Groton Theatre

Ground breaking took place on July 21, 1939 for the first theater in Groton since 1911’s Ancient Order of the United Workmen Fraternal Hall. Damase Boulais was the contractor of the new-build venue. Russell S. and Miriam W. Hess would open - and close - the New Groton Theatre. If the name is familiar, it’s because D. Clyde Hess - Russell’s father - was a longtime cinema exhibitor for 20 years in Moosup.

The Groton project hit a snag late by a worker walkout. But they righted the ship to open the venue just a bit behind schedule. The Midshipmen’s Drum and Bugle Corps got things going in a special opening event on November 29, 1939 followed by Alice Faye and Don Ameche in “Hollywood Cavalcade” supported by Donald Duck in “Officer Duck,” the March of Time short, “Soldiers with Wings,” and a Universal newsreel. Frank N. Smith was the only projectionist in the theater’s run.

A number of innovations including a 10-cent matinee on Thursdays for the students at Groton Academy. Miriam Ness brought a suit against all of the distributors for what she knew was unfair clearance practices in which the Groton Theatre was not able to receive the best films when they were available. They were challenged additionally by the Garde Theatre (New London), the Victory Theatre Operating Company, and the M & P Circuit for the Capitol Theatre. That case went to arbitration.

William Hutchins of National Theatre Supply handled the installation of projection equipment. The theater was a hit with enlisted folks at Fort Wright. But the theatre scuffled in the TV age. Hess continued operating the venue but also had it up for sale for $27,500 beginning in 1956. Hess closed up at the end of his 20-year lease on January 28, 1958.

In 1962, the theatre was purchased by Groton Associates who converted it to a three-floor office space. Jewett City cinema operator John E. Hoddy and Charles J. Sisco bought the office space to convert it into a luxury mini-theater in October of 1970. The architectural plans were approved by the town. But as that plan was gaining momentum potentially bringing movies back to town, two months later, Nutmeg Theater Service got approval to build a twin mini-screen venue in an existing retail building at the Groton Plaza Shopping Center. It was a quicker turn-around project and likely mad Hoddy and Sisco rethink their mini-cinema.

The property was vacated and demolished.

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