THE NEW SUMMER THEATRE
Fall 1955 - Through cooperation with DeLia Construction Co. it is decided to set up a corporate financial structure of $100,000 with shares being offered to the general public at $10. a share. In a rather short period of time, more than $92,000. is subscribed.
November 16, 1955 - Directors purchase from Adirondack Properties, Inc. for $2,000. the land upon which the Theater is to be erected.
March 31, 1956 - The Directors purchase from Adirondack Properties, Inc. the parcel of land adjacent to the Theatre on the north. The price paid is $7,000.
Spring of 1956 - The construction of the steel fabricated building is started. It will have seating capacity for 1,070. The cost of erection, grading, black top, seats and equipment is $117,433,84.
June 1956 - The Theatre building is completed and ready for occupancy. 1956 - The first season Anthony B. Farrell Productions Sacandaga Summer Theatre. The board of directors secures Farrell’s interest to operate the theater under a lease agreement for a flat fee of $5,000. per year along with a percentage of the concessions. The contract is for 10 years. Anthony Farrell hires Samuel Levine, famed composer and musical director and Paul Barnes, New York scenic designer for the NBC. Sam Levine, internationally known as a conductor and composer has just completed a transcontinental tour of “Porgy and Bess”. He is to be in charge of the chorus and orchestrations for the seven piece orchestra which plays for all the musical productions. Mr. Barnes has just completed his sixth season as designer for the “Hit Parade” TV show.
During the 1956 season, the following plays and musicals are presented: Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, Solid Gold Cadillac, Annastasia Call Me Madam, Angel in a Pawnshop, Ankles Aweigh, Detective Story Tea and Sympathy
In 1956 the Corporation ends up with a nominal profit. Some of the actors and actresses that performed at Sacandaga Summer Theatre: Tallulah Bankhead, Groucho Marx, Charlton Heston, Delores DeRio, Betsy Palmer, Richard Thomas “John Boy”,Gertrude Berg, Walter Matthau, Imogene Coca & Helen Forrest.
In the Spring before the start of the 1960 season, Anthony "Tony" Farrell negotiates a release from his contract because of illness. Two women from Gloversville, NY are interested in taking over the production of the theatre - they largely succeed and produce under the name Russell - Hayward Productions.
In March of 1961 a letter is written to the stockholders stating that Sacandaga Community Theatre, Inc has reached a point of crisis because of a lack of adequate support in the past season - "the theatre had not operated successfully". There also is no producer for the 1961 season. The Board of Directors believes that with a strong, concrete show of interest in the form of pre-season ticket sales, it is possible to find a suitable producer. The appeal to the stockholders does not succeed and the theatre is "dark" that summer.
In 1962 the theatre opens for a short (10-week) season, with 6 musicals and 4 comedies. The producers are Schaffer - Montanino - Milling Theatrical Productions. Arthur Rubinstein directs the 14 piece orchestra. The production that summer includes: West Side Story; Teahouse of the August Moon; Gigi; No Time for Sargeants; Pajama Game; Life with Father; Gypsy; The Boy Friend; and Anything Goes.
It is the last season.
11963 - 1969 The Board of Directors tries for several years to hire a suitable producer - but to no avail.
In 1969 William Delia, individually and as a shareholder, sues Sacandaga Community Theatre on behalf of himself and other shareholders.
In 1970 the theatre goes on the auction block; it is then stripped of all but the concrete foundations.
The demise of the theatre resulted from financial problems - the operation was too large and too costly for the locale and the times. Operational cost were largely born by the producer. The stockholders built the facilities but carried limited risk otherwise. When Anthony Farrell withdrew as the producer in 1960, the venture lost not only his connections in the entertainment world, but also the "deep pockets" required to plan, finance and produce a full season. It had been an admirable but short-lived attempt to bring back the past - times had changed ... forever.
