City Theater (Biddeford, Maine) facts for kids
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City Theater
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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City Hall complex containing the theater
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 205 Main St., Biddeford, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | John Calvin Stevens |
| Part of | Biddeford Main Street Historic District (ID09001146) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000156 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 24, 1973 |
| Designated CP | December 24, 2009 |
The Biddeford City Theater is a historic building in Biddeford, Maine. It is a beautiful Victorian-style opera house that can seat almost 500 people. You can find it at 205 Main Street.
This theater is a non-profit organization. Many volunteers help run it. They put on and host many different shows. These include plays, musicals, concerts, movies, and comedy acts. People from all over New England come to enjoy the performances. The main goal of the City Theater is to help people love the performing arts. They do this by finding fun ways to get the community involved.
The City Theater is part of the Biddeford City Hall complex. A famous Maine architect named John Calvin Stevens designed this building in 1895. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site. It is also a key part of the Biddeford Main Street Historic District.
Contents
Theater History
Early Beginnings (1860-1894)
In the late 1840s, the city of Biddeford bought some land. This land was at the corner of Adams and Main Streets. The city planned to build a new city hall there. This building would also include an opera house.
The first opera house opened in October 1860. Its first play was about slavery in the Southern states. This was just before the Civil War began. From that time, Biddeford started a long history of theater. Famous actors like Edwin Booth performed there. Audiences loved watching these shows.
A New Building (1895-1896)
On December 30, 1894, a big fire destroyed the entire city building. The city council met quickly in January 1895. They had a big discussion about rebuilding the opera house. Some people wondered if they should build it again.
But in the end, they decided to rebuild the arts center. They planned for a bigger and stronger building. John Calvin Stevens, a famous architect from Maine, designed it. He created a very fancy opera house. It had a dramatic horseshoe-shaped balcony. A large, beautiful brass chandelier lit up the painted ceilings. The new opera house opened on January 20, 1896. It quickly became a main cultural spot in York County.
Popular Shows and a Sad Story
Vaudeville shows were very popular at the theater. Biddeford was an important stop for these traveling acts. Famous actors like the Barrymores performed there. Minstrel shows, community events, and plays were also common. J. J. Salvas, a local director and actor, often entertained large crowds. He was known for playing many different characters. Audiences also enjoyed illustrated songs.
One performance, however, ended sadly. This story is still part of the theater's history. On Halloween Eve in 1904, a singer named Eva Gray collapsed. This happened after her third song, "Goodbye, Little Girl, Goodbye." She was 33 years old. Her 3-year-old daughter was there. Eva died backstage from heart failure. Many people have called Eva the theater's "ghost" ever since.
From Live Shows to Movies
Soon, movies started to become very popular. When "talkies" (movies with sound) came out in 1928, live theater almost disappeared. The opera house became a movie theater in the 1930s. The grand days of vaudeville were mostly over. Sometimes, a live act would perform between movies.
In 1955, the building was renamed City Theater. They started making improvements inside. The lobby and staircase were paneled. New poster display cases were built. A projection booth and a permanent movie screen were also added.
Closing and Reopening
The change from an opera house to a movie theater was not easy. Television and drive-in movies became more popular. In 1965, the City Theater closed its doors. From 1971 to 1974, it was even used as a storage place for the city.
However, in 1973, the City Theater was recognized as a Historical Landmark. This was because it was part of Biddeford City Hall. But even with this honor, the theater was not being used. In 1975, sand was dumped inside. The orchestra pit was turned into a horseshoe pit!
But not everyone wanted the theater to stay closed. In 1977, a new group called City Theater Associates formed. They wanted to reopen the theater. With a lot of hard work from volunteers, the theater reopened in 1978. The Norman Luboff Choir performed for the reopening. The theater looked better, but it still needed many important repairs.
People supported the City Theater. More and more people came to see plays, musicals, concerts, and dance shows. The stage was busy again.
Restoration and Modern Updates
In 1996, the theater celebrated its 100th birthday. The city of Biddeford gave them a gift of new seats. Soon, money came from many places. These included federal, state, and local governments. Private groups and businesses also helped. This funding allowed for a full restoration.
Some of the main improvements included a new marquee sign. The beautiful stenciling on the lobby walls, theater walls, and ceiling was restored. The theater also got modern updates. These included new lighting and sound systems. A digital projector was installed. A new heating and air conditioning system was also added. Old buildings always need care. So, updates continue to this day.
Currently, they are working on several projects. These include improving the stage floor. The costume room and public restrooms are also being upgraded. They are also fixing the outside brickwork. Important updates are being made to the fly system. This system uses pulleys and rails above the stage. Many of these parts are still the original equipment!
The City Theater continues its goal of helping people enjoy the performing arts. Besides their five main stage shows, they have more events. They work with other groups to bring music, comedy, and dance to the stage.
Present Day
The Biddeford City Theater now has shows all year long. You can enjoy theater, music, comedy, and other artistic performances there.
See also
