The Opera House in Canton IL is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Unfortunatly, there are no street addresses in this guide. The theatre is referred to as “Opera House” and also as “Armory Opera House”. Is it this theatre ? The seating capacity was 800 and it was on the second floor. C. N. Hinkler was Mgr. The proscenium opening was 20 feet high, and the stage was 25 feet deep. The house had both gas and electric illumination. There was a piano, but no orchestra. Hotels for show folk were the Canton House and the Churchill House, and local papers were the Register, Cantonian, and Ledger. Railroads were the TP&W and the CB&Q. The 1897 population of Canton was 10,000.
SinisterBanana- you must be a novice in the theatre hobby! – virtually all of the old-time theatres were single-screeners. Having more than one screen (“multiplex”) is a concept which began around the 1960s-70s. And thanks to Frank Bosketti for the info about the Star.
That’s correct, Ron. There’s an office building now on the site of the section of South Station which contained the cinema. And, since it was located at the east end of the property, the correct address would be “Summer Street and Dorchester Avenue”.
In the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook theatre list there is a “Supreme Theatre” in Jamaica Plain, with 600 seats. No other info. Could that be another name for the Strand/Emmet Theatre ??
Frick and Ward also state that the Apollo opened in April 1907. It was supposedly still standing when their directory was published in 1987. Joseph Fralinger who built it had also been the manager of the earlier Academy of Music.
According to the LHAT’s Frick/Ward 1987 “Directory of Historic American Theatres”, the Apollo “was erected by Joseph Fralinger to replace the Academy of Music which had burned in 1902”. It was a celebrated pre-Bway tryout house and roadshow house for many years, and went over completely to movies in 1934. The predecessor theatre, the Academy of Music, is listed under Atlantic City in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The seating was 1,600; the house had electric illumination, was located on the ground floor and had 3 to 10 members of the house orchestra. The proscenium opening was 50 feet wide X 22 feet high, and the stage was 48 feet deep. Even way back in 1897 there were over 300 hotels there. The population was 22,000.
gms- you should make sure that the autographs on the inside front cover are real and not facsimile signatures which were once common in books (and sheet music) many years ago.
lisag- if you had not intervened your child would be out $10. You should file a written complaint to the theatre manager, and also to the head office of Regal Entertainment Group, the operators of the cinema. This is a sleazy incident.
What apparently is this theatre is listed under Charleston, SC in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The name is “Owens Academy of Music”. Unfortunately, the Guide does not list street addresses. The theatre was managed by W.T. Keogh and Charles W. Keogh; it was on the ground floor, had 1,400 seats, and both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 21 feet wide X 34 feet high, and the stage was 39 feet deep. Local newspapers were the News and Courier, the Post, and the Sun. Hotels for show folk were the St. Charles, Calhoun, Pavillion, National and Caroline. The 1897 population of Charleston was 70,000.
soundmemory- we need someone who knows Fitchburg theatres to render an opinion ! I’m not familiar with the subject, but it is a fact that the spelling of the name on the marquee in the 1941 MGM Report photo is “Cumings”. It’s spelled that way on both the front and the side of the marquee. If the Fitchburg historical soc. spells it that way in at least some of their references, then I would go with the 1 “m” .
The weekly “Ledger Archives” section in the Quincy Patriot-Ledger has an item from the Quincy Daily Ledger of Dec. 27, 1907 stating that on Jan. 1, 1908 there would be a concert on stage at Stetson Hall in Randolph presented by the Old Stoughton Musical Society which was then 125 years old.
soundmemory- so you are saying that the name really was “Cumings” and that the spelling on the marquee in the 1941 photo was correct, and it wasn’t a dumb mistake on the part of the marquee manufacturer.
Text from an Old Fitchburg historical soc. website repeatedly refers to this theater as “Cummings” with 2 m’s, and includes an old postcard so labeled. Why, then, was the marquee which was photographed in May 1941 headed at least 3 places with the name “Cumings”, with one m? Who made this dumb mistake and why was it not corrected ?
