In Use

The Sampson Theatre – Penn Yan, New York

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This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in February 2025. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

View from the side of the balcony.

The Sampson Theatre in Penn Yan, New York originally opened on October 12, 1910. Built by local benefactor Dr. Frank Sampson, it was designed as a vaudeville house and entertainment venue. The grand opening featured a speech by President Theodore Roosevelt and a performance of Louis Mann’s comedy, “The Cheater.” The event drew a sell out crowd, with reserved seating priced at $3 and balcony seats available for 25 to 50 cents. 

The exterior of the theater in 2021.

For nearly two decades, the Sampson Theatre showcased major theatrical productions, including adaptations of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” George M. Cohan’s “Broadway Jones,” and operettas like “H.M.S. Pinafore.” The venue also featured silent films such as D.W. Griffith’s controversial “The Birth of a Nation” and popular serials like “The Perils of Pauline.” Vaudeville acts brought renowned performers to Penn Yan, including Joe Yule, father of Hollywood star Mickey Rooney. Local talent also graced the stage, with students from Penn Yan Academy participating in performances.

View from the stage area, with some remnants of the false ceiling framing still visible.

The theater’s use began to decline in the late 1920s as motion pictures gained popularity. In 1928, Harry C. Morse purchased the building and converted it into an indoor miniature golf course. In 1936, Wells Jewett repurposed it as an automobile garage and showroom, leading to significant alterations, including the removal of parts of the balcony. Over the decades, the building housed a car dealership and later a tire warehouse, operated by the Trombley family. Despite these changes, the structure retained its historic identity and significance.

In 2004, the Trombley family gifted the building to the Penn Yan Theatre Company (PYTCo), which began efforts to restore the theater to its original function as a performance venue. The Sampson Theatre has been recognized as an important historic site, listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Its early use of reinforced poured concrete construction was innovative for a small-town setting, contributing to the building’s longevity despite years of modifications.

The Sampson Theatre revitalization project has received significant support, including grants from the Rochester Area Community Foundation’s Historic Preservation program and the Keuka Area Fund. The funding aids restoration efforts such as installing vestibule doors and a box office. The theater was also selected as one of the Landmark Society’s inaugural “Five to Revive” preservation priorities. PYTCo continues to work toward its mission of enriching the community by reviving this historic entertainment center, bringing live performances and cultural events back to the heart of Penn Yan.

Rialto Theatre – South Pasadena, California

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This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in January 2025. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

View of the auditorium from the balcony.

The Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena, California, opened on October 17, 1925, as a venue for vaudeville acts and movies, with a premiere of Universal’s What Happened to Jones accompanied by a live Wurlitzer organ and orchestra. Designed by renowned theater architect Lewis Arthur Smith, the Rialto boasted an eclectic mix of Moorish, Spanish Baroque, Egyptian, and Classical styles, reflecting the opulence of the Jazz Age. Its original seating accommodated approximately 1,200 patrons, including a balcony adorned with intricate stenciling, plaster ornamentation, and mythical harpies supporting the organ chambers. Additional features included a gargoyle above the proscenium with glowing red eyes, a Batchelder tile fountain, and a miniature golf course during the Great Depression.

The exterior of the theater was restored before it reopened as a church in 2021.

Built by showman C.L. Langley, the Rialto was one of the last theaters designed by Smith. Ownership transitioned over the years, with the Jebbia family operating it from the 1930s and companies like West Coast Theatres and Mann Theatres leasing the property. The venue hosted diverse programming, including films, vaudeville, and live organ concerts. However, the Rialto faced challenges such as a backstage fire in 1938 and the removal of its Wurlitzer organ during the 1960s after water damage from fire suppression efforts.

By the 1970s, the theater faced the threat of demolition, but community advocacy saved it, leading to its designation as a Historic Cultural Monument in 1977 and its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Landmark Theatres took over operations in 1976, offering arthouse films and classic movie screenings. The Rialto gained further recognition as a filming location for movies like The Rocketeer, Scream 2, and The Player. In 2000, it celebrated its 75th anniversary with a series of events, including film festivals and live performances.

Despite its cultural significance, the Rialto struggled financially and closed in 2007, with a farewell screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. After years of neglect and code violations, the building was purchased in 2016 by developer Izek Shomof, who envisioned restoring it as an entertainment venue. In 2017, Mosaic Church signed a 15-year lease and began renovations, preserving key elements of the historic architecture while modernizing the facility.

These details, along with many others was covered up when the theater was converted into a church.

