The small, yet enjoyable, park brought both amusement features and theatrical features to the towns nearby.
Lakewood Theatre continues to operate, though no longer with amusement park attractions. In 1967, the Maine State Legislature passed, a resolution designating Lakewood as the Official Theater for the State of Maine, an honor few states have bestowed upon a theater, and one Lakewood Theatre holds to this day.
Later Herbert Lindsey Swett became manager of Lakewood Theater. It is because of him that Lakewood is what it is today. The major changes in Lakewood began to appear around 1898, shortly after Mr. Swett became head of management.
Lakewood became very important in the years between 1925 and in 1941. Lakewood soon after earned the nick name of "Broadway In Maine" A Madison Spiritualist group was one of the first groups to construct on this site.They began building around the year 1882. The hall was bought by William Hayden who put new floors in it. He was originally going to use the hall as a skating rink.
The biggest changes, however, took place in 1898, when a theater addition was added. The Palladium Windows were rebuilt in the Trolley Room, and they now feature a lovely view of the Lake.
Many of the unique features of the past have been retained in the three dining areas of the building. The wood wainscoting are original as are the fireplaces.
Lakewood is truly a unique treasure that we should always value for its entertainment and its general greatness. Without Lakewood Theater, Skowhegan and Madison, Maine, might be just ordinary towns, but I believe that it is Lakewood that sets us apart.
The evolution of Lakewood from an Indian campsite to a country picnic ground, an amusement park, summer theater and to the official theatre of the State of Maine provides a unique chapter in the history of American Theater.
It was Herbert Lindsay Swett, a Bangor native, who forged the modern theater from tumbledown hotel, a modest restaurant, a bandstand, children's playground, and bowling alley. The present theater, which has been extensively renovated in the past 15 years, is the third remodeling of the original structure. A list of the famous actors and actresses who performed at Lakewood in its first 80 years would fill several of these brochures. Lakewood became would famous as a playhouse capable of mounting the most entertaining and ambitious stage productions. In the past 16 years, Curtain Up Enterprises has blended the enthusiasm of local actors with the skill of professional theater directors and technicians to maintain the highest quality theater presentations.
"Life With Father" which tried out at Lakewood and went on to Broadway for 3,224 performances, is a longevity record that stood for many years.
In 1967, the Maine State Legislature passed, a resolve designating Lakewood as the Official Theater for the State of Maine, an honor few states have bestowed upon a theater.
The Sweet family sold the Lakewood complex in the 1970's to Hollywood star, Eddie Bracken, who was succeeded by owners, Joseph and Katie Denis of Madison and Lance Crocker of New Hampshire. A citizen group, The Friends of Lakewood, purchased the theater property in 1980 and operated until 1983. Paul DeGoss of Durham, New Hampshire became the owner in 1984.
In 1985, the latest Lakewood miracle started to happen. Through the most casual of conversations, the Cornville Players, a community theater group, found themselves the performing company at the famous theater. After the successful run of "The Odd Couple", "The Rainmaker" and "How The Other Half Loves", the Lakewood hook was firmly planted in the Cornville Players. Jeffrey Quinn, Bruce Hertz and the late Marti Stevens, formed a non-profit corporation known as Curtain Up Enterprises and purchased the theater in 1990.
In the year 2000, 17 years and more than 80 plays later, Lakewood Theater is back on a solid physical foundation and a firm financial base. The Lakewood Inn Restaurant reopened after seven years of darkness. The Lakewood Theater Young Performers Camp was filled to capacity. And the future? Not only will upcoming years at Lakewood be exciting and entertaining, but we promise a rekindling of the magic that only can happen in such a romantic and gorgeous place.
