Citigroup banking is withdrawing its long-time sponsorship of the Wang Center in November. That will mean the end of the “Citi Wang” and “Citi Shubert” theater names.
The Theatre Historical Society on-line archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Cameo in Mattawamkeag; it’s Card # 405. Street address is not given. Town name is misspelled. There is an exterior photo dated July 25, 1947. Condition is not given. The report states that the theater opened in 1910, and had 250 seats. The 1940 population was 843.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the State; it’s Card # 403. But no one filled it out, so there is no info and only an undated exterior photo. On an old Xerox copy of this report that I have, someone wrote “Nice looking theater!!” The CinemaData project file on the State has some history including prior names. It was at one time part of the Bernstein & Lieberman circuit of St. John NB.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Modern; it’s Card # 402. But no one filled it out, so there is no information and only an undated exterior photo. The CinemaData project has the street address, number of seats (600), and states that it was once under the management of Bernstein & Lieberman circuit of St. John NB. They say that it lasted into the 1950s and is now the Cyr Building.
A small group has formed with the intent to preserve the Wollaston as a PAC. Problem is that it makes a poor PAC, with its shallow stage and its long auditorium. When it first opened in the late-1920s it was a live playhouse featuring the Al Lutringer Stock Company presenting a repetoire of plays onstage. I knew someone who was a season ticketholder, now long deceased, who told me that if you sat in the rear half of the auditorium you couldn’t hear or see anything.
The State in Madison ME is on a long list of movie theaters in Maine which appeared in THS Marquee Magazine, lst qtr, 1991. The list was compiled by Douglas Gomery and Karen Sheldon who are involved in the CinemaData project on-line. Yet, the State is not listed there, which makes me wonder if it is listed, but under a different name ??
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the State; it’s Card # 404. Address is Main St. There is an exterior photo take May 16, 1941. Condition is Fair. The report says it opened in 1931, was showing MGM films and had 394 seats. The 1940 population was 3,800.
The Met was a small cinema in a little town, yet it’s sign outside was huge! Some say it was also known as the “Metropolitan Theatre” but I’m not sure of that.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Met; it’s Card # 398. Address is Main Street. Condition is Fair. The report says it opened in 1935, was showing MGM movies and had 296 seats. The 1940 population was 4,100.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Houlton Theatre; it’s Card # 379. Address is Market St. There is an exterior photo taken in April 1941. The report says it’s in Excellent condition; opened in 1940, was showing MGM films, and had 862 seats. A competing theater was the Temple. The 1940 population was 7,700.
I’m not sure, but I think the name “Erie Basin” derives from the docking “basin” in Brooklyn for the freight car-floats from the Erie Railroad terminal in Jersey City.
The owner of the Wollaston Theatre has expressed his intent to demolish it, starting this fall. I don’t know if the demolition would include the entire building or only the auditorium and stagehouse in back. (The front building which includes the lobby entrance has 4 occupied retail shops.) He claims that the building is now unsafe. He has not actually applied for a demolition permit. The city building inspector states that he is aware of some issues there, but that it is not in danger of imminent collapse. The owner also currently has no plans for re-use of the space. There are no individuals or groups interested in preserving the theater. All of these facts are from a front-page article in the Quincy Patriot-Ledger print edition, Thurs. Sept 17, 2015.
Perhaps I missed it, but looking at recent photos taken inside the theater, I didn’t notice a projection booth, either at the rear of the balcony or the rear of the main floor. They have a number of old curtains and drops and they alternate hanging them on the stage. Especially nice is a drop curtain with a scene of Belfast Harbor painted on it.
The CinemaData project’s file on the Cameo indicates that it had 3 locations during its life. The first location was at “476 Stevens Avenue at Deering Center”; the second location was this one at Forest Avenue – today’s “Great Lost Bear Restaurant.” The third location was at Woodford’s Corner, “next to Christopher’s”. Why did the Cameo move twice? What happened to these buildings?
The Cinema Data project states that this theater lasted in use until at least 1951. They opine that the reason the MGM agent graded it as “Poor” in his report is because it was unfinished at the time of is visit. Was he that dumb?? Why would he grade a new theater as “Poor” just because it was not finished when he arrived? The reunion notes of the Deering High School Class of 1956 are on-line – they have nice memories of the Cinema which they say was located “at Woodford’s Corner”. It must therefore have been open in the mid-1950s.
The Theatre Historical Society arcive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Cameo, it’s Card # 361. Address is Forest Avenue. There is an exterior photo taken Feb.20, 1941. Condition is Fair. The report says that it was remodeled in 1940, was showing MGM films, and had 525 seats.
