Then and Now: Stoneham Theatre

is a centerpiece in downtown Stoneham and one of the top regional performing theaters in the state.

The Theatre, which reopened in December 2000 as a playhouse, has a deep history reflecting the full evolution of film and entertainment.

"The Stoneham" opened its doors as a movie theatre in 1917, according to the Theatre's website. The opening of the Theatre cost a reported $47,000, which represented a significant capital investment at a time when silent movies featuring Charlie Chaplin and Lillian Gish were at the height of popularity. Silent movies were often accompanied by a piano player.

Positioned in the , the Theatre is part of an area today recognized as a National Register of Historic Places property. Comprising the center of town intersecting roughly at Main, Central, Church, Winter and Common Streets, the district features several buildings in the area that were constructed or modified during the 19th century and reflect commercial architecture from that period.

 The late 1920s brought sound to the movies. The Stoneham underwent renovations that established a speaker behind a screen. It also brought the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression that followed. Despite being caught in an economic mire, movie theaters remained an important getaway and the Stoneham was no exception.

The Theatre's official historical account states, "In March 1933, The Stoneham even offered its patrons the privilege of writing an IOU for the 35 cent admission!"

World War II came, and what the Theatre calls "the golden age of movies at the Stoneham." During these years, the Theatre played classic films such as "Casablanca" and "Miracle on 34th Street."

The advent of television and the popularity of drive-ins contributed to a decline in receipts at the Theatre. Unable to keep up with the cost of major upgrades in technology required, the Stoneham closed in the late 1960s.

The earliest part of this century brought a renaissance to the theatre. After sitting vacant for a period of time, the Theatre was renovated and restored. The Theatre reopened in 2000, featuring a marquee replicating the box style of 1930. In the rear stage wall you can still see the original 1917 screen—a wooden surface painted black and silver.

Today, the Theatre is home to a top-ranked professional venue, hosting a constant stream of shows and visiting performers; offering a venue for young actors to study and perform; and standing as a beacon to Stoneham's pride in the arts.