On August 29, 2021, the Rialto Theatre reopened as Mosaic Church, with its iconic neon marquee restored and its role as a community gathering space revived. However, the Rialto Theatre’s transformation into Mosaic Church came at a significant cost to its original design and historic features. During renovations, all of the original audience seating was removed and destroyed, with the sloped auditorium floor leveled to create a multi-purpose space. Many of the theater’s iconic plaster sculptures, including the intricately detailed harpies and the glowing-eyed gargoyle above the proscenium, were either covered or obscured. Additionally, the vibrant and historically significant color palette of the interior was replaced with a muted scheme of off-whites, further erasing the theater’s unique Jazz Age charm. These changes, while intended to modernize the space for contemporary use, have sparked concern among preservationists and community members who lament the loss of the Rialto’s architectural integrity.

The staircase in the lobby.
View from the side of the balcony.
The water fountain the the lobby.

The Glove Theatre – Gloversville, NY

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This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in December 2024. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

The Glove Theatre opened on October 9, 1914, as an 800-seat venue for live performances, vaudeville, and community events. Designed by architect Linn Kinne in the Classical Revival style, it quickly became a cultural hub in Gloversville, New York. Early years featured notable acts such as John Philip Sousa and Ethel Barrymore in “The Second Mrs. Tanqueray.” In 1920, the Schine brothers purchased the theater, making it the flagship of Schine Enterprises, which grew to operate over 150 theaters. By 1928, the Glove was among the first in the nation equipped with sound, showcasing its innovative edge.

The Glove Theatre auditorium from the balcony.

View of the auditorium from the balcony.

A major Art Deco renovation in 1939 modernized the theater, including the addition of its iconic marquee. During this era, the Glove continued hosting renowned acts, including Irene Dunne, Charles Laughton, Charles Coburn, and Sally Rand. It also featured Ziegfeld Follies performers and major events like the premiere of “Drums Along the Mohawk” in 1939.

The exterior of the Glove theater in Gloversville, New York

The exterior of the theater.

Throughout the Great Depression and World War II, the theater remained a central community venue, offering newsreels, bond drives, and live entertainment while training veterans to manage theaters in the Schine chain.

The Glove’s prominence waned by the 1960s as economic shifts affected the region. Despite hosting memorable performances by acts like Tony Randall and Buddy Jewell, the theater closed in 1971, marking the end of regular operations. For over two decades, the building stood vacant, with occasional screenings and events. By 1995, the theater faced demolition, but community members rallied to save it, forming the Gloversville Theatre Corporation.

It reopened in 1997 with a grand event, The Phantom of the Glove, featuring local performers and community participation. In the 2000s, the theater hosted a mix of productions, including musicals, concerts, and youth programming. Performances included Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra, the Wynotte Sisters, the Caroga Arts Collective, and Quintocracy. The Glove also featured unique acts like Zippy the Chimp, Leo the Lion (of MGM fame), and the NoLaNauts. The venue evolved into a community hub, offering affordable and creative programming for families and local artists.

Recent revitalization efforts have reinvigorated the theater. In 2022 and 2023, the Glove received nearly $4 million in grants from New York State to support renovations and expand programming. Weekly movie screenings, vaudeville shows, and live performances have become regular events. Today, the Glove continues to honor its legacy of hosting world-class entertainment while serving as a cultural and historic landmark in Gloversville.

The Glove’s website is: https://www.theglovetheatre.com/

Lincoln Square Theatre – Decatur, Illinois

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This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in August 2024. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

View of the auditorium from the side of the balcony.

On October 31, 1916, the Lincoln Square Theatre in Decatur, Illinois opened its doors. Designed by the local architectural firm of Charles J. Aschauer and Arthur M. Waggoner, it featured the Art Nouveau and Beaux Arts styles, which were popular at the time. The theater was considered fireproof, constructed of steel, concrete, and fireproof brick. It originally seated nearly 1,400 people and was equipped with a Barton theatre organ, featuring two 3-manual consoles. The public got its first glimpse of the theater during an event in early October 1916, with its formal grand opening occurring on October 27, 1916. The first performance featured George M. Cohan’s stage comedy “Hit-The-Trail-Holliday” starring Frank Otto and “My HomeTown Girl” starring John Hyams and Leila McIntyre.

In February 1926, the theater hired a 12-member orchestra to accompany stage productions and silent films. By June 1929, the theater “talkies” arrived in Decatur, first at the Empress Theater. The Lincoln began showing talkies 14 months later, marking the end of its vaudeville days.

