The Strand Opera House was built in 1909 at 37 Market Street in Ipswich, and hosted operas, plays, travelling shows and even the Boston Symphony. It was quite a big deal to have such a grand venue in town.
In 1930 the Strand burned, then reopened as a movie theater featuring first run films. It was owned by Phil Smith and Theatrical Enterprises, catering to local customers and “an upscale clientele who sometimes arrived in limousines. “
In November, 1985 the Strand Theater was demolished. In it’s place was constructed the First National Bank of Ipswich.
Posters below courtesy of Eric Josephson:
Categories: Places
I have the chandeliers from the Strand. I rescued them before the demolition.
Please contact me.
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Shame on Ipswich
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Too bad your theater was demolished. There is a theater in my small town which could have been built with the same plans, to judge by the interior. It fell on hard times, and was purchased by an out of town company. But a group of citizens decided that it was too important to let go. They held meetings and fundraising events and succeeded in saving it. Now, it is an important venue for many different forms of entertainment, from dance recitals to nationally known performers, and a landmark on the town’s main street.
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