History

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="067fd5a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Somerset County Cultural Arts Center, Inc.</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Somerset County Cultural Arts Center, In"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Upcoming Events"><U>Upcoming Events</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Mission"><U>Our Mission</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Gallery"><U>Photo Gallery</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Directions"><U>Directions</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Support Us"><U>Support Us</U></A>   |   <B>History</B>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="07ce58f0.jpg" border=0 width="229" height="143" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Board Members 2009-2010</B></div> <div> James Beatty, Chair</div> <div> Lynn Fazen, Vice Chair</div> <div> Paige Price, 2nd Vice Chair</div> <div> Mike Schuyler, Secretary</div> <div> David Morris, Treasurer</div> <div> George Andersen</div> <div> Elaine Garza</div> <div> Donald Kalbach</div> <div> Curt Schmidt</div> <div> Laura Shreve</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>History</I></div> <div> A classic vaudeville theater, the Brook was opened in 1927. That was the same year that the first talking picture, <I>The Jazz Singer</I>, starring Al Jolson hit the silver screen. This signaled the beginning of the end for vaudeville. Even though it was opened at the tail end of the era, the Brook was home to a wide variety of acts. Headliners like Tony Bennett and Jackie Gleason entertained packed houses in this 850 seat theater. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Opening Night</B></div> <div> From THE CHRONICLE <I>January 21, 1927</I></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="624" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 559 WIDTH="612"><bR> <div> <B>BROOK THEATRE IS NOW OPEN</B></div> <div> -----------</div> <div> Bound Brook turned out en masse for the opening of the Brook Theatre on Wednesday evening. Every one of the thirteen hundred odd, seats were occupied and foyer held another hundred or so who saw the show standing behind the marble balustrade which flanks the row seats in the auditorium. The large audience thoroughly enjoyed the five acts of vaudeville and two pictures; and it was admiringly proud of, and greatly pleased with the new theatre which Alexander Morecraft built and which Meyer Cohen is managing.</div> <bR> <div> Hamilton Street, when the entertainment was concluded, looked like Broadway at eleven o'clock. Cars were parked for blocks in every direction and chief Nash and his patrolmen had a busy three quarters of an hour in getting the traffic moving homewards. </div> <bR> <div> “Say, where am I at?” said one commuter. “Surely this isn't Bound Brook! Something sure has happened to the old town. Makes me think I should hire a taxi and steer for a cabaret.”</div> <bR> <div> The two pictures, “The Tennis Wizard” and “The Lunatic at Large”, gripping and amusing, went over big with the crowded house. The five acts of vaudeville were surprisingly good, miles above the average, and reflected great credit on the good judgment of Manager Cohen who selected them as features for the opening night performance.</div> <bR> <div> A special car attached to one of the Jersey Central trains brought a crowd of theatrical folk to the initial performance. They expressed themselves as being surprisingly impressed with Bound Brook's new playhouse; they spoke very highly of the first night's show. Manager Cohen came in for a whirlwind of congratulations which were either offered in person or come by wire. His desk on yesterday morning was stacked with telegrams of good wishes that had been sent by his friends and people friendly to the venture.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>