West Hartford’s ‘Thursday Throwback’

Test your knowledge of West Hartford history with this ‘Thursday Throwback,’ courtesy of the Noah Webster House and West Hartford Historical Society.

By Ronni Newton

It’s Throwback Thursday (#tbt), and time to take a look back into West Hartford’s past to either stir up some memories, reflect on how much things have changed, or both. And if you have no idea, we love the photo captions, too!

Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society

Last week’s image (shown at right and in larger size below) triggered an incredible outpouring of memories from many who recalled fun times spent at this place.

It’s fairly obvious from the marquee that this was the former Elm Theatre at 924 South Quaker Lane. The Elm, which was built in 1947 in the “Streamline Moderne” style, was owned by the Perakos family and closed for good on Sept. 8, 2002. By that time it had expanded from one to two screens and showed second-run movies. From what I could find out, it appears as if the last two movies shown there were “Tadpole” and “Full Frontal.”

The building was sold to Walgreens in late 2004, after a good bit of opposition from residents, and the Walgreens store opened in 2006.

My daughter, who is now 20, attended her first theater movie at the Elm after we moved to West Hartford in 1998. I think it was an Elmo movie.

Many of you have much more vivid memories, including …

“Of course it’s the old Elm Theater, with its Art Deco design and wide carpeted staircase curving up to the balcony. Not QUITE as glam as the Central Theater (no chandelier as I recall), but definitely our second-favorite theater for Saturday matinees!” wrote Connie Curcio Reder.

“David” commented: “I saw ‘The Sound of Music’ there twice. It ran for a WHOLE YEAR – circa 1965. I also remember that they featured reserved seating!”

Liz Gillette wrote a long comment, with some great details about development in Elmwood: “Yes, the Elm theater. Coleco (across the road in the old Talcott School, now condos) used to hold a community children’s Christmas party in the theater at the height of Cabbage Patch fame. There is a Pianosaurus up in out attic that my grandchildren play with from one of those parties! Mr. Zaccardi worked there for years.
What may be of interest is this : There is an accepted “truism” that development only intensifies upon the existing use. Well, the theater was built on land that had been used as the Goodwin Pottery Works for the best part of a hundred years, growing to an enormous, sprawling factory works, down to New Park. Using good old West Hartford clay, it was a going concern for decades, burned and re-built several times, and one of our first factories, providing work for many immigrant waves. Along with other factories in Elmwood, these immigrants precipitated the founding of the first Catholic Church in West Hartford, St. Bridget’s, I believe. After the last big fire, sometime around 1900, I think, the pottery works closed. The land fell fallow, with residential, school and other much less intensive use until finally the theater was built. The land, which had been clear-cut bare for over a hundred years, was allowed to grow back up, especially along Trout Brook. The Noah Webster House has some wonderful pictures of the factory and examples of what was our famous pottery. Walk around in back of the Community Center to see how insignificant we are in the face of time and nature.”

There were many comments on Facebook as well.

Lisa Moran Franklin also recalled seeing “The Sound of Music” at the Elm Theatre, and Rick Liftig remembered the movie’s two-year run as well. Lots of others had memories of “The Sound of Music,” including Ellen Formica Jordano, Laurie Pearston, Jane Cunningham Derrick, and David Perkins.

Several, including Ann Crimmins and Robert Strauss, also recalled seeing “Lawrence of Arabia” on its lengthy run in 1963.

Andrea Pappalardo-Martin said that on Friday nights in the early 90s, “It seemed like half of my school would go to the movies then across the street to Friendly’s. I loved the Elm…so many memories.” Others also wrote about the after-movie Friendly’s tradition.

Debra Ofshay recalled 99-cent movies on Wednesday nights. Kristi Yesse Johnson remembered that, too, and said she saw “Grease” there.

Shana Arcari-Rivera shared some additional details: “They had these creepy broken down Carousel horses in the basement. Along with lots of other antique treasures. It was so odd that they had all these artifacts that had nothing to do with the theater. I had many friends that worked there and it was always a fun place to watch movies or just hang out.”

Karen Smith Barrie’s mother sold tickets at the Elm in the 1950s, and Stephanie Hastings Silver sold tickets and candy from 1970-72.

Kate Byroade saw “The Sure Thing” on her first date with her husband. Nancy Cushman said she went to the Elm Theatre on her first “car date.”

Sue Hilborn mentioned how she loved sitting in the balcony. That was where Martha Campbell sat for “The Sound of Music.”

Sarah Harmon McKenzie also recalled the Coleco Christmas parties for neighborhood kids. So did Katie Mahoney who also said that the Elm was the first theater she went to without a parent.

“Saw ‘Jaw’s there! Got so scared I spilled my popcorn all over the people BEHIND me!” recalled Patricia Royce.

Some not-so-fond memories from Tom Marotto whose first car got smashed in the parking lot “with me in it,” he wrote, and Beth Ryan who got temporarily stuck in a small bathroom stall when she was 8-plus months pregnant.

Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society

We’ve got another great Throwback Thursday image for this week! Who can identify the location of this photo (shown at right and in larger size below)?

When do you think it was taken?

What is there now?

Please share your memories below!

Thank you to the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society for providing us with the images. For more information about the organization, visit www.noahwebsterhouse.org.

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Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society

The Elm Theatre closed in Sept. 2002. The building is now Walgreens and the marquee has been retained. Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society