Fort Plain Theatre
Center Street,
Fort Plain,
NY
13339
Center Street,
Fort Plain,
NY
13339
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Smalley's Theaters Inc.
Styles: Neo-Classical
Previous Names: Mohawk Valley Theatre, Smalley's Fort Plain Theatre, Smalley's Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Fort Plain Theatre was opened on November 27, 1911 as a legitimate theatre and vaudeville house. The opening production was the play “A Gentleman of Leisure” staring Cyril Scott. By 1914 movies were also being screened. It was renamed Mohawk Valley Theatre and was taken over by the Smalley circuit in 1922 and became Smalley’s Fort Plain Theatre. By 1941 it was Smalley’s Theatre.
Smalley’s Theatre was still open in 1957, but was soon renamed the Fort Plain Theatre (again) when it closed in 1964. It was demolished in 1965.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Is this the place that became “Ernie’s Pussycat Theatre” in the 70’s?
Sorry, I think Smalley’s in St. Johnsville became Ernie’s.
An item in a 1958 issue of Motion Picture Herald reported that Michael F. Cory, operator of the Strand Theatre in Canajoharie, New York, had purchased the Fort Plain Theatre from a subsidiary of Smalley Theatres.
I believe this house went back to its original name in its last years. An article in the March 1, 1965, issue of the Amsterdam, New York Evening Recorder said that the Fort Plain Theatre, which had been closed for some months, had been bought by the Fort Plain Merchants Association, and title had been conveyed to the Village Board so that the building could be demolished to make way for a public parking lot.
The house probably closed in the latter part of 1964, and the building was demolished in 1965.
The Fort Plain Standard of Thursday, January 13, 1927, published the obituary of Dr. Charles Jackson. One paragraph concerns the Fort Plain Theatre:
Early`60s photo added credit J Dennis Swartz. Marquee removed prior to demolition.
The December 9, 1911 issue of Variety reported that the new Fort Plain Theatre had opened November 27 with “A Gentleman of Leisure” starring Cyril Scott. The play was based on an early novel by P. G. Wodehouse, and had premiered at The Playhouse in New York City on August 24. The box office receipts for the Fort Plain’s opening night were $1,800.