St. James Theatre
176 Second Street,
St. James,
NY
11780
176 Second Street,
St. James,
NY
11780
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This narrow building, the third to bear the name, was constructed by the Calderone family. It was located one block east of the main north-south artery, Lake Avenue, around the corner from the original which dated back to the first decade of the 20th century.
The St. James Theatre closed about 1950.
Contributed by
rvb
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
In his book “Images of America – St. James”, Geoffrey K. Fleming includes an aerial view of downtown in 1927, including the theatre. Much of the land is vacant or wooded, an unusual venue for a Calderone theatre. This was probably the smallest of the Calderone playhouses.
Also run by Island Theater Circuit.
Anyone have more info or photos?
I spoke with the receptionist at Natalie Weinstein Design Associates, the current occupent of the building, she said there is a framed article on the wall which describes the renovation of building which they did and certain “finds”. I’m awaiting a copy of this. To date the only photo I’ve seen is the aerial one I mentioned when I created this site. There is no detail. When I went by the site I was surprised how small the building actually is.
I expect to pursue the expansion of my posting thru the historical society and the library. Hopefully there will be pictures of it “in the day”.
Incidentally, in a conversation with Mr. Fleming, the author of the book, he said he actually has two of the cards advertising what was playing at the theatre. I didn’t explore that any further.
In the article in the November 7, 1985 Smithtown News it was indicated that, despite occupancy by two previous owners, the office and projection room (sans equipment) were intact. The original bathrooms were found when walls were opened up. The portions of the stage which remained were incorporated in the final redesign of the space.
I was actually in the building today. There is another article about the current owner but little new about the theatre other than that it had a tin roof. The roof is now shingled but the same shape as appears in the photo I mentioned above.
Since becoming a commercial property a second floor has been added. I had the opportunity to go there and see a number of boxy buttresses on either side of the building. My theory is that the original beams were exposed wood in keeping with the Mission look of the building’s facade and, they have now been boxed in to look more modern.
The good news is that the ornate plaster ceiling panels are in tact and have been painstakingly painted. The detail is so fine that I’m sure it could not have been appreciated by theatre patrons.
Althought the St. James disappeared from the Movie Timetable listings in the Long Island Newsday midway into 1949 the theatre continued to advertise in the Smithtown Messenger and the Smithtown News. The last ad in the Messenger was for the May 31, 1950 performance. The last ad in the News was for November 23, 1950. For several months, beginning in March 1950 ads in the News touted the Cycloramic Screen. Sounds good but in a building just shy of two stories high and only slightly wider than a two car garage there were, obviously, limits.
Comments allude to there having been three theater to bear the name St. James within the hamlet. I can only find listings for the original and this – the third incarnation. No information on the middle child?
The middle child was also on Second, just west of the third, on the north side of the street. Don’t have enough information to do a posting. I was trying to back track on this one to find when it began to get a time frame for number 2. There was not a mention of this one closing in the paper. Looked through a lot of microfilm to find beginning and ending dates. Maybe down the road I’ll get lucky
Pouring over early editions of the Smithtown Messenger, the microfiche only begins in 1922, hasn’t clarified matters. Since the building which housed the final theater appeared in the 1927 aerial photo I was trying to determine when it opened. I found a couple of isolated ads for a Casino Theater in St. James in 1922, 23 and 24. Nothing for 1925, 26 or 27. Will have to spend another day check 1928 and on, possibly through 1940 when I actually have seen images of theater cards. So was the St. James the former Casino? Was the aerial photo taken later? Hopefully the matter will be resolved.
More strike outs. Contacted the Town of Smithtown Building Department. They only started issuing Certificates of Occupancy in 1946. For this property it was only for subsequent modifications after the theater closed. Contacted the Assessors Office. Their records also begin in 1946. Only new information: the building was 35 x 90 (tiny, particularly for a Calderone property). On the current Tax Map as Section 56; Block 2, Lot 8.