The highest-numbered card among the MGM Theatre Reports is the card for this drive-in in Castleton VT. It’s Card # 608. It’s in the Theatre Historical Society on-line archive under “New England Special Collection”. And it’s not in numerical order: it’s listed between cards 573 and 574. There’s not much activity with these cards after 1950-51 or so, which indicates the Ft. Warren must have opened around then. Unfortunately, no one filled the card out; there is only a photo of a twin-gated entrance. There is a movie poster at left and, if you can read it, you can date the photo from the title.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for this theater, it’s Card # 600. There is an exterior photo made in May 1941 showing a very imposing structure with columns in front. Address is “Main St.” Name of the theater was given as “Woodstock” but that was crossed out and replaced by “Town Hall”. Condition is Fair. The report says it opened in 1920 and is not showing MGM films. There were 442 seats. 1940 population of Woodstock was 2,500.
Yes, a hundred and more years ago, there was a lot less affluence and fewer entertainment choices. When audiences went to vaude shows they expected to get their money’s worth and if a performer didn’t deliver, he/she would receive a loud round of boos and hisses. Especially in the, shall we say, less-refined theaters. Some managers even reputedly employed a “hook”, which was a long pole with a big metal hook at the end. He would reach out from the wings and hook the errant no-talent around his waist and pull him off the stage. It’s likely that some movies got booed too, but maybe not until the end.
The facade in 1941 looks similar to the old postcard but there is a nice 1940s-era movie marquee attached to the center part. The building on the right was still there in 1941.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Strand; it’s Card # 589. Address is 73 Wales Street. There is an exterior photo made May 1941. The posting on the marquee makes it obvious that it was closed at the time. Condition is Good. The house was over 15 years old and was showing MGM product. There is a notation “Closed”. There were 865 seats.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre REport for the Grand; it’s Card # 587. Address is “West & Edison”. There is an exterior photo made in May 1941. The condition is not given. The Grand is over 15 years old and was showing MGM movies. There were 726 seats on the main floor and 120 balcony, total: 846 seats.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Paramount; it’s Card # 588. Address is 30 Center St. There is an exterior photo taken May 1941.The condition is Good. The house was over 15 years old and was showing MGM films. Competing theaters were the Grand and the Strand; the latter was closed at the time. (no mention of the Colonial). Seats: Orchestra, 488; Balcony, 415; Boxes, 42; Total-945. The 1940 population of Rutland was 17,000.
Rockwell Kent’s design for the mural was painted by his friend Jo Mielziner who was a stage set designer, (later, a very prominent one). But Kent did come to MA to sign the mural in 1930. Jo Mielziner also signed it.
The Quincy MA Patriot-Ledger of Thurs May 28, 2015 has a feature article reprinted from the Cape Cod Times, with color photo, about the 6400-square foot mural painted on the ceiling and walls. It was designed by the artist Rockwell Kent in his upstate NY studio. But Kent was a Left-wing zealot who vowed never to set foot in Massachusetts again because of the Sacco-Vanzetti case.
The Strand was open and operating in May 1941 when the MGM survey agent came calling. He listed it as a competing theater for the Capitol Th. on State St. But he never made out a report for it.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Strong Th., Card # 576. Address is Burlington Street. There is an exterior photo dated Feb. 5, 1941. Condition is Fair. The report says the Strong was opened in 1900, and that it’s not showing MGM films. It had 750 main floor seats, and 250 balcony.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the State, it’s Card # 575. Address is Bank Street. There is an exterior photo dated January 1941. Condition is Good. It was built in 1930 and is showing MGM product. There were 575 seats. The Majestic Theatre was listed as a competing theater, but no report card was prepared for it
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Flynn; it’s Card # 574. Address is Main St. There is an exterior photo dated April 1941. Condition is Good. It says it was built about 1925 and is showing MGM product. There are 1,150 main floor seats and 312 balcony, total 1,462. The 1940 population of Burlington was 27,600.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Magnet, it’s Card # 567. Address is North Main St. There is an exterior photo dated April 1941. The condition is Fair. Report says that it is over 15 years old, and is showing MGM films. There were 575 orchestra seats and 282 balcony, total: 857 seats. Other theaters were the Paramount and the Opera House, but no report was filled out for the latter.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre report for the Capitol; it’s Card # 583. Address is State St. There is an exterior photo taken May 1941. Condition is Excellent. The report says it was built in 1940 and it shows MGM films. 988 seats. The 1940 population of Montpelier was 8,000.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Paramount, it’s Card # 568. Address is North Main St. There is an exterior photo taken April 1941 (nice marquee!)Condition is Good. The theatre was over 15 years old and was showing MGM films. There were 727 seats on the main floor and 434 in the balcony, total 1,161. Competing theaters were the Opera House and the Magnet, but, for some reason, a report was not prepared for the Opera House. The 1940 population of Barre was 10,900.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Campus; it’s Card # 582. Address is Main St. There is an exterior photo dated April 1941. The condition is Fair. The report says that it was built in 1924, and is showing MGM films. There were 510 orchestra seats and 211 balcony seats, total 721, but someone indicated that the total seating was 651. The 1940 population of Middlebury was 2,100.
