Cumings Theatre

Listed in the 1941, 1943 and 1950 editions of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 800.

The Cummings building was up for auction on 9/16/57, according to the Fitchburg Sentinel:

BONA FIDE AUCTION SALE
BRICK BUILDING
Known As
CUMMINGS THEATRE
With Approximately
7723 SQ, FT. LAND
BLOSSOM ST.
FITCHBURG, MASS.
WED. SEPT. 18 at 1 P.M.

Property is in excellent condition, suitable for any business. It is located in business section of city. Wonderful opportunity to buy this for an investment or to convert Into apartments. Possibilities are unlimited.

This theatre was included in the MGM Theatre Photograph and Report project. Although the Report is headed "Cummings Theatre", the photo, taken May 1941, on the Report shows the signage on the marquee reading in big letters "Cumings Theatre", with one "m". The name is displayed as "Cumings" both on the front and on the sides of the marquee. It seems likely that if the company which made the marquee was mistaken, the theatre management would have had them correct the spelling of the name. Does anyone know for sure what the correct spelling of the name was ? The photo shows an ornamental facade, quite handsome, and a rectangular marquee, with a vertical sign above. On the side of the marquee is posted "The Home of Greater Entertainment". Across the street from the theatre was a green area with trees. The Report states that the theatre is at 25 Blossom St. in Fitchburg, that it has been playing MGM product for 10 years; that it was built about 1920 and is in Fair condition. The seating was listed as 411 on the main floor, 543 in the balcony,and 32 in the loges, total: 986. But someone crossed that out and typed in "Total: 936". Competing theatres were listed as Lyric, Universal, Shea's, Fitchburg and Strand. The 1940 population of Fitchburg was 41,800.

Text from an Old Fitchburg historical soc. website repeatedly refers to this theater as "Cummings" with 2 m's, and includes an old postcard so labeled. Why, then, was the marquee which was photographed in May 1941 headed at least 3 places with the name "Cumings", with one m? Who made this dumb mistake and why was it not corrected ?

Ron Salters - Thank you for pointing out this fact above, the printing of most of these postcards in Germany has more than anything else, added to the confusion of the Cumings debacle !!

soundmemory- so you are saying that the name really was "Cumings" and that the spelling on the marquee in the 1941 photo was correct, and it wasn't a dumb mistake on the part of the marquee manufacturer.

Ron Salters - No, I am not stating any fact - You tell me ?? If you search for both in the Fitchburg Society web page both 1 "m " & 2 " mm " are there. Please tell me and I will adjust my web site to reflect this, Thanking You.

soundmemory- we need someone who knows Fitchburg theatres to render an opinion ! I'm not familiar with the subject, but it is a fact that the spelling of the name on the marquee in the 1941 MGM Report photo is "Cumings". It's spelled that way on both the front and the side of the marquee. If the Fitchburg historical soc. spells it that way in at least some of their references, then I would go with the 1 "m" .

Ron Salters - A note of interest, I have just looked through some editions of the Fitchburg Sentinel going back to 1936 and before - all have Cumings with one ( M ) only - and are very doubtful if through the years they would have printed it in a false manner. When I come across a program I will
feature it on the web site at some stage in the future.

The newspaper ads settle the matter for me ! "Cumings" it is.

Just to throw in another factor - its is "Cummings" in the Film Daily Yearbook in both 1947 and 1955 (the two editions I own).

This website has a postcard picture and some ads for the Cumings Theater. The postcard is labeled "Cummings Theater" but the ads read "Cumings Theater". I would go with the spelling in the ads and not the postcard.

Winchendon - I am wondering if you may be able to clarify some of the posts above - as far as the correct spelling is concerned, I noted that on the Fitchburg Theater page that you grew up in Fitchburg MA and have a very good post on the page giving some very detailed information about all
the theaters in the City.
As it stands at this moment - I have both names on some Fitchburg Historical Society text, and again have both names from Sentinel Newspaper advertisements at various periods in time.
Thanking You for your response in this matter !!

John Philip Sousa - known as the " March King " performed a Grand Concert at the Cumings Theater
on the evening of Friday - January 17, 1902.
For people interested in his other concert performances in Fitchburg, as well as a history into the other old theaters of Fitchburg I have included a link below.
Please Note - Certain images of theaters on the site below are under Copyright, and are not to be linked to with programs such as " tiny url ".
The website was built for all on Cinema Treasures to enjoy, as well as the people who have given of their time to submit images for the site.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/metzke/Old.Fitchburg.Theaters.html

On Saturday April 13, 1907. Thomas Jefferson Starred in Rip Van Winkle at the Cumings Theatre.

A broadside adverting this play will be posted at the-forum.com within the next few days.

http://www,the-forum.com/whatsnew.html

tobaccocard - Thanks for this information, I will keep an eye out for it on your site.
In 1905 Thomas Jefferson also starred in the same play in New York at Wallack's Theatre, there being a very long and interesting history not only to the play but also the book., after being revised by Dion Boucicault.
Washington Irving was to follow up in 1907 with the book - a Best Seller in that era.

You have an A1 movie site with some of the best on offer - Keep up the Good Work !!

I think the old-time actor who made a career out of playing Rip Van Winkle for many years on either side of 1900 was Joseph Jefferson. He appeared in that play on road tours for a long time. Road companies like his did a lot of one-night stands and split weeks, so they would have played smaller towns like Fitchburg. I don't know if Joseph Jefferson ever appeared in any silient films - he could have.