The original Rhode Opera House is listed under Kenosha in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The manager and orchestra leader was Joseph G. Rhode. The theatre was on the ground floor, had 795 seats, and both gas and electric illumination. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to 75 cents. The proscenium opening was 27 feet wide X 20 feet high, and the stage was 32 feet deep. There were 4 to 10 members of the house orchestra. Local newspapers were the Gazette, F.C. Cully, critic; News; Telegraph-Courier; Independent; and Volk Freund. Hotels for show folk were the Grand, Commercial, Garfield and Maple. Railroad was the Chicago and Northwestern. The 1897 population of Kenosha was 10,000.
to Jim Griffith: in the MGM Theater Report for the Strand in Lawrence, which has an exterior photo taken in 1941, there is a sign reading “Louis Pearl” above the ground floor of the building next to the Strand, on its left. That building appears to be about 5 stories high. Because the photo is a “xerox of a xerox”, all detail is lost and it’s just a black blob. The ground floor of that building is partially obscured by a parked car and by the rear of a passing bus. The actual entrance of the Louis Pearl store cannot be seen and may be around the corner to the left, as per your memory.
In the Quincy Patriot Ledger of Sat. Dec 15 2007, there is an article “Can Theater Make a Comeback?” by John P. Kelly which mentions Quincy Mayor-elect Tom Koch’s campaign pledge to restore the Wollaston Theatre (the “Wolly”) into a local performing arts theatre. An obstacle to this plan is “the theater’s biggest devotee: owner Arthur Chandler”. Chandler, 79, is quoted as saying “I plan to do things my way until I retire”. He has applied for Federal grants to repair the building. The reporter made a tour of the theatre and found a notice on the ticket office which seems to indicate that “Catch Me if You Can” was the last movie to play there, in March 2003. He found a heap of popcorn still in the popper, plus mice-chewed Raisenet packages. Also, no heat, crumbling plaster, worn carpeting, fallen ceiling tiles. He says that the screen measures 18' X 39". Mr. Chandler has received a letter from Mayor-elect Koch but has not yet replied to it, but said that he would meet with Koch “when the time comes”. The article also has a large photo of the Wolly’s marquee with the title of the article cleverly posted on it. The sub-head of the article reads “Koch’s vision of a restored ‘Wolly’ as a cultural center holds nostalgic appeal for many, but its owner has other ideas.” That about sums the situation up.
The Port Th. in Newburyport is briefly mentioned in a feature article “The History of the Warner Bros. Theatre Circuit” by Barry Goodkin in Marquee Magazine (THSA), 3rd quarter, 2007. The author mentions some theatres in Massachusetts which were Warner Bros. houses and states that the Port in Newburyport “was built after World War II”.
As the Holyoke Opera House, this theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. It’s one of the very few listings in the Guide that has a street address: “Dwight and Front streets”. The Mgr. was W.E. Kendall, the seating was 1,450, admission prices were 25 cents to $1. The theatre was located on the ground floor, had both gas and electric illumination and steam heat. The proscenium opening was 37 feet wide X 30 feet high, and the stage was 52 feet deep. There were 8 members of the house orchestra. Local hotels for show folk were the Windsor, next to the theatre; plus the Hamilton, Guyott and the Marble Hall. Local newspapers were the Transcript, Democrat, Republican, Union, Free Press and Defenseur. The 1897 population of Holyoke was 42,000; there was an area draw for the theatre of 55,000 people.
Re: Ken mc’s photo- judging from the car and the rear of the bus in the distance, this photo probably dates from circa-1950, plus/minus. The Braintree Theatre looks the way I remember it !
The Opera House in Canton IL is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Unfortunatly, there are no street addresses in this guide. The theatre is referred to as “Opera House” and also as “Armory Opera House”. Is it this theatre ? The seating capacity was 800 and it was on the second floor. C. N. Hinkler was Mgr. The proscenium opening was 20 feet high, and the stage was 25 feet deep. The house had both gas and electric illumination. There was a piano, but no orchestra. Hotels for show folk were the Canton House and the Churchill House, and local papers were the Register, Cantonian, and Ledger. Railroads were the TP&W and the CB&Q. The 1897 population of Canton was 10,000.
