Hi Debbie, thanks for the correction in Jack and Lauretta’s spelling.
How nice to hear from someone that remembers the Strand. I do remember you father, I was around 14 or 15 when I met him. A small man with a big heart. Did Jack of my dad use to call him 3D? I don’t remember if it was his nick name or not. I’m heading to NJ in Aug. and plan a little old tour of Asbury and hope to get a look in side the old Paramount when I’m there. I loved the Strand, do you remember Boo Boo Hankins? He was Jack’s projectionist in the early 70’s? Bobby Hankins. I hear he still is a projectionist somewhere in Pa.
Hope to hear more
gil
The Lyric Theatre has recently undergone extensive expansion of its facilities, to keep it state-of-the-art, and bring in the size and quality of productions our audiences have come to expect.
This 500-seat jewel box theater has undergone a structural renaissance in recent years, to restore and enhance its spaces for performers and audiences alike. Improvements include: an enlarged stage, remodeled and expanded backstage and dressing areas, new office space and an elevator to improve access to the upper level.
With these enhancements and your continued support, the “New Lyric” will be bringing you top-flight entertainment for years to come!
THE HISTORY OF THE LYRIC THEATRE
The LYRIC THEATRE was built in 1925 as a silent movie house and was operated until the depression when it was closed and eventually sold. Over the next 50 years it was bought and sold to various concerns and used in a variety of manners. In 1978 the theatre was purchased by a non-denominational church and was used for their weekly services until they built a new facility, and no longer needed the structure in downtown Stuart.
At that time, in 1987, a downtown redevelopment effort was underway. A group of community minded individuals saw the LYRIC THEATRE, situated in the heart of downtown, and realized there was an opportunity to save a historically significant structure, thus contributing to the redevelopment effort, as well as to provide a much needed location for various types of events presented to the community.
Since 1987, the LYRIC THEATRE has hosted a variety of events, ranging from classical theatre to rock and country bands, orchestra and jazz concerts, dance recital and school programs, as well as movies. It has also hosted charity fund raisers, civic presentations, and individuals who rent the facility.
The LYRIC THEATRE seats 500 and has a 22'X30' stage and features whisper-perfect acoustics. It has a balcony, spacious lobby and entrances on two downtown streets. As of October 1997, over $1.5 million in state and local dollars have provided exciting enhancements to the historic theatre, including structural repairs new air conditioning, remodeled and improved backstage and dressing areas, new restrooms and office space.
The LYRIC THEATRE has been named to the National Register of Historic Places. This grand old theatre represents a colorful history in our community as a central gathering place for young and old alike.
Thanks to our supporters and grants from the State of Florida, the preservation of your LYRIC THEATRE continues for the cultural benefit of the Treasure Coast!
Owned and run by Jack Huston and his wife. Jack was a projectionist with IATSE local 243 and worked at the St.James with George Clark until they went down to a one man booth and Jack then worked at the Paramount on the north end of Asbury Park boardwalk. The Strand opened around 1906-09 as I hear it and was run by Jacks father and the theatre was then known as the SANAREO. Jack changed it to the Strand. Jack gave me my first job as a porter in his Strand theatre when I was 14 and I became his afternoon projectionist when I was 16 when I got my working card from IATSE local 243.
Yes the St. James did have two, Todd-AO 35 70mm projectors in the booth backed by two Ashcraft arc lamps. The house projectionist was a man by the name of George Clark. In the early 70s the projectors where removed and shipped to the Kings theatre in Seattle Washington was the story I was told. The projectors for the Brielle Drive inn where installed in the St. James booth. I was there for the tear out and install of the projectors. The projectors from the Drive inn ran in the St. James till it’s demolition in 74.
The Seaview Square Cinema was built by the Walter Reade Org. right after the Mayfair in Asbury Park was torn down. It opened as a single screen and was made into a twin in the 80’s. I was a part time projectionist at the theatre with the full time projectionist Paul Koning. It was also one of the first automated theatres on the central jersey shore. It had two Simplex 35 projection heads and IPC sound heads and ran on 6000' reels. The sound system was from Altec, as my father worked for Altec at the time and built the system for the theatre when it first opened. Some of the equipment from the theatre is now in the Beach Cinema in Bradley Beach NJ. I personally purchesed what equipment was left in the projection booth and installed it in the Beach Cinema.
Gil Carney
This is getting more heartbreaking evertime I log in. I now see that the LYRIC theatre in Asbury Park is gone. I was a member of the I.A.T.S.E. Local#243 in Asbury Park in the early 70s. I was also the last projectionist in the Mayfair untill its falling in 74. Now the LYRIC. The Lyric was my first full time job with the local when I was just 17. My father was the Altec service rep. for the Walter Reade chain and also the Pres. and BA for local 243. I have alot of pictures of all the theatres in Asbury Park, the St.James, Mayfair, Lyric, Paramount, Savoy, and also the Strand in Ocean Grove which was just across the lake at the south end of the boardwalk. I will post these pictures soon. As far as the Mayfair on the historic reg. the city in 74 with the help of a man with the last name Frankel, I belive tryed right up to the min. the recking ball went thru the backstage wall to stop it. It was my understanding that the land was worth more as a parking lot for the M&K bar then it was to save a wonderfull theatre and to preserve our history.
signed
Gilbert S. Carney
e-mail,
Hi Debbie, thanks for the correction in Jack and Lauretta’s spelling.
