Joe, the Park Theater was indeed located on South Champion Street and was for a time owned by George M Cohan.
It had a versital schedule of shows ranging from plays to vaudeville, ballet, grand opera, burlisque and films.
My webshots site has an album devoted to the theater with not only pictires of the theater but a group of ads.
The Park did have an East Federal Street entrance early on with the box office located inside the building until the East Federal entrance was closed.
This Park Theater is not to be confused with the “New Park Theater” that was located on West Federal and Belmont Avenue. The “New Park Theater” was built and run by a group of local mobsters, and had a sorted history until it was burned down by a disgruntled performer.
The original Park Theater was nationally known in theater circles and many major performers appeared there.
In the early 1950’s its location proved to be a disadvantage and when attenance started to decline its new owners turned it into a burlisque house under the management of Al Baker.
The Palace Theater replaced it as Youngstown’s major house. Its story is plsted elsewhere here at Cinema Treasures. It was both a live and movie theater.
When it finally closed its doors an auction was held that drew theater buffs from all over the country to buy literally tons of theater materials including posters, contracts from its early years, photographs and other theater materials
Sorry that its taken so long to respond but I’ve been busy building my Webshots site on the history of Youngstown, and killing The Farrell Report and reconstructing it as Reporters Notebook.
The instrument, which was built and installed by the E.M. Skinner Co. in 1926, the year the auditorium opened.
The Stambaugh pipe organ has close to 4,000 pipes, which range from pencil-sized to 30 inches in diameter and 30 feet long. The pipes are arranged in wooden enclosures on either side of the stage. A giant blower in the basement â€" which is being refurbished by Lemsco Inc. of Toledo â€" sends air into the pipes. A system of vents and stops that are operated by a keyboard create the tones.
The original 1926 keyboard, which looks like a large wooden organ, will be renovated and placed at center stage, at orchestra pit level, when the job is complete.
Speaking of theater organs, the Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown is in the process of having its pipe organ completely restored a two year process. According to a Vindicator article, it took 5 trucks just to transport the pipes.
The organ was water damaged, and when it was last used it was played at 25 percent of its capacity.
When it is returned the organ will be placed at center stage in the orchestra pit.
The historic preservationists got that one concesson.
If they do a good job on restoring it, the wall would look nice, but as an entrance to a parking lot?
In a newspaper article yesterday it was reported that because the main part of the building is right next to another theater that is operating as a community theater, they will slow down demolition so tha they don’t damage it.
The Oakland Performing Arts theater should be able to benefit by a parking lot next to the theater.
I will be putting up a photo of the Oakland on my webshots site in the next few days.
As a child born in Clearfield, I have fond memories of the Lyric, Ritz and the Roxy theaters there.
My mother did her last radio broadcast from the stage of the Lyric. She was slated to have Roy Rogers and Dale Evens appear with her, but the death of their daughter prevented them from coming but they were kind enough to send momentos to be given to the audience.
None of these theaters were large by big city standards, but were charming in a really nice way.
As children, we see things differently than we do as adults. I know that the first time I visited downtown Youngstown, I couldn’t get over the excitement, and the first time Mother took me to a show at the Palace, it was a thrill. We had three theaters in my hometown, but none of them compared to the Palace.
I did go to see one movie at the Strand, and it was one on the most unimpressive experiences in my theater going. The only good thing I can say about it was that the popcorn was reasonably good.
As to the other downtown theaters (State, Paramount and Warner) that was a very different matter. It’s a shame that the Paramount and State are nothing more than fond memories, but thankfully we still have the Warner (Powers Auditorium/DeYor Performing Arts Center) and thankfully Powers still possesses all the furnishings that the Warner Brothers put there.
Aside from a few cosmetic changes in the Auditorium, everything else is original.
Your comment on the Strand was real understatement. It was plain ugly, and that’s being nice. The poor projectionist had to climb up a ladder to get to the booth which was just large enough to hold the projectors and little more.
