NEWBURGH NEWS — OCTOBER 1, 1953
McGorman Buys Storm King Theater

CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON — The Storm King Theater, built in 1934, has been purchased by Owen McGorman, a local businessman, it was announced today. The sale was made through John Lease Real Estate Agency of Newburgh. Mr. McGorman completed the transaction this week with Ralph Johnson Jr., of Lacey Fields, New Windsor, who has been operating the motion picture theater for the past year. Mr. McGorman also bought the parking facilities and is planning to manage the theater and provide wholesome entertainment for the community.

The Storm King Theater was constructed by Conrad E. Matthiessen on the site of the former Matthiessen building. Its gala opening on July 3, 1935, brought many notables of New York as well as Orange County. The first Sunday performances in Orange County were held at this theater. It has been considered a civic center, and for this reason, Mr. McGorman is planning to make it an attractive playhouse.

The building not only houses the theater, with a capacity of nearly 600, but also has a tavern, which is operated by Mr. McGorman, and two stores.

The Cornwall Local October 27, 1955

CCHS ASSEMBLY HELD AT STORM KING THEATRE

The assembly program for grades 1-12 was presented by Ralph Melville of the Antrim Bureau on Wednesday morning. It was a demonstration of glass blowing and was thoroughly enjoyed.

The school is indebted to the generosity of Owen McGorman, owner of the theatre, who permitted the use of the theatre for the entertainment. The auditorium is undergoing repairs and were it not for his kindness the program would have had to be cancelled.

The Cornwall Local December 15, 1955

Storm King Theatre To Give Free Show For Children Dec. 24

Owen McGorman, proprietor of Storm King Theatre, as a Christmas present to all the children of this area, is presenting a free Christmas show at his theatre on Sunday, Dec. 24, at 2 p.m., at which time 20 favorite cartoons will be shown. There will be no admission.

And in addition to all this Santa Claus will be there to distribute free candy to the kiddies.

Orange County Post April 12, 1956

EASTER EGG HUNT — Albert James DeFreece, son of Mr. and Mrs. William DeFreece of Angola Road, Cornwall, won the main prize, a bicycle, at the fifth annual Easter Egg Hunt of the Cornwall Chicken Thief Detecting Society held at the Storm King Theatre on Saturday morning. Because of the rain the hunt was not held at the New York Military Academy as planned. Jimmy is shown proudly sitting on his bike, surrounded by the committee in charge of the hunt. In the front row, l to r: Art Cramer, Jack Dunn, Jack Reilly and Walter Earl. Back row: Howard Moulder, Ken Coddington, Oscar Johnson, Bill Burns, Whitey Thompson, Joe Kinsler, chairman, Bobby Howard, Bud Robinson, Jake Prynne, Owen McGorman, owner of the theatre and who made the event possible; M. A. Brown and Mike Regansburg.

The Cornwall Local July 4, 1957

Matthiessen Hall Played Important Part in Community

The 27th anniversary of the Storm King Theatre on July 3 recalls the history of Matthiessen Hall, which played such an important part in the lives of the people of the village and community from 1870 to 1935. This building was razed to make room for the construction of the theatre in 1935.

Matthiessen Hall was built by the Cornwall Library Co. in 1870, on the north side of the Square, primarily for a library. The building, which cost $30,000, was financed by selling shares at $5 each. All who purchased one share or more were permitted free use of the library.

On the first floor were stores, with the library on the second floor, and the hall, measuring 50 x 78, with a gallery at one end and a stage at the other, was situated on the third floor. The building was 45 by 80 feet and 3 stories high.

In the structure, the Cornwall Savings Bank was established in 1870. At one time, the manual training room for Cornwall-on-Hudson High School was located on the second floor, and a lock-up in the basement.

Among the directors of the Cornwall Library Company were Thomas Taft, James G. Roe, Nicholas Chatfield, E. H. Champlin, Albert Palmer and Thomas George.

Sometime after the building was built, it was turned over to the Village of Cornwall by the father of Conrad C. Matthiessen, who later had acquired the hall.

When Conrad Matthiessen was searching around for a site for the new theatre, his real estate agent, Harry A. Wilson Sr., pointed out that the Village was losing money on the old Matthiessen Hall and that this was the best site in the town. The Village agreed to turn over the deed to the building to Mr. Matthiessen for the consideration of $2,500 and the structure was torn down.

Before the building was demolished, Mr. Wilson reminded Mr. Matthiessen that the library, located on the second floor, would have no place to go. Mr. Wilson was asked to locate a suitable site. The old bank building on Hudson Street was considered, but it was felt it would be too noisy in this location.

Mr. Wilson consulted the American Legion, who owned the property where the library is now located, and they agreed to deed over one-half of their property.

