I believe that this theater was razed several years ago. When I was a kid in the 50’s I visited the Strand often…25 cents admission for a double feature. The matinees were bedlam with kids running all over the place…the only movie dialogue you could hear without straining were the sing-along, bouncing-ball sing-along shorts.
I have many good memories about the Strand…which we lovingly called “the scratch house.” For a while I worked for Mr. Donovan who owned the Strand in the 50’s when I was in high school. I changed the marquee twice a week in return for a couple of bucks and getting to see all the movies I wanted for free. These were the days of the double feature, and if the movies were particularly good, I’d sit through the second showings. The Strand occassionaly had stage events, e.g., yoo yoo exhibitions and beauty pagents. Following the great flood of 1955 which damaged Seymour High School, the Strand was the site of school assemblies. The local Council of the Knights of Columbus owned the Strand for a while, and I believe they were largely responsible for keeping it from being razed. The Knights refinished the social hall over the theater and rented it out for weddings and the like. Indeed a grand old theater.
I believe that this theater was razed several years ago. When I was a kid in the 50’s I visited the Strand often…25 cents admission for a double feature. The matinees were bedlam with kids running all over the place…the only movie dialogue you could hear without straining were the sing-along, bouncing-ball sing-along shorts.
I have many good memories about the Strand…which we lovingly called “the scratch house.” For a while I worked for Mr. Donovan who owned the Strand in the 50’s when I was in high school. I changed the marquee twice a week in return for a couple of bucks and getting to see all the movies I wanted for free. These were the days of the double feature, and if the movies were particularly good, I’d sit through the second showings. The Strand occassionaly had stage events, e.g., yoo yoo exhibitions and beauty pagents. Following the great flood of 1955 which damaged Seymour High School, the Strand was the site of school assemblies. The local Council of the Knights of Columbus owned the Strand for a while, and I believe they were largely responsible for keeping it from being razed. The Knights refinished the social hall over the theater and rented it out for weddings and the like. Indeed a grand old theater.