Leroy Theatre | |
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| Location | 66 Broad Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
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| Coordinates | 41°52′48″N71°23′15″W / 41.88000°N 71.38750°W |
| Built | 1922 |
| Architect | John F. O'Malley |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Demolished | 1997 [1] |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000181 [2] |
| Added to NRHP | August 4, 1983 |
Leroy Theatre was a historic movie palace in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It was built in 1922, listed on the National Register in 1983, and demolished in 1997.
The Leroy was one of the finest and largest theatres of the period in all of New England, built when Pawtucket was at its economic height. It was one of the finest buildings in a city already brimming with distinguished architecture. [1] The lobby featured a large fireplace, a grand staircase, and a frieze of golden vases. The interior had seats for 2,700 people, and included extensive ornamentation such as mirrors, colored lights, brass rails, and gold leaf. [1] It had a mirrored lobby, an electric chandelier with 4,700 bulbs, and the largest Wurlitzer organ in New England. [3] Above the balcony was a dome filled with classical sculpted figures. [1]
The theatre was designed by architect John F. O'Malley and was built in 1922 for client Charles Payne, a power company executive. [1] Payne spared no expense on the building, named in honor of Payne's son Leroy, who had been killed in World War I. [1]
The theatre opened in May 1923. [3] Charles Payne died four years later, on January 5, 1927, [4] at age 59. [4]
At the time of the Leroy's construction, Pawtucket was a prosperous mill town. In addition to the Leroy, it boasted a half-dozen theatres and two dozen hotels. [1] Of these, the Leroy was considered the town's "most lavish public building", and was referred to as Pawtucket's Million Dollar Theatre. [1]
The Leroy hosted vaudeville acts, silent (and then sound) movies, and all manner of theatrical productions and musical performances. However, by the late 1960s, the once-wealthy mill town had fallen into decline, and moviegoers had begun to prefer suburban multiplexes to the old downtown movie palaces.
The theatre was closed in 1963, briefly reopened in 1976, and was again shuttered. [5] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. [2]
A ballet company briefly attempted to use the theatre in 1984, [3] and it was operated as a concert hall from 1985 to 1990. [3] In April 1997 the building was sold to a Boston developer and demolished later that year, along with three neighboring buildings, to build a Walgreens drugstore. [1]
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island. The population was 75,604 at the 2020 census, making the city the fourth-largest in the state. Pawtucket borders Providence and East Providence to the south, Central Falls and Lincoln to the north, and North Providence to the west. The city also borders the Massachusetts municipalities of Seekonk and Attleboro.
The Slater Mill is a historic water-powered textile mill complex on the banks of the Blackstone River in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, modeled after cotton spinning mills first established in England. It is the first water-powered cotton spinning mill in America to utilize the Arkwright system of cotton spinning as developed by Richard Arkwright.
Charles E. Shea High School, commonly known as Shea High School and previously known as Pawtucket West High School, is an American public secondary school at 485 East Avenue in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Shea is part of the Pawtucket School Department. The mascot is the "Shea High Raider". The school was named after a well-known Pawtucket resident, Charles E. Shea.
The Beneficent Congregational Church is a United Church of Christ Congregationalist church located at 300 Weybosset Street in downtown Providence, Rhode Island.
Russell Warren (1783–1860) was an American architect, best known for his work in the Greek Revival style. He practiced in Bristol and Providence.
Stone, Carpenter & Willson was a Providence, Rhode Island based architectural firm in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. It was named for the partners Alfred Stone (1834–1908), Charles E. Carpenter (1845–1923). and Edmund R. Willson (1856–1906). The firm was one of the state's most prominent.
This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Providence County, Rhode Island.
The James Dennis House is an historic house located at 3120 Pawtucket Avenue in East Providence, Rhode Island. This two-story wood-frame house was built sometime in the 1870s, and is a fine local example of Queen Anne Victorian style. Its most prominent features are a square tower with pyramidal roof, and a decorated porch that wraps around three sides. Although Pawtucket Avenue once had a significant number of such houses lining it, most have been demolished or significantly altered.
The Foster–Payne House is a historic house at 25 Belmont Street in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Built in 1878, the two-story multi-gabled house is distinguished by its clapboarded and exterior woodwork and opulent parlors in the interior. The property also has a matching carriagehouse with gable roof and cupola. The house was originally constructed and owned by Theodore Waters Foster, but it was sold to George W. Payne in 1882. The Foster–Payne House is architecturally significant as a well-designed and well-preserved late 19th century suburban residence. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
The Pawtucket Congregational Church is an historic church building at 40 and 56 Walcott Street, at the junction of Broadway and Walcott St., in the Quality Hill neighborhood of Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
John Holden Greene (1777-1850) was a noted early nineteenth century architect practicing in Providence, Rhode Island. The bulk of his work dates to the late Federal period, and is mostly in the architectural style of the same name. Greene is responsible for the design of over fifty buildings built in the city between 1806 and 1830, almost half of which are still standing.
Alfred Stone was an American Architect. He was a founding partner of the Providence, Rhode Island, firm of Stone, Carpenter & Willson. Mr. Stone was best known for designing many prominent Rhode Island buildings, including the Providence Public Library, Union Station, buildings at Brown University and the University of Rhode Island, and many private homes.
William R. Walker & Son was an American architectural firm in Providence, Rhode Island, active during the years 1881 to 1936. It included partners William Russell Walker (1830–1905), William Howard Walker (1856–1922) and later William Russell Walker II (1884–1936).
John F. O'Malley was an American architect from Rhode Island.
The Gately Building is a historic commercial building at 337–353 Main Street in downtown Pawtucket, Rhode Island The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. In 2015, the property was renovated into a 13-unit apartment building.
Albert Hadfield Humes (1867–1947) was an American architect working in Central Falls and Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He was known locally as a designer of private residences and schools.
James C. Bucklin (1801-1890) was an American architect working in Providence, Rhode Island.
Lucius Bowles Darling was a Rhode Island businessman who ran a slaughterhouse and fertilizer company. He was Lieutenant governor of Rhode Island for two one-year terms, 1885-1887.
William R. Walker was an American architect from Providence, Rhode Island, who was later the senior partner of William R. Walker & Son.
Charles Payne, general manager and treasure of the Leroy Theatre Company of Pawtucket, RI, died in Pawtucket yesterday. He was 59 years old. He built the Leroy, a million dollar playhouse which was opened last April.
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