The Columbus Theatre is a movie theater and concert venue in

Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts ...

. The theater is located at 270 Broadway in the city's

Broadway–Armory Historic District The Broadway–Armory Historic District is a historic district encompassing a mainly residential mixed-used urban area west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Description The district is one which saw its most significant growth between the ...

History

The building was designed by architect Oreste DiSaia and built by realtor Domenic Annotti in 1926. DiSaia designed it to be “outdated”. Art Deco was the fashion of the time but he designed it as “a 19th-century

Italianate The Italianate style was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. Like Palladianism and Neoclassicism, the Italianate style drew its inspiration from the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian ...

palace.” When opened, the theater featured vaudeville and silent films before it was leased by RKO Albee Theater. It was considered “one of Providence’s premier cinemas for the next 25 years.”. In 1929, it was renamed the Uptown Theatre. They fell on hard times until Misak Berberian bought it in the summer of 1962. He returned it to original name. With his son Jon in charge, they renovated the theatre. After extensive repairs, they reopened the Theatre on November 1, 1962 (the 36th anniversary of the original opening). They closed again in 2009 to make necessary “fire updates” required after the Station nightclub fire and reopened November 17, 2012. When Jon took over, he programmed second-run movies, a few operas and recitals. But facing competition from the multiplexes that opened in Providence, they began showing porn. Since the most recent renovation, they showcase a variety of entertainment including live performances. Performers have included

John C. Reilly John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965) is an American actor, comedian, musician, producer, and writer. After his film debut in ''Casualties of War'' (1989), he gained exposure through his supporting roles in '' Days of Thunder'' (1990), '' ...

and his band, John Reilly and Friends. The Columbus Cooperative runs the Theatre. They have two theatres - the small theatre upstairs seats 200, and the large theatre seats 800. The Columbus Cooperative includes the Providence folk band

The Low Anthem The Low Anthem is a band from Providence, Rhode Island formed in 2006 by friends Ben Knox Miller and Jeff Prystowsky. The current lineup consists of Knox Miller (vocals, guitars, trumpets, saws), Prystowsky (vocals, drums, double basses, synths), ...

, whose members assist in planning events such as film screenings and concerts.

References

{{reflist Cinemas and movie theaters in Rhode Island Theatres in Rhode Island Buildings and structures in Providence, Rhode Island Italianate architecture in Rhode Island Theatres completed in 1926 1926 establishments in Rhode Island