Salem Theaters

Some of the defunct theaters in Salem are:

• Theatre Comique - 47 Washington St.

• Rialto Theater - 49 Washington St.

• Paramount Theater - 180 Essex Street (torn down 1970). Built in 1929 as a motion picture house. Seats 2,187 persons.

• Plaza Theater - 273 Essex Street (torn down 1969). Opened Dec. 31, 1913; rebuilt after a disastrous fire in 1917. Seating capacity was 770. Closed in the mid 1950's.

• Federal Theater - 24 Federal Street (torn down 1970)

• Empire Theater - 283-285-287 Essex Street. Built in 1906, seated nearly 1500. This was also the site of Mechanic Hall, erected of brick in 1839, and destroyed by fire Feb. 4, 1905.

• Salem Theatre (the first)- 273 Essex St. Featured live shows and silent movies. Harry Houdini performed here in 1906.

• Salem Theater (E.M.Loew's) 293 Essex Street, was built in 1952 as a motion picture house. It was air-conditioned and had the largest screen on the North Shore. Seating capacity 1,000. - (demolished May 9, 1985)

See Also

• "Salem Theater" Salem Evening News, April 15, 16, 22,24 and 26, 1901.

• "Paramount Theatre" Salem Evening News, April 17, 1930.
• "Salem Theater slated for demolition", Salem Evening News, May 9, 1985., p1.
• City's golden age of theaters glittered" Salem Evening News, Feb. 20,2002. p.A2
• Vertical File in Salem Collection - Salem Theaters
• Vertical File in Salem Collection - Paramount Theater
• "Organist loved playing at old Paramount Theatre" Salem News, Jan. 31, 2011, p. 1