By the way, I do have photos of both the Palace and Warner (DeYor) on the above link if you haven’t already seen them.
The Strand Theater was located on the Southeast corner of the Square while the Palace Theater was located on the Northeast corner of the Square.
The Paramount was located at the Northeast corner of West Federal and Hazel.
The State Theater was located across the street from the Paramount four doors up from the corner of Hazel and West Federal.
The Warner Theater (Now DeYor Performing Arts Center) is located on the corner of West Federal and Chestnut Street.
The Strand did specialize in cowboy pictures,and when compared to the much larger houses was shabby. In it’s last days it featured live burlisque and art films. The last stripper to play the Strand was Virginia Bell.
Hope that this clears things up for you.
In their days both the Paramount and State Theater were runners up to the Palace and Warner, but it was the State that presented the spectacular films in Tod-A-O format.
The Palace on the other hand besides showing first run films also had live stage shows featuring big bands and Broadway plays.
During it’s years as the Warner, this theater featured first run films only even though it was equipped for stage shows. Today it is home to the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, and has expanded greatly to include a recital hall and a high class restaurant known as The Overature.
I don’t know who is handling the Uptown now, but would suggest that you contact one of the commerical real estate companies in Youngstown and work with them. They have better contacts than I would have.
By the way, the Uptown has a balcony as well as the main floor, but as to seating, I could find no information, but it is the largest neighborhood theater in Youngstown, and is located on Market Street close to Boardman.
I know when Easy Street Productions was using it, they drew large crowds.
As I said this would be a perfect venue for shows that would cater to the young adults who are hungry for such a theater. This is a university town and most of the venues that catered to them are small as compared to a full fledge theater.
When there were plans to restore the Paramount one of the plans was for such a venue, but the costs of this project were so high as to make it impossable because they would have to completely gut the building and build a whole new theater.
As to the State Theater, it is slated for demolition, but as with the Paramount, it is in very bad shape, and like the Paramount would cost huge sums of money.
The main floor of the auditorium was leveled to accomidate tables and turned into a nite club in the 1980’s.
In viewing photos, the plaster is in an advance state of deterioration, the roof like the Paramount is shot and would need to be completely replaced even if there was any hope of saving it, and the plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electric is also beyond all hope. That is why the city is going to tear it down.
Saddly so many people are blind to the fact that Youngstown is not the Youngstown of the 40’s and 50’s when we had 6 downtown theaters, two of which were both movie and live satge shows booking in big name entertainers.
As a city we are making a slow and painful comeback, but there is simply not the money that would be required to do anything more than tear down the Paramount.
The Uptown Theater that I mentioned is in decent condition … it has all the facilities that live shows need and so far as I know has not been savaged. It is available, and would be a perfect venue to have live shows catering to young adults.
I didn’t mean to come off so grumpy in the above post, but given all the posts on this subject, you’d think that by now folks would realize that there is no hope for the Paramount. Goodness, there is even a link to some photos of the interior to prove the point.
Yougstown is rich in vinues for the performing arts, but we are not rich in cash, and what cash we have for the arts goes to those venues that I already listed along with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.
Several art gallerys have sprung up to compliment the Butler Institute of America Art, itself a national treasure.
As for the theater, we have at least three amateur groups and a semi-pro troop, all of which already have their own theater.
If you were really interested in helping the performing arts here in Youngstown, there is another theater that you should consider … the Uptown Theatre. It is equipped for live performances, it’s on a main street and it is available. At one time it was home to Easy Street Productions, a local semi-pro theater group.
I didn’t mean to come off so grumpy in the above post, but given all the posts on this subject, you’d think that by now folks would realize that there is no hope for the Paramount. Goodness, there is even a link to some photos of the interior to prove the point.
Yougstown is rich in vinues for the performing arts, but we are not rich in cash, and what cash we have for the arts goes to those venues that I already listed along with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.
