Strand Theatre
844 W. Second Street,
Hastings,
NE
68901
844 W. Second Street,
Hastings,
NE
68901
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The Brach Theatre opened with a Louis the XIVth style on October 2, 1916 with Orrin Johnson starring in “The Light at Dusk” showing on the Gold Fibre screen. The $8,000 pipe organ wowed as did the terra cotta front and interior marble work. C.W. Martin took on the venue on July 1, 1917 to make improvements and renamed it the Strand Theatre at a relaunch on July 6, 1917 with Earle Williams in “Apartment 29.”
On October 26, 1929, the Strand relaunched after a brief refresh and now with Vitaphone sound to keep pace with the Rivoli. The Strand added widescreen projection in 1954 to present CinemaScope titles. It was still open in 1964. Central States took on the venue closing at the end of a 20-year lease on March 30, 1984.
A book called Past and Present of Adams County, published in 1917, says: “The Brach Theater was erected by William Brach and is the first elaborate, exclusive moving picture theater to be erected in Hastings. The house was opened October 8, 1916. Charles A. Beghtol is the proprietor.”
The May 13, 1916, issue of Motography had an item about the proposed theater, though it got the name of the owner wrong:
The Adams County Historical Society provides this web page with information about the Strand. There are also two photos.