Type all complete applicable sections...plaster cornice treatment.. Wide semi-elliptical archways flanked by panel led Ionic pilasters open at left and right to stair-halls; doors

torni 10-300

Dec. 19o8UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

F’lATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESINVENTORY - NOMIttATION FORM

Type all entries - completeapplicable sections

STA TE:

Rhode IslandCoUNTY,

ProvidenceFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE

i::.1..i..:.1iH :::..:.:COMMON

Triritv Square Repertory TheatreAND/OR RISTORIC:

?1ajestic Theatre . .. .Loc.tTIoN ., .t. :.

STREET AND NUMBERI -

201 Washington StreetCITY OR TOWN:

- ProvidenceSTATE

. CODE COUNTY:

- Rhode Island . 1 . ProvidenceCODE

007{3T CLASSIFICATION - -

CATEGORY

Check One- OWNERSHIP . STATUS

ACCESSIBLE

To THE PUBLIC

District Building QSite ] Structure El

Objoc,

Public J Public Acquisition: -Pri vote In Process ElBoth Boing Considered El

-

Occtpied Yes: in futurUnoccupied El RestriCted IXiProsorvotion work Unrestricted El

in rooross El No:

er; EN 1 US C Chock Uric or Morons Appropriuro-

Agrculturol Government - El Park El Transportation Comments ElCommerc iol El Industrial : Private Residence El Other Specify ElEducational El Military El Religious El

nt.rto ‘in, crtt CX Muse uni El Sc ic it file El1. OWNER OF PROPERTY . . ., . . . :. .

OWNERS NAME:

Trinity Squaz Repertory TheatreSTReET AND NUMBER:

37 WeybossetStreetc:rv Ott TOWN:

ProvidenceOL T!O NO F LEGALDE SCR IPT ION

___________

JCOURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS. Etc

City HallSTREET AND NUMOER:

Dorrance Street at Washington StreetOR TOWN

Prc,videnceAPPR0X:MATE ACREAGE OC NOMINATED PROPERTY: Less

6. R:PRESFN-rATI0N IN EXISTING SURVEYSHi TLE OF SURVEY: -

Not so representedDATE OF SURVEY: FeDEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS:

STREET AND NUMBER:

CITY OR TOWN: STATE:

1

‘In

-r

C

F-

L

=1

1

F

‘An

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STATE:

STATE

Rhode Island,than one acre

02

110

z-CcmCInni0zr-c

CONDITION.. Chock One

- Excellont El Good Fair El Dotoriorotod El Ruins El Unoxposed ElChock One Chock One

INTEGRITYAltered Unoltored El Mv El Original Site

DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL it known PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

This building, the former Majestic Theatre, was designed for theEmery AmusementCompany by William B. Walker& Sons, a prolific andlong-standing Providence firm, and completed in 1916 at a cost of5oo,oooor more. A large free-standing structure 120by 180 feetbuilt on a steel frame, it is trapezoidal in form a fact disguised bycanted front corners, and -flat-roofed, with the stage-loft at the northrising higher than the rest of the building. Its bulk is given specialprominenceby the open traffic areas surrounding it.

The main, or entrance,façade, facing south, is treated lavishlyand carried for a short distanceSaround the canted front corners; itgives an impression of four storeys nlus an attic in the frieze. Thisnortion of the huildincz, prefacing the auditorium, is given an eclecticRenaissancetreatment characteristic of the Beaux-Arts style pot1ar inthe first decadesof this century and employed for public buildings inparticular. White terra-cotta with accents in green and gold has beenused to face the entire façade, and it is important to note that, in accord with standard terra-cotta practice, the architectural embellishrer-tt -is built up of architectural details cast in units as stock patterns.This kind of modular systemwith its use of cast parts introduces an inItrently repetitive aspect into the design and explains the somewhatsterile--in spite of its elaboration--character of the whole composition.

