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var totalPhotos = 27;


var photoCaption = new Array();	

photoCaption[1] = "The Hobbs Building and Somerville Theatre in the summer of 1914.  Davis Square doesn’t appear to have the same amount of loafers hanging out back then.  Courtesy David Guss.";
photoCaption[2] = "This sign, currently in the lobby, originally hung outside the theater above the marquee.  It sat under a pile of rubble for 65 years in the basement before being discovered during renovations in 1990. Courtesy J. Morong.";
photoCaption[3] = "The current marquee was installed in 1996.  Courtesy David Giordano.";
photoCaption[4] = "The house as photographed in 1989 by Toshio Tamaki.  Theater archivist Robert Viano commissioned this photo to mark the 75th anniversary of the theater.  Notice the old projection booth way up in the walls, which has since been replaced with a new booth in front of it. Courtesy Robert Viano Estate and David Guss.";
photoCaption[5] = "The brand-spankin’-new Hobbs Building.  So new, tenants are only announced in storefront windows.  The Hobbs family owned much property in the Somerville area.  The theater building cost over $200,000 to build and featured ten stores, the theater, and a ballroom on the second floor, plus office space, a bowling alley, and a basement café. Courtesy David Guss.";
photoCaption[6] = "Stage and screen legend Tallulah Bankhead was once a member of the Somerville Theatre Players.  Courtesy Loew’s, Incorporated.";
photoCaption[7] = "The mural of a muse above the proscenium was painted in 1914 by an unknown local artist. Courtesy J. Morong.";
photoCaption[8] = "The stage as seen from balcony left.  The theater was designed for live performance and has reknowned acoustics. Courtesy J. Morong.";
photoCaption[9] = "The lobby in 2005.  Courtesy J. Morong.";
photoCaption[10] ="Post card circa 1930.  The large arched windows on the second floor (on the side street) opened into the Hobbs Crystal Ballroom, a 750 person dance hall.  Theatre Archives.";
photoCaption[11] ="Rear of postcard.  Someone had a lovely vacation in Somerville! Theatre Archives.";
photoCaption[12] ="The Hobbs Crystal Ballroom on the second floor was cleared to build cinemas 4 and 5 in 1996.  It had not been used regularly since the 1970’s. Theatre Archives.";
photoCaption[13] ="This photo shows the marquee familiar to locals from the 1960’s to the 90’s.  At this point, the theater’s future was somewhat up in the air, but luckily the sign’s prediction was wrong! Theatre Archives.";
photoCaption[14] ="The most common of several postcards designed to promote the theater in 1914.  Note the sign currently in our lobby is hanging above the marquee canopy.  Hall’s (later Reed’s) Drug Store was a popular pharmacy and soda fountain on the corner of the building and operated for many years.  The Someday Café is currently in its place. Theatre Archives.";
photoCaption[15] ="Cover of a 1928 program Arthur Viano bought the theater in 1926 and his family owned it until 1984.  Theatre Archives.";
photoCaption[16] ="Cover of 1923 program.  The stock company was immensely popular until the Great Depression. Theatre Archives.";
photoCaption[17] ="Cover of 1930 program.  Theatre Archives.";
photoCaption[18] ="Cover of 1924 program.  Theatre Archives.";
photoCaption[19] ="Ad for dishware giveaway, 1930’s.  Movie theaters gave away dishware and other gifts beginning during the depression to lure patrons to the show each week.  At Somerville, dishes, major appliances, and even fur coats were given away.  While most theaters stopped this practice after WWII, at Somerville it continued into the 1960’s because theater owner Arthur Viano felt “you had to have a gimmick”.  Courtesy David Guss.";
photoCaption[20] ="The theater staff in 2004.  Many of the theater’s current employees have been with us for longer averages than most retail-style jobs.  Together we have weathered wacky protests, some wackier concerts, and the occasional celebrity appearance. Courtesy David Giordano.";
photoCaption[21] ="Side view from 1914.  The small vertical sign blocking the marquee canopy advertises Dancing and Bowling, two treats the Hobbs Building provided to the neighborhood.  At one point there was an indoor mini-golf setup in the basement too, where you could play till 1:30am.  Advertisements from programs of the day indicate there was a substantial night life in Davis Square, replete with all-night eateries and other stuff community activists would poo-poo today.  Courtesy David Guss.";
photoCaption[22] ="Garen Daly earned his esteemed reputation for film programming while managing the Kenmore and Park Square theaters.  He leased the Somerville Theatre from 1982 until 1989, bringing in creative programming and live events back to the stage.  His film schedules, announced weeks in advance, were legendary, and the theater had a great reputation for being a place where something good was always playing.  When his lease ended (in a much publicized debate about the future of the theater) this “Casablanca” reference was a wink and a nod goodbye to his loyal patrons.  Check out the Yarn Barn!  This storefront later became the original Someday Café and is now part of our lobby.  Theatre Archives.";
photoCaption[23] ="The screen as seen from the balcony, 1980’s.  The original screen was incredibly large, opening UP as well as ACROSS for different aperture ratios.  We hope to bring this feature back with renovations in 2006.  Courtesy Davis Guss.";
photoCaption[24] ="House from stage, 1984.  The old seats downstairs were finally replaced in 1996.  The old vaudeville sign on the balcony has since disappeared. Courtesy David Guss.";
photoCaption[25] ="The 1914-1915 Somerville Theatre Players.  Courtesy Louise Skinner/Somerville Museum.";
photoCaption[26] ="The theater in 1941 – Abbott and Costello!  The little storefront to the right of the theater entrance is now the box office. Check out the railroad crossing arm on the left side of the photo.  Davis Square had passenger trains until the 20’s and freight trains until 1981 rumbling across the square.  It is hard for younger residents to imagine a 20-car freight train bringing the square to a standstill, but the memory is still fresh in many peoples minds.  Courtesy David Guss.";
photoCaption[27] ="The theater’s electric bills from 1940.  Gee, only $107.00?  Still a lot for the day. Between projectors, lights, and HVAC, theaters use a lot of juice.  Today’s electric bill is usually around $3,000 a month.  That explains the $2.00 Junior Mints, doesn’t it!";