Harry Blackstone, a famous magician, performed at the theater in September 1942. During his performance, a fire broke out at a neighboring drugstore. Blackstone cleverly and calmly evacuated the theater, convincing the audience of schoolchildren that they were part of a magic trick. No injuries were reported. Over the years, many famous performers graced the stage of the Lincoln Square Theatre, including Ethel Barrymore, and Bob Hope. Houdini was rumored to have performed at the Lincoln, but there’s no evidence to back that up. In March 1960, a fire heavily damaged the lobby, which was rebuilt a few months later.

View of the auditorium from the center of the balcony.

The theater was sold in 1974 to Plitt Theaters Inc., and later passed to the Kerasotes chain. The Kerasotes chain leased the building on a month-to-month basis until 1980, when their lease was terminated. Before leaving, Kerasotes removed much of the theater’s valuable equipment, leaving the projectors and speakers in disrepair.

Travel Channel’s Most Terrifying Places in America filmed an episode at the theater, dubbing it one of the most haunted theaters in the United States.

Throughout the 1990 and 2000s, efforts to restore the Lincoln Square Theatre began. It reopened for a few years but the theater closed in May 2017, unable to complete full restoration. However, in 2021, a nonprofit group called “Friends of the Lincoln Square Theater” (FotLSQ) took over the project. The theater reopened as a concert venue in 2022. The FotLSQ has repainted much of the theater, replaced the curtains, and the seating on the main level.

*I didn’t photograph the lobby as the original was destroyed, and the new one was not interesting.

The Cabot Theatre – Beverly, MA

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This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in March 2022. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

The Cabot is an active theater, but it’s one of my favorite local ones so I wanted to post it here.

The Cabot Theatre in Beverly, MA, originally opened on December 8, 1920 as the Ware Theatre. Early advertisements hailed the theater as “the most impressive auditorium of its size east of New York” and “The Golden Theatre Beautiful.” Harris and Glover Ware, who also operated the nearby Larcom Theater, built the theater. They hired Funk and Wilcox, who also designed the nearby Strand Theatre and Franklin Park Theatres, both in Boston, to design it.

The lobby was restored while the theater was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 1200 seat theater opened as a vaudeville and silent movie house, before transitioning to “talkies” or modern motion pictures in the late 1920s. It was leased to the E.M. Loew’s theater chain in 1944 and was purchased by them in 1962. Loew’s held a grand reopening on October 15, 1965 and renamed the theater to the Cabot Street Cinema.

The seats in the balcony were replaced in between my visits to the theater.

Loew’s operated the theater until 1976, when it was purchased by Le Grand David and His Own Spectacular Magic Company. Le Grand David performed his magic show at the theater until 2013. Cesareo Pelaez, the founder of Le Grand David, passed away, and the theater was put up for sale.

The murals in the auditorium resemble the ones in the Loew’s Majestic and Palace Theaters, but I haven’t been able to find documentation that states who painted these.

A consortium of five Beverly business people, Henry Bertolon, Bill Howard, Rich Marino, Thad Siemasko, and Paul Van Ness (who operates CinemaSalem) purchased it. The Cabot became a performing arts center, and in October 2015, hired an Executive Director, J. Casey Soward. In 2016, a multi-year, multi-million dollar renovation began at the Cabot. The renovation was to modernize the building and restore much of it to its original grandeur. It began by replacing all the seats, restoring the box seats, installing new HVAC and sound systems, and restoring the original lobby ceiling. It currently seats 850 people.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cabot was forced to hold a virtual 100th anniversary celebration. Over 22,000 people viewed the performances from James Taylor, Grace Potter, Fantastic Negrito, and more. For more on the Cabot visit their website at https://thecabot.org/ 

I told you it was one of my favorite local theaters.

 

Elks Lodge – Pawtucket, RI

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This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in November 2022. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

View of the auditorium from the orchestra level.

The Pawtucket Elks Lodge Building is located in the central business district of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It was designed in the Mission/Spanish Revival architectural style by the O’Malley-Fitzsimmons Company. Its first floor was made for commercial tenants, which is unusual for an Elks lodge.

Looking back at the auditorium from the stage.

On June 10, 1904, the Pawtucket Lodge of Elks #920 was founded with 64 members. They rented halls for their meetings before purchasing a permanent home on School Street in 1914. However, membership skyrocketed, and they announced plans to build a new lodge building in 1924. Construction was complete by 1926 and they moved in. During the Great Depression, the Pawtucket Elks could survive because of the income they received from the commercial tenants in the building.

The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 18, 1983. The Elks moved out of the building in the late 20th century, and the building fell into disrepair. It’s currently home to an artists collective who live and work in the building.

The exterior of the building.

A tapestry that was definitely not original to the building.