Seven equal bays wide counting the openings in the canted corners, athe façade is dominated by a central arched recess that rises threestoreys from sidewalk to entab]ature and is finished with a wide, ornamentally-moulded inner enframementand surmountedby a cartouche. Thelower level in the recesscontains the main entrance; the upper part isfilled by a large, prorninently-mullioned, tripartite plate glass windowdivided horizontally by tucco bandings at the floor or landing levels.At street level, the original ornate metal and glass marquises have nowbeen replaced by a metal canopy-curi-announcementboard, and marquisesabove corner shop-entranceshave gone. On either side of the centralarch are windows on two storey-levels, and in the outermost bays are tallwindows indicative of four storey-levels--all of these having a varietyof ornamentalenframements. Acrossthe top of the façade runs an architrave band with a panelled frieze containing the name of the theatreabove it. Above the frieze is an elaborate arched corbel table supporting a narrow, embossedband of cornice. A panelled and balustradedparapet surmounts the cornice. The theatre’s front exhibits a greatvariety of cast ceramic detail some of it coloured--mouldings, roundand diamond-shapedbosses,. swags, cartouches, foliation, relief panels,pedirnents etc.

Festivetcternal decoration is, however, confined to the front ofthe building, and its side and rear are of buff brick with the nearly

See Continuation Sheet. -N

* Fern lO.DOaJvly 1969

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

Continuation Sheet-l

STATE

Rhode IslandCOUNTY


ENTRYNUMBER DATE

Number SI’ entries

7. Description.

blank expansesabove the ground storey divided into Itbaysti by narrow rusticated piers; on these elevations the few openings are there by necessityonly and are unadorned, irregularly spaced. A plain one-storey extensionat the north or rear of the theatre contains some retail shops.

Entering through the central doors at the south, which have stained-glass transoms, one is in a 3O-hy-5O-foot lobby with a tesselated floor andmarble baseboard, plastered walls,a compartmentedceiling and elaborateplaster cornice treatment.. Wide semi-elliptical archways flanked by panelled Ionic pilasters open at left and right to stair-halls; doors along therear open to the orchestra level of the auditorium. In the centre of theceiling is a large oval opening--with elaborate internal cornice treatment--looking to the upper lobby and a domed skylight of stained glass.

The lateral stair-hails are panelled in three colours of Italian -marble and have exit doors with stained-glass transoms; thestairs themselves are also of marble and have elaborate bronze and wrought-iron rails;decorative bronze grilles cover heating: vents in the walls; and walls andceiling are separatedby a full classical entablature in. plaster.

The chief remaining display of grandeur in the building to-day, however, is the upper lobby, or foyer to the loges and gallery. Of the samedimensions as the entrance lobby, it has a wide stretch of tall windows nodoubt originally heavily valanced and draped on its south 5ide, doors tothe auditorium along its north side and wide openings from the stair-hallsat either end. Plaster walls above a marble baseboardhave pilasters ofadaptive Tuscan form with stopped fluting and pendant ornamentation in theupper part of the fluting. The ceiling is compartmented,and a classicalcornice with egg-and-dart motifand dentils is used around the room andwithin the compartments. The showpiece here is the central rotunda actually oval opening which looks into the entrance lobby below. Eightplaster columns again with stopped fluting ‘and pendant ornament of theComposite order appear to support the stained-glass "dome" capping thisorening and artificially lit from above, and betweenthem, insevensections, runs ahighly ornate marble-cappedbronze grille or rail. Withinthe base of the "dome" there is an elaborate plaster entablature treatment

-with modillions, an embossedfrieze punctuated by garlands etc. Gildinghas been liberally used in all this adornnent; and there are gilt scrolledbrackets in the angles of the chief recessesand openings of this lobby,pendant lamps with gilt-bronze frames incorporating masks, garlands, tassels and milk-glass in the corner compartments of the ceiling.

Beyond the north-east and north-west corners of this lobby, plainenclosed stairways lead to the upper-gallery level, where a frontal cross-hall has an arched window grouping partially filled by stained glass.

