Barrington’s historic Catlow Theater, with roots that reach back to the dawn of the talkies, could find new life under new ownership.
Tim O’Connor, who owned the Catlow for 41 years, said Thursday that he sold the iconic venue to Barrington store owner Brian Long, a Barrington resident and owner of Long & Co. Jewelers on Main Street.
“I had asked him if he would be interested in becoming an investor to help me pay back taxes, because we haven’t been doing any business the last two years,” O’Connor said. “He said, ‘Better than that. I’d like to buy it.'”
Long, who was unavailable for comment, has been a big supporter of the theater, O’Connor said. He said the future of the theater could involve movies or music.
“My main concern with selling the theater was that somebody would keep it as the Catlow,” he said. “We had planned on maybe putting live music in there and maybe showing movies at the same time. He seems to be on board with it. This is going to keep going for generations.”
The theater first opened under the ownership of Wright Catlow on May 28, 1927, in the waning days of silent films and the dawn of the sound era. The theater originally had both movies and vaudeville.
Read more here.
Related: “Daily Herald opines, ‘Barrington’s Catlow Theater a suburban treasure well worth preserving’” “Owner of Catlow Theater in Barrington looking to sell historic venue”
Leave a Reply