In the meantime, Mr. Wilson saw Dr. George R. Dempsey, chairman of the library board, and told him what Mr. Matthiessen had in mind. Out of a meeting between Dr. Dempsey and Mr. Matthiessen, the Cornwall-on-Hudson Public Library was born.

Erad Matthiessen, Conrad Matthiessen’s son, designed the Georgian Colonial structure. He also was the architect for the theatre.

Storm King Theatre Open 27 Years Ago July 3rd

July marks the 27th anniversary of the Storm King Theatre.

The theatre, which was built by Conrad H. Matthiessen on the site formerly occupied by Matthiessen Hall, on the north side of the Square, Cornwall-on-Hudson, opened on Wednesday, July 3, 1935.

Proceeds of the first show and of the advertisements in the special June 27, 1935 issue of the Cornwall Local went to Cornwall Post, American Legion, to be used for welfare work.

The building, which was designed by Erad Matthiessen, son of Conrad, represented the very latest in design and arrangement for comfort and convenience, and provided the last word in visibility and acoustical properties. The structure is entirely fireproof and fire-resistant. No wood was used in the construction.

The theatre was turned over to Edward Kennery to operate and to give the people of Cornwall a modern place of entertainment. Mr. Kennery served as Mr. Matthiessen’s secretary for a number of years prior to this.

When Mr. Matthiessen died, the theatre was turned back to the Matthiessen Estate by Mr. Kennery and was later acquired by the Half Moon Theatre Corporation.

After changing hands several times, it was purchased by Ralph Johnson of New Windsor. In 1953, Owen McGorman bought the theatre and building and has personally managed the theatre ever since, providing excellent shows of first-class pictures and features. A free parking lot for 100 cars is provided across the street from the theatre.

Mr. McGorman came to Cornwall 16 years ago and operated McGorman’s Restaurant in the theatre building for 15 years.

Where the parking lot is now located was a four-story brick building, in bad condition, across which was painted, “Pillsbury—Eventually Why Not Now” in large letters. Before the theatre was built, Mr. Matthiessen acquired this dilapidated building from James Gibson, tore it down and used some of the brick in the construction of the theatre.

Although the Matthiessen Hall property was acquired from the Village of Cornwall, it was necessary to purchase a small piece of property on Churchill Street, where a fish market was at one time located.

Storm King Theatre was the first theatre on the west side of the Hudson River to have Sunday movies.

The Cornwall Local October 31, 1951

15 "Pajamboree" Finalists to Visit Theatre on Tuesday

The Storm King Theatre will be the scene of a personal appearance by the fifteen finalists in Schoonmaker’s, Shrank "Pajamboree" on Election Night, Nov. 5, it was announced by Owen McGorman, owner of the local theater.

A motorcade, featuring new model cars, will start in Newburgh and arrive at the theater at 9 p.m. The finalists will then enter the theater during the intermission in the showing of The Helen Morgan Story, for a personal appearance.

One of the finalists, as result of a popularity contest, will receive an all-expense paid, seven-day vacation in Bermuda for two. A display board with the pictures of all the finalists is now on view in the theater lobby together with a ballot box and ballots for all who come to the theater to vote for their winner.

The "Pajamboree" will culminate in a fashion show at the Newburgh store on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. with the announcement of the "Dream Girl" winner being made on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Cornwall Local March 13, 1958

CCTDS To Give 1000 Gifts at Easter Egg Hunt April 5

The Cornwall Chicken Thief Detecting Society will distribute approximately 1000 gifts and Easter baskets at its seventh annual Easter Egg Hunt. The hunt will be held on the Town Hall property on Saturday, April 5 at 10 a.m.

There will be no cancellation in event of rain, in which case it will be held in the Storm King Theatre through the generous cooperation of Owen McGorman.

Nearly 480 prizes will be awarded to the winners in the three age divisions: two to four years, four to eight, and eight to twelve. This number of prizes is almost double the number awarded at any past egg hunts.

For those children who do not receive a prize, members of the society have made up approximately 500 Easter baskets.

Larry Shovan, in making this announcement for the society, announced a slight change in policy from past years for the two to four year age group.

For the younger set, there is a specific roped area in which they do their seeking and finding. Heretofore, parents were allowed to accompany the youngster if they so desired, and naturally did most of the finding.

This, the society feels, is a distinct advantage over those youngsters who perhaps are slightly more advanced and are "on their own." Because of this, the society is eliminating any parent participation.

If a parent wishes his child to be accompanied by an adult, or if the youngster, due to shyness, is unwilling to hunt alone, the society has made arrangements with some of its members to serve as companions.

Mr. Shovan also pointed out that the annual feature has grown to such proportions that parents in the area roped off for the two to four year age group add considerably to the congestion.