Park Theatre building purchased from Roy and Nancy Stone
February 2006: Roy and Nancy Stone made history on Monday noon in Jaffrey! Not only did they sell the old Park Theatre building to a group of area citizens, but they also gave $50,000 toward the restoration and reopening of this Art Deco landmark.
Roy Stone told the Park Theater Board of Trustees that he and Nancy were reducing the purchase price by $50,000. because "this is a dream that we have always had, too. We want to help.” Caroline Hollister, President of the Board , thanked Roy and Nancy and told them that their "generous donation to the restoration means that we now get to work much sooner than ever would have been possible."
WHAT IS THE STATUS? Hollister added that, although the theater has been acquired by The Park Theater Board of Trustees, fundraising will, of course, continue once the board has had a chance to finalize their design plans.
WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED? More than 800 people from the Jaffrey community, 11 towns around Monadnock, and 14 states across the country, TEAM Jaffrey, and the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce have enthusiastically donated to this landmark project. Substantial support includes a matching grant of $50,000 from the Bean Family Foundation.
WHAT’S NEXT? The board is working with a theater management organization, the Palmer Westport Group of Great Barrington, MA. This group offers consultation on fundraising, project management, strategic planning, board/staff development, and marketing.
HOW WILL THE THEATRE BE USED? The Board of Trustees intends to make the Park Theater a Monadnock Region center for the arts. In addition to movies and programs for children through ParkArts, the 500 - 600-seat theater will be the venue for school plays, dance recitals, talent shows, after-school programs, Community Theater and college plays and musicals, choral and orchestral concerts, and more.
HOW HAS THE PARK THEATRE BEEN USED SINCE IT WAS BUILT?
Constructed by Italian immigrant Romolo Vanni in 1923, it was used as a movie house and vaudeville showcase. The theater was bought in 1967 by David and Betty Sawyer and renamed the Jaffrey Cinema. After David Sawyer's tragic death, Roy and Nancy Stone bought the building and turned it into a bike repair shop and custom framing store. The Stones' greatest contribution to the theatre was their careful preservation of it. So today the theatre still has its lobby, projection room, sizeable stage, and four beautiful Mt. Monadnock murals. Roy also repaired one of the two Art Deco wall lights that stand on each side of the building. The Stones will continue to offer custom framing and art supplies in their present location. while the theatre is restored.
WHAT OTHER HISTORICAL INFORMATION DESCRIBES THE THEATRE'S PAST?
The original Italian marble is still above the theatre's entrance. Also preserved are the lobby with its distinctive "half-moon" doors, ticket booth, the glass display case for posters of current films, and more than 600 original seats. According to an article by Anna Haigh in The Monadnock Home Companion (August 26, 2005, pp. 1,5) , "...The place was packed...All the kids in town would go (to the movies) because-- said Gerald A. DeGrandpre, a lifelong Jaffrey resident-- they could walk or ride their bicycles for Saturday afternoon cartoons, serials, and westerns-- along with a few extra coins for popcorn, penny candy, and perhaps a treat from the soda fountain or fruit stand next door...It was a theater where everyone knew the projectionist, ticket-taker, and ushers. The town came together for vaudeville shows and movies like 'My Fair Lady' and 'Escape from Gorilla Island.'