The Theatre Historical Society on-line archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Cinema; it’s Card # 362. Adddress is Stevens Avenue. There is an exterior photo made on May 14, 1941. (Nice looking!) Condition is “Poor”. (Why? – it was a new house.) The report says that it opened in 1941, was showing MGM films, and had 736 seats. Competing theaters were the Cameo and the Deering, both also in the Deering area.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Deering; it’s Card # 363. Address is Stevens Avenue. There is an exterior photo taken Feb. 20, 1941. Condition is Poor. The report says that it opened in 1900, was showing MGM movies, and had 354 seats.
Not too long ago, the theater was cosmetically refurbished. The Opera Block seems to be in good condition. I’m sure that there are residents in Belfast who would like to see the theater restored to use as a local PAC- performing arts center.
In some small towns naming a theater “Community” implied that it was located in a town building, such as a town hall or a community center. I don’t know if that’s the case with this theater.
The Belfast Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. F. Cottrell was Mgr. The theater was on the second floor. 800 seats. Electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 27 feet wide X 15 feet high, and the stage was 20 feet deep. Newspapers: Belfast Age and Republican Journal, both weeklies. Hotels for show folk: Windsor and Revere. Railroad: Maine Central. The 1892 population was 6,000.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Community; it’s Card # 349. Address is Main St. There is an exterior photo dated April 10, 1941. Condition is Poor. The report says that it opened in 1909, was not showing MGM films, and had 500 seats. The 1940 population was 1,200.
In a long list of theaters and meeting halls in Massachusetts towns which received their operating license through their local police dept. for the year 1920, there are 3 theaters listed for Quincy: the Quincy Music Hall, the Kincaide (Capitol) and the Alhambra (Art), the latter managed by Fred Murphy. Among the halls is a “Strand Hall”, also managed by Fred Murphy. No addresses are given, but the Strand Hall could not have been located too far away from the Alhambra/Art. Murphy managed the new Strand Theatre on Chestnut St. when it opened in 1926. Was the theater’s name influenced by his earlier associatin with Stand Hall, or was there no connection?
Citigroup banking is withdrawing its long-time sponsorship of the Wang Center in November. That will mean the end of the “Citi Wang” and “Citi Shubert” theater names.
The Theatre Historical Society on-line archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Cameo in Mattawamkeag; it’s Card # 405. Street address is not given. Town name is misspelled. There is an exterior photo dated July 25, 1947. Condition is not given. The report states that the theater opened in 1910, and had 250 seats. The 1940 population was 843.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the State; it’s Card # 403. But no one filled it out, so there is no info and only an undated exterior photo. On an old Xerox copy of this report that I have, someone wrote “Nice looking theater!!” The CinemaData project file on the State has some history including prior names. It was at one time part of the Bernstein & Lieberman circuit of St. John NB.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Modern; it’s Card # 402. But no one filled it out, so there is no information and only an undated exterior photo. The CinemaData project has the street address, number of seats (600), and states that it was once under the management of Bernstein & Lieberman circuit of St. John NB. They say that it lasted into the 1950s and is now the Cyr Building.
A small group has formed with the intent to preserve the Wollaston as a PAC. Problem is that it makes a poor PAC, with its shallow stage and its long auditorium. When it first opened in the late-1920s it was a live playhouse featuring the Al Lutringer Stock Company presenting a repetoire of plays onstage. I knew someone who was a season ticketholder, now long deceased, who told me that if you sat in the rear half of the auditorium you couldn’t hear or see anything.
The State in Madison ME is on a long list of movie theaters in Maine which appeared in THS Marquee Magazine, lst qtr, 1991. The list was compiled by Douglas Gomery and Karen Sheldon who are involved in the CinemaData project on-line. Yet, the State is not listed there, which makes me wonder if it is listed, but under a different name ??
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the State; it’s Card # 404. Address is Main St. There is an exterior photo take May 16, 1941. Condition is Fair. The report says it opened in 1931, was showing MGM films and had 394 seats. The 1940 population was 3,800.
The Met was a small cinema in a little town, yet it’s sign outside was huge! Some say it was also known as the “Metropolitan Theatre” but I’m not sure of that.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Met; it’s Card # 398. Address is Main Street. Condition is Fair. The report says it opened in 1935, was showing MGM movies and had 296 seats. The 1940 population was 4,100.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Houlton Theatre; it’s Card # 379. Address is Market St. There is an exterior photo taken in April 1941. The report says it’s in Excellent condition; opened in 1940, was showing MGM films, and had 862 seats. A competing theater was the Temple. The 1940 population was 7,700.