Empire Gardens (The Globe, Loew’s Center Theatre) – Boston, MA

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The Empire Garden was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in December 2022. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

The exterior of the theater.

The Empire Garden restaurant in Boston, Massachusetts was originally the Globe Theatre, a historic movie theater that was built in 1903. The theater was designed in the French Renaissance style by architect Athur Vinal and was a popular entertainment venue in Boston for many years.

It was taken over by E.M Loew’s and renamed the Loew’s Center Theatre in 1947. It has the distinction of being run by both Loew’s Incorporated, and the E.M. Loew’s circuits. Over the years, the Loew’s Center Theatre played host to a variety of films, stage productions, and other events. It was a popular destination for both locals and tourists.

The area the theater was in became known as “The Combat Zone” in the late 1960s, and in 1974, the Boston Redevelopment Authority rezoned the area as a red-light district. The Center started showing soft-core pornography and blaxploitation films.

In the late 1980s, the theater was renamed to the Pagoda, and switched formats to show Hong Kong action films. However, it struggled financially and closed in 1995. It was later converted into the Empire Garden restaurant, which has been in operation at the same location ever since. While the exterior of the building has been preserved, much of the interior has been renovated to accommodate the restaurant. The ground floor has been completely gutted to make way for retail space, but the balcony survives and is now the dining room for the restaurant.

The Elmora Theatre – Elizabeth, New Jersey

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View from the side of the auditorium.

The Elmora Theatre opened on February 15, 1927 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. It was called “The Theatre Beautiful” in early advertisements and was primarily a live playhouse when it opened. The Kirkham Players, a local acting company, performed in most of the plays shown at the Elmora. However, on June 11, 1928, a little over a year after they began, J. Ellis Kirkham, the managing director of the Kirkham Players, resigned because of a difference of opinion on managerial policy. Kirkham’s resignation led to a much less popular group taking over the Elmora, and by 1929 it had closed.

Looking back from the stage.

On April 1st 1929, Werba and Taylor of New York City reopened the Elmora. The first play shown at the newly christened Werba’s Elmora was “The Trial of Mary Dugan.” By 1941, the Elmora had switched to showing motion pictures, and continued to do so until it closed. Bob Jaspan, an Elizabeth City Councilman, had purchased the theater in 1986. Jaspan purchased the building to move his hardware store there, but was convinced to keep the theater open by his constituents. He ran two-for-one specials, reduced ticket prices and held monthly screenings for senior citizens, but ultimately could not compete with nearby multiplexes.

Jaspan closed the theater in 1996. After it closed, Jaspan had the long hallway style lobby split up into retail spaces, and rented out the auditorium to the Evangelistic Hispanic Church. Jaspan sold the theater a few years later. The auditorium became a secondhand furniture showroom in 2007, but that didn’t last long because of the deteriorating state of the building.

Rivoli Theatre (Williams Center for the Arts) Rutherford, NJ

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This was originally posted on After the Final Curtain’s Patreon in January 2022. For expanded early posts, as well as video walkthroughs and other exclusive content, you can become a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/afterthefinalcurtain

The auditorium shortly after it opened, and in 2016.

The Rivoli Theatre opened on April 22, 1922, in Rutherford, New Jersey. It was designed by architect Abram Presikel and featured a marble facade, an ornate interior, and a centerpiece chandelier made of crystals from Czechoslovakia. The 2,200 seat theater opened as a combination vaudeville and silent film house. During this time, acts such as Abbott and Costello and the Glenn Miller Orchestra performed at the Rivoli.

In 1936, architect John Eberson, known for designing many atmospheric theaters across the world, remodeled the interior. On January 9, 1977, a fire destroyed the lobby and front of the building. Luckily, most of the auditorium was undamaged. Repairs began right away, and in 1982 the theater reopened as a performing arts center called the George W. Newman Theatre. However, movies were still shown in the building. As part of the reconstruction, a two-screen cinema was constructed on the site of the Rivoli’s lobby. The entire building, including the former Rivoli and the two-screen cinema, was named the William Carlos Williams Center for the Performing Arts, after the poet, doctor, and Rutherford native.

The theater was gifted to Bergen County in 1987, and they made an agreement with the nonprofit group that ran the theater to continue on. Over the years, the theater hosted music shows, films, art shows, and High School Graduations. In October 2012, the Newman theater closed due to damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. A study determined that the ceiling plasterwork might not be stable if exposed to the sound of a live music performance. In August 2021, Bergen County transferred the ownership of the building to the borough of Rutherford, who then sold it to local developer Chuck Olivo for $1. Olivo intends to save the theater, as well as build a residential building on the site.

