Elizabeth Theatre

The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Elizabeth Theatre has an exterior photo dated April 1941. The theatre had an attractive 2-story facade with stucco finish and a heavy cornice above. There was a square marquee with the name in big letters on the front. There were a couple steps up from the sidewalk and 2 large poster cases on each side of the center entrance. The Report states that the theatre is on Main St., that it has been showing MGM films for 10 years and is over 15 years old and in Good condition. There were 585 seats on the main floor and 311 in the balcony. Total: 896 seats. The Report says that there are no competing theatres in Falmouth and the 1940 population was 6,800. In the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac, the Elizabeth and the Falmouth Theatre are listed as part of M&P Theatres. In the summer of 1983, I attended a musical play at the Highfield Theatre in Falmouth and killed some time walking around downtown. I was surprised to find a movie theatre there, with people rushing in to make the 7PM show. It was located at the north end of the main street, on the east side. I don’t remember the name. Looking at the MGM photo, I am 90% sure that it’s the same theatre. When I returned in 1984, the movie theatre had been closed and the building converted to other uses.

The Elizabeth Theatre closed in 1983. There’s a good photo of it at http://www.capecodtoday.com/images/eliz350_350.jpg

A few additional bits on this grand old theater. I worked there in the late 70’s and there were several nice old features still present at the time. The old carbon arc projectors dating from the late 20’s or early 1930’s were still in operation until the last year or two when they switched to xeon lamp/platters. The original booth and old equipment remained in place however- the Westinghouse sound system could be turned up to a volume that would shake the walls- way before sensurround was invented. The original leather and horsehair seats were still in the balcony although it was closed to the public sometime prior to the 70’s. This theater at one time was used for live theater- the sound stage, light board and old lighting catwalks were still in place until it closed after the summer of 1983, this included an organ loft, although the organ was long gone when I was there. Various actors had signed their names on a piece of wood behind the stage- Henry Fonda was one of the more recognizable names that could still be read there. I always wondered what became of the equipment when the building was converted into stores.

Boxoffice of November 9, 1964, said that the Elizabeth Theatre in Falmouth had recently reopened after having been closed fro a month for refurbishment. Improvements included a new, larger screen and all new equipment in the booth.