American Theater
70 South Main Street,
Freeport,
NY
11520
70 South Main Street,
Freeport,
NY
11520
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The American Theater in Freeport, Long Island was located at 70 South Main Street. Prior to the American Theater being located at this address, the Sigmond Opera House was located at 70 South Main Street. According to the Freeport Memorial Library, Sigmond’s Opera House was later known as the American Theater.
I don’t know if the American Theater was the same building as the Sigmond Opera House or was the theater a new structure. The library also claims that the American Theater was destroyed by fire in 1923, but it occured in 1924.
Contributed by
CT Research Team
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
The American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 lists both the American Theatre and the Sigmond Opera House. Unfortunately, an exact street number is not given for either theatre. It could be that this was the period of time when the building was re-named, hence both being listed.
The Freeport Telephone Directory of 1912 lists the Sigmond Opera House at 70 South Main St. so its still an Opera House in 1912. Since both the Opera House and theater are listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915, I wonder if it is the same building with just a name change as you mentioned. This is an undated photo of the Sigmond Opera House.
Who or what is the “CT Research Team?” A “team” has to be at least two people, yet the introduction is written in the singular, “I don’t…” instead of “We don’t…” Very puzzling.
I was also puzzled. I didn’t know that there was a CT research team. I always thought that Elves brought these theaters here while we were sleepimg. Does it cost anything to join this team? I was on a bowling team once. Does that make me eligible to become a member of the research team? And the team member that added this theater should have used “we” instead of “I”. I know that I would never make a mistake like that. :P
NY Times May 7, 1911
BELMONT PRIZE PIG O.K.; No Cripple When It Left the Farm, Declares Barn Dance Chairman.
FREEPORT, L.I., May 6. — Mrs. Sarah J. Fisher, Chairman of the Barn Dance Committee of the Hempstead Hospital League, made answer to-day to the charge that the prize pig which was raffled off at the recent barn dance proved to be a cripple.
NY Times May 9, 1911
BELMONT PRIZE PIG DEAD.; Had Rheumatism and Woman Who Won It Ends Its Suffering.
FREEPORT, L.I., May 8. — The pig given by Mrs. O.H.P. Belmont as a prize at the farm dance in Sigmond’s Opera House here on April 27 in aid of a charity bed at the Hempstead Hospital, was shot and killed to-day by U.S. Westervelt, an officer of the Jamaica branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
FIRE IN FREEPORT.; Theatre Is Burned and Business Centre Threatened.
NY Times January 31, 1924
Starting shortly before midnight in a gown shop on Main Street, a fire destroyed the American Theatre building and spread to buildings on each side, including the Wolfson Building and Smith’s department store.
The correct year that this theater closed is 1924 and not 1923. The library is wrong again. :(
I was in the Freeport Library earlier this week and the research librarian showed me a picture from around the turn of the 20th century showing construction of the opera house. She said she would be adding it to the Long Island Memories Collection at http://207.97.148.182
I just checked a few moments ago and it was up saying opera house first became American, burnt down 1923 – as all above. Will someone with some techie knowledge please do the advanced search at this site and provide a direct link to the image at this site. Thanks.
Does this help?
View link
And now on the same collection is a picture of the completed Opera House.