In a long list of theater circuits in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac, this theater, as the Priscilla, is listed in Lewiston Maine as part of John Ford Theatres, a Paramount affiliate, along with the Empire,Music Hall and Strand. All 4 theaters are also listed as being run by Maine and New Hampshire Theatres of Boston.
There is a history of this theater at the Cinema Data Project website which has detailed histories of certain movie theaters in Maine. The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for this theater when it was the Priscilla. It’s Card # 392. Address is Pine Street, Auburn. There is an exterior photo dated May 1941, The condition is Fair. The Priscilla was over 15 years old and was showing MGM product. There were 494 seats on the main floor and 234 in the balcony, total 728 seats.
OCRon mentions in his post of 5/22 the Priscilla Theatre. Recently I began looking through the MGM Theatre Report cards in the Theatre Historical Society archive. (cards for ME,NH, RI and VT). So far I have found only one which does not have a listing here in CT – the Priscilla in Lewiston-Auburn. There may be others, too. The report card says the Priscilla is on Pine St., but 116 Blake, around the corner, may have been the correct address. It was operating in 1941.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report card for the Strand; it’s Card # 394. There is an exterior photo made May 1941. Address is Main St. Condition is Good. The theater was over 15 years old, and was showing MGM films. There were 1,203 orchestra seats and 682 balcony seats, total 1,885 seats, which is 1,000 less than what is listed above.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Empire, it’s Card # 391. There is an exterior photo taken May 1941. Address is Main St. Condition is Good. It says the theater is over 15 years old and is showing MGM product. There were 840 orchestra seats and 496 balcony, total 1,336. The 1940 population was 38,500.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report card for this theater, it’s Card # 390.There is an exterior photo dated May 1941. Address is Court St., and they call the town “Lewiston Auburn”.Condition is Good. The theater is over 15 years old, and was showing MGM films. There were 760 orchestra seats and 390 balcony, total 1,150.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for this theater when it was the Ritz. It’s Card # 393. There is an exterior photo dated Feb. 1941. Address is Maple St. Condition is Good. Says it opened in 1939 (close), that is shows MGM films, and has 650 seats.
The highest-numbered card among the MGM Theatre Reports is the card for this drive-in in Castleton VT. It’s Card # 608. It’s in the Theatre Historical Society on-line archive under “New England Special Collection”. And it’s not in numerical order: it’s listed between cards 573 and 574. There’s not much activity with these cards after 1950-51 or so, which indicates the Ft. Warren must have opened around then. Unfortunately, no one filled the card out; there is only a photo of a twin-gated entrance. There is a movie poster at left and, if you can read it, you can date the photo from the title.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for this theater, it’s Card # 600. There is an exterior photo made in May 1941 showing a very imposing structure with columns in front. Address is “Main St.” Name of the theater was given as “Woodstock” but that was crossed out and replaced by “Town Hall”. Condition is Fair. The report says it opened in 1920 and is not showing MGM films. There were 442 seats. 1940 population of Woodstock was 2,500.
Yes, a hundred and more years ago, there was a lot less affluence and fewer entertainment choices. When audiences went to vaude shows they expected to get their money’s worth and if a performer didn’t deliver, he/she would receive a loud round of boos and hisses. Especially in the, shall we say, less-refined theaters. Some managers even reputedly employed a “hook”, which was a long pole with a big metal hook at the end. He would reach out from the wings and hook the errant no-talent around his waist and pull him off the stage. It’s likely that some movies got booed too, but maybe not until the end.
The facade in 1941 looks similar to the old postcard but there is a nice 1940s-era movie marquee attached to the center part. The building on the right was still there in 1941.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Strand; it’s Card # 589. Address is 73 Wales Street. There is an exterior photo made May 1941. The posting on the marquee makes it obvious that it was closed at the time. Condition is Good. The house was over 15 years old and was showing MGM product. There is a notation “Closed”. There were 865 seats.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre REport for the Grand; it’s Card # 587. Address is “West & Edison”. There is an exterior photo made in May 1941. The condition is not given. The Grand is over 15 years old and was showing MGM movies. There were 726 seats on the main floor and 120 balcony, total: 846 seats.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Paramount; it’s Card # 588. Address is 30 Center St. There is an exterior photo taken May 1941.The condition is Good. The house was over 15 years old and was showing MGM films. Competing theaters were the Grand and the Strand; the latter was closed at the time. (no mention of the Colonial). Seats: Orchestra, 488; Balcony, 415; Boxes, 42; Total-945. The 1940 population of Rutland was 17,000.
The Capawock reopened in late-May after refurbishment, with a Carly Simon concert on stage.
