Luis: I have a few memories of it as a child. It had a spare, modern feel to it, with a big heavy set of velvet drapes. And I seem to recall a large neon clock over one of the exit doors, just to the left of the stage.
We have a large repository of historical photographs at our local history museum here in Saratoga Springs. I do have two copies of photos of the interior of the Congress Theater (neither showing the organ, unfortunately). I will check to see if they have any photos of the interior of the Community Theater.
LuisV:
The theater that you saw in Saratoga Springs is the Community Theater. It opened in 1937. The Congress and The Community were owned by the same man. It closed in the late ‘70s. As far as I know, The Community never had an organ.
The Congress was down at the other end of Broadway. The building is still there, although the front has been renovated, and there is no sign of the theater entrance any more. I’ve heard that part of the theater still exists, buried deep inside. Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be any plans to save or preserve it.
I remember that during the '60s, The Congress had become The House Of Gee, a Chinese restaurant. The theater was completely intact at that point, save for the seats. The tables were placed where the seats had been. As a little kid, I remember having to use the bathroom, which was on the second floor. It was a huge bathroom, complete with Art Deco fixtures. It made quite an impression!
Luis: I have a few memories of it as a child. It had a spare, modern feel to it, with a big heavy set of velvet drapes. And I seem to recall a large neon clock over one of the exit doors, just to the left of the stage.
We have a large repository of historical photographs at our local history museum here in Saratoga Springs. I do have two copies of photos of the interior of the Congress Theater (neither showing the organ, unfortunately). I will check to see if they have any photos of the interior of the Community Theater.
LuisV:
The theater that you saw in Saratoga Springs is the Community Theater. It opened in 1937. The Congress and The Community were owned by the same man. It closed in the late ‘70s. As far as I know, The Community never had an organ.
The Congress was down at the other end of Broadway. The building is still there, although the front has been renovated, and there is no sign of the theater entrance any more. I’ve heard that part of the theater still exists, buried deep inside. Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be any plans to save or preserve it.
I remember that during the '60s, The Congress had become The House Of Gee, a Chinese restaurant. The theater was completely intact at that point, save for the seats. The tables were placed where the seats had been. As a little kid, I remember having to use the bathroom, which was on the second floor. It was a huge bathroom, complete with Art Deco fixtures. It made quite an impression!