The Opera House in Junction City is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. T.W. Dorn was Mgr. and the seating capacity was 700. The proscenium opening was 24 feet wide and the stage was 38 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor. Hotel Barten was the hotel for show folks. Newspapers were the Sentinel, Union and Republican. The local population was 6,400 including Fort Riley. The Opera House had both gas and electric illumination.
There is a “Salem Opera House” listed under Salem NJ in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Frank Hood was the Mgr. and the seating capacity was 900. Unfortunately, the Cahn Guide does not list street adresses. This theatre was on the ground floor and had 3 members of the house orchestra. The proscenium opening was 25 feet wide X 28 feet high, and the stage was 20 feet deep. The 1897 population of Salem was 10,000. Were the Salem Opera House and the Grand Opera House the same theatre ?
The Grand Opera House in Oshkosh is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. J.E. Williams was Mgr; the seating capacity is not given. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.50. The theatre was on the ground floor and had both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide X 42 feet high, and the stage was 36 feet deep. There were 10 in the house orchestra. There were 2 daily newspapers and 4 weeklies. Hotels were the Athearn, Tremont, Revere House and Fowler. Oshkosh population was 32,800.
The New Gillis Theatre in Kansas City is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Lester M. Crawford was Mgr., and ticket prices ranged from 15 cents to 50 cents. The house had both gas and electric illumination, and was on the second floor. The proscenium opening was 44 feet wide X 46 feet high, and the stage was 40 feet deep. There were 8 in the house orchestra. The seating capacity is listed as 2,059 but the breakdown is smaller: Orchestra- 575, Balcony- 314, Gallery- 500; total: 1,389 plus box seats. Possibly, the 2,059 figure was reached by adding standee spaces, as large numbers of standees were allowed in these 19th Century theatres.
Garman’s Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. A.S. Garman was Mgr. and press agent. Seating capacity was 950, and the house had both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide X 28 feet high, and the stage was 30 feet deep. Ticket prices were 25 cents to 75 cents and the theatre was on the ground floor. There was the Daily News plus 4 weeklies. Hotels were the Brockerhoff, Bush, and Garman. Railroads were the Pennsylvania RR and the Philadelphia & Reading RR. Bellfonte’s population was 5,000.
The Flemington Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide, an annual for roadshow managers. E. B. Allen was Mgr and there were 500 seats. The proscenium opening was 22 feet wide X 10 feet high and the stage was 20 feet deep. Dressing rooms were under the stage and the theatre was on the first floor. There were 4 weekly newspapers and 2 hotels and a boarding house in Flemington. Railroads were the CNJ and the LV. The 1897 population was 2,500.
The Eureka Opera House in Eureka is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. James G. Lucey was the Mgr. and there were 500 seats. The theatre was on the second floor, had a stage 21 feet deep and was illuminated by coal oil lamps. Professor Felix Rice was leader of the house orchestra which had 2-plus members. Local hotels were the Jackson House and the Bureau Hotel. The Eureka Sentinel was published every Saturday. The railroad was the Eureka & Palisade RR. The 1897 population was 1,500.
Under Adrian Michigan in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide is listed the New Croswell Opera House, C.D. Hardy, Mgr. Seating listed as 1,158; admission prices ranged from 25 cents to $1. The house had both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 28 feet wide X 18 feet high, and the stage was 37 feet deep. There were 8 in the house orchestra. Hotels were the Lawrence and the Emery. There were 2 daily newspapers, the Times and the Telegram, and 3 weeklies. Railroads were the LS&MS and the Wabash.
The City Opera House in Traverse City is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Charles Wilhelm was the Mgr. and the seating capacity is listed as 1,114. Ticket prices ranged from 25 to 75 cents. The house had electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 36 feet wide X 20 feet high, and the stage was 25 feet deep. The theatre was on the second floor and there were 7 in the house orchestra. The 1897 population was 9,000 with an additional 8,000 in surrounding villages. Hotels were the Park Place, Hotel Whiting and Front Street House. There was one daily newspaper and 3 weeklies. Also listed in the Guide in Traverse City was Steinburg’s Grand Opera House which had 776 seats.
