WOW…6 years later and on the other side of the world I popped back onto the page to see if anyone had ever untangled the Whitney Point theater mysteries…and discovered WPGUY went above and beyond all expectations with the amazing historical research! Thanks for this amazing info!
Two questions:
1. Any idea when Rogers House was demolished?
2. Any idea about where the (probably briefly operating) theater in Maine run in tandem with the Point in the ‘30s might have been located?
Well, vis this comments in 2007 and 2014 I’m in Siem Reap and it’s 2022, so that’s how long it took before a regular on this website wound up in Cambodia! You get it when you get it. :)
An highly detailed section map posted by Binghamton theater buff Edward G. Brewer on Facebook in April 2020 confirms by location and building dimensions that the Susquehanna Valley Theater was, in fact, located in the Frankie’s Bar building and the bartender’s assertion that it was formerly a theater was correct.
Modern day address is 165 Conklin and based on current evidence, it appears that the building still stands.
Following up on the Motion Picture Directory address, looking at 23 Crandall Street today, there is a large vacant lot (with pavement indicating the prior existence of a building) and the building next door matches the one in the picture closely enough (though not exactly) that it could possibly be the same.
If so, very strange place to put a theater, at the end of a dead end street by the railroad, though there is an ancient tunnel under the railroad that probably dates back to this period.
According to FB posts and a newspaper article posted on “Remember Susquehanna,” the Hogan Opera House was converted in 1940 to the Town Theater, with a new entrance building and marquee added, as well as remodeling that included the addition of sloping floors. The Town was destroyed on March 20, 1960 after a fire broke out during a film showing. Location was the current Dollar General parking lot (1351 E. Main). The exact date of construction was already obscure at that time, but the article pegs it to around 1875.
Facebook posts by Triple Cities theater expert Edward Brewer and others on the “Historic Johnson City” page indicate that some of the Endwell Theater building may have been retained in the later Woolworth structure, which still stands. Brewer also indicates that the Orpheum and Endwell Theaters are one and the same, with the prior theater having opened in 1908.
July 14, 1917 newspaper article posted on Historic Binghamton FB page indicates this was originally a church and was being repurposed at that time as a cigar factory.
I recently discovered notes I took in 1982 that suggest the Citizen’s opened on Oct. 16, 1888, rather than 1887. I have no idea what the source for this was, or if the date is accurate. I have to assume I got it from somewhere.
There was another opera house in Norwich called Breese, and later Clark’s, Opera House. This building still stands. A website for the Clark Opera House (https://freethought-trail.org/trail-map/location:breese-opera-house/) misidentifies a picture of the Burr as being the Clark. It’s not known if the Clark also showed movies. It apparently was in operation at least up until 1902, based on notes I took in the ‘80s.
According to Bob Bullock on the “Historic Binghamton” FB group, the Citilyne occupied the same space as Fitzie’s Irish Pub, and the building was torn down in 2001. (It is not the same one I observed on that block in the ‘80s with the starred archway) He also provided the photo shown here.
I finally found a photograph of the arch from the Johnson City side that shows the building that stood where at 344 Main Street before it was demolished. It can be seen here: http://roadsidephotos.sabr.org/rp/arches.htm
Unfortunately both this building (which is indeed three stories but very wide) and the still-standing one next to Lane’s both are sporting awnings in this photo so I cannot see which one had the stars and arch entryway I remember seeing in the 1980s (both have visible gaps in the window construction to allow for one). There’s nothing about either building to indicate that there may have been a theater in them though they appear to be the correct vintage.
This theater is closed. The ticket booth and main staircase remain, but the locals report that most of the interior of the theater has been dismantled. The ground floor of the building is used as an arcade shopping mall.
A website on Mt. Upton history has a picture of the Mount Upton Opera House, at that point repurposed as a firehouse, in the 1950s. Its high, barn-like construction with narrow windows typical of the 19th century suggests it predates the movie era. Since it was in operation both before and after Smalley’s theater opened in 1913, it seems likely that Smalley’s movie theater was a separate business and thus building. I have so far not been able to locate any pictures or further information about the Smalley theater.
Whoa! Nice find, Ken! This is a completely new one on me.
