The Springfield Theatre in Springfield VT where “The Simpsons” movie had its premier on July 21st is listed here in Cinema Treasures, but there are no “fantasy” theatres listed, as far as I know! Getting back to the Aztec in SA, does anyone know where the newly-installed organ came from ??
As of the time of the reports that Barry Goodkin found at the Lynn library, which date from the early 1970s, the theatres still standing were: Capitol (ex-Central Square); E.M. Loew’s Cinema (ex-Strand/Warner); and the E.M. Loew’s Lynn Open Air drive-in. Also, it appears that the Uptown Th. in West Lynn was still standing, possibly converted to other uses. There is also the Lynn Auditorium, part of the City Hall complex, which today is a live theatre. I don’t know the status today of the ones which were still around in the early-1970s.
The Olympia was opened on January 25, 1908. It was a live theatre with films at first, and also was renowned locally for its Sunday afternoon concerts at which famous classical music artistes performed. A number of stars appeared there. Later, it featured movies only. It closed on October 7, 1952 and was then demolished to provide parking for Anthony’s Hawthorne Restaurant. This info is from an article about Lynn theatres written by Elmo Benedetto and found at the Lynn public library by CT member Barry Goodkin.
The Uptown was located at 827 Western Avenue in West Lynn at Breed Square. It was opened as the Standard Theatre in 1917, and the name changed to Uptown Theatre in 1933. It was still standing, apparently, at the time it was included in a list of Lynn theatres compiled by an unknown researcher (the list is undated but appears to have been typed in the 1970s) It was found in the Lynn public library recently by CT member Barry Goodkin.
The Lynn Open Air Theatre opened in either 1937 or 1938. Elmo Benedetto, in an article about Lynn theatres, says “1937”, while an unknown person who compiled a list of Lynn theatres, says “1938”. He also says that it was “on the Lynnway near the General Edwards Bridge”. Both the article and the list were found at the Lynn public library by CT member Barry Goodkin. The Benedetto article has a date “Feb. 17, 1972” on it. Benedetto also states that the Lynn Open Air Theatre, run by E.M. Loew, was still open when he wrote his article.
The Auditorium opened on Sept. 15, 1905 as a live theatre. It had its own stock company in residence there for years. It closed for awhile in the 1920s and then reopened as a cinema. It was known as “the Audie” by locals and presented popular film fare. It later closed due to problems with the building, but reopened as the Colony Theatre in Dec. 1950. Its address as the Colony is listed as 21 Andrew Street. This operation lasted a few years; and it was finally demolished, apparently around 1968, to make way for a parking area at Bob Brest Buick. This info is from research by CT member Barry Goodkin at the Lynn public library, including an article written by Elmo Benedetto around 1972.
Further info about the Waldorf from Barry Goodkin. It was damaged by fire on May 18, 1904 and then repaired and reopened. It was, of course, originally a live theatre. It was renamed Park Theatre briefly from 1918. After closing in 1956, it was demolished in June 1965 to make way for the Lynn Market Place. Under its original name, Lynn Theatre, it is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Dodge & Harrison were the Mgrs. The seating capacity was 1,300 and the house had electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 34 feet wide X 28 feet high, and the stage was 40 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor. There was one daily and 2 weekly newspapers, and 3 hotels in town. The 1897 population of Lynn was 65,000.
The Comique was located at 95 Munroe St. in Lynn. It was opened in April 1907 by the movie exhibition pioneer, Moe Mark. In addition to films, there was live entertainment on stage. Between 1940 and 1943 it was known as the New Comique. It closed in 1943 and was demolished in 1946. This info comes from research by CT member Barry Goodkin at the Lynn public library, including writing by Elmo Benedetto circa 1972.
The Grand Opera House in St. Mary’s, OH was listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. J.L. Smith was the Mgr., and the seating capacity was 1,000. The house had both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium was 30 feet wide and the stage was 35 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and there were 9 in the house orchestra. In addition to 2 weekly newspapers, there was the daily “Democrat”. Hotels were the Fountain and the Dieker House. The 1897 population of St. Mary’s was 6,500.
The Grand Opera House in San Marcos is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The Manager was J.F. Travis; the seating capacity was 500. Ticket prices ranged from 50 cents to $1, and the house had electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 18 feet square, and the stage was 20 feet deep. There were 6 members of the house orchestra. There was one daily and 3 weekly newspapers, and 4 hotels in town. The 1897 population of San Marcos was 3,000.
spinner- I have read the Page for the New Bedford Th. here in CT, and knew that it had been the New Bedford Opera House. So I was thrown off by finding a “Grand Opera House” listed for New Bedford in the 1897 Cahn Guide. I think that Julius Cahn, who was foremost a theatrical agent in NY, must have had his hands full trying to keep his annual Guide accurate and up to date in an age long before computers ! The Hathaway theatres in New Bedford and in Lowell (but not the one in Brockton) are listed in a 1909 roster of Keith Circuit theatres which I have seen.