The City Opera House in Frederick is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. P.E. Long was the Mgr. and it had 900 seats (probably rounded up from the 860 listed above). The theatre was on the second floor; the proscenium opening was 25 feet wide X 20 feet high, and the stage was 24 feet deep. There was one daily and 3 weekly newspapers and the hotel for show folk was the Carline House. The 1897 population of Frederick was 10,000.
I have seen the 2 photos from the book mentioned above by Hank Sykes; one of the Lafayette taken in April 1954, and the other taken in 1925 of the theatre when it was the Orpheum. Both photos definitely are of the same building as the 1941 picture in the MGM Report. This theatre was named Gem/ Orpheum/ Lafayette.
Was it originally known as the Empire Theatre? In the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook, there is an Empire Th. in Whitman MA. It had 873 seats and was open 6 days per week. In the 1928 Film Daily Yearbook, according to a friend who has it, the Empire Th. in Whitman was listed as part of the Boas Circuit of Boston, and was one of 22 theatres which they controlled at that time.
Jacques Opera House in Waterbury is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. Jean Jacques was the Mgr. and the seating was 1,640. The theatre had both gas and electric illumination, and was on the ground floor. The proscenium opening was 33 feet wide X 30 feet high and the stage was 33 feet deep. There were 6 in the house orchestra. Waterbury newspapers were the American, Republican, Democrat, and Herald. Hotels were Scoville House, Franklyn, Arlington, Cooley and Earle. Railroad was the New Haven RR. The 1897 population was 45,000. The Guide also lists the Auditorium in Waterbury. Its manager was also Jean Jacques. It had 1,620 seats and its stage was slightly larger. It was also on the ground floor.
The Sterling Opera House in Derby is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. I.M. Hoyt was the Mgr. The seating capacity was given as 1,470, and the theatre was on the second floor. It had gas illumination. The proscenium opening was 30 feet square, and the stage was 34 feet deep. There were 6 members of the house orchestra. Local newspapers were the Transcript and the Sentinel. Local hotels were Hoffmann, Bassett, Sterling, Birmingham, Columbia and Holinas. Railroad was the New Haven. The greater Derby area had a population of 28,000.
The Sterling Opera House in Derby is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. I.M. Hoyt was the Mgr. The seating capacity was given as 1,470, and the theatre was on the second floor. It had gas illumination. The proscenium opening was 30 feet square, and the stage was 34 feet deep. There were 6 members of the house orchestra. Local newspapers were the Transcript and the Sentinel. Local hotels were Hoffmann, Bassett, Sterling, Birmingham, Columbia and Holinas. Railroad was the New Haven. The greater Derby area had a population of 28,000.
The Nichols Opera House in Bethel is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. They list it as “Nichols Opera House” rather than “Nichols' ”. The Manager was J.F. Nichols; the seating capacity was 460. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to 50 cents. The theatre was on the ground floor and it had gas illumination. The proscenium opening was 18 feet wide X 11 feet high, and the stage was 20 feet deep. There were 3 members of the house orchestra. Local hotels were Peat’s Hotel and the Fox Hotel; local paper was the Daily News. The 1897 population of Bethel was 4,000.
If I remember the old photo correctly, the theatre marquee and entrance were in a commercial building. The auditorium and stage were undoubtedly in a seperate adjoining structure in back. I don’t know if the commercial building which housed the entrance is still standing. The photo was part of a calender issued by a bank or credit union in Brockton in 2004 or 2005. All the photos came from the Brockton Enterprise. I clipped the photo out and sent it to the archives of the Theatre Historical Soc. I have heard 2 versions of what happend during the fire: 1) the firefighters went up into the balcony with their hose lines and the balcony collapsed. 2) the firemen went up into the balcony, and the roof collapsed. I suspect that the roof and the balcony both collapsed. There is an effort underway, after all these years, to put up a memorial plaque on or near the site in downtown Brockton.