I am wondering if this is an early name for the Ideal. The reason is that when I was researching the Ideal was unable to find any kind of grand opening notice or anything of that nature. It just kind of appeared in September 1914. If it had previously existed under another name and it simply changed monikers that September that would explain a lot – and assuming the handbill above is from Feb. 1914 (indicated by your post and the release year of “The Conspiracy”) the timeline fits. I’m fairly sure the “O.K. Theatre” as such wasn’t in existence much after that, or I think I or some other researcher would have stumbled across it. A delve into an old newspaper website might give us some some answers.
Nice catch! And mysterious since the ad has the address as clearly different and in line with the 1929 Press clipping. Which strongly indicates there were two theaters, despite the 1934 notice having the old address.
This is a first…apparently this should read “demolished…showing movies!” In August 2016 the Montrose Film Festival screened two movies in the parking lot where the theater once stood. Pretty cool!
There is an advertisement in the November 6, 1929 Binghamton Press that offers in the “Real Estate For Sale” section a theatre block at 344 Main St. “450 seats, full equipment, what have you to trade?” J.H. Bedell was the offering party. There is another 1928 item in the press indicating that the 344 Main St. block was a three story building. There are references to restaurants in the block from the 1940s, continuing into the mid ‘80s.
Old aerial photographs show a complex of buildings next to the current Key Bank (340 Main) that disappeared between 2002 and 2006, with the one closest to the bank about the dimensions of a theater.
There are old photos of the arch, which was a stone’s throw from the theater, but unfortunately they all face the arch, pointing away from the location of the building.
The information about the whens and whys of the demolition came from the Press article at the time. Looks like from what you report some of the plans in motion then were delayed/didn’t happen.
Comment on the Colonia Theater thread indicates the Bijou building still stands and a picture of it exists – I’ve been so far unable to find that or more information. I wonder if that poster could do an entry for the Bijou (which apparently did not turn into Smalley’s, since the building still exists).
Should be Gotic. Thanks autocorrect
WOW…6 years later and on the other side of the world I popped back onto the page to see if anyone had ever untangled the Whitney Point theater mysteries…and discovered WPGUY went above and beyond all expectations with the amazing historical research! Thanks for this amazing info!
Two questions: 1. Any idea when Rogers House was demolished? 2. Any idea about where the (probably briefly operating) theater in Maine run in tandem with the Point in the ‘30s might have been located?
Well, vis this comments in 2007 and 2014 I’m in Siem Reap and it’s 2022, so that’s how long it took before a regular on this website wound up in Cambodia! You get it when you get it. :)
An highly detailed section map posted by Binghamton theater buff Edward G. Brewer on Facebook in April 2020 confirms by location and building dimensions that the Susquehanna Valley Theater was, in fact, located in the Frankie’s Bar building and the bartender’s assertion that it was formerly a theater was correct.
Modern day address is 165 Conklin and based on current evidence, it appears that the building still stands.
Following up on the Motion Picture Directory address, looking at 23 Crandall Street today, there is a large vacant lot (with pavement indicating the prior existence of a building) and the building next door matches the one in the picture closely enough (though not exactly) that it could possibly be the same.
If so, very strange place to put a theater, at the end of a dead end street by the railroad, though there is an ancient tunnel under the railroad that probably dates back to this period.
According to FB posts and a newspaper article posted on “Remember Susquehanna,” the Hogan Opera House was converted in 1940 to the Town Theater, with a new entrance building and marquee added, as well as remodeling that included the addition of sloping floors. The Town was destroyed on March 20, 1960 after a fire broke out during a film showing. Location was the current Dollar General parking lot (1351 E. Main). The exact date of construction was already obscure at that time, but the article pegs it to around 1875.
Facebook posts by Triple Cities theater expert Edward Brewer and others on the “Historic Johnson City” page indicate that some of the Endwell Theater building may have been retained in the later Woolworth structure, which still stands. Brewer also indicates that the Orpheum and Endwell Theaters are one and the same, with the prior theater having opened in 1908.
July 14, 1917 newspaper article posted on Historic Binghamton FB page indicates this was originally a church and was being repurposed at that time as a cigar factory.
I recently discovered notes I took in 1982 that suggest the Citizen’s opened on Oct. 16, 1888, rather than 1887. I have no idea what the source for this was, or if the date is accurate. I have to assume I got it from somewhere.
