The Park Theatre, Jaffrey, NH
To the editor:
The letter in the Nov. 29 issue calling for demolition of the Park Theatre and turning the site into a parking lot displays a lack of imagination and understanding on the part of the writer.
A re-opened Park Theatre would be the best thing – economically and culturally – for downtown Jaffrey since the railroad came in 1870. And as for parking? In my 35 years in Jaffrey I’ve never ever had a problem finding a convenient parking space. Downtown needs more activity and attractions, not more parking. Donate Now
Robert B. Stephenson,
Jaffrey, NH
Monadnock Ledger-Transcript,
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
The Whole Story.
The Park Theatre building is an historically significant 19th century wooden frame structure in the center of downtown Jaffrey, New Hampshire. In 1922, Romulo Vanni, an Italian immigrant to the town, raised his house up to sit atop his produce and dry goods store. He then built a lobby entrance under it to provide entry into his adjoining barn which he converted into a movie theatre. He projected the movies through windows cut into his kitchen pantry on the 1st floor of his house. By 1935, the movies were so popular that he expanded the barn to the edge of his property to accommodate 720 seats. He showed two movies a night with a Sunday matinee and vaudeville shows. The lines to get in went around the block.... Read More
