you were under 12. The full set was the Win!
Ed, how lucky you were to have a vibrant community, Castle theater and an Ice cream pallor next door. I at the age of six with my four brothers lived in Seekonk moving from Warwick. Seekonk at that time had a population of about 4 to 5000 folks and no movie theaters or ice cream parlors. Our big treat was after Boy scout meetings walking to Crockers drug store, Rumford' for a soda pop with a scoop of vanilla ice cream called a black crow. Now at the age of 14-16 on an occasion we would walk about a mile to Rumford crossing the reservoir to catch a bus to the BIG city, Providence and a western at the Lowes theater. Our treat was to listen to all the radio programs, Lone Ranger, Hop Harrigan and many more.
However, my wife Ann was a MT Pleasant girl and she and her sister would attend the Castle on Sunday afternoon's, never, never on a Friday evening-Daddy an old timer kept a close eye on them.
I did attend one screening when we were married (Valachi Papers). On a rare occasion I drive by the Castle and the neighborhood has change as many others have also.
Great note, Peter. You missed so much but had so much. You may have lived in the only neighborhood that did not have a theater. But you made it to the city. Did you go to The Fays also? Lucky to meet Ann who introduced you to the Big Time!
Fays, no, but my older brother went to a magic store, near to buy magic cards etc. Yes, Country boy meets City girl. We went to all the theaters when dating, Loewe's Strand, Albe, Met but the Loew's was the Grand Daddy of them all. The wisdom to save and now PPAC, were we caught a few beautiful shows.
Thanks for the memory, Ed. My youth was similar at the Shore Theatre on the south side of Chicago. My Uncle Herman worked for Columbia Pictures, distributing the reels of film to local theatres each week, and picking up the previous week's feature films, cartoons and newsreels. Somehow he was an old friend of Gene Autry, so when The Singing Cowboy came to Chicago I got to see the show and go backstage and say hi to Gene and Champion!
Boy does this bring back memories!
Being from Graniteville, we went to the Community Theater in Centerdale on Friday.
We had George…..same as Mamma but a male…small concessions, two movies, cartoon and current events…at the outrageous price of 25 cents….
Saturday was a sleep in morning, followed by baseball with the gang, bike riding or whatever…..almost always with other people…not like today’s environment…
Thanks for the memories…and they are good ones!
Every community had a theater and every theater had a boatload of memories as you so very well recall here, Ed. Thanks for YOUR memories of good days.
Ah, lucky you! I LOVED Autry and Champion. I did see them live at a local vaudeville theater one year. Also saw Roy Rogers and Trigger. I had trouble deciding my favorite.
Thanks for your comments, Don.
Thanks for another great story, Ed. I did the same thing at about the same time at the Union Theater in Attleboro. I had my first date there with Janie Levis and I never sweated so much as I screwed up the courage to hold her hand!
Funny, Charles. As I reached around my dates shoulder with one hand, I somehow nervously probed under the seat with the other and discovered mounds of gum as petrified as I. How unromantic.
I can still smell the popcorn and candy in the lobby. Great article
Thank you, Mike. Can you smell them?😉
Ed,
Yes, I remember walking from Home Ave with my friends to the Castle (and Tommys Pizza for that matter) but this was in the late 60's and early 70's. Also remember going to Bennys and the five and dime across the street ! Yes, great memories from back then when we used to walk or ride our bikes everywhere!
A wonderful neighborhood that had it all, Tom.