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 Rockland, Maine. It's a place where people can watch movies, listen to music, and see live shows. It was built in 1923 after a big fire. The theater has a special look called Egyptian Revival architecture. It's the only one of three old theaters in Rockland that is still standing! Today, a non-profit group owns it. They make sure it keeps offering fun entertainment for everyone. The theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 because it's so important.
About the Strand Theatre
The Strand Theatre is located in downtown Rockland. It is a large building made of brick. The front part of the building has two floors. This area holds the main lobby and a balcony.
The middle part of the theater has the main seating area. Its roof slopes down towards the stage. The back part of the building is three stories tall. This height allows for a special system to move stage backdrops.
The front of the building has three main sections. The two outer sections used to be separate shops. Now, they are part of the theater. Each has an entrance with display windows. The main entrance to the theater is in the middle. It has double doors that are set back from the street.
Above the main entrance, there is a large window. A big sign and marquee stick out in front of this window. The marquee lights up and shows what's playing.
A New Beginning from Ashes
The Strand Theatre was built in 1922 and 1923. It stands on the spot where a building was destroyed by a fire in 1920. This fire swept through a large part of downtown Rockland.
The Strand was the first new building to be built in this area after the fire. Its design includes Egyptian themes. One of these themes is the phoenix. The phoenix is a mythical bird that rises again from ashes. This idea fits well with the theater being built after a fire.
Years of Entertainment
The Dondis family owned and ran the theater for many years. They did a great job keeping up with new movie technologies. They also made sure to offer different kinds of shows. The theater hosted both movies and live music and plays.
The Dondis family sold the theater in 2000. Since then, the inside and outside of the building have been restored. This means they were carefully repaired and made to look like new again.
Today, a local non-profit organization owns the Strand Theatre. A non-profit group uses its money to help the community. They continue to offer many fun entertainment choices for everyone in Rockland.
See also
