Middlesex Theater

120 College Street,
Middletown, CT 06457

Unfavorite No one has favorited this theater yet

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Liggett-Florin Booking Service

Functions: Live Performances, Restaurant

Previous Names: Middlesex Opera House

Nearby Theaters

Middlesex Theater
Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on January 17, 2004 at 8:15 am

Built in 1892, this theatre was originally known as the Middlesex Opera House. The auditorium of the theatre was demolished many years ago. However, the lobby building, complete with the marquee, still stands and houses the Tuscany Grill, a restaurant. The lobby has not been gutted either, from the moment you walk in it is readily apparent that this is the lobby to a movie palace. The poster frames, doors, grand stairway, and more all still exist.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on April 17, 2005 at 6:05 pm

Here is a photo I took of the Middlesex, or what remains of it, a while back.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 12, 2009 at 5:23 pm

Well at least it’s something.
It looked doomed in those 77 &84 pics.
It’s neat that they coveted it’s history as a theater within the current lobby.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on February 7, 2010 at 1:14 pm

Listed under Middletown CT in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide is “The Middlesex” (Theatre). It was run by the Middlesex Mutual Association. It had 1,076 seats, and ticket prices ranging from 25 cents to $1. There was both gas and electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 36 feet wide X 33 feet high and the stage was 44 feet deep. The theater was on the first floor. There were 7 members of the house orchestra. Newspapers were the Penny Press and the Tribune. Hotels for show folk were the Chafee, McDonough and the Phoenix. There was also a McDonough Theatre in Middletown, with 800 seats. The 1897 population was 18,000.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on June 8, 2013 at 4:25 pm

The Middlesex Theatre in Middletown was to be immediately rebuilt following a recent fire, according to the February 16, 1927, issue of The Film Daily. The item did not indicate the extent of the fire damage to the theater.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on June 9, 2013 at 1:30 pm

The Middlesex Theatre should be marked as demolished. It’s clear from comparing the current satellite and street views with the LOC photos lostmemory linked to on September 24, 2008, that the auditorium is gone. The Tuscany Grill only occupies the theater’s surviving entrance building. Move Street View a couple of clicks to the right and compare with this historic photo when the auditorium was still standing.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 31, 2019 at 10:01 am

The Tuscany Grill website photo gallery has pics of the former lobby area.

http://www.tuscany-grill.com/photo-gallery/

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.