Courtesy of Billboard, October 24, 1953. Article talks a bit about a new rink opens in Hartford called Astor Skating Rink keeping the name of Astor Theater's into the rink. It was opened in October 17, 1953 as Grand opening. But..
Billboard October 29, 1955. Unfortunately, the exact two years old rink closed. "Old Rollery"? Really!? How old was this, reporter? TWO YEARS OLD. Not old. Pretty new. Sadly, closed and turned into a furniture store. Including the article saying the only other rink operating at the time was also currently, a dead rink called Hartford Skating Palace.
Google Map. Taken in 2011 (with less cars than newer photos). You can see now its a parking lot where the former Astor Theater was. It was facing to the left of the photo for main entrance but the one on the right as you can see how it was painted on the wall of Comstock Hall? That was the stage where the old Theater stage/screen was.
Astor Skating Rink 1175 Main Street, East Hartford, CT
Once this place was a theater called Astor Theater on 1175 Main Street in East Hartford, Connecticut. It was a short lived rink. Only for two years after the theaters closed it doors.
Since I do not have much on the rink but the Astor had more history. It was built behind the Comstock Hall built as a movie theater. It was said to be built in 1899. In latter years, the theater became a Spanish speaking movie house focusing on Spanish speaking people in the neighborhood.
I only could see a photograph of the Comstock Hall but not the Astor which was behind on the block.
The address for Astor Theater was 1175 Main Street which IS where Comstock Hall is facing. However, for patrons likely they needed to use Comstock Hall's as a destination mark where the theater is.. behind the building. Makes sense. Like... You say Time Square in New York City and immediately you know where that is. Many stores there, the big New Years Ball drop and things like that. That is what I am talking about here for the theater. Using Main Street address.
The Interior.
Originally a movie theater, it was converted in 1953 into a skating rink, small theater, among other things. The new rink floor you think it was cheap at 5,000 USD. Wrong, it is converted into December 15, 2020 adjustable for inflation, it is $48,732! That is normal price for small to medium Maple rink floor today. Also 8,000 USD was spend on other renovations which brought up the cost over 100,000 USD. Again, that is normal cost for a renovation or a roof fix these days.
So, the cost was the same back then as it is to today.
No photographs, so I have none to show.
The Exterior.
No photograph of the theater either. Only the main road side for the Comstock Hall which is a beauty. Three story high Red-Brick bricks building with beautiful windows. I think it was renovated on the outside. Now three small shops on ground floor. I do not know what are upstairs.
The rear showed the outline of the old theater on the rear of Comstock Hall which was an excellent concept to preserve history of where the old theater/rink was. Never mind the store. Haha.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Wood (5,000 USD IN 1953!). Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1899? Demolished: Demolished.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Move house - like Building.
Roof: Gable (according to the mural on the back of the 3 story Comstock Hall building.)
Acres: N/A.
Operated: N/A.
October 17, 1953 to October 23, 1955.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Billboard - 1953 opening; Billboard 1955 closing; Cinemas Tour - Comstock Hall; Google Map;
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
Since I do not have much on the rink but the Astor had more history. It was built behind the Comstock Hall built as a movie theater. It was said to be built in 1899. In latter years, the theater became a Spanish speaking movie house focusing on Spanish speaking people in the neighborhood.
I only could see a photograph of the Comstock Hall but not the Astor which was behind on the block.
The address for Astor Theater was 1175 Main Street which IS where Comstock Hall is facing. However, for patrons likely they needed to use Comstock Hall's as a destination mark where the theater is.. behind the building. Makes sense. Like... You say Time Square in New York City and immediately you know where that is. Many stores there, the big New Years Ball drop and things like that. That is what I am talking about here for the theater. Using Main Street address.
The Interior.
Originally a movie theater, it was converted in 1953 into a skating rink, small theater, among other things. The new rink floor you think it was cheap at 5,000 USD. Wrong, it is converted into December 15, 2020 adjustable for inflation, it is $48,732! That is normal price for small to medium Maple rink floor today. Also 8,000 USD was spend on other renovations which brought up the cost over 100,000 USD. Again, that is normal cost for a renovation or a roof fix these days.
So, the cost was the same back then as it is to today.
No photographs, so I have none to show.
The Exterior.
No photograph of the theater either. Only the main road side for the Comstock Hall which is a beauty. Three story high Red-Brick bricks building with beautiful windows. I think it was renovated on the outside. Now three small shops on ground floor. I do not know what are upstairs.
The rear showed the outline of the old theater on the rear of Comstock Hall which was an excellent concept to preserve history of where the old theater/rink was. Never mind the store. Haha.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Wood (5,000 USD IN 1953!). Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1899? Demolished: Demolished.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Move house - like Building.
Roof: Gable (according to the mural on the back of the 3 story Comstock Hall building.)
Acres: N/A.
Operated: N/A.
October 17, 1953 to October 23, 1955.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Billboard - 1953 opening; Billboard 1955 closing; Cinemas Tour - Comstock Hall; Google Map;
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.