In 1904, the Dover Opera House opened at this location. The theater was built with funds from a public subscription, and included a stage that was used for a variety of purposes including vaudeville, photoplays, magic lantern shows, and in later years, motion pictures. In 1915, the theater carried the World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox live on stage. Lights were arranged to simulate a baseball diamond, and as plays took place, a telegrapher wired the action to the Opera House where an operator lighted the screen. In 1923, the Opera House was purchased by George Schwartz and renamed the Capitol Theater. The Schwartz family improved the building by adding a new projection room, box office, and additional seating. When George Schwartz died in 1942, the theater was operated by his wife Reba, and his daughter Muriel. The theater continued to play an important role for Dover, hosting state political conventions in the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1970s, the theater was the scene of a protest on the part of Muriel Schwartz, who fought against censorship by showing a film not permitted by local ordinance. Schwartz was arrested and her actions led to the repeal of the law. The theater closed in 1982 and remained dark until civic leaders initiated efforts to restore it in 1994. The building was purchased from Muriel Schwartz by the Friends of Capitol Theater, with Schwartz donating a large percentage of the property’s value to the effort. The Schwartz Center for the Arts opened on October 19, 2001.
Trivia: Critically ill, lead actor Ronald Byram left the shoot during the first two weeks and was replaced by Wheeler Oakman. It is probable that it is Byram in the close-ups in the sledge in the final chase scenes. Roy Laidlaw is frequently but erroneously referred to as Ralph Laidlaw in the trade press of the time. Edna Shipman did not act in this film as is sometimes claimed. The film opened at the Strand Theater in Owosso, Michigan where it played for three days.
Here is a link:
View link
Here is a link with photos of the restoration:
http://www.360opticalart.com/VT/Cove_Theater/
Here is some additional information:
THE CAPITOL THEATER
In 1904, the Dover Opera House opened at this location. The theater was built with funds from a public subscription, and included a stage that was used for a variety of purposes including vaudeville, photoplays, magic lantern shows, and in later years, motion pictures. In 1915, the theater carried the World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox live on stage. Lights were arranged to simulate a baseball diamond, and as plays took place, a telegrapher wired the action to the Opera House where an operator lighted the screen. In 1923, the Opera House was purchased by George Schwartz and renamed the Capitol Theater. The Schwartz family improved the building by adding a new projection room, box office, and additional seating. When George Schwartz died in 1942, the theater was operated by his wife Reba, and his daughter Muriel. The theater continued to play an important role for Dover, hosting state political conventions in the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1970s, the theater was the scene of a protest on the part of Muriel Schwartz, who fought against censorship by showing a film not permitted by local ordinance. Schwartz was arrested and her actions led to the repeal of the law. The theater closed in 1982 and remained dark until civic leaders initiated efforts to restore it in 1994. The building was purchased from Muriel Schwartz by the Friends of Capitol Theater, with Schwartz donating a large percentage of the property’s value to the effort. The Schwartz Center for the Arts opened on October 19, 2001.
Here is a link:
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Here is an article on the demise of the Cove:
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This appears to be a new theater near Kingston:
http://www.islandvillageja.com/villagetheatre.htm
Here is a link with photos taken by the former manager. He gives the closing date as January 16, 2003:
http://members.cox.net/flealick/Cove/
Thanks. Is it still there?
Here is a link:
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Here is another link:
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Here is the city’s website which has information on the Pix. the theater’s website is offline:
http://www.ci.lapeer.mi.us/web/PIX.htm
My wife and I will be in Calistoga in a few weeks. I know the theater is gone, but I will see what stands in its place.
Here is another link. I don’t know why the theater would have two competing websites:
http://www.winktheatre.com/main.htm
Here is another photo:
http://www.joeberkphotography.com/Theatre1.jpg
Here is a 1999 link describing one family’s efforts to restore the theater:
http://www.sparta-chamber.net/libertysq.htm
Here is a link for this theater:
http://ah.bfn.org/a/main/646/hist/
Here is a link with a photo of the rear of the theater:
View link
From the Internet Movie Database:
Back to God’s Country (1919)
Trivia: Critically ill, lead actor Ronald Byram left the shoot during the first two weeks and was replaced by Wheeler Oakman. It is probable that it is Byram in the close-ups in the sledge in the final chase scenes. Roy Laidlaw is frequently but erroneously referred to as Ralph Laidlaw in the trade press of the time. Edna Shipman did not act in this film as is sometimes claimed. The film opened at the Strand Theater in Owosso, Michigan where it played for three days.
Here is a photo:
View link
Here is a map, circa 1950, which shows the Broadway between 4th and 5th:
http://www.uncanny.net/~wetzel/subwayarea.htm
Here is a map circa 1950 that shows the Central and Cozy theaters on Broadway:
http://www.uncanny.net/~wetzel/subwayarea.htm
Here is a map, circa 1950, which shows the location of the theater on Broadway, next to the Central Theater:
http://www.uncanny.net/~wetzel/subwayarea.htm
Here is a map, circa 1950, which shows the Art, Optic, Star and Gayety theaters on Main between Fifth and Sixth:
http://www.uncanny.net/~wetzel/subwayarea.htm
Here is a map, circa 1950, which shows the location of the Muse and Rosslyn theaters:
http://www.uncanny.net/~wetzel/subwayarea.htm
There is a good color photo of the Town on this site:
http://www.uncanny.net/~wetzel/subwayarea.htm