The Fairlawn Theatre in Pawtucket is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as part of the Levenson Circuit of Boston. Run by Joseph Levenson, the circuit controlled 12 theatres at the time, including the Coolidge Corner in Brookline MA and the South Station Theatre in Boston.
The Capawock is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as part of the Levenson Circuit of Boston. Run by Joe Levenson, the circuit at the time consisted of 12 theatres including the Playhouse in Edgartown, the Coland and the Strand in Oak Bluff, and the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline.
The South Station Theatre is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as part of the Levenson Circuit, 250 Stuart St. in Boston, Joseph M. Levenson, pres. The circuit ran 12 theatres at the time, including the Coolidge Corner Theatre and the Brookline Theatre in Brookline.
In the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac, the Strand in Quincy is listed as part of the Levenson Circuit of Boston. Headed by Joseph Levenson, the circuit also ran the Alhambra (Art) and Quincy (Capitol) theatres in Quincy, as well as the Coolidge Corner and Brookline theatres in Brookline and the South Station Theatre in Boston. Plus 6 others.
In the early 1940s, the Strand in Brockton was part of the Fred E. Leiberman theatre circuit of Boston, also known as Proven Pictures. A few years ago, I saw a photo from the files of the Brockton Enterprise made the day after the fire and taken from across the street and 2 or 3 stories up. There was a fire truck in the street but there was no evidence at all of any fire damage to the lobby entrance and front of the building. The fire apparently did not spread back from the auditorium. On the marquee was posted a movie title, plus on stage the noted character actor of the 1930s, Stepin Fetchit.
There are photos of the Sea Street on page 95 of the Arcadia Publishing book “Quincy – A Past Carved in Stone” by Patricia Harrigan Browne, published in 1996 and reprinted several times. The two photos show the theatre both before and after the change of name. The theatre was a free-standing 1 ½ story structure with a pitched roof and wood construction. I am guessing that it had 500 seats based on the size of the building. It was located at the end of the trolley line from Quincy Center to Houghs Neck; the cars terminated right in front of the theatre. Nearby was the pier for the steamboats from the downtown Boston waterfront. The theatre may have operated summers-only because Houghs Neck was a summer resort for Boston. There was one matinee and one evening show per day. A female singer (who may have doubled as piano player) led the Illustrated Songs portion of the program, and the films were “The Latest from New York”. The following summer, from time to time, it was possible to “Buy One Ticket, Get One Ticket Free”, and they also had an incentive program in which one’s ticket was also good on the Steamboat line from the Houghs Neck pier over to Nantasket Beach in Hull. There was also a place called “The Palms” in Houghs Neck which apparently was a multi-use building and it contained a cinema. Later, there was a Rialto Theatre at 1295 Sea Street in Houghs Neck. Since I don’t have a street address for the Sea Street Dream, it is possible that the Rialto was a new name for the old theatre. I don’t know if the Sea Street was new construction when it opened in June, 1907 or if it was adapted in an existing building. I also don’t know how long the theatre lasted.
Newsman Richard T. LeBrecque, writing in the Quincy Patriot Ledger of April 20, 1962, says that the Adams Theatre on School Street was located “in the old Arena”. I’m not sure what he meant by that—was there some sort of arena originally located in the rather small space of the Adams auditorium, or did he mean that the building containing the Adams Theatre was constructed on the site of an old arena ??
Newspaper correspondent Richard T. LeBreque, writing in the Quincy Patriot Ledger of April 20, 1962, states that the Alhambra Theatre opened in 1917, was built for $50,000 and had 800 seats. It was built by Henry Kincaide who had earlier built the Kincaide/Quincy/Capitol Theatre further south on Hancock St. Kincaide was also in the retail furniture business and was a one-time political figure. After a year presenting touring burlesque shows on stage, Kincaide leased the Alhambra to one Fred B. Murphy, who had a background in film distribution. Murphy reopened the theatre as a movie house. He later worked at both the Quincy Theatre and the Strand in downtown Quincy.
