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were performed on the opening day. 2,000 seats sold for 15 cents each and 1,000 seats sold for 10 cents each. Over 3,000 people filled the building. Ticket sales totaled $ 1,216.72. Sometime after the grand opening
Charles Murphy had this to say about the opening: "That opening handed me the greatest
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thrust against the motion picture screen. The fires started at the lower right corner of the picture screen and spread rapidly to the scenery. The people at the theatre were unaware that there was a fire. The asbestos curtain was dropped hurriedly and kept the flames back stage. Firemen battled the
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and 1 car of material for electrical work. It also included the lights, curtains, and ropes. Charles Murphy hired The Mandel
Brothers, a prestigious interior decorating firm from Chicago, to decorate the interior. The total cost of the undertaking was in excess of $ 250,000 (equivalent to $
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surprise and delight of my life. Where did all the people come from? I have seen many large crowds - some of them at the world's series netting me thousands of dollars—but none gave me the real pleasure I got
Wednesday. No man's vocabulary can do it justice."
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in 2005, due to its distinction as "he most successful sex-hygiene exploitation film of all time, a low budget but relentlessly promoted, socially significant film, which finished as the third highest grossing film during the 1940s."
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remarked, "Until now the
Colonial of Dayton was the finest theater in Ohio, but it now must take second place to this fine amusement palace. It is a revelation to me. Why there is not enough to burn here to start a grate".
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The theatre also had a modern self-regulating air ventilation system and an electrical system that included 15 miles of electrical wiring and a massive switchboard. After inspecting the theatre the state
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The construction of the Murphy was a massive undertaking. Over 175 cars were used in the construction. The materials used in the construction included: 1 car of metal lathe and tile, 17 cars of hollow
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scenery, two complete scenery sets and 56 sets of line were destroyed. Sound equipment and screens were destroyed at a cost of estimated at $ 5,000. Insurance covered the cost of the damages.
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was shown several times in the Murphy
Theatre, featuring live appearances by "hygiene commentator" Elliott Forbes, played by various Wilmington residents.
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On
January 15, 1934, a fire caused considerable damage to the theatre. The fire is believed to have started from a burning
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ceiling, a carved ornamental plaster with a continuous row of Cupid heads, a lobby decorated with a sunburst
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financed the construction of the Murphy
Theatre. Charles Murphy hired Eveland Construction Company from
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455:. The theatre has 682 seats. On September 18, 1999, the Murphy Theatre hosted the wedding of actors
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541:"Native of Wilmington Honored by Citizens on Occasion of Dedication of Magnificent Theater".
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482:. Every year around Christmas time, the theater holds a show called
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The theater officially opened on July 24, 1918. Famous acts such as
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The Murphy has been host to nationally acclaimed acts such as the
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406:' equipment and a new and larger picture screen were installed.
653:"Librarian of Congress Adds 25 Films to National Film Registry"
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On
January 17, 1934, the Murphy Theatre re-opened. New '
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The Murphy
Theatre in its early stages of construction.
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690:"Wilmington expecting thousands for Glenn Beck visit"
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672:"John Ritter, Amy Yasbeck wed at Murphy Saturday".
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Charles Murphy (on the right) at the Murphy
Theatre
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637:"Crowd at Re-opening of Murphy Theater".
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568:Society for American Baseball Research
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502:The theater can be seen in the films
317:The Betsy Ross curtain of the theatre
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622:"Stage Equipment Lost in Flames".
395:flames for more than an hour. The
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152:located at 50 West Main Street in
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447:Today the Murphy Theatre is a
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274:The theater had a half-barrel
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626:. 15 January 1934. p. 1.
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184:owner and Wilmington native
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611:. 24 July 1918. p. 6.
596:. 23 July 1918. p. 6.
545:. 25 July 1918. p. 6.
511:Michael Moore in TrumpLand
413:The Murphy Theatre in 1950
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31:The Murphy Theatre in 2012
484:The Murphy Christmas Show
417:Notably, local filmmaker
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80:39.4451044°N 83.8294098°W
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451:theatre and serves as a
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261:5,064,159 in 2023).
675:Wilmington News Journal
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85:39.4451044; -83.8294098
592:"The Murphy Theatre".
492:Wilmington High School
474:and broadcasts of his
436:National Film Registry
421:'s controversial 1945
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639:Wilmington Daily News
624:Wilmington Daily News
609:Wilmington Daily News
594:Wilmington Daily News
543:Wilmington Daily News
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309:at the Murphy in 1918
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220:(850,000), 2 cars of
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678:. 18 September 1999.
270:Proscenium and lobby
16:Theatre in Ohio, USA
661:. 20 December 2005.
658:Library of Congress
488:barbershop quartets
480:television programs
216:, 19 cars of solid
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641:. 17 January 1934.
468:Von Trapp Children
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353:Good Night, Nurse!
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305:arch and the left
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561:Jacobsen, Lenny.
434:was added to the
423:exploitation film
348:Douglas Fairbanks
343:Say! Young Fellow
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122:January 17, 1934
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182:Chicago Cubs
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169:Construction
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106:Construction
461:Amy Yasbeck
457:John Ritter
432:Mom and Dad
427:Mom and Dad
419:Kroger Babb
336:Opening day
288:Nathan Hale
222:terra cotta
83: /
58:Coordinates
703:Categories
574:31 October
518:References
472:Glenn Beck
449:non-profit
397:Betsy Ross
303:proscenium
284:Betsy Ross
280:chandelier
190:Cincinnati
154:Wilmington
71:83°49′46″W
68:39°26′42″N
392:cigarette
356:starring
346:starring
307:box seats
208:Materials
265:Interior
119:Reopened
97:Capacity
404:talkies
246:cinders
234:plaster
164:History
150:theatre
127:Website
41:Address
290:, and
254:gravel
226:lumber
111:Opened
476:radio
443:Today
276:foyer
242:steel
238:rebar
218:brick
576:2016
508:and
478:and
459:and
386:Fire
350:and
301:The
252:and
250:sand
230:lime
214:tile
194:Ohio
158:Ohio
144:The
136:.org
101:682
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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