The Walcker organ was installed in the Boston Music Hall in 1863 and removed in 1884 because it was taking up too much room on stage. It was placed in storage by 2 subsequent owners until it was finally installed in Serlo Hall in 1909.
Thanks for your research, spinner. A.E. Hathaway was listed as an employee of the Grand Opera House in New Bedford in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Was the Grand Opera House a different theatre from the New Bedford Opera House, which later became a movie theatre, or was it the same building with 2 different names? – (the Cahn guides are full of errors ! ) If Hathaway did build the Hathaway theatres in Brockton and Lowell, perhaps that explains why he closed the New Bedford house after only 11 years.
I went into the theater several times in the 1950s and 60s but never sat in the balconies. When the Pilgrim was being demolished in mid-1996, I stood down at the corner of Washington & Beach streets and looked at the building from a distance. I was astonished at how high the top row of the second balcony was above the street level, and how steep that balcony was. The theatre was indeed in good shape in the 1950-60’s period, but “beautiful” would be in the eye of the beholder, I guess !
Poli’s first name was Sylvester, and he was based in Connecticut starting in the 1910 decade. He built up a chain of vaudeville and film theaters, some of which were large “movie palaces” like this one in Worcester. I don’t know when he died or what happened to his immediate family.
There is a Montauk Theatre listed under Brooklyn in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Unfortunately, the Guide does not list street addresses. The Mgr. is William E. Sinn (listed as the owner by Lost Memory in his April 1, 2005 posting above). The seating capacity was 1,750 with 2 balconies. The theatre was on the ground floor and had both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 35 feet square and the stage was 50 feet deep. There were 10 in the house orchestra.
I just found a April 2006 memo written by CT member Barry Goodkin on some research that he had been doing. Nathan Gordon was born in 1872 and died on June 3, 1938. His obit (newspaper unknown) states that he was a resident of Weston MA and that he built the Gordon Theatre there (later renamed the Olympia) and that he continued to run it until his death. (That theatre is not here in CT). On May 16, 1925, he sold his Olympia Theatres chain to Famous Players. The sale consisted of 38 theatres and a 50% interest in the Maine & New Hampshire Theatres circuit. All 38 theatres were in Massachusetts except for one in New Haven CT. His nephew was the Gordon of “Lockwood and Gordon”, and both the nephew and Lockwood had been employees of Olympia Theatres. And I believe that it was Gordon and Lord and not “Gordon and Lloyd” who opened the Scollay Square Olympia Theatre in Boston, although I don’t know who Lord was.
How did this theatre get its unusual name? There was a hit musical show titled “San Toy” which played in London at Daly’s Theatre in 1899 and in NY at the New York Th. in 1900. Any relation between that show and this theatre in Maryland ?
The Boston Herald today reports that the Boston Redevelopment Authority has approved plans of Emerson College to convert the Colonial Theatre Building from office space to student dorm space. The theatre itself is not involved in the renovations and remains under the control of Live Nation.
Someone Who Was There tells me that he was in North Brookfield very recently and the Star Theatre building is still there and has not been demolished. He believes that movies there may have lasted into the 1950s. The building has a 1840s build date on it. The Star Theatre’s big tin star which hung over the center entrance is still there and has not been removed by the present occupants.
The list of 8 works to be simulcast from the Met Opera during the 2007-08 season can be found at www.metopera.org/hd The list of cinemas around the US which will host the shows is not ready and has not been posted yet on the site.
This theatre is listed under New York City in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. It’s listed as “Proctor’s Twenty-Third Street Theatre” with F.F. Proctor as Manager.
The seating capacity was 1,551; The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide X 42 feet high and the stage was 39 feet deep.
In the Boston area last April, with NO advertising, the live Sat. matinee performance of “Il Trittico” from the Met sold out 3 weeks in advance at the cinema in Framingham MA and also at the Fenway Regal in uptown Boston. Someone I know who attended the perf. at the Regal was very highly satisfied with the experience and is going again next season.
