Bellows Falls Opera House

7 The Square,
Bellows Falls, VT 05101

Unfavorite No one has favorited this theater yet

Related Websites

Bellows Falls Opera House (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Interstate Theatres Corporation

Functions: Live Performances, Movies (Second Run)

Previous Names: Opera House, Falls Cinema, New Falls Cinema

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 802.463.4766

Nearby Theaters

Bellows Falls Opera House

This theatre is located inside the Rockingham Town Hall building. It is a rebuild of the earlier (1914) Opera House which was destroyed by fire in 1925. The last I knew it was being operated as the Falls Cinema. I was projectionist there in the mid-1950’s, when it was known as the Opera House.

Seating is located in the orchestra and a fairly good-sized balcony. It was renovated in 2007.

Contributed by Richard Doane

Recent comments (view all 8 comments)

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on August 19, 2006 at 12:14 pm

Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1950 edition as the Opera House with a seating capacity of 946.

Originally opened as the Opera House. Later operating as the Falls Cinema & New Falls Cinema for many years, it has now been refurbished and re-named the Bellows Falls Opera House. Plans are going ahead to refurbish the stage and backstage areas so that live perfomances will be able to take place again to complement to film performances.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on December 16, 2006 at 4:11 pm

There is a Bellows Falls Opera House listed under Bellows Falls VT in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. I don’t know if it is the same as the present building. It is listed as having 1,000 seats. Ticket prices range from 35 cents to 75 cents. It had electric illumination. The proscenium was 35 feet wide x 30 feet high,and the stage was 33 feet deep. The theatre was on the second floor and there were 5 members in the house orchestra. J.E. Brosnahan was Manager. Local hotels include the Rockingham, Commercial and the Fall Mountain House. The local newspaper was the Bellows Falls Times, W.C. Belknap critic.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on February 19, 2007 at 3:16 pm

In the 1942-43 edition of the Motion Picture Almanac, the Opera House in Bellows Falls VT is listed as being operated by Interstate Theatre Corp. of Boston.

jukingeo
jukingeo on July 18, 2007 at 5:27 pm

Hello all!

I am curious as to if anyone knows how the Bellows Falls Opera House is coming along in terms of live performances. Last year I visited Bellows Falls, but the theatre was still only showing movies. They mentioned they were going to work on the stage areas to handle live shows. That was about a year ago, so I am wondering where they stand now with this project. Regardless I am planning a trip to go back to Bellows Falls in a couple weeks primarily to look for a place to live (yeah I am relocating to Vermont)…so I am probably going to poke my head into the Opera House to see what’s cookin' myself.

crownx
crownx on March 21, 2010 at 8:17 pm

Any news on this theater

bfoperahouse
bfoperahouse on October 11, 2010 at 11:11 pm

The renovation to the Bellows Falls Opera House was completed in 2007, it is now a 550 seat theater showing 2nd run movies at discount prices Thursdays thru Tuesdays. The renovation included restoring the the hemp rigging, wooden gridiron, modern lighting and sound, new seating. In addition to movies we host live performances. For more information please go to:
http://www.bfoperahouse.com

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on April 28, 2015 at 7:58 pm

The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Bellows Falls Opera House. It’s Card # 569. It has an exterior photo taken in March 1941, showing a marquee over the entrance. The Report says it’s on Main Street, is in Good condition, Built about 1925, shows MGM product, and has 686 seats on the main floor and 250 balcony, total: 936 seats. The 1941 population was 4,200.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on August 26, 2021 at 5:09 am

This theater is a rebuild of the original Bellows Falls Opera House which was destroyed by fire in 1925. The original Opera House had been showing movies since 1914.

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.