The Nickel Theatre was the first movie theatre in Newfoundland. Part of the five-cent picture show craze that brought daily movies to almost every city and town all across North America, the Nickel opened in the Benevolent Irish Society's St. Patrick's Hall on July 1, 1907, one of a chain of B.F. Keith's Nickels in New England and Eastern Canada. Three more five-cent shows opened in St. John's by October 1907, all in large pre-existing community halls like the Nickel, rather than the small storefront nickelodeon typical of the time in the United States, Ontario, and larger cities in Canada. The Nickel is remembered fondly as the beginnings of moviegoing in Newfoundland, its name used today for the local film festival. While cinema had debuted in December 1897, and moving pictures played in St. Patrick's Hall before 1907, the Nickel indeed offered the people of St. John's daily public amusement for the first time.
Home of the Nickel Theatre, St. Patrick's Hall, St. John's, Newfoundland
Apparently, the 1000 chairs came from John Lake's furniture factory in Fortune, Newfoundland.[1]
Timeline
December 13, 1897: First showing of moving pictures in St. John's, Lumiere's Cinematographe at the Methodist College Hall.
July 1, 1907: Opening of the Nickel.
March 1908: The Roman Catholic Bishop of Newfoundland bans attending picture shows during Lent, a church rule in effect until 1915.
Closed in 1960, the Nickel remains the longest operating cinema in St. John's.
People
Longtime Proprietor, J.P. Kiely from Montreal, first came to St. John's as an employee of the Keith's chain, often singing illustrated songs between the moving pictures. He later became owner until the Nickel closed in 1960. He was one of the few survivors of the SS Florizel disaster, and in later years owned and operated other movie theatres in the city.
The BIS building that contained the Nickel Theatre has been since converted into 3 very high-end condominiums.
External links
Nickel Festival.
References
^Stoodley, Allan (September 30, 2017). "Down Memory Lane - A businessman extraordinaire". The Southern Gazette. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
Paul S. Moore. 2007. "Early Picture Shows at the Fulcrum of Modern and Parochial St. John's, Newfoundland," Newfoundland and Labrador Studies 22(2): 447-471.
nickel, theatre, first, movie, theatre, newfoundland, part, five, cent, picture, show, craze, that, brought, daily, movies, almost, every, city, town, across, north, america, nickel, opened, benevolent, irish, society, patrick, hall, july, 1907, chain, keith, . The Nickel Theatre was the first movie theatre in Newfoundland Part of the five cent picture show craze that brought daily movies to almost every city and town all across North America the Nickel opened in the Benevolent Irish Society s St Patrick s Hall on July 1 1907 one of a chain of B F Keith s Nickels in New England and Eastern Canada Three more five cent shows opened in St John s by October 1907 all in large pre existing community halls like the Nickel rather than the small storefront nickelodeon typical of the time in the United States Ontario and larger cities in Canada The Nickel is remembered fondly as the beginnings of moviegoing in Newfoundland its name used today for the local film festival While cinema had debuted in December 1897 and moving pictures played in St Patrick s Hall before 1907 the Nickel indeed offered the people of St John s daily public amusement for the first time Home of the Nickel Theatre St Patrick s Hall St John s Newfoundland Contents 1 Site 2 Theatre details 3 Timeline 4 People 5 Modern Ties 6 External links 7 ReferencesSite EditLocated in the top floor of the Benevolent Irish Society BIS building at 48 Queen s Road in St John s Newfoundland Theatre details EditApparently the 1000 chairs came from John Lake s furniture factory in Fortune Newfoundland 1 Timeline EditDecember 13 1897 First showing of moving pictures in St John s Lumiere s Cinematographe at the Methodist College Hall July 1 1907 Opening of the Nickel March 1908 The Roman Catholic Bishop of Newfoundland bans attending picture shows during Lent a church rule in effect until 1915 Closed in 1960 the Nickel remains the longest operating cinema in St John s People EditLongtime Proprietor J P Kiely from Montreal first came to St John s as an employee of the Keith s chain often singing illustrated songs between the moving pictures He later became owner until the Nickel closed in 1960 He was one of the few survivors of the SS Florizel disaster and in later years owned and operated other movie theatres in the city Modern Ties EditThe namesake continues in St John s as the Nickel Film Festival The BIS building that contained the Nickel Theatre has been since converted into 3 very high end condominiums External links EditNickel Festival References Edit Stoodley Allan September 30 2017 Down Memory Lane A businessman extraordinaire The Southern Gazette Retrieved December 9 2019 Paul S Moore 2007 Early Picture Shows at the Fulcrum of Modern and Parochial St John s Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador Studies 22 2 447 471 47 34 00 61 N 52 42 34 21 W 47 5668361 N 52 7095028 W 47 5668361 52 7095028 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nickel Theatre amp oldid 1162993532, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