The Opera House in Junction City is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. T.W. Dorn was Mgr. and the seating capacity was 700. The proscenium opening was 24 feet wide and the stage was 38 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor. Hotel Barten was the hotel for show folks. Newspapers were the Sentinel, Union and Republican. The local population was 6,400 including Fort Riley. The Opera House had both gas and electric illumination.
There is a “Salem Opera House” listed under Salem NJ in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Frank Hood was the Mgr. and the seating capacity was 900. Unfortunately, the Cahn Guide does not list street adresses. This theatre was on the ground floor and had 3 members of the house orchestra. The proscenium opening was 25 feet wide X 28 feet high, and the stage was 20 feet deep. The 1897 population of Salem was 10,000. Were the Salem Opera House and the Grand Opera House the same theatre ?
The Grand Opera House in Oshkosh is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. J.E. Williams was Mgr; the seating capacity is not given. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.50. The theatre was on the ground floor and had both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide X 42 feet high, and the stage was 36 feet deep. There were 10 in the house orchestra. There were 2 daily newspapers and 4 weeklies. Hotels were the Athearn, Tremont, Revere House and Fowler. Oshkosh population was 32,800.
The New Gillis Theatre in Kansas City is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Lester M. Crawford was Mgr., and ticket prices ranged from 15 cents to 50 cents. The house had both gas and electric illumination, and was on the second floor. The proscenium opening was 44 feet wide X 46 feet high, and the stage was 40 feet deep. There were 8 in the house orchestra. The seating capacity is listed as 2,059 but the breakdown is smaller: Orchestra- 575, Balcony- 314, Gallery- 500; total: 1,389 plus box seats. Possibly, the 2,059 figure was reached by adding standee spaces, as large numbers of standees were allowed in these 19th Century theatres.
Garman’s Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. A.S. Garman was Mgr. and press agent. Seating capacity was 950, and the house had both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide X 28 feet high, and the stage was 30 feet deep. Ticket prices were 25 cents to 75 cents and the theatre was on the ground floor. There was the Daily News plus 4 weeklies. Hotels were the Brockerhoff, Bush, and Garman. Railroads were the Pennsylvania RR and the Philadelphia & Reading RR. Bellfonte’s population was 5,000.
The Flemington Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide, an annual for roadshow managers. E. B. Allen was Mgr and there were 500 seats. The proscenium opening was 22 feet wide X 10 feet high and the stage was 20 feet deep. Dressing rooms were under the stage and the theatre was on the first floor. There were 4 weekly newspapers and 2 hotels and a boarding house in Flemington. Railroads were the CNJ and the LV. The 1897 population was 2,500.
The Eureka Opera House in Eureka is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. James G. Lucey was the Mgr. and there were 500 seats. The theatre was on the second floor, had a stage 21 feet deep and was illuminated by coal oil lamps. Professor Felix Rice was leader of the house orchestra which had 2-plus members. Local hotels were the Jackson House and the Bureau Hotel. The Eureka Sentinel was published every Saturday. The railroad was the Eureka & Palisade RR. The 1897 population was 1,500.
Under Adrian Michigan in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide is listed the New Croswell Opera House, C.D. Hardy, Mgr. Seating listed as 1,158; admission prices ranged from 25 cents to $1. The house had both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 28 feet wide X 18 feet high, and the stage was 37 feet deep. There were 8 in the house orchestra. Hotels were the Lawrence and the Emery. There were 2 daily newspapers, the Times and the Telegram, and 3 weeklies. Railroads were the LS&MS and the Wabash.
The City Opera House in Traverse City is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Charles Wilhelm was the Mgr. and the seating capacity is listed as 1,114. Ticket prices ranged from 25 to 75 cents. The house had electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 36 feet wide X 20 feet high, and the stage was 25 feet deep. The theatre was on the second floor and there were 7 in the house orchestra. The 1897 population was 9,000 with an additional 8,000 in surrounding villages. Hotels were the Park Place, Hotel Whiting and Front Street House. There was one daily newspaper and 3 weeklies. Also listed in the Guide in Traverse City was Steinburg’s Grand Opera House which had 776 seats.