SinisterBanana- you must be a novice in the theatre hobby! – virtually all of the old-time theatres were single-screeners. Having more than one screen (“multiplex”) is a concept which began around the 1960s-70s. And thanks to Frank Bosketti for the info about the Star.
That’s correct, Ron. There’s an office building now on the site of the section of South Station which contained the cinema. And, since it was located at the east end of the property, the correct address would be “Summer Street and Dorchester Avenue”.
In the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook theatre list there is a “Supreme Theatre” in Jamaica Plain, with 600 seats. No other info. Could that be another name for the Strand/Emmet Theatre ??
Ass far as I know, there was just one Olympia Th. in Cambridge in 1919. Although the MGM Report says it had 600 seats, the 1927 FDY lists 900.
Frick and Ward also state that the Apollo opened in April 1907. It was supposedly still standing when their directory was published in 1987. Joseph Fralinger who built it had also been the manager of the earlier Academy of Music.
According to the LHAT’s Frick/Ward 1987 “Directory of Historic American Theatres”, the Apollo “was erected by Joseph Fralinger to replace the Academy of Music which had burned in 1902”. It was a celebrated pre-Bway tryout house and roadshow house for many years, and went over completely to movies in 1934. The predecessor theatre, the Academy of Music, is listed under Atlantic City in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The seating was 1,600; the house had electric illumination, was located on the ground floor and had 3 to 10 members of the house orchestra. The proscenium opening was 50 feet wide X 22 feet high, and the stage was 48 feet deep. Even way back in 1897 there were over 300 hotels there. The population was 22,000.
gms- you should make sure that the autographs on the inside front cover are real and not facsimile signatures which were once common in books (and sheet music) many years ago.
lisag- if you had not intervened your child would be out $10. You should file a written complaint to the theatre manager, and also to the head office of Regal Entertainment Group, the operators of the cinema. This is a sleazy incident.
The Columbia Th. in Attleboro is listed in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook as having 850 seats and being open 2 days per week.
The newspaper ads settle the matter for me ! “Cumings” it is.
What apparently is this theatre is listed under Charleston, SC in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The name is “Owens Academy of Music”. Unfortunately, the Guide does not list street addresses. The theatre was managed by W.T. Keogh and Charles W. Keogh; it was on the ground floor, had 1,400 seats, and both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 21 feet wide X 34 feet high, and the stage was 39 feet deep. Local newspapers were the News and Courier, the Post, and the Sun. Hotels for show folk were the St. Charles, Calhoun, Pavillion, National and Caroline. The 1897 population of Charleston was 70,000.
soundmemory- we need someone who knows Fitchburg theatres to render an opinion ! I’m not familiar with the subject, but it is a fact that the spelling of the name on the marquee in the 1941 MGM Report photo is “Cumings”. It’s spelled that way on both the front and the side of the marquee. If the Fitchburg historical soc. spells it that way in at least some of their references, then I would go with the 1 “m” .
The weekly “Ledger Archives” section in the Quincy Patriot-Ledger has an item from the Quincy Daily Ledger of Dec. 27, 1907 stating that on Jan. 1, 1908 there would be a concert on stage at Stetson Hall in Randolph presented by the Old Stoughton Musical Society which was then 125 years old.
soundmemory- so you are saying that the name really was “Cumings” and that the spelling on the marquee in the 1941 photo was correct, and it wasn’t a dumb mistake on the part of the marquee manufacturer.
soundmemory- thanks for putting this up, very interesting stuff !
Text from an Old Fitchburg historical soc. website repeatedly refers to this theater as “Cummings” with 2 m’s, and includes an old postcard so labeled. Why, then, was the marquee which was photographed in May 1941 headed at least 3 places with the name “Cumings”, with one m? Who made this dumb mistake and why was it not corrected ?
