Burns Theater
138 Main Street,
Newport,
VT
05855
138 Main Street,
Newport,
VT
05855
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LouRugani- I just came upon a question someone asked about the former name of the State Theatre in Newport, VT. Address they furnished was the same as the Burns. Could explain the Burns name being painted out. Have to try and do some research.
Sorry for the late response – I just found this website. Update on the “baby raffle”. As we (Lloyd’s grandchildren) can recall: It was a ploy to drum up interest and get people into the theater. It caused outrage as it should have but the mayor if we remember correctly was in on it and in fact he participated in the big reveal. When the winner came up on stage instead of handing over baby (name withheld) who had been shown earlier instead they brought out a swaddling which was in fact a baby pig and gave that to the winner.
In these 1957 photos, the BURNS name seems to have been painted out.
There is a “New Burns Theatre” listed under Newport VT as part of Graphic Theatres Circuit of Boston in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac. RE: the “baby giveaway” at the Burns, mentioned above. Yes, times were different in those days. Things were done that seem shocking today. Now, of course, the State would get involved in a situation like that.
what Strange Article,monika,Times were different.
Demolished, now the site of a “Landing Clothing Co.” store.
I found this very strange newspaper article regarding a baby raffle at the Burns:
Its said to be found in the Caledonian-Record newspaper
on February 14, 1939
Description: BABY GIVEAWAY
NEWPORT, VT.
Baby Girl To Be Given Away At Theater.
A real live baby girl will be given away from the stage of the Burns Theater
in Newport Wednesday night, manager Lloyd Heldman of the theater announced
last night. The person to be given a chance to adopt the baby will be selected
from the Wednesday evening audience, Mr. Heldman said. He told the story of the
finding of the baby from the stage of the theatre last night. He said that he had been
attracted by a knock on the rear door of his home Sunday night. Mrs.Heldman went
to the door, he said, and found the baby on the doorstep. Attempts to trace the parents
or the person who dropped the living package on his doorstep have been unavailing,
he said. Mr. Heldman offered to award the baby for a trail to the drawer of the lucky
number Wednesday night on the condition that she might be adopted at the end of the
trial period. The manager described the girl as being “ in perfect physical condition,
about 12 weeks old, and having a pink complexion.”
There is a box ad next to this article:
BURNS, A Live Baby Girl Given To Holder Of Lucky Ticket Wed. Eve.
If you are not prepared to take this baby into your home when your number
is called, do not respond. Additional numbers will be drawn until someone
voluntarily accepts this cute little orphan.
About the middle of this article it mentions that the theater was named after Frank Burns, the former mayor of Newport:
http://www.tomifobia.com/burns.html
The Burns was part of the Graphic Theater circuit in the early sixties. Here is a 1940 program that is currently for sale on eBay:
http://tinyurl.com/23xjkr