bradleyhistory

In 1890 Ransom Bradley dreamed of building a magnificent theatre in downtown Putnam. Two years late on July 16, 1892 he
purchased property on the corner of Front and Livery Streets. Designed and constructed by Charles H. Kelley of Putnam, the Bradley
Playhouse was completed January 29, 1901. A 1901 Putnam Patriot article describes the building:

" From the main entrance on Front Street, a 10-foot wide corridor leads up to the ticket office. This space is all decorated with leaded
glass, theatrical figures in white and gold, and a tile floor at entrance. The theatre is to have 973 opera chairs, four boxes with white
and gold chairs, and not a poor seat in the house. On entering the theatre, at the rear is the foyer, check room for coats, and ladies'
and gents' toilets and a marble drinking fountain. Each box in the foyer is fitted with plate glass mirrors. Each side of the foyer arch is
a 6-foot stairway to the balcony floor and rear balcony. The theatre is decorated with comp. and papier mache and colored old rose,
green, ivory-white and gold. All draperies are of green, boxes and balcony rails are brass. The balcony front is decorated with a
festoon of cupids in white and gold and the boxes in ivory and gold. Carpets are dark red. All seats are in mahogany with Moroceonie
seats. All have wire hat racks under and nickel numbers and letter to each. The stage is the most modern that can be constructed ...
fitted for 52 scenes and 4 traps in the stage floor. The stage opening is 30 feet by 20 feet back with asbestos and fancy drop curtains
and borders. The building is a thing the city should be proud of and a vote of thanks should be given to Mr. Bradley for building such
a fine playhouse for the use of the public."

The new theatre featured national touring companies fresh from Broadway with such hits as "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "The Soul Kiss,"
"Beverly," and "The Red Mill." The Bradley also featured silent fillms complete with piano accompaniment until 1928 when the first
talkie was presented. The movie "Buffalo Bill's and Pawnee Bill's Wild West and Far East Show" featured Buffalo Bill in his final
public appearance.

During 1911 the theatre featured several benefit nights in order to raise money for the newly developed fire departrment in Putnam.
On one of these evenings an audience of 1,095 people had raised a donation of $54.75.

The Bradley has undergone a number of changes in its 98-year history. In 1914 the theatre was the site of two fires just 14 hours
apart causing over $40,000 in damages. After the fires, the interior of the theatre was rebuilt with increased showing of movies
beginning to influence the interior of the theatre. The thrust of the stage was removed and a set of stairs installed. The orchestra pit
was covered over and the balcony remodeled.

The theatre has gone by various names through its history. Postcards announcing the opening of "The Old Homestead" in 1922
refer to The Putnam Opera House.

In 1927 Morris Pouzzner from Boston reorganized, remodeled, and renovated Putnam Theatres Inc. According to the Putnam Patriot,
"Superlatives are needed to describe the remodeled playhouse ... from roof to cellar nothing has been neglected that could give
comfort and pleasure." Seating was replaced and reduced to provide more room for each patron. Improvements included a widened
lobby and replacement of the restrooms, ventilation system, stage rewiring, lighting, emergency exits, hangings, chandelier and pipe
organ.

On December 9, 1937 a short circuit caused a fire in a dressing room which soon became an enormous blaze. Fortunately for the
theatre a specially designed asbestos curtain dropped containing the fire to the stage area. It was noted at the time that of all the
curtains so designed only three had functioned as intended when fire struck. The theatre sustained $30,000 in damages including
the loss of all scenery, properties and "talking picture apparatus."
Soon crews under the direction of district manager James Mahoney were hard at work making repairs and additional improvements.
The most noticeable improvement was the new "Bradley" marquee which lit up the street corner, extending over the sidewalk.
Seventy seats were installed as the organ sound system and ventilation ducts as well as the orchestra pit were removed. The rugs,
seats and furnishings, heating and air conditioning systems were again replaced. And a "mirror phonic soound reproducer" was
installed.

On Christmas Day the theatre reopened on schedule with the first of a series of "first run" pictures, which included, "Thoroughbreds
Don't Cry," "Rosalie," with Nelson Eddy, and "Nothing Sacred" with Frederick March and Carole Lombard.

In 1953 the concession counter was moved from inside the theatre auditorium to its present location and further renovations were
made. Movies continued to be shown at the theatre, now know as The Imperial until 1985.
In 1984 the Northeast Repertory Theatre was formed bringing live theatre back to the Bradley. Productions included "Same Time
Next Year," "Carnival" and "Pump Boys and Dinettes."

In 1988 the group changed its name to the Bradley Playhouse Association and the theatre continued to change and grow. 1989 saw
the presentation of a Winter Festival. And in 1990 the summer children's acting workshop was added to the season's events.

The current theatre group, incorporated in 1991 as The Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut at the Bradley Playhouse, gained
non-profit status in 1992. In addition to producing a full six- or seven-show season, each of these groups has spent countless hours
in physical improvements to the building. The goal has been to restore the Bradley. One early project included the stripping of the
display cases in the entryway and repainting them with gold leaf paint. $15,000 in electrical updates were made.

In 1997, TNECT embarked upon and ambitious and ongoing restoration project. The floors have been repainted and new carpeting
put down. An airconditioning system has been installed. The ceiling, walls, and proscenium arch have been repaired and painted.
Work lights have been installed in the ceiling. The seats have been replaced, thanks to many of our generous patrons and
volunteers, the HVAC systems overhauled, new carpeting installed, sound and lighting upgraded and the main curtain has been
replaced. A state of the art fire alarm system was installed in 2003 that is automatically monitored and connected to our local fire
department.

In 2004, we were fortunate to make contact with the great nephew of the original Ransom Bradley, who we did not know existed.
Ransom Bradley, and his family, were extremely pleased to learn that the Bradley Playhouse still existed and bore his name. The
family visited the theatre in July 2004, and a reception in his honor was held, at which he was made a lifetime member of the theatre.

TNECT wishes to gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance of building owner Thomas Borner. And we thank you, our
audience, for the support you have shown.