This building used to be the Oriental Theatre (called 'Ori' by the locals). This ornate theatre was a showplace at the time with twinkling stars, buddhas with lit red and green eyes, and moving clouds. The inside had red lacquered benches and oriental carpet. It opened in 1929 and closed in 1971 playing "Diamonds Are Forever". At the 1601 Blue Hill Ave address, Capitol Electric supply moved in and leveled the floor. The original stage is buried beneath 10 feet of concrete. The stage rigging and lighting is still there along with the original front wall and stairs (both sets) to the balcony, the swinging doors that are there now going from the lobby to the auditorium are in the original doorway. The projection booths and the openings are still there. I hear that the stars from the theater are still on the ceiling. Many artifacts from the Oriental did end up in Fred McLennan's theatre in Canton, Ma. which he renamed the "Oriental". To get to Capitol Electric Supply, which occupies the former theatre itself, you have to walk around the corner onto Fairway Street and enter through a side parking lot.

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