Glove Theatre
Situated between City Hall and the Kasson Block Building, the area where the Glove Theatre now sits, known to locals as the 'historic Hosmer property,' was purchased in the summer of 1913 by Dr. Henry Cady, a well-known veterinary surgeon, and George Dartch, a local businessman, who at one time, operated the Hotel Lincoln at 52 North Main Street.
In addition to live entertainment, it served as a home for community events such as Gloversville High School graduations, dance competitions, fashion exhibits,[9][10] speaking engagements,[11] and at times, a venue for the Fulton County Board of Supervisors.
The October 17, 1917, Morning Herald article states: “With every seat in the Glove theatre occupied, the gallery completely jammed and people in the rear of the house standing patiently four rows deep for almost two hours, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, national and international executive head of the Woman Suffrage movement, last night presented the arguments in substantiation of the cause of which she is executive leader in language which depended for its eloquence entirely upon its appeal to logic and reason, rather than dramatic oratory or stirring phrases.”[13] Society reporting in local papers frequently cited the Glove Theatre.
In 1927, the society section noted that "bathing beauties" of New York and "Miss Ohio" landed in Fonda enroute to the Glove Theatre to exhibit being escorted by Herman, the Chrysler garage man in a string of fancy coupes.
Other special guests included Dr. A. L. Johnson, the former city health director and first patron to purchase a ticket when Schine Enterprise took ownership in the 1920s; George Dartch, former owner of the Glove Theatre; and Mrs. J.
[23] Several weeks later, Gloversville was the first of 5 municipalities to be selected to host the location premiere[24] of Drums Along the Mohawk starring Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert by 20th Century-Fox on Thursday, November 2, 1939;[25] citing the geographic location of Fort Johnson, New York and Sacandaga[26] which several years earlier was transformed into a reservoir.
Prior to the screening, a street parade took place which included several Native American Tribes, The Liberty Boys, and descendants of Douw Fonda.
The September 2, 1966 edition of the Leader-Herald stated that J. Myer Schine, “said he would not sell the Glove Theater because of its sentimental value.” The agreement lasted for several years.
Local performer and baker Leta Aldous made a cake recreating the exterior of the Glove Theatre.
[20] In the late 1990s, Roberta Esposito was hired as Artistic Executive Director to help the community members work on plans to renovate the theatre and bring entertainment to downtown Gloversville.
In the spring of 1998, the venue produced Follies, the first stage production in several decades, drawing in dozens of community members from Fulton County and the surrounding area.
While the original Board of Directors vision was that of a venue for all genres of entertainment as well as an outlet for community events, the focus shifted to that of a producing theatre house.
In addition to movies, the Glove has presented, produced kids musicals; vaudeville shows; theatrical productions (both producing and presenting); dance parties; educational seminars; family-friendly events; a summer theatre academy; and concerts, attracting local, regional, and national groups, pivoting back to the 1995 goals and vision of the venue laid out by the original Board of Directors.
On June 3, 2023, an unveiling of a New York State Historic Markers through the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, was placed in the front of the theatre with speeches from NYS Assemblymember Robert Smullen, NYS Senator Mark Walczyk, Fulton County Historian and Executive Director of the Fulton County Historical Society Samantha Hall-Saladino, Glove Theatre Vice President Alex Miller, and Fulton County Vice Chairman of the Board of Supervisors John Blackmon.
