The Hollis Theatre
Elias M. Loew, an American success story, opened the Hollis Theatre on Hollis St. Framingham on Thursday September 8, 1938. It was the 43rd theatre in the E. M. Loew chain, which ran from New England to Florida. The Hollis was always considered the poor man’s movie palace, with a simple design, small and without a balcony. Here’s how the Hollis looked in it’s peak years. 
The Hollis suffered from the effects of television, competition downtown from the St. George and Gorman, as well as the opening of the Cinema in Shoppers World, and closed in March of 1954. For awhile the building housed a ski school. It still stands today, as a church. Here’s a picture inside the auditorium the way it is today. 
Downtown Framingham needs another venue to make it a destination. Although the Hollis is taken, there must be someplace else that could be used for entertainment. Maybe the old firestation given to Amazing Things will fill the bill. Any other ideas out there?
DEE said,
July 16, 2007 at 5:27 am
TOOK SKIING LESSONS AT THE OLD HOLLIS THEATER. PLACE CALLED BOB JOHNSON’S SKI SCHOOL. LEARNED TO SKI ON IMITATION GRASS.
ALSO CAN REMEMBER GOING TO THE MOVIES THERE WHEN THEY GAVE AWAY DISHES. THEY WERE PRETTY. MY FAMILY COLLECTED A FEW SETS.