Caption on reverse reads: This building on Newtown Lane, now known as the "East End Hardware Store," has a very interesting history. As shown here it is owned by Asa O. Jones, a former East Hampton builder, whose carpenter shop stood on a portion of the present village parking lot on the north side of Newtown lane. The basement of this building was used as a plumbing shop, operated by Mr. Fred Ross. About 1915, the second story was converted to "Majestic Theatre," East Hampton's first regular movie house. The opening at the left, where the bicycle stands against the tree, was an alley-way for the use of wagons. The adjoining doorway was used as an access to both the basement plumbing shop and the second story theatre, and since each one required an entrance from the street, some way had to be found to accommodate both. Mr. Jones, being an excellent builder, devised a very ingenious solution. During the day when the theatre was not in use, one opened the door and descended directly down a flight of stairs to the basement. In the evening, when the theatre was opened, an overhead stairway mounted on hinges was lowered with a rope and pulled directly over the basement stairs and theatre patrons ascended directly from the street. In later years, when it was no longer used as a theatre, the name was changed to "Majestic Hall." Through the 1920's it was a very popular dance hall, and also used as a gathering place for many village affairs. Copy by C. Frank Dayton.