The Lyric in Fitchburg was indeed taken over by the Ben Sack theatre circuit.
The original Rhode Opera House is listed under Kenosha in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The manager and orchestra leader was Joseph G. Rhode. The theatre was on the ground floor, had 795 seats, and both gas and electric illumination. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to 75 cents. The proscenium opening was 27 feet wide X 20 feet high, and the stage was 32 feet deep. There were 4 to 10 members of the house orchestra. Local newspapers were the Gazette, F.C. Cully, critic; News; Telegraph-Courier; Independent; and Volk Freund. Hotels for show folk were the Grand, Commercial, Garfield and Maple. Railroad was the Chicago and Northwestern. The 1897 population of Kenosha was 10,000.
to Jim Griffith: in the MGM Theater Report for the Strand in Lawrence, which has an exterior photo taken in 1941, there is a sign reading “Louis Pearl” above the ground floor of the building next to the Strand, on its left. That building appears to be about 5 stories high. Because the photo is a “xerox of a xerox”, all detail is lost and it’s just a black blob. The ground floor of that building is partially obscured by a parked car and by the rear of a passing bus. The actual entrance of the Louis Pearl store cannot be seen and may be around the corner to the left, as per your memory.
In the Quincy Patriot Ledger of Sat. Dec 15 2007, there is an article “Can Theater Make a Comeback?” by John P. Kelly which mentions Quincy Mayor-elect Tom Koch’s campaign pledge to restore the Wollaston Theatre (the “Wolly”) into a local performing arts theatre. An obstacle to this plan is “the theater’s biggest devotee: owner Arthur Chandler”. Chandler, 79, is quoted as saying “I plan to do things my way until I retire”. He has applied for Federal grants to repair the building. The reporter made a tour of the theatre and found a notice on the ticket office which seems to indicate that “Catch Me if You Can” was the last movie to play there, in March 2003. He found a heap of popcorn still in the popper, plus mice-chewed Raisenet packages. Also, no heat, crumbling plaster, worn carpeting, fallen ceiling tiles. He says that the screen measures 18' X 39". Mr. Chandler has received a letter from Mayor-elect Koch but has not yet replied to it, but said that he would meet with Koch “when the time comes”. The article also has a large photo of the Wolly’s marquee with the title of the article cleverly posted on it. The sub-head of the article reads “Koch’s vision of a restored ‘Wolly’ as a cultural center holds nostalgic appeal for many, but its owner has other ideas.” That about sums the situation up.
The Port Th. in Newburyport is briefly mentioned in a feature article “The History of the Warner Bros. Theatre Circuit” by Barry Goodkin in Marquee Magazine (THSA), 3rd quarter, 2007. The author mentions some theatres in Massachusetts which were Warner Bros. houses and states that the Port in Newburyport “was built after World War II”.
As the Holyoke Opera House, this theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. It’s one of the very few listings in the Guide that has a street address: “Dwight and Front streets”. The Mgr. was W.E. Kendall, the seating was 1,450, admission prices were 25 cents to $1. The theatre was located on the ground floor, had both gas and electric illumination and steam heat. The proscenium opening was 37 feet wide X 30 feet high, and the stage was 52 feet deep. There were 8 members of the house orchestra. Local hotels for show folk were the Windsor, next to the theatre; plus the Hamilton, Guyott and the Marble Hall. Local newspapers were the Transcript, Democrat, Republican, Union, Free Press and Defenseur. The 1897 population of Holyoke was 42,000; there was an area draw for the theatre of 55,000 people.
Yes, it’s this theatre. Nathan Gordon built it, then most of his theatres eventually ended up in Paramount/Publix, then Mullin and Pinanski (M&P).
Re: Ken mc’s photo- judging from the car and the rear of the bus in the distance, this photo probably dates from circa-1950, plus/minus. The Braintree Theatre looks the way I remember it !