The building at 716 Sumner Avenue in Springfield began as Cossaboom’s Service Station in the 1930’s. The gas pumps were located where the two storefronts are now. In 1950 the station was converted into the storefronts, lobby, restrooms, and office space which now comprise the front, single-story section of the building. The 900 seat auditorium was built on the back and the building known as the Bing Theater (named for popular star Bing Crosby) opened for business.
The Bing served several generations of area residents as their friendly neighborhood theater with first and second run movie presentations. In 1950 “Samson and Delilah” opened the Bing and the remake of “Psycho” in 1999 closed the first run of the venerable, neighborhood movie house. The City of Springfield took the building for non-payment of taxes in the theater’s fiftieth year of operation.
A request for arts related development proposals was put forward by the City. A developer was selected, but later withdrew upon full realization of the project’s scope and demands. In 2002 The “X” Main Street Corporation (XMSC) became the preferred developer and began fundraising activities and project planning. XMSC purchased the Bing from the City in December 2004 and began work in earnest. Funding has come from private citizens, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Springfield, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Hampden Bank Charitable Foundation, Banknorth, the Springfield Cultural Council, and a variety of generous, community-minded businesses and contractors.
