Strand Theatre
24 Eastern Avenue,
Springfield,
MA
01109
24 Eastern Avenue,
Springfield,
MA
01109
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Small neighborhood theatre. Located on Eastern Avenue near Winchester Square. The Strrand Theatre was opened on October 7, 1916 with Tom Moore in “Who’s Guilty” (aka “Sowing the Wind”). Showed second run, double feature films. In the 1940’s and into the 1950’s it was operated by the Herman Rifkin Theaters chain. It was closed on May 31, 1953 with George Montgomery in “Jack McCall, Desperado” & Stanley Clements in “White Lightening”.
It was demolished for a supermarket parking lot.
Contributed by
Richard Williams
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
The Strand had an impressive downtown-style marquee for a small neighborhood theater. It opened in 1921 and closed in 1958. In the early ‘60’s, it was demolished for an extended parking lot needed by a then popular nearby grocery store. It had 738 seats on the main floor and 226 seats in it’s balcony.
The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Strand in Springfield has a facade photo taken in March 1941. There was a fairly small but flashy rectangular marquee with 3 large Palladiun-style windows above it. Attraction is “Lady Eve”. The address is 24 Eastern Avenue. The Report states that the Strand has been showing MGM films for over 10 years; that it’s over 20 years old; is in Fair condition; and has 738 orchestra seats and 226 balcony seats; total: 964 seats. The type of patronage is “Neighborhood”.
A Springfield lawyer in his 70’s remembers a big “S” on the front of the Strand. He tells of his Six Corners buddies pooling their resources and buying a single ticket. The ticket holder would gain admission and let his cronies in through a side door.
The Strand in Springfield is listed in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook as having 746 seats and open daily.
Goldstein Brothers Amusements announced the Strand Theatre early in 1916. Constructed by Patrick J. Mahoney, the Strand opened with “Who’s Guilty” on October 7, 1916. The venue converted to sound to main viable. The final shows on May 31, 1953 were “Jack McCall” and “White Lightning.” On June 9, 1953, it was announced by the Strand’s final operator, Liberty Theatres of Herman Rifkin Theaters, that the theater would become a parking lot for a Winchester Square supermarket. A salvage sale ad offered parts of the theatre for sale in July of 1953 including the marquee - cheap - during the demolition by Springfield Demolition.