Court Square Theater
Submitted by Ralph Slate on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 01:42.
This is a photo of the Court Square Theater before its expansion. Notice that there are no storefronts on the right side. The building was originally built in 1892, designed by F.S. Newman [Frederick Newman].
Compare to this photo from the Library of Congress; you will see that the original building was symmetrical design, but the addition was designed to be symmetrical with the rightmost bank of the original building, destroying the overall symmetry of the entire building. A sixth floor was also added during this expansion, which took place in 1900.
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E. M. Lowe's Court Square Theatre, Springfield, MA
I am trying to get a photo of the front and interior of the old Court Square Theatre where I worked as the Assistant. Manager from August, 1948 until December, 1949. So far, after a LONG tme searching, I find only the two photos on this internet page. H-E-L-P !! Can anyone help me? Thanks! Chuck Burnes
Court Square Theater photos
Hi Chuck,
I just read your posting (on 4/10) about wanting photos of the Court Square Theater during the time period you worked there. You can get some photos of the marquee/entrance in the Geneology Room at the new Springfield Museum. On a shelf are large binded scrapbook volumes with old news clippings from the Spfld paper going back to the 1900's. The photos I know of were taken of the theater's front showing the marquee in the 1956 or 1957 article about the theater going to be razed. There's also another of a good close up of the front doors with the marquee's wordage above. If you go, find the volumes with articles in this year and you should come across them and can photocopy them there.
Also, there are theater files with photos of the interior taken prior to the razing. There's also several file boxes that contain all the production program books going back to the 1900's. I can't remember what year, but there is one particular program that had good photos of the stage, seats and balcony probably taken in the 1930's. There's a lot to go through before finding this particular program book. Other than these sources, photos of the Court Square taken in the '40's and '50's don't seem to exist unless in some private collections. Back in the 1990's, I contributed a small history of the downtown theaters with a compiliation of pictures taken from many sources. It's in one of the theater file boxes. Sadly, I never got a chance to even go inside the Court Sq because I was 4-5 years old when it was demolished. I recall being with my father in Court Square with other people watching as the marquee was removed from the building. The other downtown theaters I never saw were the Broadway and Garden since they came down when I was about 2-3. I do remember the Art very well, when I went to the Paramount. My friends and I would always peer in through the front doors, waiting for the day for it to reopen so we could go in. That never happened and in 1961, my father and I watched it being demolished.
If you want to check these theater files and program books, there is an archivist there during the week who will get you the file boxes. If you go on a Sat, you have to call the archivist and tell him what you want and he'll put them on his desk for you. He's not there on Sat. I hope I have been a help to you and that you find everything you want.
Take care,
Ed
Program for November 3 and 4, 1899
Would like to donate a copy of a program for Gilmore's Court Square Theater for November 4 and 5, 1899 to historical society or the like. Would anyone be interested? Where should it be sent and to whom?
Court Square program
Send the program to Cliff McCarthy at the local history archive at the Museum of Springfield History 21 Edwards St. Springfield MA 01103
New Lead Paint Laws
Hello - it's been a while since I posted, but I felt compelled to write in and talk to you all about the new laws concerning lead paint and lead-safe renovators. I recently completed my certification as a Lead-Safe Renovator, as I have been a house painter for 23 years. The new law requires all licensed Contractors to be certified, and becomes effective April 22nd. The intention is to try to ensure the safest possible disturbance of lead within your residence or facility during renovation. Full compliance will now require a complex system of safeguards to prevent lead and lead dust from contaminating you, your families, your pets, and the soil around your home. Lead based paint was banned in America in 1978, even though it was known to be toxin long before that - Europe supposedly banned it's use in the late 1800's! Given that this site is based on historical places, the likelihood that there is lead present where you live is very high if your home is old - a chart shown to us during our training explained that lead is present in over 86% of homes built before 1940 - that would include most of Springfield's historical properties! Old wooden windows are where there is most likely a build up of lead dust as the paint or surface coating grinds away from the friction of them being moved up and down. Malleable surfaces close to the floor, such as window sills, stairs, banisters, etc. also pose a threat - small children often chew on these surfaces because lead-based paint is actually sweet tasting! Because lead exposure causes neurological damage, which in severe cases is permanent and debilitating, the most at risk group are pregnant women, followed closely by children below the ages of six, during the most important stages of their brain development. Full compliance with this new law is mandatory for all contractors who's work may disturb any surface containing lead, both inside or outside your home. Contractors operating without certification are skirting the law, and will likely create potentially dangerous conditions for you and your family. I implore all of you - as Spring begins, and you start to plan maintenance projects around the house, PLEASE be careful. Your contractor should provide you with a pamphlet called "It's Your Right to Know" and verification that their firm is operating as a lead-safe certified company. If they do not, they are risk of fines as high as $37,500 per violation, as well as possible jail time, if the risk they create is severe enough. Please be sure to hire only those contractors that are using lead-safe work practices, to avoid the risks that lead exposure can cause you and your family. If you do not have children under 6 living at your residence, there is a form used that allows you to "opt out", meaning you can allow the contractor to work without using these guidelines, but bear in mind that everything must now be documented either way if the contractor is operating lawfully. This can significantly reduce the higher costs associated with full compliance. Also, bear in mind that if you do choose to have your house tested for lead, it will be documented, and thus you will be liable if your house is put up for sale. ( this refers to the line on the MLS listing of a property that states whether or not lead is present - commonly, the phrase "unknown" is written there...)The EPA provides everything you need to know about lead here: http://www.epa.gov/lead/ I wish all of you out there who care about and for historical homes and properties the best of luck this coming season, and remember to BE CAREFUL with your renovation projects!
Sincerely,
Bob Gordon
Foreman
Paint Perfect, Inc.
413-735-9288
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