Tufts Blogs

For nearly two and a half years now, I’ve taken the Campus Shuttle down to Davis Square nearly every week, for a good meal, a sweet treat, or a CVS run. Every time I ventured to Davis, a towering brick building with an old-fashioned, glowing marquee caught my eye. And yet, even as someone with over 600 films logged on Letterboxd (what else was I supposed to do my senior year of high school?), I had never entered the historic Somerville Theatre, let alone watched a movie there. 

The setting has hosted live music, movies, and events in Davis Square since 1914. To maintain its air of autonomy, it runs very few movies, usually no more than three, each day. With the torrential downpours over the long Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend presenting us with limited options for outdoor activities, my friend Jason and I decided to seize the opportunity to experience the theater for the first time. So, we braved the weather for a Sunday night showing of the new hit film, One Battle After Another. 

My first impressions of the interior of the theater were that it was befitting of the grand marquee. With sparkling tiles that glistened under the bright lights, the lobby was simultaneously from another era and yet appropriate for the present in its impeccable upkeep. As we had purchased tickets in advance, we were able to skip the line at the ticket window. Tickets were around $20, a little pricier than a chain movie theater, but not an outrageous figure. Though I brought my own snacks (Trader Joe’s Soft Strawberry Licorice Twists for those who were wondering), there was plenty of food available for purchase, including hot dogs and popcorn.

The venue really began to differentiate itself when we entered the room where the film would be shown. There were no assigned seats, something I had never encountered at a movie. In the minutes before the showing, people were jovially mingling with their fellow moviegoers, a far cry from the solemn silence that precipitates most screenings. There was no massive screen, just a thin veil perched above a performing stage onto which the film would be projected. And, most baffling of all, there were no previews! Instead of 20 minutes of filler before the movie, we were greeted right away by the opening credits. 

The movie itself was very enjoyable, and the crowd, ostensibly filled with experienced cinephiles, seemed to know when to react as if we were watching a tennis match. The wide screening hall was both grand in its scale and welcoming in its communal atmosphere. After almost three hours, the film concluded, and we trudged home in the ongoing downpour.

Overall, the Somerville Theatre is a truly unique place to watch a movie. The experience of sitting in its grand hall and seeing a film projected onto the stage was incredible and enhanced by the theater's historic character. Davis Square is lucky to have such a unique institution nestled in its center. 

So, the next time you’re out to get a bite to eat or do some shopping, gaze up at the analog marquee, check out the titles, and enjoy a show.

Photo Credit: Stella Jeong / The Tufts Daily