Albion’s first motion theater opened in 1906 on East Bank Street
By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian
The 1911 Orleans County Directory lists the Hippodrome Theatre at 33 East Bank St. in Albion.
It was established by Louis Smith in 1906 as the first motion theater in Albion. Note his name on the top of the building in the upper left corner of the photo.
Smith is also listed as living over 29 East Bank St. at the time. The 1911 directory also lists Martin Britton as running a saloon at 35 East Bank St. His name appears on the window of the adjacent storefront. A sign in that window advertises: “American Brew Co Vienna Cabinet on Draught Here.”
Admission to the movie was 5 cents and I expect a draft beer was the same.
