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Tag Archive for: Mat Rapacz

Advertisement for Barnum's Circus -August 22, 1822

Jumbo entertains Little Falls

in Writing Series/by Mat Rapacz

On Tuesday, Aug. 22, 1882, Little Falls played host to a 12-foot tall, 6½ ton entertainer, whose reach extended 26 feet from the ground.

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https://mohawkvalleymuseums.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_6101.jpeg 978 1200 Mat Rapacz https://mohawkvalleymuseums.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MVM-logo-2.png Mat Rapacz2025-08-22 07:00:002025-08-22 08:47:55Jumbo entertains Little Falls
Rialto was Little Falls’ movie palace by Mat Rapacz

Rialto memories

in Writing Series/by Mat Rapacz

When preparing to write this article, I asked readers for their memories of the Rialto and received the following replies.

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Rialto was Little Falls’ movie palace by Mat Rapacz

Rialto was Little Falls’ movie palace

in Writing Series/by Mat Rapacz

The Gateway Theatre in Little Falls, later to be renamed Rialto, first opened its doors to the public on October 22, 1923.

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https://mohawkvalleymuseums.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_6641.jpeg 857 1200 Mat Rapacz https://mohawkvalleymuseums.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MVM-logo-2.png Mat Rapacz2025-02-06 07:55:422025-06-11 16:40:07Rialto was Little Falls’ movie palace
Noted actress Laura Keene, and John L. Sullivan, the heavyweight boxing champion.

Keene, Sullivan, among those who played Little Falls

in Writing Series/by Mat Rapacz

Two of the famous people who performed in plays in Little Falls were the noted actress Laura Keene, and John L. Sullivan, the heavyweight boxing champion.

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https://mohawkvalleymuseums.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6484.jpeg 800 1280 Mat Rapacz https://mohawkvalleymuseums.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MVM-logo-2.png Mat Rapacz2025-01-16 10:07:312025-06-11 16:40:07Keene, Sullivan, among those who played Little Falls
Dr. D. Willard Bliss summons Alexander Bell to use his induction-balance device to locate the assassin's bullet, which is something of a metal detector device; unbeknownst to them all, is that Garfield's mattress was lying on top of metal springs, which were uncommon at that time. After 80 days of suffering, he died from infection from the gunshot wound. The D. in the Dr. Bliss' name stands for Doctor, given as his first name at birth.Dr. D. Willard Bliss summons Alexander Bell to use his induction-balance device to locate the assassin's bullet, which is something of a metal detector device; unbeknownst to them all, is that Garfield's mattress was lying on top of metal springs, which were uncommon at that time. After 80 days of suffering, he died from infection from the gunshot wound. The D. in the Dr. Bliss' name stands for Doctor, given as his first name at birth.

Garfield’s whistle stop – 1880 by Mat Rapacz

in Writing Series/by Mat Rapacz

In the presidential election of 1880, — General James A. Garfield, Republican nominee for president, brought his campaign to Little Falls on August 4 with a “whistle stop” on the New York Central.

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https://mohawkvalleymuseums.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Jeff-1-garfield_doctors.jpeg 902 1240 Mat Rapacz https://mohawkvalleymuseums.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MVM-logo-2.png Mat Rapacz2024-11-19 07:04:072025-06-11 16:40:06Garfield’s whistle stop – 1880 by Mat Rapacz
First Trolley at Little Falls #24First Trolley at Little Falls #24

Inter-urban trolley lasted 30 years by Mat Rapacz

in Writing Series/by Mat Rapacz

The electric trolley started in Little Falls in 1903 with great fanfare, a convenient and, for awhile at least, popular way to travel between Little Falls and points west and south.

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https://mohawkvalleymuseums.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_6186.jpeg 573 1200 Mat Rapacz https://mohawkvalleymuseums.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MVM-logo-2.png Mat Rapacz2024-11-06 07:50:002025-06-11 16:40:07Inter-urban trolley lasted 30 years by Mat Rapacz
Earl Roberts - First Car Manufactured At Little FallsEarl Roberts - First Car Manufactured At Little Falls

Cars still a relative novelty at time of ‘Sociability’ run

in Writing Series/by Mat Rapacz

Automobiles were still a relative novelty in Little Falls in 1909 when the Smith brothers, proprietors of the Richmond Hotel (later called Hotel Snyder) concocted the idea of a “Sociability” automobile run from the city to Cooperstown and back.

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Boy's Basketball Team 1901Boy's Basketball Team 1901. Photo courtesy of the Little Falls Historical Society

Little Falls was basketball pioneer

in Writing Series/by Mat Rapacz

When basketball was new, Little Falls (along with Herkimer) was one of its pioneering communities and had some of its better teams.

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