There was another opera house in Norwich called Breese, and later Clark’s, Opera House. This building still stands. A website for the Clark Opera House (https://freethought-trail.org/trail-map/location:breese-opera-house/) misidentifies a picture of the Burr as being the Clark. It’s not known if the Clark also showed movies. It apparently was in operation at least up until 1902, based on notes I took in the ‘80s.
According to Bob Bullock on the “Historic Binghamton” FB group, the Citilyne occupied the same space as Fitzie’s Irish Pub, and the building was torn down in 2001. (It is not the same one I observed on that block in the ‘80s with the starred archway) He also provided the photo shown here.
…or could be late 1911 as the January 8, 1912 article indicated the theater had been recently opened.
Apparently opened as the Happy Hour Theater in January 1912 (not 1910 as I indicated above). See photo uploaded from Historic Binghamton FB page.
I finally found a photograph of the arch from the Johnson City side that shows the building that stood where at 344 Main Street before it was demolished. It can be seen here: http://roadsidephotos.sabr.org/rp/arches.htm
Unfortunately both this building (which is indeed three stories but very wide) and the still-standing one next to Lane’s both are sporting awnings in this photo so I cannot see which one had the stars and arch entryway I remember seeing in the 1980s (both have visible gaps in the window construction to allow for one). There’s nothing about either building to indicate that there may have been a theater in them though they appear to be the correct vintage.
Would live to find a photo of the Citilyne.
Seems to be still in use as a church. Door was wide open and unguarded, but I didn’t go in.
This theater is closed. The ticket booth and main staircase remain, but the locals report that most of the interior of the theater has been dismantled. The ground floor of the building is used as an arcade shopping mall.
Nice job finding this photo! I’ve been searching for a long time, no luck.
A website on Mt. Upton history has a picture of the Mount Upton Opera House, at that point repurposed as a firehouse, in the 1950s. Its high, barn-like construction with narrow windows typical of the 19th century suggests it predates the movie era. Since it was in operation both before and after Smalley’s theater opened in 1913, it seems likely that Smalley’s movie theater was a separate business and thus building. I have so far not been able to locate any pictures or further information about the Smalley theater.
Whoa! Nice find, Ken! This is a completely new one on me.
I am wondering if this is an early name for the Ideal. The reason is that when I was researching the Ideal was unable to find any kind of grand opening notice or anything of that nature. It just kind of appeared in September 1914. If it had previously existed under another name and it simply changed monikers that September that would explain a lot – and assuming the handbill above is from Feb. 1914 (indicated by your post and the release year of “The Conspiracy”) the timeline fits. I’m fairly sure the “O.K. Theatre” as such wasn’t in existence much after that, or I think I or some other researcher would have stumbled across it. A delve into an old newspaper website might give us some some answers.
Nice catch! And mysterious since the ad has the address as clearly different and in line with the 1929 Press clipping. Which strongly indicates there were two theaters, despite the 1934 notice having the old address.
This is a first…apparently this should read “demolished…showing movies!” In August 2016 the Montrose Film Festival screened two movies in the parking lot where the theater once stood. Pretty cool!
Sorry, should not have said “Key Bank” above.
Some new information about the Citilyne.
There is an advertisement in the November 6, 1929 Binghamton Press that offers in the “Real Estate For Sale” section a theatre block at 344 Main St. “450 seats, full equipment, what have you to trade?” J.H. Bedell was the offering party. There is another 1928 item in the press indicating that the 344 Main St. block was a three story building. There are references to restaurants in the block from the 1940s, continuing into the mid ‘80s.
Old aerial photographs show a complex of buildings next to the current Key Bank (340 Main) that disappeared between 2002 and 2006, with the one closest to the bank about the dimensions of a theater.
There are old photos of the arch, which was a stone’s throw from the theater, but unfortunately they all face the arch, pointing away from the location of the building.
Good to know Igbirt.
The information about the whens and whys of the demolition came from the Press article at the time. Looks like from what you report some of the plans in motion then were delayed/didn’t happen.
Comment on the Colonia Theater thread indicates the Bijou building still stands and a picture of it exists – I’ve been so far unable to find that or more information. I wonder if that poster could do an entry for the Bijou (which apparently did not turn into Smalley’s, since the building still exists).