I’m not sure, but I think the name “Erie Basin” derives from the docking “basin” in Brooklyn for the freight car-floats from the Erie Railroad terminal in Jersey City.
The owner of the Wollaston Theatre has expressed his intent to demolish it, starting this fall. I don’t know if the demolition would include the entire building or only the auditorium and stagehouse in back. (The front building which includes the lobby entrance has 4 occupied retail shops.) He claims that the building is now unsafe. He has not actually applied for a demolition permit. The city building inspector states that he is aware of some issues there, but that it is not in danger of imminent collapse. The owner also currently has no plans for re-use of the space. There are no individuals or groups interested in preserving the theater. All of these facts are from a front-page article in the Quincy Patriot-Ledger print edition, Thurs. Sept 17, 2015.
Perhaps I missed it, but looking at recent photos taken inside the theater, I didn’t notice a projection booth, either at the rear of the balcony or the rear of the main floor. They have a number of old curtains and drops and they alternate hanging them on the stage. Especially nice is a drop curtain with a scene of Belfast Harbor painted on it.
Yes, it had old antecedents- the MGM agent reported that it opened about 1900, so it would have been a stage theater at first.
The CinemaData Project says that the Deering Th. lasted at least until 1951.
The CinemaData project’s file on the Cameo indicates that it had 3 locations during its life. The first location was at “476 Stevens Avenue at Deering Center”; the second location was this one at Forest Avenue – today’s “Great Lost Bear Restaurant.” The third location was at Woodford’s Corner, “next to Christopher’s”. Why did the Cameo move twice? What happened to these buildings?
The Cinema Data project states that this theater lasted in use until at least 1951. They opine that the reason the MGM agent graded it as “Poor” in his report is because it was unfinished at the time of is visit. Was he that dumb?? Why would he grade a new theater as “Poor” just because it was not finished when he arrived? The reunion notes of the Deering High School Class of 1956 are on-line – they have nice memories of the Cinema which they say was located “at Woodford’s Corner”. It must therefore have been open in the mid-1950s.
The Theatre Historical Society arcive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Cameo, it’s Card # 361. Address is Forest Avenue. There is an exterior photo taken Feb.20, 1941. Condition is Fair. The report says that it was remodeled in 1940, was showing MGM films, and had 525 seats.
The Theatre Historical Society on-line archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Cinema; it’s Card # 362. Adddress is Stevens Avenue. There is an exterior photo made on May 14, 1941. (Nice looking!) Condition is “Poor”. (Why? – it was a new house.) The report says that it opened in 1941, was showing MGM films, and had 736 seats. Competing theaters were the Cameo and the Deering, both also in the Deering area.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Deering; it’s Card # 363. Address is Stevens Avenue. There is an exterior photo taken Feb. 20, 1941. Condition is Poor. The report says that it opened in 1900, was showing MGM movies, and had 354 seats.
Not too long ago, the theater was cosmetically refurbished. The Opera Block seems to be in good condition. I’m sure that there are residents in Belfast who would like to see the theater restored to use as a local PAC- performing arts center.
In some small towns naming a theater “Community” implied that it was located in a town building, such as a town hall or a community center. I don’t know if that’s the case with this theater.
The Belfast Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. F. Cottrell was Mgr. The theater was on the second floor. 800 seats. Electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 27 feet wide X 15 feet high, and the stage was 20 feet deep. Newspapers: Belfast Age and Republican Journal, both weeklies. Hotels for show folk: Windsor and Revere. Railroad: Maine Central. The 1892 population was 6,000.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Community; it’s Card # 349. Address is Main St. There is an exterior photo dated April 10, 1941. Condition is Poor. The report says that it opened in 1909, was not showing MGM films, and had 500 seats. The 1940 population was 1,200.
In a long list of theaters and meeting halls in Massachusetts towns which received their operating license through their local police dept. for the year 1920, there are 3 theaters listed for Quincy: the Quincy Music Hall, the Kincaide (Capitol) and the Alhambra (Art), the latter managed by Fred Murphy. Among the halls is a “Strand Hall”, also managed by Fred Murphy. No addresses are given, but the Strand Hall could not have been located too far away from the Alhambra/Art. Murphy managed the new Strand Theatre on Chestnut St. when it opened in 1926. Was the theater’s name influenced by his earlier associatin with Stand Hall, or was there no connection?