Fall River's Great Theatres

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:46 am

I tried to have a look around the Academy building recently but found nothing of its former glory inside. I did, stumble across this very nice photobucket however, containing some great shots of FR theatres. The Easton tea house, next door to the FRHS saved one of the Durfee chandeliers and it has been cleaned and hung in the foyer there.

http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d21/m ... 0theaters/

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:16 pm

Oh wow, those are beautiful Shelley, thank you!

I wonder if Lizzie ever went to the theatre in Fall River (incl cinema) after 1893, or if she restricted such entertainment to travel.

Have you any idea which ones were around in Lizzie's day? I think it was the Academy where Nance performed.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:18 pm

Yes, the Academy was there and Nance performed there twice I believe, once in the role of Magda. I should imagine Lizzie went often in Boston and maybe New York. The Durfee was ENORMOUS! How sad these are all gone now- I am not too sure about the Capitol. . . .

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:21 pm

Here's what I get on the Capitol

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/6981/

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:54 pm

Notes on the Academy http://cinematreasures.org/theater/2980/

Bijou http://cinematreasures.org/theater/12221/

Durfee http://cinematreasures.org/theater/6448/

Plaza http://cinematreasures.org/theater/12048/

Premier (burned in 1928 fire) http://cinematreasures.org/theater/16815/

Savoy http://cinematreasures.org/theater/12004/

Strand http://cinematreasures.org/theater/7701/

And there were other smaller ones mentioned.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:33 pm

Shelley, when you took me to the Academy Building last month, I took the following picture from the lobby peering in through the security doors. This room is to the right of the elevators.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:24 am

I wish we had taken a photo of that great front staircase which looked to be walnut and no doubt original. Maybe I can get a shot of it over the weekend. I am wondering what happened to all the fixtures from the Academy building. They must have been auctioned off.

SteveS. · Post by **SteveS.** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:02 pm

Shelley, are you talking about the staircase on the inside of the north side of the Academy Building facing city hall? The one that winds down on both the east and west sides and had the elevator in the middle? If you are talking about the same staircase it's magnificent. I didn't know that they saved it when the converted the Academy over to senior housing. When I was a child going up and down that staircase made me feel like I was really something.

Angel · Post by **Angel** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:47 pm

Steve, you ARE really something.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:59 pm

Speaking of the Academy Building, I’m currently writing a THIRD Lizzie Borden Girl Detective Story called the Case of the Miniscule Monk. I’ve decided to use the Academy Building to my advantage because it looks like it opened in January of 1876 and my story takes place in the fall of 1875. I figured the building would have been in construction during that time, and Lizzie and her family, recently moved into 92 2nd St, would have witnessed the construction.

I’m thinking of having the Hitchcock-like chase scene that ends the piece be on the scaffolding and catwalks of the Academy Building construction site. Can anyone give me any advice as to where I would start researching this? Does anyone have any pictures of the building in construction, or a floor plan of the original structure, or dates on which construction started?

The last time I reached out for help was for my last story The Case of the Melancholy Scion and got excellent feed back about hotels in downtown Fall River in 1877. I appeal once more to my favorite Victorian Unsolved Crime community!

Richard

SteveS. · Post by **SteveS.** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:57 pm

Angel!!!!!!! Big hugs to you kiddo. you made my day!!!!!!!

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:01 pm

Richard @ Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:59 pm wrote:Speaking of the Academy Building, I’m currently writing a THIRD Lizzie Borden Girl Detective Story called the Case of the Miniscule Monk. I’ve decided to use the Academy Building to my advantage because it looks like it opened in January of 1876 and my story takes place in the fall of 1875. I figured the building would have been in construction during that time, and Lizzie and her family, recently moved into 92 2nd St, would have witnessed the construction.

I’m thinking of having the Hitchcock-like chase scene that ends the piece be on the scaffolding and catwalks of the Academy Building construction site. Can anyone give me any advice as to where I would start researching this? Does anyone have any pictures of the building in construction, or a floor plan of the original structure, or dates on which construction started?

The last time I reached out for help was for my last story The Case of the Melancholy Scion and got excellent feed back about hotels in downtown Fall River in 1877. I appeal once more to my favorite Victorian Unsolved Crime community!

Richard, this site may be of some interest to you:

http://tinyurl.com/26huq9

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 9:22 pm

Harry, this is EXACTLY what I was hoping to find in regard to the Academy Building. This is a great start for me! Thanks!

GilC · Post by **GilC** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:01 pm

Here is a link for an Academy Building rental page which includes pictures of the rear courtyard, one of the hallways and the staircase that I think Shelley is talking about:

http://www.apartmentsinma.com/listings/ ... erty=13659

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:39 am

Yes- that's the one! Beautiful! - They don't make 'em like that anymore!

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:43 am

What a gorgeous building!