I am researching this city block for another project and discovered that this theatre was built about 1946 at 3 Coosa St. It is shown on a 1951 Sanborn map as a “colored” movie house and was demolished about 1973 for the construction of a parking garage for the First National Bank. The 1946 city directory lists Donald E. Wenger as its manager. Wenger had been a motion picture exhibitor in Montgomery from the late 1940s through 1960, when he took over as a dealer for Niagara Cycle Therapy Health Equipment (The Montgomery Advertiser, February 15, 1960, page 5).
I remember seeing the inside of this theatre in the late 1970s or perhaps 1980. The fellow that arranged for us to get inside this theater suggested that we go early in the morning before the neighborhood got too lively. As I recall, it was in wintertime and the building was not heated except for a glassed area toward the top of the auditorium. A couple of “gentlemen” were actively participating in the adult film that was showing on the screen. A sad ending to what was once a very nice neighborhood theatre.
As I recall, the Burger King was already on he corner when the demo took place and was damaged when the building collapsed during the process. I also recall that the organ pipes were still in place when it came down. I have a great photo somewhere of the front of the building where someone’s graffiti says “Save Me.”
Quite an ad – that one played before my time – found a poster on line that makes the ad seem a bit tame. I heard from someone that there is a modern theatre in town that has a couple of photos of the Strand in its lobby but have not been able to track that down.
Does anyone know of a source for photos of any of the NF theatres? I took several in the Rapids years ago, have a postcard view for the Strand and Cataract, and took an exterior of the State before it came down.
This theatre seems to have 9 lives. I remember seeing movies there as a youth and happened to be in town one day years later when it was being converted into a disco – based on the photos I took at that time, it still had a fair amount of its historic decor intact. Hope this plan works.
I am researching this city block for another project and discovered that this theatre was built about 1946 at 3 Coosa St. It is shown on a 1951 Sanborn map as a “colored” movie house and was demolished about 1973 for the construction of a parking garage for the First National Bank. The 1946 city directory lists Donald E. Wenger as its manager. Wenger had been a motion picture exhibitor in Montgomery from the late 1940s through 1960, when he took over as a dealer for Niagara Cycle Therapy Health Equipment (The Montgomery Advertiser, February 15, 1960, page 5).
I remember seeing the inside of this theatre in the late 1970s or perhaps 1980. The fellow that arranged for us to get inside this theater suggested that we go early in the morning before the neighborhood got too lively. As I recall, it was in wintertime and the building was not heated except for a glassed area toward the top of the auditorium. A couple of “gentlemen” were actively participating in the adult film that was showing on the screen. A sad ending to what was once a very nice neighborhood theatre.
As I recall, the Burger King was already on he corner when the demo took place and was damaged when the building collapsed during the process. I also recall that the organ pipes were still in place when it came down. I have a great photo somewhere of the front of the building where someone’s graffiti says “Save Me.”
Quite an ad – that one played before my time – found a poster on line that makes the ad seem a bit tame. I heard from someone that there is a modern theatre in town that has a couple of photos of the Strand in its lobby but have not been able to track that down.
Does anyone know of a source for photos of any of the NF theatres? I took several in the Rapids years ago, have a postcard view for the Strand and Cataract, and took an exterior of the State before it came down.
This theatre seems to have 9 lives. I remember seeing movies there as a youth and happened to be in town one day years later when it was being converted into a disco – based on the photos I took at that time, it still had a fair amount of its historic decor intact. Hope this plan works.
Drove by on ¾/2009 – still there, vacant and with for sale signs.