The City Opera House in Frederick is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. P.E. Long was the Mgr. and it had 900 seats (probably rounded up from the 860 listed above). The theatre was on the second floor; the proscenium opening was 25 feet wide X 20 feet high, and the stage was 24 feet deep. There was one daily and 3 weekly newspapers and the hotel for show folk was the Carline House. The 1897 population of Frederick was 10,000.
I have seen the 2 photos from the book mentioned above by Hank Sykes; one of the Lafayette taken in April 1954, and the other taken in 1925 of the theatre when it was the Orpheum. Both photos definitely are of the same building as the 1941 picture in the MGM Report. This theatre was named Gem/ Orpheum/ Lafayette.
Was it originally known as the Empire Theatre? In the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook, there is an Empire Th. in Whitman MA. It had 873 seats and was open 6 days per week. In the 1928 Film Daily Yearbook, according to a friend who has it, the Empire Th. in Whitman was listed as part of the Boas Circuit of Boston, and was one of 22 theatres which they controlled at that time.
Jacques Opera House in Waterbury is listed in the 1897-98 edition of Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide. Jean Jacques was the Mgr. and the seating was 1,640. The theatre had both gas and electric illumination, and was on the ground floor. The proscenium opening was 33 feet wide X 30 feet high and the stage was 33 feet deep. There were 6 in the house orchestra. Waterbury newspapers were the American, Republican, Democrat, and Herald. Hotels were Scoville House, Franklyn, Arlington, Cooley and Earle. Railroad was the New Haven RR. The 1897 population was 45,000. The Guide also lists the Auditorium in Waterbury. Its manager was also Jean Jacques. It had 1,620 seats and its stage was slightly larger. It was also on the ground floor.
The Sterling Opera House in Derby is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. I.M. Hoyt was the Mgr. The seating capacity was given as 1,470, and the theatre was on the second floor. It had gas illumination. The proscenium opening was 30 feet square, and the stage was 34 feet deep. There were 6 members of the house orchestra. Local newspapers were the Transcript and the Sentinel. Local hotels were Hoffmann, Bassett, Sterling, Birmingham, Columbia and Holinas. Railroad was the New Haven. The greater Derby area had a population of 28,000.
The Sterling Opera House in Derby is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. I.M. Hoyt was the Mgr. The seating capacity was given as 1,470, and the theatre was on the second floor. It had gas illumination. The proscenium opening was 30 feet square, and the stage was 34 feet deep. There were 6 members of the house orchestra. Local newspapers were the Transcript and the Sentinel. Local hotels were Hoffmann, Bassett, Sterling, Birmingham, Columbia and Holinas. Railroad was the New Haven. The greater Derby area had a population of 28,000.
The Nichols Opera House in Bethel is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. They list it as “Nichols Opera House” rather than “Nichols' ”. The Manager was J.F. Nichols; the seating capacity was 460. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to 50 cents. The theatre was on the ground floor and it had gas illumination. The proscenium opening was 18 feet wide X 11 feet high, and the stage was 20 feet deep. There were 3 members of the house orchestra. Local hotels were Peat’s Hotel and the Fox Hotel; local paper was the Daily News. The 1897 population of Bethel was 4,000.
If I remember the old photo correctly, the theatre marquee and entrance were in a commercial building. The auditorium and stage were undoubtedly in a seperate adjoining structure in back. I don’t know if the commercial building which housed the entrance is still standing. The photo was part of a calender issued by a bank or credit union in Brockton in 2004 or 2005. All the photos came from the Brockton Enterprise. I clipped the photo out and sent it to the archives of the Theatre Historical Soc. I have heard 2 versions of what happend during the fire: 1) the firefighters went up into the balcony with their hose lines and the balcony collapsed. 2) the firemen went up into the balcony, and the roof collapsed. I suspect that the roof and the balcony both collapsed. There is an effort underway, after all these years, to put up a memorial plaque on or near the site in downtown Brockton.
