Webster Square Cinemas

24 Mill Street,
Worcester, MA 01603

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: National Amusements

Architects: William C. Riseman

Functions: Auto Repair Shop

Previous Names: Park Theatre, Cinema 1

Nearby Theaters

Webster Square Cinemas

A movie theatre on the outskirts of Worcester. The Park Theatre was opened February 10, 1938 with Katherine Hepburn in “Stage Door” & Jackie Cooper in “Boy of the Streets”. It was closed in April 1962.

It was taken over by Redstone and modernised to the plans of William C. Riseman & Associates, reopening As Cinema 1 on April 4, 1963 with John Wayne in “The Longest Day” and renamed Cinema 1. It was twinned and reopened on May 27, 1983 as the Webster Square Cinemas.

Contributed by Gerald A. DeLuca

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

pmichael
pmichael on May 24, 2007 at 12:16 am

The Park was one of the few non-downtown cinemas in Worcester. It was badly flooded in the early 1950s, and the flood control drain now runs past the edge of the parking lot. Somewhere on the building there was a marker showing the height of the flood water. Cinema 1 was Worcester’s first “modern” theater. It opened with Lawrence of Arabia. I think it was renovated and operated by Redstone. There used to be a Park Theater on Front Street, near City Hall, about where Woolworth’s was. I don’t know if was related to the Park at Webseter Square.

MrDJDude
MrDJDude on August 4, 2009 at 5:49 am

This building is still standing, albeit repurposed.

If you plug the location address(24 Mill Street, Worcester, MA) in Google Maps, and look at the Street View, this building is clearly visible in the background. Move down the street in Street View: You’ll be in front of Sun'N'Sound, an auto detailing/car audio business now located in the former Webster Square Cinema.

I suspect the auditorium(s) were turned into the installation bays. But it is mostly definitely this building. However, if you didn’t know that it had been a theater, there is no way of telling from appearances.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on March 1, 2011 at 8:27 pm

Sure looks like a GCC to me.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 17, 2014 at 6:35 pm

This web page has a photo of the entrance of the Park Theatre taken around 1955. An earlier Park Theatre in downtown Worcester was probably gone by the time this house opened in 1937.

National Amusements (Redstone Theatres) took over this house and modernized it in the early 1960s. One source said that it was called Cinema One for a while before being twinned and renamed Webster Square Cinemas.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 26, 2018 at 8:46 pm

The Film Daily of Saturday, April 9, 1938, gave the opening date of the Park Theatre as February 10.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on December 7, 2021 at 5:41 am

Previous name: CINEMA I.

rivest266
rivest266 on April 27, 2024 at 6:48 pm

Grand opening ad posted. More to come for this theatre.

rivest266
rivest266 on April 28, 2024 at 7:50 pm

Reopened as Park Arts on October 3rd, 1961. Grand opening ad posted.

rivest266
rivest266 on April 28, 2024 at 8:10 pm

Closed in April 1962 and rebuilt and reopened as the Cinema 1 as the first indoor theatre for Redstone theatres on April 4th. 1963. Grand opening ad posted.

rivest266
rivest266 on April 29, 2024 at 1:50 pm

Renamed Webster Square Cinemas on May 27th, 1983 with two screens.

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