Strand Theater

This is the flagship theatre of a small New Hampshire chain called Spinelli Cinemas. The theatre has been triplexed but the main floor auditorium left intact. Two additional screens were added in the balcony area. They're tiny with under 50 seats in each. I'll update with more facts as soon as my notes turn up. There's a terrific smoked meat restaurant two doors from the theatre. I defy anyone to finish one of their portions. Dover is picturesque community and the theatre is worth seeing.

The Strand is located at 20 Third St. Each of the balcony theatres seat approximately seventy. The main auditorium seats 360. The name of "the smokin" restaurant is The Well Dressed Hog.

I list the address for the Strand Theatre as 290 Third Street, Dover, New Hampshire.

Although I'd seen both the inside and outside of the Strand the year before, in early October, 2004, I finally saw a movie in the Strand. The main auditorium was showing "Friday Night Lights. I'ts a great place to see a movie but avoid the "match boxes" in the former balcony. The do a lot of things extra well in New Hampshire but turning down the lighting rheostat isn't one of them. I only been in approximately eight New Hampshire theatres so maybe I haven't got the complete "picture". My idea of proper theatre lighting is when you return to the auditorium from a candy counter visit you need to stop for a second to let your eyes adjust. During my eight theatre visits not only did my eyes need no adjustment, it was so "bright" that I was able to do an entire headcount of the auditorium. On the "bright" side, if the movie was terrible, you could always read a book. I can only add: Theatre owners, please turn down those lights so the kids can make-out and the readers will stay at home in front of the fireplace

Richard is right, the address is 20 Third St (the street isn't long enough to have 290 buildings/lots). I used to live a couple of blocks away from this theater for my whole childhood, and lived in the Dover area for over 35 years.

This theater has remained preserved, while renovating enough to stay semi-modern with the Dolby sound and upgraded to 3 screens (2 are in the old balcony). Granted the balcony seats are small but I'd rather see them small than this theater get torn down or redone into another restaurant or office space.

Speaking of restaurants, Jake's shown in the photo is an awesome breakfast nook if it's still there...and the Asia Chinese restaurant 2 doors down is a must visit. Dover is an awesome old town (incorporated back in the 1770's...but settled well before then) but still modern. With a population of over 25,000 in the tax free state of New Hampshire, I'm positive that your visit to the theater and almost anywhere in the state will make this a favorite to everyone. Beaches, mountains, lakes and the large cities of Boston are all within an hour drive from Dover.

Enjoy the films at the Strand, I still remember seeing my first film there -- Grease!

Many years ago myself and Chris Campbell saw "Ghostbusters" and "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" at the Strand. I forgot about the Asia being just two doors away, still my favorite Chinese food restaurant after many years and many miles. Thanks for bringing back some great memories, Chris!

Homepage:
http://www.spinellicinemas.com/

If you have a thing for old neon, the furniture store next door, ROSS, has a sign fit for a marquee. That street really lights up between the two of them. The nearby center of downtown water falls and buildings built on granite stilts in the river make this an interesting place to visit!!!

I understand that in the recent past the Strand in Dover was managed by a man who had worked for the old E.M. Loew Theatre circuit and that he had some EML memorabilia in the Strand lobby. I have the MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Strand, It has a photo taken in April 1941 of the facade. The triangular marquee has 3 lines of black letters on a white background. The film attraction is "Men of Boys Town". The Report states that the Strand has been a MGM customer for 15 years, that it was built about 1925; that it's in Good condition, and has 700 seats on the main floor and 200 in the balcony. Competing theatres in Dover are the State Theatre and the Broadway Theatre. The city population in 1940 was about 14,000.

The Strand Theater is operated by Spinelli Cinemas. Function should be first run movies. Their website was posted by TC on Mar 4, 2005. Here is a photo of the Strand.

This is a 2009 photo.

1986 photo of the Strand Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c29%2c3%2c-1&ProductID=29850

I found a reference to the Publix-Strand Theatre in Dover, N.H., in the May 27, 1930, issue of Motion Picture Times.

The Strand Theatre is visible from the Amtrak Downeaster train (between Boston and Portland)when passing through Dover.

I have heard that Spinelli cinemas has suddenly gone out of business and that the Strand in Dover has closed. Can anyone confirm?

The Strand is "temporarily" closed. At least that's what this article claims.