Garden Theatre

1176 Main Street,
Springfield, MA 01101

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Herman Rifkin Theaters

Architects: E.C. Gardner, G.C. Gardner

Previous Names: Edisonia Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Garden Theatre

Opened in 1913 as the Edisonia Theatre, it was located just south of Court Square on Main Street at the corner of Bliss Street. By 1926 it had been renamed Garden Theatre and in the 1940’s in was operated by the Herman Rifkin Theaters chain. After closing in 1953 the front area was used for retail and the auditorium was an auto repair facility. It has since been demolished.

Contributed by AlLarkin

Recent comments (view all 5 comments)

EdwardShear
EdwardShear on December 3, 2004 at 4:53 pm

The Garden closed in 1953. In 1954, the then popular downtown grocer, Springfield Market, took it over, gutted the theater and it became a grocery store until the mid ‘60’s.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on November 17, 2010 at 11:17 am

The Garden is listed in the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook as having 630 seats, open daily.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 14, 2013 at 2:32 pm

The NRHP registration form for the Edisonia Theatre Block says that it was built in 1913 and designed by local architects E.C. & G.C. Gardner. The building was added to the NRHP in 1983.

jaboschen
jaboschen on April 19, 2016 at 4:46 pm

The status needs to be changed to demolished. It was torn down for the casino. :–(

Ravenswing
Ravenswing on December 8, 2021 at 7:17 pm

Gah, what a pity; I worked in the building for several years in the 1990s.

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