Lakewood Theater (Madison, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lakewood Theater
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The main theater
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 76 Theatre Road, Madison, Maine |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1898 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000111 |
| Added to NRHP | June 18, 1975 |
The Lakewood Theater is a famous theater complex located at 76 Theatre Road in Madison, Maine. It sits right on the beautiful shores of Lake Wesserunsett. This theater started way back in 1898, but it really grew in 1901. It's one of the oldest summer theaters in the entire United States.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Lakewood Theater was a major place for shows that were getting ready for Broadway. Today, it's home to community theater productions by a group called Curtain Up Enterprises. The main theater building was once a religious meeting place built in 1882. It was changed a lot in 1925-26 to become the theater we see today. Because of its long history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
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Discovering the Lakewood Theater
The Lakewood Theater complex is found on the western side of Lake Wesserunsett. You can reach it from United States Route 201 in eastern Madison. The main theater building is a large, two-and-a-half-story wooden structure. It has a classic "Colonial Revival" style with a sloped roof.
A two-story porch stretches across the front of the building. It has square posts and a railing with a cool diamond pattern.
The land where the theater stands was once part of a bigger resort area. This resort was built by the owners of the local trolley car system. They wanted more people to use their trolleys, so they created fun places to visit.
In 1882, a religious meeting hall was built on this spot. This building is actually the main part of the theater today. In 1884, it became a skating rink! Then, in 1898, it started being used as a theater.
The theater became really important in 1901. That's when Herbert Swett took over its management. He spent 20 years making many improvements to the building. By the mid-1920s, the theater looked much like it does now. It became a key place for new shows to "try out" before going to Broadway.
After World War II, this type of show became less common. Since then, the theater mostly hosts touring productions. Many famous actors have performed here, including Vincent Price, Ethel Barrymore, and George M. Cohan.
Lakewood's Famous Connections
Playwright John B. Hymer was known as the "mayor of Lakewood." He worked with another playwright, Samuel Shipman, right here at Lakewood. John B. Hymer also built a house called Colony House in 1929. His son, Warren Hymer, stayed with him and later became a movie actor.
Why Lakewood Theater is Special
Around the year 1900, many trolley car companies built fun places for people to visit. They wanted to encourage more passengers to ride their trolleys. These parks were often in beautiful spots, especially at the end of their lines. This was a time when trolley cars were a very popular way to travel and have fun.
One such park was created in 1895. It was called Lakewood Grove, located on the shore of Lake Wesserunsett. The Somerset Traction Company of Skowhegan, Maine, developed it. Along with other fun attractions, they opened the Lakewood Theater in 1898. Between 1925 and 1941, this theater became the most important summer theater in the country.
Its rise to fame began with Herbert L. Swett. In 1901, he became the manager. He worked hard to build a strong organization and improve the theater building. For two decades, it was the top summer theater. It holds the record for the longest continuous run of summer seasons in America.
From the 1920s until World War II, Lakewood was the main place for new shows to try out before going to Broadway. It even earned the nickname "Broadway in Maine."
During the war, productions stopped for a short time in 1943 and 1944. But from 1945 until today, the Lakewood Theater changed how it worked. Instead of having the same group of actors all season, it started bringing in new shows with different casts each week. This is called the "package" system.
The theater and the resort at Lakewood are very connected. The theater makes the resort unique, and the resort's attractions help bring great actors to Maine. This partnership has made Lakewood famous with the press and theater critics.
Many well-known names in American theater are part of Lakewood's history. In 1925, Howard Lindsay became the director. His talent and connections in New York helped the theater gain its national reputation. Stars like Dorothy Stickney and Walter Hampden performed on the Lakewood Stage. Later, George M. Cohan, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Vincent Price, and Ethel Barrymore also acted there.
Lakewood was also the place where many future Broadway hits had their first performances. One famous example is "Life With Father."
In recent years, many stars and personalities from Broadway and Hollywood have performed on its stage. The old trolley cars are long gone, but the lights at Lakewood still shine brightly. They continue the amazing theater tradition that began so many years ago.
No other playhouse deserves the title of "first summer theater in America" more than Lakewood. It was the starting point for a theater tradition that is now a big part of American culture.
See also