See Continuation Sheet 2.

1’.

H.

I

N

GPO 901.082

Form lOJOOo UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE- uy 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island

-

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HiSTORIC PLACES COUNTY -Providence

INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM -FOR NPS USE ONLY,

- - ENTRY NUMBER I DATE* Continuation Shec-t-2.

- _________

Number cli entries

7. Description.

The auditorium and spreading proscenium continued thetheme of lavishddcor. Put since this area has now been stripped and is to be completelyrebuilt not restored, only brief quoted description, from The Providence Magazine of April, 1917, will be given of its past grandeur:

The auditorium, having a seating capacity of 14100 people,is wainscoted in Italian and Turkish marbles. The walls arehung with silk tapestries. The balcony seats 1,600. The stageis 80 feet deep and 35 feet wide. . ... In addition to theusual stage boxes, there are loges in front of the balcorw andon the main floor from the boxes to the back wall.

There was also a vast amount of other moulded, painted and gilt plasterpanel and relief decoration. -

8. Significance.

could revel in the halls and lobbies with their marbles, columns, balustrades and carpeting and in the gilt, colours and velvet in the auditorium.

For these reasons,this building occupies a particular place inAmerican architectural history. But in itself, it is a good building,visually pleasing; and it is a late product of a prominent local finn ofarchitect-partners whose adjustments instyle, through some eight decadesand three generations, is interesting. It should also be noted for itsuse of terra-cotta facing and trim--much promoted by its manufacturersandby architectural publications c- 1895-1920 in place of carved stone. Thatmaterial was flexible and adaptableand quite economically could imitatethe carving for which workers were becoming less available. This is oneof the very few terra-cotta façades in downtown Providence.

With the coming of television, drive-in theatres and intimate cinemas,this building came to outlive -its original use and profitability. Now, theTrinity SquareRepertory Theatre, which has become internationally knownand was in need of a permanentbase and an adequate auditorium for its productions, has acquired the Majestic Theatre. The gilded auditorium isbeing stripped and gutted to provide two levels of modern performing areas.However, the exterior elevations, the paved lobby at street-level, thetwo fine stair-halls, the upper lobbyand rotunda will be retained, cleanedand refurbished to show again as much of their original elegande as financeswill allow.

..

°

-* ,‘ *‘

PERIOD Check One or More as Appropriate

Pre-Columbion C 16th Cenrury C 18th Century C 20th Century

-15th Century C 17th Century C 19th Century C

* SPECIFIC DATEISt If Applicable endKnown 1916* AREAS DF 5lGNt FtCANCE

Check One or More as Appropriate

Abor igina Education C Political C Urban Planning CPrehistdric C Engineering C - R,IigtonfPhi- Other Specify CF-listo,ic * C Industry C losophy C

________________________

Agriculture C Invention - C Science * C -

________________________

* ArtLandscape Sculpture C

________________________

* Commerce C Architecture C Social/Human-* Communications C Literature C itorion C

________________________

Conservation C Military C Theater

________________________

- Music C Transportation C

_____________________________

STATEMENT OF SIGNI Fl C AN CE Include Peraonaaes, Dates. Events, Etc.

This sizeable huildiriiT with its large-scale exterioradornment occupies its downtown location well, being inHeight, weight and proportions in good visual balance and relationship with nearby municipal

Vs buildings and even with a neighbouring modern parking-garage. ItsWashington Street façade provides a good "stop"--in the sense ofpunctu-

o ation--to the north-western end of Providencets downtown shopping and- entertainment area.I-o Although it is about to embark on a new life--housing new, alive

* performers using innovative and lively forms of dramatic expression,the Majestic Theatre building will remain a prominent physical reminderof the era of the extravagant and luxurious "movie palaces’ constructed

I- in America during the second-through-fourthdecadesof this century.Expensive as their construction and decor may have been, they were paidfor many times over by the pre-TV public, who found romance, world

- travel and nepenthe in the then-new entertainment medium. The theatreswere part of the illusion, supplying imperially palatial and formal,

Lii extravagantly frivolous or startlingly "moderne" settings for theirw motion-pictures, their ‘audevil1e entertainers and the blasting sound

of their gi’eat disappearing pipe-organs. The entrepreneursand their- architacts well knew what would be the return on investment in these

theatre Et±tctures and in constructing them often producedbuildings andinteriors now highly admired from other viewpoints.

