BUT ONCE UPON A TIME, GOING TO THE THEATER WAS A BIG DEAL.
>> IT IS EASY TO OVERLOOK.
A HISTORICAL LANDMARK.
THE ONLY SIGN ON THE OUTSIDE OF WAS ONCE A HUB OF NIGHTLIFE.
LEADING TO THE OLYMPIA THEATER.
>> IT IS A MAGNIFICENT BUILDING.
IRREPLACEABLE IN DOWNTOWN WORCESTER.
>> DEBRA PACKARD SAYS THIS SPACE ORIGINALLY OPENED IN 1891.
THE OLYMPIA IS THE OLDEST THE AT HER AND PERHAPS ONE OF ONLY A FEW FROZEN IN TIM COVERED IN YEARS OF NEGLEC >> ICV STAGE, ONE OR TWO LIGHTS.
I CAN IMAGINE HOW EXCITING THAT WAS TO SEE THOSE.
>> CHAIRS BEATEN-DOWN PEEK THROUGH INSULATION THAT ONCE CAP THE SIGNS -- SOUNDS OF PERFORMANCE.
>> IT IS A GREAT, NATION OF THE ENERGY OF THE PAST.
THE ORCHESTRA WAS ALL-FEMALE.
I LIKE TO ENVISION WHAT WAS GOING ON.
ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE WERE SO MANY ITERATIONS.
>> THAT CALLED FOR AN EVOLVING CLIENTELE.
>> IT BECAME A CINEMA.
AND THEN A SO-CALLED FINE ART CINEMA.
>> MEANING?
>> RISQUE.
PORNOGRAPHY, I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT.
>> TORN AND TATTERED, THE RED CARPET STILL COVERS THE STEPS LEADING TO THE BALCONY AND A TREASURE HUNT OF SORTS.
THAT IS WHERE WE MET THE BUILDING’S CARETAKER.
ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAS BEEN INSIDE HERE IN THE LAST DECADE.
>> IT IS NOSTALGIC COMING IN HERE.
>> HE HOPES THE CURTAIN WILL ONCE AGAIN RISE ON THIS STAGE.
>> THIS IS AWESOME.
X IT IS A PROJECTOR, WHAT THEY USED TO DO THE OLD MOVIES WITH.
THEY USED A CARBON ROD.
IT WOULD CREATE THEY WOULD USE THE BRIGHT LIGHT.
IT IS SO EXCITING FOR ME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT COULD BECOME.
I THINK IT COULD BECOME A SPECIAL PLACE.
A FEW MILES EAST, YOU WILL FIND A SPACIOUS LOT.
WHEN DRIVE-IN THEATERS BROUGHT FAMILIES TOGETHER FOR A NIGHT OUT.
>> THE HEYDAY OF THE DRIVE ENDS.
-- DRIVE-INS.
THE SIGN STILL JETS OUT ONTO ROUTE 20.
A FRAGMENTED REMINDER OF DAYS GONE PAST.
>> POLICE OFFICERS DOING TRAFFIC, TRYING TO GET IN HERE.
>> A PAST TI THAT GREW QUICKLY.
>> WHEN THE VIDEOTAPES AND VCRS CA OUT, THAT WAS THE START OF THE DEMISE OF THE DRIVE-INS.