Arlington’s historic Regent Theatre is known for its live shows, indie films, and old-school charm, but, beneath the seats, lies a surprising secret.
Long before it became a cultural staple, the space underneath the theater was home to an eight-lane bowling alley run by the Mystic Bowling Alley Co. Yes, while audiences enjoyed performances upstairs, bowlers were knocking down pins just below their feet.
Today, that same underground space has been completely transformed. Instead of bowling lanes, you’ll now find a professional sound studio, green-screen stage, and rehearsal areas used by creatives across the city.
It’s a hidden layer of the Regent that most visitors never realize exists. Today, you can actually step into this reimagined space yourself through their exciting events program which includes The Jury Experience, an immersive courtroom drama, and The Magic Gateway, a family-friendly magic show.
But that’s not the only unexpected chapter in the Regent’s history. In the early 1930s, the theater found itself at the center of a heated local debate over whether movies should be shown on Sundays—an issue residents repeatedly voted against. And in a more chaotic moment, one night’s show was abruptly halted when a popcorn machine caught fire, forcing a full evacuation of the building.
So, next time you’re there, just remember: beneath the applause, there was once the sound of bowling balls rolling.