Alone among Providence movie-houses otherwise concealedin orunder office and loft buildings, or iAsqueezed sites where only anentrance is visible, it seems, the Majestic Theatre of 1916 is a largeand free-standing structure which externally proclaims its functions.The building, further, had a way of announcing to the’potential ticket-buyer that its auditorium did not house the more serious arts. The southfaçade--elaborate and somewhat playful with its white, green and goldfacing, its varied and ornamentedopenings--let ohe know iSediatelythat this was a place of enjoyment, in the same rather frivolous manneras Mexico Cityts National Theatre of 1900 and Londonts Gaiety Theatreof 1905. Once-enticed inside,’ the clerk’, the shopgirl and the housewife

See Continuation Sheet 2.

- H

9.-MAJOR B

ProvidenceMagazine, April, 1916, April, 1917.Cady, John Hutchins: The Civic and Architectural Development of Provi

dence, 1636-1950 Providence, Rhode Island, 1957, pp. 227-228.

10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA

____ ________________________________

LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES - LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES

DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTYDEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY

- - - -- , R

-‘-‘ ________

OF LESS_THAN_ONE ACRE

CORNER LATITUDE LONGITUDE ‘ LATITUDE LONGITUDE

NW

ME

SE

SW

Degrees Minutes Seconds° -

° ‘

° ‘

-

Degrees Minutes Seconds° -

-‘

° - -

‘ ° - - .

0

Degrees Minutes Seconds

10 ° t19 ‘l9.ONDegrees Minutes Seconds710 25 ‘0l.10

‘‘

LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COuN’rY BOUNDARIES

STATE: CODE COUNTY

STATE:

STATE:

STATE:

COUNTy!

COUNTY:

!i:L FORM’PRE A’DNAME AND TITLE:

Richard B. Harrington, ConsultantORGANIZATION ‘ DATE

- Rhode Island Historical PreservationCommission April 22, 1972STREET AND NUMBER:

John Brown House, 52 Power StreetCITY OR TOWN: STATE * CODE

Providence Rhode Islarxi, 02906 W.i

As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na-

NATIONA L-REGIS-’r:ER .

- -

tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Public Law Ihereby certify that this property is included in the

89-665 1 hereby nominate this property for inclusion National Register.I

-in the National Register-and certify that it has been ‘

evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set

- forth by the National Park Service. lie recommended‘‘‘‘‘

‘level of signiticanCe of this nomination is:

‘ ‘ -

Chief, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation

National C State C Local

-*

Na:ne ‘ ‘‘

Date

‘

AnEST:

Title -

Keeper of The National Register

Date, Date

In

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERiOR STATENATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island

COUNTYNATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

ProvidencePROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FORNPS USE ONLY

Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith photographENTRY NUMBER DATE

tNAME ::.: .:,:. ...... ... ,... ..‘.. .. ..LcOMMON: Trinity Sgwire Renertoy Theatre

- 0/OR HISTORIC: Ma1est c TheatreLOCATt3 .:. .: .. ::f. .. ..H.

STREET AND NUMBER:


ProvidenceSTATE: ODE COUNTY: coo

Rhode Island Providence 07

PHOTO CREDIT: William L. SmithDATE OF PHOTO:JaflUa7, 1972EGATIVE FILED AT: William L. Smith, P. 0. Box 201,

Hvnni,

Maschietts, 0260 . ,...DENTFICATIO.

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Street-level lobby, looking west and showing opening torotunda above.

