The Masonic Temple The Strand Theatre

Masonic Temple    Strand Theatre

Temple Served As Lodge, Theatre

By Horton P. Beirne

Commemorative Issue

Covington Virginian, Saturday, July 24, 1982

One of Covington’s landmarks is coming down this week after 80 years of service not only to Covington’s Masonic Lodge members but to almost every citizen in the area over the age of ten.

For 62 years the Strand Theatre was housed on the lower floor of the Masonic Temple on Covington’s Main Street and most residents know the building by the theatre name instead of its official title.  Covington Masonic Temple.

Over the years, the building housed, in addition to Covington Masonic Lodge No. 171, A.F.&A.M. and the Strand Theatre, a news and magazine shop, barber shop, sandwich shop and was known far and wide in the 1920’s as the “Opera House.”  Prior to the Strand opening in 1915, the auditorium was known as the Masonic Theatre and Alleghany County judges held court on the third floor while the present courthouse was being constructed.

The building was built in 1901 by the Masons and the Strand opened its door in August of  1915, founded by the late Harry W. Robertson.

The stage on the first floor has been used for local plays, minstrels and community activities and during the early years of the century vaudeville.

Many residents of the Highlands can vividly remember the Opera House in all its majestic glory, bright lights illuminating the building’s façade and half of Main Street as the theatre patrons emerged from their automobiles and entered the carpeted lobby on their way in to the auditorium for an evening’s performance.  They were greeted by the marble-walled lobby with its chandelier hanging from the decorated ceiling.

The comings and goings of the building’s trustees, members of the Masonic Lodge, were more subdued as they entered to attend the closed, ritualistic meetings on the third floor in the Lodge’s chambers.  1903-1981.  The public was prohibited from entering these rooms but was allowed on the first floor as well as the second which was the entrance to the theatre’s balcony.

Inside the theatre, the burgundy colored wall-to-wall carpet continued from the lobby and tapestry in coordinated colors adorned the walls.  The arched stage had gold trim on the curtains in addition to the heavy burgundy ones which were opened and closed as needed.

A piano and later a pipe organ were located “down front” just below and in front of the stage in the orchestra pit and were used during the vaudeville days and for local plays and minstrels.

When the days of the live-performances went the way of the railroad’s steam engines, a large screen was installed for showing movies just back of the curtains.  Two projectors were used for showing movies and for many years M.T. “Snatch” Persinger was operator and major-domo of the projection room.

Snatch had only one arm, yet “he could do the work of two men with that one arm.  He was something else.”  The Rev. John Henry Jackson recalls.

Seating was available for over 500 patrons – about 390 on the main floor and 140-150 in the balcony.

One of the first air conditioning systems in a public establishment was in the Strand and many an Alleghany Countian witnessed his first “talkie” movie in 1929 when a sound system was installed.

The late Harry W. Robertson – businessman, fireman, councilman, civic leader owned the Strand Theatre in addition to – over the years—the Little Theatre, Collins Theatre, Visulite and Covington Highway Drive-in Theatre.  He came to Covington just after the turn of the century and operated the theatres through the Covington Amusement Company and was a partner of the Painter and Robertson men’s clothing store on middle block of Main Street.

Many residents of the Highlands were associated with the Strand during its 62 years including Mr. Robertson, Mrs. Nell Fleshman, Snatch Persinger, Hazel Aiken who was with the Covington Amusement Company for over 40 years, the Rev. John Henry Jackson, Mrs. I.C. Wagner, who played the organ, usher Harrison Scott and three of Snatch’s sons and Mrs. Z.H. Smith who sold tickets.

These are but a few of the folks who worked full or part time with the amusement industry in Covington.

Lunchroom

Following the building’s construction on the site of the former Burke’s or McCurdy Hotels in 1901, the lower portion of the Masonic Temple was rented.

Facing the building on the right of the main entrance, a penny candy store was housed for many years and around 1930 the late Chix Payne, daughter of Mrs. Forrest E. Payne of Rosedale, owned and operated the Strand Lunch Room where sandwiches and beverages were sold.

Virginia Payne of Rosedale recalls, as a young girl, looking through the windows of the penny candy store and trying to decide which treat her money would best be spent on.

Later, after her sister purchased the sandwich shop from a family named Wright, she worked in the short-order restaurant when in town on breaks from college classes.  Her mother baked home-made pies which were cut and sold in the shop and many were ordered whole and taken home by customers.

The sandwich shop closed around 1945 and later Mr. Robertson used the space as his office for the Covington Amusement Company.  It was used in this capacity until the building was vacated in 1981 following the 1980 sale by the Masons to First National Exchange Bank in 1980.

The Citizens National Bank, later changed to FNEB, had sold the lot to the Masons as a location for their temple around 1900.

Barber Shop News Stand

On the left side of the main entrance, the Strand Barber Shop operated for many years with “Three chairs, no waiting.”

Among barbers who plied their trade there were Fred Middleton, Bob Quate, Bill Harman, Gene Treynor.  H,M. Miller and Pete Jenkins.

The barber shop was in full swing in 1925 when H.M. Miller came to Covington and it closed around 1975.

George Whitecotton operated a barbershop in the space for about a year until the space was rented for a news and magazine shop.

Neil McKee operated Charlie’s News from 1976 until 1978 before closing the doors permanently.  His was the last business to operate in that portion of the building, the Strand having closed in 1977 Covington Amusement Company offices remained in the building until 1981 and when they moved the doors of the former Opera House, Theatre, Candy Store, Sandwich Shop, temporary courthouse were closed for good.

Since that time furnishings have been removed, engineers have determined that renovating the building would be a costly undertaking and next to impossible and the decision has been namd to dismantle the structure before it falls and causes damage or injury.

The large hall is vacant, void of the once splendid trappings, which adorned the walls, floors and ceilings.  The seats are gone and the stage is empty, waiting for the wreaking ball, the last production which will take place in an area that for almost 80 years provided entertainment laughs and tears for four generations, both young and old alike.

The stage is dark, quiet, the last curtain call haws been made, but if you close your eyes and concentrate – you can remember . . . . .

Silent Movies and Vaudeville

While most Alleghany County residents recall viewing movies at the Strand Theatre until it closed in 1977, many can remember the days when the movies were used to fill in between live performances.

Vaudeville was the name of the entertainment game at the Masonic Theatre, Covington Opera House, form the early 1900’s through the 1920s and along with professional performers, the Opera House and later Strand Theatre, was the location for local minstrels, dance contests and other displays of local talent.

High school minstrels were held on the strand’s stage and in 1921 the “Greater Covington Minstrel” was presented by the American Legion and Covington Band June 20 and 21.

When the Charleston was popular, R.F. Berine III of Rosedale recalls, “the Strand offered moving pictures and Mr. Robertson put on a Charleston contest between features.  Couples would go up on stage and dance to the organ music provided by Nell Fleshman and a winning couple for the evening would be chosen.”

“Before World War II, a pipe organ was installed replacing the piano and as the organ was played shutters would open and close in time to the music.  With