Strand Theatre
1017 Main Street,
Hartford,
CT
06103
1017 Main Street,
Hartford,
CT
06103
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The Strand had its grand opening on September 1st, 1914, with claims of being the largest theatre in Hartford presenting movies exclusively. Its three manual Austin pipe organ was reported to be the largest in the state of Connecticut. Arthur L. Collins, known for his work at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, was full-time organist. The Strand also had a resident orchestra under the direction of Samuel J. Leventhal.
Items in various issues of The American Contractor in late 1913 reveal that the Strand Theatre was designed by Leon H. Lempert, Jr.
BEN-HUR opened its Hartford roadshow run in May 1960.
I saw BEN-HUR in this theater in 1959, will never forget it
Mentioned in the Hog River Journal at http://www.hogriver.org/issues/v01n03/palaces.htm
No less than four period photos of the Strand appear in the “Images of America” volume Hartford, Volume I, on pages 74 and 75. One shows the marquee listing Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), another has Air Force (1943), and the two others show Doctor Zhivago (1965). Perhaps I should scan and post them. From the looks of its position on the map, it seems that this theatre and the adjacent area might have been demolished for the construction of I-84. Am I correct?
I recall attending a movie here during the late 1950’s. Very impressed by how modern the decor was compared to other theaters in Hartford at that time.
The Strand Theatre was located at 1017 Main Street and it seated 1466 people.
This was the last of Hartford’s old downtown theaters to be demolished, in the mid-1970s.