The Springfield Theatre in Springfield VT where “The Simpsons” movie had its premier on July 21st is listed here in Cinema Treasures, but there are no “fantasy” theatres listed, as far as I know! Getting back to the Aztec in SA, does anyone know where the newly-installed organ came from ??
As of the time of the reports that Barry Goodkin found at the Lynn library, which date from the early 1970s, the theatres still standing were: Capitol (ex-Central Square); E.M. Loew’s Cinema (ex-Strand/Warner); and the E.M. Loew’s Lynn Open Air drive-in. Also, it appears that the Uptown Th. in West Lynn was still standing, possibly converted to other uses. There is also the Lynn Auditorium, part of the City Hall complex, which today is a live theatre. I don’t know the status today of the ones which were still around in the early-1970s.
The Olympia was opened on January 25, 1908. It was a live theatre with films at first, and also was renowned locally for its Sunday afternoon concerts at which famous classical music artistes performed. A number of stars appeared there. Later, it featured movies only. It closed on October 7, 1952 and was then demolished to provide parking for Anthony’s Hawthorne Restaurant. This info is from an article about Lynn theatres written by Elmo Benedetto and found at the Lynn public library by CT member Barry Goodkin.
The Uptown was located at 827 Western Avenue in West Lynn at Breed Square. It was opened as the Standard Theatre in 1917, and the name changed to Uptown Theatre in 1933. It was still standing, apparently, at the time it was included in a list of Lynn theatres compiled by an unknown researcher (the list is undated but appears to have been typed in the 1970s) It was found in the Lynn public library recently by CT member Barry Goodkin.
The Lynn Open Air Theatre opened in either 1937 or 1938. Elmo Benedetto, in an article about Lynn theatres, says “1937”, while an unknown person who compiled a list of Lynn theatres, says “1938”. He also says that it was “on the Lynnway near the General Edwards Bridge”. Both the article and the list were found at the Lynn public library by CT member Barry Goodkin. The Benedetto article has a date “Feb. 17, 1972” on it. Benedetto also states that the Lynn Open Air Theatre, run by E.M. Loew, was still open when he wrote his article.
The Auditorium opened on Sept. 15, 1905 as a live theatre. It had its own stock company in residence there for years. It closed for awhile in the 1920s and then reopened as a cinema. It was known as “the Audie” by locals and presented popular film fare. It later closed due to problems with the building, but reopened as the Colony Theatre in Dec. 1950. Its address as the Colony is listed as 21 Andrew Street. This operation lasted a few years; and it was finally demolished, apparently around 1968, to make way for a parking area at Bob Brest Buick. This info is from research by CT member Barry Goodkin at the Lynn public library, including an article written by Elmo Benedetto around 1972.
Further info about the Waldorf from Barry Goodkin. It was damaged by fire on May 18, 1904 and then repaired and reopened. It was, of course, originally a live theatre. It was renamed Park Theatre briefly from 1918. After closing in 1956, it was demolished in June 1965 to make way for the Lynn Market Place. Under its original name, Lynn Theatre, it is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Dodge & Harrison were the Mgrs. The seating capacity was 1,300 and the house had electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 34 feet wide X 28 feet high, and the stage was 40 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor. There was one daily and 2 weekly newspapers, and 3 hotels in town. The 1897 population of Lynn was 65,000.
The Comique was located at 95 Munroe St. in Lynn. It was opened in April 1907 by the movie exhibition pioneer, Moe Mark. In addition to films, there was live entertainment on stage. Between 1940 and 1943 it was known as the New Comique. It closed in 1943 and was demolished in 1946. This info comes from research by CT member Barry Goodkin at the Lynn public library, including writing by Elmo Benedetto circa 1972.
The Grand Opera House in St. Mary’s, OH was listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. J.L. Smith was the Mgr., and the seating capacity was 1,000. The house had both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium was 30 feet wide and the stage was 35 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and there were 9 in the house orchestra. In addition to 2 weekly newspapers, there was the daily “Democrat”. Hotels were the Fountain and the Dieker House. The 1897 population of St. Mary’s was 6,500.
The Grand Opera House in San Marcos is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The Manager was J.F. Travis; the seating capacity was 500. Ticket prices ranged from 50 cents to $1, and the house had electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 18 feet square, and the stage was 20 feet deep. There were 6 members of the house orchestra. There was one daily and 3 weekly newspapers, and 4 hotels in town. The 1897 population of San Marcos was 3,000.
spinner- I have read the Page for the New Bedford Th. here in CT, and knew that it had been the New Bedford Opera House. So I was thrown off by finding a “Grand Opera House” listed for New Bedford in the 1897 Cahn Guide. I think that Julius Cahn, who was foremost a theatrical agent in NY, must have had his hands full trying to keep his annual Guide accurate and up to date in an age long before computers ! The Hathaway theatres in New Bedford and in Lowell (but not the one in Brockton) are listed in a 1909 roster of Keith Circuit theatres which I have seen.