The Fairlawn Theatre in Pawtucket is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as part of the Levenson Circuit of Boston. Run by Joseph Levenson, the circuit controlled 12 theatres at the time, including the Coolidge Corner in Brookline MA and the South Station Theatre in Boston.
The Capawock is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as part of the Levenson Circuit of Boston. Run by Joe Levenson, the circuit at the time consisted of 12 theatres including the Playhouse in Edgartown, the Coland and the Strand in Oak Bluff, and the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline.
The South Station Theatre is listed in the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac as part of the Levenson Circuit, 250 Stuart St. in Boston, Joseph M. Levenson, pres. The circuit ran 12 theatres at the time, including the Coolidge Corner Theatre and the Brookline Theatre in Brookline.
In the 1942-43 Motion Picture Almanac, the Strand in Quincy is listed as part of the Levenson Circuit of Boston. Headed by Joseph Levenson, the circuit also ran the Alhambra (Art) and Quincy (Capitol) theatres in Quincy, as well as the Coolidge Corner and Brookline theatres in Brookline and the South Station Theatre in Boston. Plus 6 others.
In the early 1940s, the Strand in Brockton was part of the Fred E. Leiberman theatre circuit of Boston, also known as Proven Pictures. A few years ago, I saw a photo from the files of the Brockton Enterprise made the day after the fire and taken from across the street and 2 or 3 stories up. There was a fire truck in the street but there was no evidence at all of any fire damage to the lobby entrance and front of the building. The fire apparently did not spread back from the auditorium. On the marquee was posted a movie title, plus on stage the noted character actor of the 1930s, Stepin Fetchit.
There are photos of the Sea Street on page 95 of the Arcadia Publishing book “Quincy – A Past Carved in Stone” by Patricia Harrigan Browne, published in 1996 and reprinted several times. The two photos show the theatre both before and after the change of name. The theatre was a free-standing 1 ½ story structure with a pitched roof and wood construction. I am guessing that it had 500 seats based on the size of the building. It was located at the end of the trolley line from Quincy Center to Houghs Neck; the cars terminated right in front of the theatre. Nearby was the pier for the steamboats from the downtown Boston waterfront. The theatre may have operated summers-only because Houghs Neck was a summer resort for Boston. There was one matinee and one evening show per day. A female singer (who may have doubled as piano player) led the Illustrated Songs portion of the program, and the films were “The Latest from New York”. The following summer, from time to time, it was possible to “Buy One Ticket, Get One Ticket Free”, and they also had an incentive program in which one’s ticket was also good on the Steamboat line from the Houghs Neck pier over to Nantasket Beach in Hull. There was also a place called “The Palms” in Houghs Neck which apparently was a multi-use building and it contained a cinema. Later, there was a Rialto Theatre at 1295 Sea Street in Houghs Neck. Since I don’t have a street address for the Sea Street Dream, it is possible that the Rialto was a new name for the old theatre. I don’t know if the Sea Street was new construction when it opened in June, 1907 or if it was adapted in an existing building. I also don’t know how long the theatre lasted.
Newsman Richard T. LeBrecque, writing in the Quincy Patriot Ledger of April 20, 1962, says that the Adams Theatre on School Street was located “in the old Arena”. I’m not sure what he meant by that—was there some sort of arena originally located in the rather small space of the Adams auditorium, or did he mean that the building containing the Adams Theatre was constructed on the site of an old arena ??
Newspaper correspondent Richard T. LeBreque, writing in the Quincy Patriot Ledger of April 20, 1962, states that the Alhambra Theatre opened in 1917, was built for $50,000 and had 800 seats. It was built by Henry Kincaide who had earlier built the Kincaide/Quincy/Capitol Theatre further south on Hancock St. Kincaide was also in the retail furniture business and was a one-time political figure. After a year presenting touring burlesque shows on stage, Kincaide leased the Alhambra to one Fred B. Murphy, who had a background in film distribution. Murphy reopened the theatre as a movie house. He later worked at both the Quincy Theatre and the Strand in downtown Quincy.