History: A changing industry

“The Modern Theatre … is the most elaborate and costly theatre of its size in New England. … It will be devoted to the exclusive exhibition of the best photo-plays, with vocal and musical selections.”

-- Boston Herald, June 25, 1914

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Jacob Lourie owned the Modern Theatre when it opened in 1914. He was an innovator and the first in Boston to introduce sound with movies. Courtesy of John Toto

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A 1914 program includes a synopsis of the photo play as well as a list of coming attractions and advertising. Courtesy of John Toto

The Modern Theatre opened on June 25, 1914, during the silent film era, with owner Jacob Lourie (1874-1940) at the helm. The first film shown was The Only Son, featuring Thomas W. Ross.

While that first feature may be forgettable, Lourie’s leadership would reverberate from Boston to Hollywood.

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Poster for The Jazz Singer, a groundbreaking movie that incorporated spoken dialogue into the film. 

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Boston newspaper listing advertises a 1940 double feature playing at the paired Modern and Beacon theaters. The film reels were transported from one venue to the other by streetcar between showings. 

When others were calling the marriage of sound and film a gimmick, Lourie decided to invest in the new technology that would prove the death knell for silent films. He installed the Vitaphone system, which synchronized music and sound effects with the motion picture. 

The Modern Theatre was the site of many firsts:

  • Boston’s first movie sound system – the Vitaphone
  • First Boston showing of a “talkie,” – The Jazz Singer
  • Introduction of the double feature
  • Early form of air-conditioning 

“Mr. Loew, not wholly satisfied with the returns from showing only vaudeville, determined to also display a feature picture — which threatened to ruin his competition, namely Mr. Lourie. There was no room on the stages of the Beacon and the Modern for vaudeville, so Mr. Lourie did what seemed the only thing possible — he put in two feature pictures, and that, sir, is how it all began.” 

-- “Man about Boston,” George W. Clarke
Boston Daily Record, December, 20, 1940

History: A changing industry