Somerville Theatre facts for kids
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| Address | 55 Davis Square Somerville, Massachusetts United States |
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| Owner | FEI Theatres / Frame One Theatres |
| Capacity | 900 / 92 / 31 / 150 / 145 / 92 |
| Current use | cinema, and live music, comedy and dance venue |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1914 |
| Architect | Funk & Wilcox |
| Website | |
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Somerville Theater/Hobbs Building
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Built | 1914 |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| MPS | Somerville MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 89002330 |
| Added to NRHP | 1990 |
The Somerville Theatre is a cool place in Davis Square in Somerville, Massachusetts. It's an independent movie theater and a concert hall. This historic building is over 100 years old!
It started out showing vaudeville shows and movies. Today, it's still a popular spot for movies and live music. Many famous artists have performed here, like Bruce Springsteen and U2. Other stars like Norah Jones and The Jonas Brothers have also played on its stage.
The building also has a special place called the Crystal Ballroom.
Contents
How it Started: Early Years
The Somerville Theatre is part of the Hobbs Building. Joseph Hobbs built it in 1914. The company Funk & Wilcox from Boston designed it.
The building was made for many things. It had stage shows, vaudeville, and movies. But that's not all! The Hobbs Building also had:
- A cafe in the basement
- A bowling alley and billiards hall in the basement
- Ten shops on the ground floor
- The Hobbs Crystal Ballroom, a big dance hall for 700 people, on the second floor
The second and third floors also had offices. In 1915, a group called the Somerville Theater Players started putting on plays every week. Famous actors like Tallulah Bankhead performed here. Later, a future film director named Busby Berkeley directed many shows at the theater in the 1920s. He became famous for musicals like 42nd Street.
Becoming a Movie House
In 1926, the Hobbs family sold the theater to Arthur F. Viano. His family owned other theaters nearby. The Vianos kept the live plays going until 1932. The Great Depression made it hard to make money, so they decided to show only movies.
For many years, the Somerville Theatre was a main movie house in the neighborhood. New movies would first play in big downtown theaters. Then, they would come to local theaters like the Somerville. Sometimes, they showed two or three movies a week!
The Viano Theaters were known for their fresh popcorn. They also had "prize nights." On these nights, usually during the week, they gave away dishes, appliances, and other gifts. This helped get people to come to the movies. These prize nights lasted until the 1970s.
A New Chapter: Repertory Films
In 1982, the Viano family leased the Somerville Theatre to Garen Daly. He changed it into a "repertory house." This meant it showed double features and different movies every day. It was a place to see independent and unusual films before video and DVD made them easy to find.
Garen Daly also brought back live performances to the stage. This was the first time since the 1930s! During this time, the Fraiman family bought the Hobbs Building. They also owned the Capitol Theater in Arlington.
When Garen Daly's lease ended in 1989, the Fraimans decided to run the Somerville Theatre themselves. They closed it for some updates. Some people in the community worried the theater would be split into smaller screens. But the owners decided to keep the main theater as it was. It reopened in 1990.
Making it Modern: Renovations
After reopening, fewer people were coming to the movies. So, a plan was needed to keep the theater popular. The rest of the Hobbs Building had been empty since the early 1980s. This space became the answer!
In 1996, big renovations began. The old bowling alleys in the basement and some shops on the first floor were changed. They became new bathrooms and two new movie rooms. Two more screens were built upstairs in the old ballroom space.
An elevator was added, along with new windows. A new sign, like the original one, was put up outside. The third and second floors became new office spaces. The theater lobby was made bigger by taking over a nearby shop. New, comfy seats were put in the main auditorium.
In 2006, more updates happened. The inside of the main auditorium was restored to look more like it did originally. The stage also got new curtains, equipment, and a new movie screen.
From 2008 to 2019, the Museum of Bad Art had a gallery in the theater's basement.
In 2009, new balcony seats replaced the old ones from 1914. They also added a new sound system with 24 speakers in the main auditorium. The projection booth was updated too. The Somerville Theatre is now one of the few theaters in New England that can show 70mm film. It can show movies in a very high-quality format.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, screens 4 and 5 were changed back into the Crystal Ballroom. This is now a place for live music and events.
Somerville Theatre Today
The Fraiman family (now Frame One Theatres) has owned the Somerville Theatre since 1990. They have made many changes to keep up with how movie theaters are changing. Since 1990, they added four screens. They also installed digital projectors. However, two of the upper screens have been turned back into the Crystal Ballroom.
Today, the theater has three screens for movies. It has one of the most advanced projection booths on the East Coast. This means it can show almost any film format. This includes new digital movies and old 35mm and 70mm film prints. The Somerville also has a small 31-seat "microcinema" that people can rent.
The theater shows both new and older movies. It often features independent and art house films. It also hosts many live events. You can see music, dance, and comedy shows here. Famous people like Louis CK and Arlo Guthrie have performed on its stage.
The Somerville Theatre often shows classic 35mm and 70mm films. It also shows silent films with live music. Since 2016, it hosts a yearly "The 70mm and Widescreen Film Festival" in September. It is also a main theater for the Independent Film Festival of Boston.
The Somerville Theatre is special because it's locally owned and independent. It's a successful business that cares about its community.
Gallery
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Elm Street at sunrise, theatre visible on the right
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The Hobbs Building, with the theatre entrance at the right
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The entrance to the Hobbs Building at 55 Davis Square
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The historical marker sign on the face of the Somerville Theatre Hobbs Building
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Following the end of a film showing, audience are exiting the theatre
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The front entrance of the theatre
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Concession stand
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Lobby display with memorabilia
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Old theater sign in lobby
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Main theater including balcony
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Detail of ceiling mural in main theater
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Seats and lighting
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Entrance to auxiliary theater
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See also
