Arcadia Theater
9 Congress Street,
Portsmouth,
NH
03801
9 Congress Street,
Portsmouth,
NH
03801
No one has favorited this theater yet
The Franklin Block still stands. It once contained the Arcadia Theater on the second and third floors. The Arcadia Theater operated into the early-1980’s. It became retail on the first floor (now a restaurant), and offices upstairs in the former theater. It is still handsome, but was completely gutted.
In common New Hampshire tradition, a building would be named something like the Franklin Block and contain…the Arcadia Theater. Across the street the National Block once contained the Odd Fellows Hall.
This theater is around the corner from the Music Hall and just across the street from what was the Colonial Theater (and is soon to come down).
Contributed by
John Elwood
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
is this for sale?
thank you ron
(July 29, 1976)
Youth Enrichment Services (Y.E.S.), a group of young people in the seacoast area, is an organization of representatives from area social service agencies coordinated by “The Junction” Youth Resource
Center.
The purpose of the organization is to provide a structure in which youth may assume a leadership role in developing and enriching youth oriented community programs.
Y.E.S. is negotiating the rental of the old Arcadia Theatre on Congress Street. The Arcadia Theatre, once a major attraction in Portsmouth, has been closed since the mid-1950’s. The proposed use of the vacant theatre offers the Y.E.S. group a rare opportunity to provide the entire community with a facility that could be used for many purposes. Proposed uses for the building include rental of office space, public displays, lectures, a recreational center, concerts, movies, theatre, learning center, and all types of cultural and social activities. Considerable renovation would be required to meet modern health and safety regulations. The Y.E.S. Group is a non-profit corporation and is in need of money, materials, labor, interests, and ideas. Help us help the community. Contributions are tax deductible.
V.I.P.
The current occupant of 9 Congress Street is a restaurant called the Bakery Cafe.
This page about the Arcadia Theatre from The Cinema Data Project says that it was located on the second and third floors of the building and opened in the late 19th century. The original theater space has been converted into offices.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Arcadia; it’s Card # 507. Address is “Main St.” There is an exterior photo dated May 1941. Condition is Poor. The report says that it opened about 1925, and was not showing MGM films. There were 500 main-floor seats and 300 balcony. The 1940 population was 14,000.