View of the auditorium from the back rows.
A close up of some of the surviving plasterwork details in the auditorium.
The theater’s proscenium arch.
Behind the giant chandelier you can see the divide where the original auditorium ends and the newer portion begins.

Loew’s Kings Theatre – Part 4

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Material from for this post was taken from the first three chapters of my book, Kings Theatre; The Rise, Fall and Rebirth of Brooklyn’s Wonder Theater. If you’d like to buy a copy, they are available on Amazon, and on my website. You can find the first three parts at the following links: 

https://afterthefinalcurtain.net/2018/09/13/loews-kings-theatre-part-one/

https://afterthefinalcurtain.net/2019/01/22/loews-kings-theatre-part-2-the-early-years/

https://afterthefinalcurtain.net/2019/03/08/loews-kings-theatre-part-3-the-queen-of-the-kings/

View from the side of the balcony.

Rumors circulated Loews was interested in selling the Kings in November 1976. Marty Markowitz, then president of the Flatbush Tenants Council, confirmed that the building was up for sale. According to Markowitz, “I know that the building is up for sale. I don’t know if it has been sold yet, but I know that the Loews Corporation would like to sell it.” Markowitz said, “We would like to bring live entertainment to the theater – Broadway-type shows and concerts so that there could be a sort of renaissance on Flatbush Avenue. We mentioned it to the Loews people, but they aren’t interested.” Chet Arnow, the vice president in charge of advertising and publicity for Loews, denied that the Kings was up for sale, but added, “Sure the Kings is up for sale. Every one of our theaters is always up for sale if the price is right. If we don’t get the right price, we’ll continue operating the Kings as usual.” Brunner also denied the rumors and stated that people have been talking about the Kings closing for 20 years. Despite their denials, less than six months later, the marquee read, “Closed: Will Reopen Soon.”

 

Soon after the theater closed, two churches asked about buying the theater and converting it into a place of worship. There was precedent for this; Loew’s 175th, one of the Kings’ sister theaters, had been purchased by the United Christian Evangelistic Association in 1969 and converted into a church. Another former Loew’s Wonder Theater, the Valencia, closed around the same time as the Kings and was turned into a church two years later when Loew’s donated the building to the Tabernacle of Prayer for All People.

During the Loew’s Valencia theater’s early years, clouds were projected across the ceiling, giving the illusion of sitting under the stars at night.

Less than a month after closing, the Kings Theater was sold to the Kings Royalty Production Corporation (KRPC) for $718,385, or $2,782,520 when adjusted for inflation. The KRPC was formed for the specific purpose of purchasing and running the theater. Robert Smerling and David Fellman, the owners of KRPC, also owned the American Theatre Management Corporation (ATMC), which had several theaters in the tri-state area. “Loew’s” was removed from the marquee, and it reopened in early June 1977 as simply the Kings Theatre. The first film shown was Day of the Animals, a horror movie starring Leslie Nielsen. KRPC contracted with major movie companies, including Warner Brothers and Paramount, to turn the Kings into a first-run movie theater.

On July 13, 1977, lightning struck a substation near Buchanan, NY and began a chain of events that caused the New York metropolitan area to lose power for around 25 hours. Looting began soon after the power went out. It was especially bad in the Bronx, Harlem, Queens, and Central Brooklyn. Eighty stores in Flatbush were hit, with 49 of them on Flatbush Avenue. The already low attendance and the destruction and looting during the blackout caused many people to stay away from the hardest hit neighborhoods.

One of the first films shown at the newly reopened theater was the follow up to the 1973 hit, The Exorcist. KRPC was banking on Exorcist II: The Heretic being as big a hit as the first one. Unfortunately, this film was considered by many to be one of the worst films ever made, and it languished at the box office. The Kings showed the “Exorcist II: The Heretic” for almost a month before switching to another film. By that point, the damage was done, and the KRPC could not meet expenses to keep the theater open. On Monday, August 29, 1977, the Kings closed again, just six weeks after it had reopened. The last film shown was “Bruce Lee: The Man, The Myth.”

Laurence Lehr, a representative employed by both KRPC and ATMC, claimed that the company closed the theater because it was cheaper to let the bank have it. “When you get monthly electric bills over $7,800 …, how do you expect to do business? You can’t do business in this city. The costs of labor, security, and everything else are ridiculous.” They tried to keep the costs down by rarely using the large chandeliers in the lobby and only turning the marquee on around 9 PM each evening. According to Lehr, the company was aware of the costs of running a theater when they bought it, but was hoping they could turn it around.