Framingham Views

The Cinema at Shoppers World, with the Balcony Closed. Wasn’t it always that way? I don’t know how many times on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon we had to chase some kids from the balcony. And yet nearly every Saturday night back in the mid to late 1970s the balcony would be open to sell out crowds. From American Graffiti to Saturday Night Fever, Poltergeist, Animal House, and so many others, the Cinema I and II auditoriums which were to my immediate right in this view, would sell out every week.

Originally the big auditorium had 1432 seats. It was split in half in the early 1970’s. The large chandeliers were made from imported glass. The hanging lights over the concession stand were also imported and nearly impossible to replace, I was told.

Upstairs, to the end of the aisle, and through a door, was the popcorn room. The exhaust was high outside above the front, and you could smell the popcorn as you approached from the parking lot.

I took this picture around 1983.  I’m sure there are still lots of folks around who remember this scene, whether they worked there then, or went to the movies.

Memorial Square as it looked around 1950, in a photograph published in the Framingham News in 1954. The Memorial Building was built in 1928-1929. Planners made sure that its erection conformed to conditions laid down in the will of David Nevins, who died in the summer of 1898. Mr Nevins will stated that Framingham should receive $100,000 for a new town hall to be named in his honor if his wife died and if his adopted daughter passed on without issue. The adopted daughter, Miss Elsie Nevins died Jan 3, 1954. The town treasurer, Albert E. Cole received the check from the Nevins estate.
In this photo, you can just see the edge of the Fitts Market Building, which was a Brockleman’s Market in 1950 and at some point in time, a Stop & Shop. Brockleman’s moved to Shoppers World in 1951. The recent renovation of the facade of this building, was one of downtown’s most impressive projects in recent years, showing the dedication of the Fitts family for the future of Framingham.

In 1928, activities included an orchestra of fifty pieces, art exhibits, drama club, gym classes for all, motion pictures, Boy Scout assistance, health association, and charity events. There were 80 organizations using the two buildings.

They still exist, nearly like the photo above, which I found in a marketing pamphlet for the town which was given out by the Framingham Cooperative Bank.

There once was a swimming pool, which was filled in many years ago. The stage and hall offer a fine place for a concert, even today.

Here’s a link to more photos of the Dennison Parade.

Here’s a picture of the September 15, 1923 parade through downtown Framingham, which kicked off the third annual Dennison Employee Field Day. After the parade, 3 special trains took nearly 5000 employees to Norumbega Park for a day of fun. In this photo, you can see the St George Theatre, which had just opened in April of 1921.

There’s an upright with no marquee. You can see people on the roof, watching. The parade route was 2 miles long, ending in Irving Square where the Selectmen and Dennison executives sat in a reviewing stand. It was reported that 25,000 people lined the parade route.

This photo was taken by Ken McGagh for the MetroWest Daily News in 1994.

The paper was so proud of their headline. Shoppers World became a strip mall. Congratulations.

1966 was a tough year because of two major fires which destroyed two different blocks of stores. The picture above shows the intersection of Waverley St. and Concord St. fire apparatus still keeping things under control. The cause of the two fires was a matter of suspicion, the mystery never publicly solved.

This is how Concord St. in front of the Arcade looked in 1958.

You can see the entrance between the street signs, to the left of Paul’s Bakery. There’s a sign on the left for the Arcade Drug.

Imagine if the theatre proposed in 1929 had actually been built. This is how that view might have looked.

I’m sure it would have been a modest marquee. Pauls Bakery sign might have been just a bit different. Inside the Arcade, as one walked the length to the theatre, would there have been storefronts as they were in the ’50s? Or would it have been different?

Same day, same parade, here’s a view looking north on Concord St. You can see the top of the Kendall says “The NEW KENDALL “. Look at the wagons and cars, and it looks like one horse. There were lots of telephone wires overhead at that intersection at the time. Thanks to the Public Library, for having this in their files.

Framingham Crossing in 1916. You can read the sign to the right which says Framingham is 21 miles from Boston. That’s Gibbons Lunch in the little concrete builing festooned with political bunting. And in the way back, the Gorman Theatre, with it’s painted brick advertising Vaudeville.