Ruby Theater

The Ruby Theater was opened by 1914 and first appears on the 1915 Sanborn. It was operated as an African American theater. It was initially located in the southernmost portion of an old creamery. This two story, tin-fronted brick complex was constructed by 1892 (this area is not shown on the 1884 map). The creamery went out of business around 1905, and became business and industrial establishments. The 1909 map shows the original theater location as a chicken coop factory.

This was a very odd location for a theater. Aside from one small wooden hotel, and a few scattered houses, this area was almost entirely industrial, with mills, packing houses, a foundry and warehouses being the main businesses. Needless to say, this was not a success, although the 1922 map shows a non-operational theater now one door north of the corner.

By 1929, much of the complex was again part of a creamery (the Meriden Creamery Co.), and both erstwhile theater spaces were used as a poultry operation associated with it. The building remained until 1950 at least, but while the neighborhood was rather marginal before, it is now really desolate and seedy. The southern location is a bare foundation, while the rest of the complex has been replaced by a scabby derelict cinderblock structure, and a better kept midcentury industrial building.

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