Photos located by John D. Haller, Roger Allman, Doug Ballard
Memories of the Strand
The second picture down that reads "Alma Theatre" is not the Strand at all. During the 30's and 40's, there were 2 theatres in Alma.
There was the "cheapie theatre," that boasted 10 cent admission, called the "Idlehour" down the street, where Bob Moore Flowers is now. The name of that theatre was changed at some point to the "Alma Theatre."
Thanks to Roger Allman for this information.
It has often been thought that the Strand was haunted.
The photo to the left, taken with a night scope equipped camera show several luminescent orbs. There can be
little doubt these are spirits who inhabit the theatre. One
of them, no doubt, is Grandpa Brewster.
This photo courtesy of Roger Allman. The photo shows the world premiere of the movie "The Long, Long Trailer," starring Lucile Ball in the 1950's. Alma was known as the "Mobile Home Capital of the World" back then. The mobile home shown in the photo was actually used in the movie. Rita Moreno and Piper Laurie, two up-and-coming movie stars, were present at the premiere.
This is an old photo of the first owner of the Strand. Although no name was associated with the picture it looks eerily like Al Bartholomew.
The Great Fire that nearly destroyed the Strand.
Folks lined up to see a show at the Strand, date unknown.
This article is dated 11/7/60.
Fire Destroys Alma Theater
ALMA (UPI) An early-morning fire destroyed Alma’s only movie house, the Strand Theater, today with firemen fighting the blaze for more than four hours. Alma Police Chief Robert V. Reed said the blaze was discovered by a newsboy picking up his papers in front of the theater at 4:28 am. The newsboy ran next door to the city hall where the police station is located and shouted, “Mr. Reed, there’s a fire at the Strand.”
Reed said the theater closed at 9 p.m. Sunday night, almost 7 ½ hours before the blaze broke out. He said the fire apparently started at the rear of the building and spread rapidly. The roof collapsed and the front of the building caved in. “I’d say it is a total loss.” Reed said “The theater is owned by a Mrs. Cassidy of Midland. But we understand she is in Chicago now and we haven’t been able contact her for a loss figure.”
Reed said there was no damage to the city hall or other nearby buildings. One fireman was overcome by smoke and was hospitalized.
Joe Vogel on January 5, 2010 at 3:25 am
The Strand was built as a 900-seat house in 1920, according to Boxoffice of April 8, 1968, but its seating capacity was reduced to 500 after the 1960 fire destroyed the balcony.
The Gratiot County Players web site has several historic photos of the Strand, plus one of another movie house, the Alma, which it says was earlier called the Idle Hour Theatre.
A 1917 publication called Michigan Film Review mentions both an Idle Hour Theatre and a Liberty Theatre operating in Alma at that time.