---

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATENATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESCOUNTY

ProvidencePROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATEV.’ Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith photograph

z -0 COMMON; Trinity SauareRepertory Theatre- AND/OR HISTORIC: a,jestic Iheatre}-. L :...,. .. . ..

STREET AND NUMBER:

201 WashingtonStreetCITY OR TOWN:

ProvidenceSTATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island LtL Providence 007z >H0TORFEECE- PHOTO CREDIT: William L. Smith

pATE OF PHOTO: January, 1972LU kGATIVEFILEDA: William L. Smith, P. 0. Box 201,

Hyannis, Massachiinetts102601

DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC.

Front portion of east stair-hall at street level.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESCOUNTY

ProvidencePROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

V.’ Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith photograph ENTRY NUMBER DATE

Z 4AME .-‘ . .. . .... . .. .... . . .. . .... i..... .- .0 MON;Trnjty Square Renertor Theatre- ANDfOR HISTORIC: Majestic TheatreF-

C- STREET AND NUMBER:201 Washington Street

CITY OR TOWN:

ProvidenceF- STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island Providence 007

- PHOTO CREDIT: 1Jj1llan L. SmithDATE OF PHOTO: January, 1972

LU IEGATIVE FILED AT: William L. Srnith, P. 0. Box 201,U.’ - hyannis, Massachusetts.02601

NTCATIODESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC.

Second-floor lobby, looking west.

STATE

Rhode IslandCOUNTY


ENTRY NUMBER DATE



PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

Type oil entries - attach to or enclosewith photograph

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L.I±.ME . . .. . .T .COMMON: :rriflity SquareRepertory TheatreAN0IOR HISTORIC; Najestic Theatre

3__LcT13STREET AND NUMBER:



Rhode Island Providence 007POTORFEREcE

PHOTO CREDIT: Wi1liai L. SmithDATE OF PHOTO; January, 1972EGATIVE FILED AT: William L. Smith, P. 0. Box 201,

Hyannis, Massachusetts,02601.- .5...

LU

LU

DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION. ETC.

DENT IF ICATI O1

Exterior from the south-west.



NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNPTrYovidence

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM FOR NPS USE ONLYENTRY NUMBER DATE

Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith photograph.5...... S. S.*. .5555 . S.S.*.* 555*5*5*5 .5 ..,........... 55. . S

0 COMMON: Trinity Sciiare Renertorv Theatre -- AND/OR HISTORIC: Naestic Theat,re.I- CA1O

o STREET AND NUMBER:201 WashingtonStreetCITY OR TOWN:

ProvidenceF- STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

‘Rhode Island lili Providence 007z- PHOTO CREDIT: William L. Smith

DATE OF PHOTO: January, 1972U.’ EGATIVE FILED AT: William L. Smith, P. 0. Box 201,LU S Hvannis!1assachusetts,O26Ot, ... ..ff _T1CATI0 S.

DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC.

Hanging lamp in second-floor lobby.




PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

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COUNTY


ENTRY NUMBER

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Form lO.3OJuly 1969



PROPERTY MAP FORM

Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith map

STATE

Rhode IslandCOUNTY


ENTRY NUMBER DATE

[! NAME .: S. 555‘5 S *SS7 55 *.. S

LCOMMON: Trinity Square Repertory " -itreAND/OR HISTORIC; Mal estic TheatreOCATION

STREET AND N1.IM 8ER:



Rhode Island Providence uUMAP*REFERENC S *. :. ,.:.*...::7’*: :.. : " . .5

SOURCE:

U. S. Geological Survey

SCALE: 1: 2h,000DATE: 1957

REQUIR EMENTSTO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS

1. Property broundaries where reqUired.2. North arrow.

3. Latitude and longitude reference.

Documents

Type all complete applicable sections...plaster cornice treatment.. Wide semi-elliptical archways flanked by panel led Ionic pilasters open at left and right to stair-halls; doors