How nice to hear from someone that remembers the Strand. I do remember you father, I was around 14 or 15 when I met him. A small man with a big heart. Did Jack of my dad use to call him 3D? I don’t remember if it was his nick name or not. I’m heading to NJ in Aug. and plan a little old tour of Asbury and hope to get a look in side the old Paramount when I’m there. I loved the Strand, do you remember Boo Boo Hankins? He was Jack’s projectionist in the early 70’s? Bobby Hankins. I hear he still is a projectionist somewhere in Pa.
Hope to hear more
gil
I was working there as projectionist the night Willie Plummer was shot ?? mmmmmmmmmmmmm. Really???????
The Lyric Theatre has recently undergone extensive expansion of its facilities, to keep it state-of-the-art, and bring in the size and quality of productions our audiences have come to expect.
This 500-seat jewel box theater has undergone a structural renaissance in recent years, to restore and enhance its spaces for performers and audiences alike. Improvements include: an enlarged stage, remodeled and expanded backstage and dressing areas, new office space and an elevator to improve access to the upper level.
With these enhancements and your continued support, the “New Lyric” will be bringing you top-flight entertainment for years to come!
THE HISTORY OF THE LYRIC THEATRE
The LYRIC THEATRE was built in 1925 as a silent movie house and was operated until the depression when it was closed and eventually sold. Over the next 50 years it was bought and sold to various concerns and used in a variety of manners. In 1978 the theatre was purchased by a non-denominational church and was used for their weekly services until they built a new facility, and no longer needed the structure in downtown Stuart.
At that time, in 1987, a downtown redevelopment effort was underway. A group of community minded individuals saw the LYRIC THEATRE, situated in the heart of downtown, and realized there was an opportunity to save a historically significant structure, thus contributing to the redevelopment effort, as well as to provide a much needed location for various types of events presented to the community.
Since 1987, the LYRIC THEATRE has hosted a variety of events, ranging from classical theatre to rock and country bands, orchestra and jazz concerts, dance recital and school programs, as well as movies. It has also hosted charity fund raisers, civic presentations, and individuals who rent the facility.
The LYRIC THEATRE seats 500 and has a 22'X30' stage and features whisper-perfect acoustics. It has a balcony, spacious lobby and entrances on two downtown streets. As of October 1997, over $1.5 million in state and local dollars have provided exciting enhancements to the historic theatre, including structural repairs new air conditioning, remodeled and improved backstage and dressing areas, new restrooms and office space.
The LYRIC THEATRE has been named to the National Register of Historic Places. This grand old theatre represents a colorful history in our community as a central gathering place for young and old alike.
Thanks to our supporters and grants from the State of Florida, the preservation of your LYRIC THEATRE continues for the cultural benefit of the Treasure Coast!
Owned and run by Jack Huston and his wife. Jack was a projectionist with IATSE local 243 and worked at the St.James with George Clark until they went down to a one man booth and Jack then worked at the Paramount on the north end of Asbury Park boardwalk. The Strand opened around 1906-09 as I hear it and was run by Jacks father and the theatre was then known as the SANAREO. Jack changed it to the Strand. Jack gave me my first job as a porter in his Strand theatre when I was 14 and I became his afternoon projectionist when I was 16 when I got my working card from IATSE local 243.
Yes the St. James did have two, Todd-AO 35 70mm projectors in the booth backed by two Ashcraft arc lamps. The house projectionist was a man by the name of George Clark. In the early 70s the projectors where removed and shipped to the Kings theatre in Seattle Washington was the story I was told. The projectors for the Brielle Drive inn where installed in the St. James booth. I was there for the tear out and install of the projectors. The projectors from the Drive inn ran in the St. James till it’s demolition in 74.
The Seaview Square Cinema was built by the Walter Reade Org. right after the Mayfair in Asbury Park was torn down. It opened as a single screen and was made into a twin in the 80’s. I was a part time projectionist at the theatre with the full time projectionist Paul Koning. It was also one of the first automated theatres on the central jersey shore. It had two Simplex 35 projection heads and IPC sound heads and ran on 6000' reels. The sound system was from Altec, as my father worked for Altec at the time and built the system for the theatre when it first opened. Some of the equipment from the theatre is now in the Beach Cinema in Bradley Beach NJ. I personally purchesed what equipment was left in the projection booth and installed it in the Beach Cinema.
Gil Carney
This is getting more heartbreaking evertime I log in. I now see that the LYRIC theatre in Asbury Park is gone. I was a member of the I.A.T.S.E. Local#243 in Asbury Park in the early 70s. I was also the last projectionist in the Mayfair untill its falling in 74. Now the LYRIC. The Lyric was my first full time job with the local when I was just 17. My father was the Altec service rep. for the Walter Reade chain and also the Pres. and BA for local 243. I have alot of pictures of all the theatres in Asbury Park, the St.James, Mayfair, Lyric, Paramount, Savoy, and also the Strand in Ocean Grove which was just across the lake at the south end of the boardwalk. I will post these pictures soon. As far as the Mayfair on the historic reg. the city in 74 with the help of a man with the last name Frankel, I belive tryed right up to the min. the recking ball went thru the backstage wall to stop it. It was my understanding that the land was worth more as a parking lot for the M&K bar then it was to save a wonderfull theatre and to preserve our history.
signed
Gilbert S. Carney
e-mail,