The Walcker organ was installed in the Boston Music Hall in 1863 and removed in 1884 because it was taking up too much room on stage. It was placed in storage by 2 subsequent owners until it was finally installed in Serlo Hall in 1909.
Thanks for your research, spinner. A.E. Hathaway was listed as an employee of the Grand Opera House in New Bedford in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Was the Grand Opera House a different theatre from the New Bedford Opera House, which later became a movie theatre, or was it the same building with 2 different names? – (the Cahn guides are full of errors ! ) If Hathaway did build the Hathaway theatres in Brockton and Lowell, perhaps that explains why he closed the New Bedford house after only 11 years.
I spent summers in Rockport/Gloucester in the 1940s and early-1950s and I am 95 % certain that there was no movie show in this building back then.
I went into the theater several times in the 1950s and 60s but never sat in the balconies. When the Pilgrim was being demolished in mid-1996, I stood down at the corner of Washington & Beach streets and looked at the building from a distance. I was astonished at how high the top row of the second balcony was above the street level, and how steep that balcony was. The theatre was indeed in good shape in the 1950-60’s period, but “beautiful” would be in the eye of the beholder, I guess !
Poli’s first name was Sylvester, and he was based in Connecticut starting in the 1910 decade. He built up a chain of vaudeville and film theaters, some of which were large “movie palaces” like this one in Worcester. I don’t know when he died or what happened to his immediate family.
There is a Montauk Theatre listed under Brooklyn in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Unfortunately, the Guide does not list street addresses. The Mgr. is William E. Sinn (listed as the owner by Lost Memory in his April 1, 2005 posting above). The seating capacity was 1,750 with 2 balconies. The theatre was on the ground floor and had both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 35 feet square and the stage was 50 feet deep. There were 10 in the house orchestra.
I just found a April 2006 memo written by CT member Barry Goodkin on some research that he had been doing. Nathan Gordon was born in 1872 and died on June 3, 1938. His obit (newspaper unknown) states that he was a resident of Weston MA and that he built the Gordon Theatre there (later renamed the Olympia) and that he continued to run it until his death. (That theatre is not here in CT). On May 16, 1925, he sold his Olympia Theatres chain to Famous Players. The sale consisted of 38 theatres and a 50% interest in the Maine & New Hampshire Theatres circuit. All 38 theatres were in Massachusetts except for one in New Haven CT. His nephew was the Gordon of “Lockwood and Gordon”, and both the nephew and Lockwood had been employees of Olympia Theatres. And I believe that it was Gordon and Lord and not “Gordon and Lloyd” who opened the Scollay Square Olympia Theatre in Boston, although I don’t know who Lord was.
How did this theatre get its unusual name? There was a hit musical show titled “San Toy” which played in London at Daly’s Theatre in 1899 and in NY at the New York Th. in 1900. Any relation between that show and this theatre in Maryland ?
The Boston Herald today reports that the Boston Redevelopment Authority has approved plans of Emerson College to convert the Colonial Theatre Building from office space to student dorm space. The theatre itself is not involved in the renovations and remains under the control of Live Nation.
Someone Who Was There tells me that he was in North Brookfield very recently and the Star Theatre building is still there and has not been demolished. He believes that movies there may have lasted into the 1950s. The building has a 1840s build date on it. The Star Theatre’s big tin star which hung over the center entrance is still there and has not been removed by the present occupants.
The list of 8 works to be simulcast from the Met Opera during the 2007-08 season can be found at www.metopera.org/hd The list of cinemas around the US which will host the shows is not ready and has not been posted yet on the site.
This theatre is listed under New York City in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. It’s listed as “Proctor’s Twenty-Third Street Theatre” with F.F. Proctor as Manager.
The seating capacity was 1,551; The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide X 42 feet high and the stage was 39 feet deep.
The Boston Herald reported today that Suffolk Univ. has prepared a proposal for the Modern Th. for submission to the Boston Redevel. Authority.
In the Boston area last April, with NO advertising, the live Sat. matinee performance of “Il Trittico” from the Met sold out 3 weeks in advance at the cinema in Framingham MA and also at the Fenway Regal in uptown Boston. Someone I know who attended the perf. at the Regal was very highly satisfied with the experience and is going again next season.