Granite Square
Granite Square Theatre
286 Granite Street
Manchester, NH 03102
- In operation as early as 1932 (this is as far back as I researched it was probably open before that.) till at least 1949 (this is the furthest date I researched)
- Owned by Geo (George) Riel properties
- George lived with his wife Hazel at 57 Summerside Avenue.
- THe building later became the Anthony James Restaurant (late 80′s) and the Tong Ho-House (early 90′s).
- TIll 1934 was listed with the Empire Theatre as part of the ‘Neighborhood Theatres’. It is unclear what sort of business arrangement existed, but as of 1935 they were no longer listed together.
- Generally a second or third run theatre. Pictures were often 6 months to a year old by the time they reached the Granite Square.
The Granite Square Theatre (aka Tong-Ho House) as it appeared on 12/2006
4 Comments
- Gerry replied:
your comment “n operation as early as 1932 (this is as far back as I researched it was probably open before that.
My father was courting my mother 1n 1929 and I remember him telling me that he used to take her to the Granite Theatre, my mother lived on Parker St
November 12th, 2009 at 4:31 pm. Permalink.
- paul replied:
It is now slated to be the new elks club. it is under rehab as of 8-01-10
August 18th, 2010 at 7:17 pm. Permalink.
- Jon Hopwood replied:
Francis Ford (John Ford’s older brother) was a big star in the first part of the 1910s. “The Oath of a Viking” came out in 1914. The Granite Square, called “The Spit Box” by the denizens of the neighborhood (my father lived there in the 1930s), started out as a nickolodeon, I belive.
May 11th, 2011 at 6:43 pm. Permalink.
- Russ replied:
The theater was in operation as late as the late 50s early 60s as my mother recalls going there as a young girl and paying 25 cents admission. She was born in 1949.
May 30th, 2011 at 5:56 pm. Permalink.