Strand Theatre (Rockland, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Strand Theatre
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 345 Main St., Rockland, Maine |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1924 |
| Built by | Glover, W.H. Co. |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement, Egyptian Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001284 |
| Added to NRHP | December 2, 2004 |
The Strand Theatre is a cool old building in downtown Rockland, Maine. It's a special place where people can watch movies, listen to music, and see live shows. This theater was built in 1923 after a big fire. It's one of the few buildings left that shows off a unique style called Egyptian Revival architecture. Today, a group that doesn't make a profit owns it, keeping it open for everyone to enjoy. The Strand Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 because of its history and special design.
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About the Strand Theatre
The Strand Theatre is located on Main Street in Rockland. It's a large building made of brick. The front part of the theater has two floors. This is where you'll find the main lobby and the balcony seating area.
The middle part of the building holds the main seats for the audience. The roof here slopes down towards the stage. At the back, there's a three-story section for the stage itself. This tall area allows for big backdrops to be moved up and down during shows.
What the Outside Looks Like
The front of the theater has three main sections. These sections are separated by brick columns called pilasters. The two outer sections used to be separate shops. Now, they are part of the theater. Each of these sections has an entrance that is set back from the street. There are also display windows next to these entrances.
The main entrance to the theater is in the middle. It has double doors that are also set back. Above the outer sections, there are special recessed panels in the wall. Above the main entrance, there's a large window with several parts. The very top of the building has a decorative wall called a parapet. A large sign and marquee stick out in front of this window.
History of the Strand Theatre
The Strand Theatre was built between 1922 and 1923. It stands on the spot where a building was destroyed in a big fire. This fire happened in 1920 and swept through the southern part of downtown Rockland. The Strand Theatre was the very first building to be built in this area after the fire.
Egyptian Style and the Phoenix
The theater's design includes many Egyptian-themed decorations. One of these is the phoenix. The phoenix is a mythical bird that is reborn from ashes. This symbol was chosen because the theater rose from the ashes of the fire.
For many years, the Dondis family ran the Strand Theatre. They did a great job of keeping up with new movie technologies. They also made sure to offer different kinds of entertainment. This included both movies and live music and theater shows.
New Ownership and Restoration
The Dondis family sold the theater in 2000. Since then, the inside and outside of the building have been carefully restored. This means they fixed it up to look like it did when it was new.
Today, a local non-profit group owns the Strand Theatre. A non-profit group is an organization that uses its money to help the community, not to make a profit for owners. This group continues to offer movies, music, and live performances. It's still a popular place for entertainment in Rockland.
See also
