The Booth Theatre
(aka Gladwin Park and Aladdin Theatres)
Open: 1914 | Closed: 1962 | Capacity: 894
The Booth Theatre, 1942, with Casablanca on the Marquee
The Theater originally opened on June 20, 1914 as the Gladwin Park Theater and had been designed by the architecht E.H. Rogers. It had a short run with the name Gladwin Park and would be later renamed in 1923 to the Aladdin Theater.
As the Aladdin, it would eventually close in 1924.
The September 4, 1936, issue of The Film Daily had this item about the Gladwin/Booth Theatre: “Bennett & Straight, architects, are starting work on remodeling the Gladwin Theater for Julius D. London. House will be renamed the Booth, with opening about Oct. 1.”
In 1938 (fourteen years after it originally closed as the Aladdin) it re-opened as the Booth Theater and was a popular place to see a show for many, many years.
1947 pic of the Marquee
Julius London owned and operated the theatre until his death in 1952 at which time his eldest son continued operation of the theater.
During the time of its operation as the Booth, within the building there was the soda fountain shop. As TV drew more and more people away from the theater and into their homes, the soda shop would also later go out of business and the space would be used as a "TV lounge" type of place.
One of the unique things about the Booth was a refreshment stand/candy counter space that was accessible from both the lobby and back of the theater.
Closeup in 1947
With the advent of home-entertainment in the 1940's and 1950's, the end would come in 1962 for the Booth. It would sit empty for many years afterwards until a local Marine Dealership would purchase the property and remodel the building into a showroom and service center.
Old Aerial of the Booth Theatre
The Booth was a neighborhood Gem to those that lived near here, and enjoyed by many folks over the years....one that is now but a memory.
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS HERE.
THIS IS BEST HUNTED DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.