Rockwell Kent’s design for the mural was painted by his friend Jo Mielziner who was a stage set designer, (later, a very prominent one). But Kent did come to MA to sign the mural in 1930. Jo Mielziner also signed it.
The Quincy MA Patriot-Ledger of Thurs May 28, 2015 has a feature article reprinted from the Cape Cod Times, with color photo, about the 6400-square foot mural painted on the ceiling and walls. It was designed by the artist Rockwell Kent in his upstate NY studio. But Kent was a Left-wing zealot who vowed never to set foot in Massachusetts again because of the Sacco-Vanzetti case.
The Strand was open and operating in May 1941 when the MGM survey agent came calling. He listed it as a competing theater for the Capitol Th. on State St. But he never made out a report for it.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Strong Th., Card # 576. Address is Burlington Street. There is an exterior photo dated Feb. 5, 1941. Condition is Fair. The report says the Strong was opened in 1900, and that it’s not showing MGM films. It had 750 main floor seats, and 250 balcony.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the State, it’s Card # 575. Address is Bank Street. There is an exterior photo dated January 1941. Condition is Good. It was built in 1930 and is showing MGM product. There were 575 seats. The Majestic Theatre was listed as a competing theater, but no report card was prepared for it
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Flynn; it’s Card # 574. Address is Main St. There is an exterior photo dated April 1941. Condition is Good. It says it was built about 1925 and is showing MGM product. There are 1,150 main floor seats and 312 balcony, total 1,462. The 1940 population of Burlington was 27,600.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Magnet, it’s Card # 567. Address is North Main St. There is an exterior photo dated April 1941. The condition is Fair. Report says that it is over 15 years old, and is showing MGM films. There were 575 orchestra seats and 282 balcony, total: 857 seats. Other theaters were the Paramount and the Opera House, but no report was filled out for the latter.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre report for the Capitol; it’s Card # 583. Address is State St. There is an exterior photo taken May 1941. Condition is Excellent. The report says it was built in 1940 and it shows MGM films. 988 seats. The 1940 population of Montpelier was 8,000.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Paramount, it’s Card # 568. Address is North Main St. There is an exterior photo taken April 1941 (nice marquee!)Condition is Good. The theatre was over 15 years old and was showing MGM films. There were 727 seats on the main floor and 434 in the balcony, total 1,161. Competing theaters were the Opera House and the Magnet, but, for some reason, a report was not prepared for the Opera House. The 1940 population of Barre was 10,900.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Campus; it’s Card # 582. Address is Main St. There is an exterior photo dated April 1941. The condition is Fair. The report says that it was built in 1924, and is showing MGM films. There were 510 orchestra seats and 211 balcony seats, total 721, but someone indicated that the total seating was 651. The 1940 population of Middlebury was 2,100.
In a long list of theater circuits in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac, this theater, as the Priscilla, is listed in Lewiston Maine as part of John Ford Theatres, a Paramount affiliate, along with the Empire,Music Hall and Strand. All 4 theaters are also listed as being run by Maine and New Hampshire Theatres of Boston.
There is a history of this theater at the Cinema Data Project website which has detailed histories of certain movie theaters in Maine. The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for this theater when it was the Priscilla. It’s Card # 392. Address is Pine Street, Auburn. There is an exterior photo dated May 1941, The condition is Fair. The Priscilla was over 15 years old and was showing MGM product. There were 494 seats on the main floor and 234 in the balcony, total 728 seats.
OCRon mentions in his post of 5/22 the Priscilla Theatre. Recently I began looking through the MGM Theatre Report cards in the Theatre Historical Society archive. (cards for ME,NH, RI and VT). So far I have found only one which does not have a listing here in CT – the Priscilla in Lewiston-Auburn. There may be others, too. The report card says the Priscilla is on Pine St., but 116 Blake, around the corner, may have been the correct address. It was operating in 1941.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report card for the Strand; it’s Card # 394. There is an exterior photo made May 1941. Address is Main St. Condition is Good. The theater was over 15 years old, and was showing MGM films. There were 1,203 orchestra seats and 682 balcony seats, total 1,885 seats, which is 1,000 less than what is listed above.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Empire, it’s Card # 391. There is an exterior photo taken May 1941. Address is Main St. Condition is Good. It says the theater is over 15 years old and is showing MGM product. There were 840 orchestra seats and 496 balcony, total 1,336. The 1940 population was 38,500.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report card for this theater, it’s Card # 390.There is an exterior photo dated May 1941. Address is Court St., and they call the town “Lewiston Auburn”.Condition is Good. The theater is over 15 years old, and was showing MGM films. There were 760 orchestra seats and 390 balcony, total 1,150.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for this theater when it was the Ritz. It’s Card # 393. There is an exterior photo dated Feb. 1941. Address is Maple St. Condition is Good. Says it opened in 1939 (close), that is shows MGM films, and has 650 seats.