Huge Crowd Attends Grand Opening of New Storm King Theatre in Cornwall-on-Hudson
Published in The Cornwall Local – July 11, 1935
By D. Deane

Decked out with bunting and adorned with flowers presented by many well-wishers, the Storm King Theatre opened Wednesday night. Kreisel Bros., the American Legion, McKinney and Nelson, and the various film companies were among those who sent baskets as the be-flowered theatre graduated from its long period of construction, and began a more active career.

The building was thrown open to the public at 7:30 P.M. Patrons who streamed in past the United States and American Legion flags beside the door found the auditorium brightly lighted. Manager Kennery, in evening dress, welcomed friends and received congratulations in the portico. The guests wandered in groups about the theatre, upstairs to the office and down again, chatting with acquaintances and commenting on the decorations around them, or upon mutually interesting topics.

Individual taste in dress was allowed full sway, and every degree of formality could be seen, from sports outfits to trailing chiffon. It was noticeable that the ladies dressed more formally than the men, though there were quite a few elegant aspirants to the title of Cornwall’s best dressed man.

Traffic in the square outside was heavy and parking space was at a premium. The village provided extra police officers recruited from the firehouse squad to see that order was kept. “W. Reveley,” one of the uniformed extraordinaries, said, however, that they had no trouble at all.

By eight o’clock the auditorium was well filled and people were still arriving. The back and sides of the hall filled first, and a hum of low conversation arose. Everyone knew everyone else. The audience was rich in a variety of personalities. Old ladies in black, with white hair and thin black ribbons around their throats, sat in silent dignity. Bald-headed gentlemen, stocky gray-suited business executives, and their alert office boys waited quietly for “the show” to begin. Ladies in white hats—which dotted the audience—talked and laughed sociably with their neighbors and friends. Many children were present. The theatre was filled with an air of excitement, and still the people came, and there were two ministers in the audience.

The ushers, in natty white mess-jackets, escorted them down the aisles with that peculiar swift gait that only theatre ushers seem to achieve.

At 8:20, the music began and the lights dimmed slightly. Conversation died away as the sweet, slow, and rather sentimental strains of Sylvia filled the hall. Latecomers began to make sweeping entrances, most of them dressed quite formally. Soft long powder blue chiffon floated down the aisle. A party in gay flowered dresses, and a slim person in rose-cream lace, came in, accompanied by gentlemen in white flannels and dark coats. The music grew louder, the lights were further dimmed, and the auditorium was pervaded by a golden glow.

As the record ended, the first speaker parted the curtains and appeared upon the stage. It was Assemblyman Mailler, who was to introduce the succeeding speakers. Mr. Mailler welcomed the audience on behalf of the management and spoke of the occasion as the beginning of a new era for Cornwall. He then presented the next speaker, Mayor Slater.

The Mayor spoke of old Matthiessen Hall—of how it had served the village in business and education, and as a social center, and of how it had gradually grown old and obsolete. He congratulated Mr. C. H. Matthiessen on his generous plan, which resulted in the Memorial Library and in the theatre, and ended with a plea to the assembled company to support the new Storm King playhouse. The audience applauded.

The next speaker was Supervisor E. L. Sylcox, in white, and very dramatic. “This is truly a temple of gorgeousness and splendor,” orated Mr. Sylcox, and spoke of the theatre as a shrine to the memory of those who built it. He hoped that the Storm King would “blossom and flourish,” and the audience chuckled with quiet enjoyment.

Then he introduced Mr. Kennery, who was greeted with a storm of applause. Saying that it was a great pleasure and honor to him to present the theatre to the audience, he pledged himself to bring to Cornwall “the finest and best in entertainment.” Tribute was paid to Mr. Henry Matthiessen, who could not be there, as “the man who loved Cornwall.” There was more applause as Mr. Kennery ended his few well-chosen words.

Mr. Mailler then expressed the gratitude of the Legion and the general public in the first night’s open performance, and extended his personal wishes for the success of the theatre.

By 8:45, the blue curtain had rolled back and the strange, almost martial music of The Road to Mandalay was heralding the beginning of the performance. The inner curtain changed its golden light coat for rose and the lights dimmed rapidly. As the music ended, the light went out entirely, and the blue screen appeared, with a Universal Newsreel, featuring Graham McNamee.

The audience heard about the new N.R.A., watched Discovery win a horse race, and laughed at Huey Long. Then came a Traveltalk in Technicolor of Holland in Tulip Time, and a musical short with Ted Fio-Rito. Someone in the audience exploded a firecracker. There was a Happy Harmonies cartoon entitled When the Cat’s Away. Finally, the Metro lion introduced Will Rogers in Doubting Thomas. The star was applauded, and the picture, to judge from frequent laughs, was much enjoyed.

It was after 11:00 when, the picture being over, the audience crowded up the aisles and out to the accompaniment of a recording of Beautiful Lady. The radiant Mr. Kennery was again in the lobby, smilingly shaking hands.

There had only been one hitch in the performance—when the sound continued to be heard while the visual film trailed off and the screen was blank. The evening, socially and otherwise, was a success.

Neighboring drugstores were crowded after the performance. If audiences continue to be as thirsty as the first-nighters, they will have a great success.

Most of the audience approved Mr. Kennery’s choice of an opening picture. Mr. Rogers was commented upon with enthusiasm by some, and with good humor by most. Everyone wished success to the new theatre, and success was in the air. It is to be hoped that no ill wind will arise to blow it away.

— D. DEANE

July 4, 1935 Cornwall Local Headline “Opening Show At Storm King Theatre A Sellout”- a detailed article appeared in the next issue.