Park Theatre
19 Main Street,
Jaffrey,
NH
03452
19 Main Street,
Jaffrey,
NH
03452
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Here is the first paragraph from an article about the centennial of the Park Theatre. It was published in the April 7, 2022 issue of the Winchendon Courier: “JAFFREY, New Hampshire (April 4, 2022) On May 1, 1922, an Italian immigrant named Romolo Vanni opened a business in Jaffrey, New Hampshire that would make a profound and long-lasting impression on a little mill town. The business was a moving picture theatre. He called it The Park Theatre to memorialize its facing across Main Street to Jaffrey’s downtown park common. Immediately it was a hit with people queuing up around the block to see Hollywood silent movies and occasional traveling vaudeville shows. For over half a century, it provided entertainment for the Monadnock Region and north-central Massachusetts.”
The May 28, 1941 issue of The Exhibitor had this item “Romulo Vianno’s Park, East Jaffrey, N. H., last week opened after almost two months remodelling by Capitol Theatre Supply.”
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Park; it’s Card # 489. Address is Main Street in “Jaffey NH”. There is an exterior photo taken March 1941. Condition is Good. The report says the Park opened in 1929, shows MGM films, and has 439 main floor seats and 100 in the balcony. The 1940 population was 2,800.
Wish you could have saved some of the old theater… Relics are important too.
This building has been recently demolished. Demolition videos are available to view on the website http://www.theparktheatre.org. Fortunately the demolition of this building is for a good cause, as the land will be used for another Park Theatre.
Glad to hear that another movie theatre is set to be restored and re-opened.
Here is an April 2004 article about Team Jaffrey:
http://tinyurl.com/dbzvlk
The Park is open. Last year they were showing movies in the summer and also putting on stage plays.
http://tinyurl.com/bdc2ko
I think this would be the official website:
http://www.theparktheatre.org/
Homepage for the restoration effort. Contains history & photos:
http://www.teamjaffrey.org/ParkTheatre.html