Several art gallerys have sprung up to compliment the Butler Institute of America Art, itself a national treasure.
As for the theater, we have at least three amateur groups and a semi-pro troop, all of which already have their own theater.
If you were really interested in helping the performing arts here in Youngstown, there is another theater that you should consider … the Uptown Theatre. It is equipped for live performances, it’s on a main street and it is available. At one time it was home to Easy Street Productions, a local semi-pro theater group.
I don’t know how many times you folks need to be told over and over again that the Paramount is beyond repair. Let me repeat it. The Paramount in Youngstown is beyond repair. As it stands right now, it is both a health and safety hazard. Pieces of the building are faling off the building presenting a safety hazard.
If you and your friends want to waste your time and ours trying to do what no one else that has tried, but do not expect to get either co-opertion or funding, because you simply will not get it. And by the way have no illusions, the Paramount never was one of Youngstown’s great theaters as was the Palace Theater and the Warner which now is Powers Auditorium and DeYor Center for the Performing Arts. Nor is it anywhere near the shere beauty of Stambaugh Auditorium. It always was a third rate theater at best.
As to any idea of turning it into a “performing arts” venue. This theater never was equipped for live shows, hence there is no where for dressing rooms, a Green Room or any other of the features that a live venue require.
There are though several theaters here that could use, and would welcome your support … Yougstown Playhouse … Victorian Theatre … Oakland Center for the Performing Arts to name just three.
The Palace Theater organ came back to Youngstown and is in private hands.
Joe, the Park Theater was indeed located on South Champion Street and was for a time owned by George M Cohan.
It had a versital schedule of shows ranging from plays to vaudeville, ballet, grand opera, burlisque and films.
My webshots site has an album devoted to the theater with not only pictires of the theater but a group of ads.
The Park did have an East Federal Street entrance early on with the box office located inside the building until the East Federal entrance was closed.
This Park Theater is not to be confused with the “New Park Theater” that was located on West Federal and Belmont Avenue. The “New Park Theater” was built and run by a group of local mobsters, and had a sorted history until it was burned down by a disgruntled performer.
The original Park Theater was nationally known in theater circles and many major performers appeared there.
In the early 1950’s its location proved to be a disadvantage and when attenance started to decline its new owners turned it into a burlisque house under the management of Al Baker.
The Palace Theater replaced it as Youngstown’s major house. Its story is plsted elsewhere here at Cinema Treasures. It was both a live and movie theater.
When it finally closed its doors an auction was held that drew theater buffs from all over the country to buy literally tons of theater materials including posters, contracts from its early years, photographs and other theater materials
For those who haven’t visited my Webshots site here is the link.
http://community.webshots.com/user/ladynews500
All of the theater pictures I have in my library are there along with other historic pictures … over 1000+.
It’s my pleasure.
To all. Feel free to download any of the pictures at your leasure.
This is a work in progress and more pictures will be added as I accumulate more.
Sorry that its taken so long to respond but I’ve been busy building my Webshots site on the history of Youngstown, and killing The Farrell Report and reconstructing it as Reporters Notebook.
You can reach me at
Latest news about the Fox as of 5/7/2009
Fox Theatre lost $1.4 million in 2 years
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/291873
More info on the organ:
The instrument, which was built and installed by the E.M. Skinner Co. in 1926, the year the auditorium opened.
The Stambaugh pipe organ has close to 4,000 pipes, which range from pencil-sized to 30 inches in diameter and 30 feet long. The pipes are arranged in wooden enclosures on either side of the stage. A giant blower in the basement â€" which is being refurbished by Lemsco Inc. of Toledo â€" sends air into the pipes. A system of vents and stops that are operated by a keyboard create the tones.
The original 1926 keyboard, which looks like a large wooden organ, will be renovated and placed at center stage, at orchestra pit level, when the job is complete.
This link should show Stambaugh Auditorium’s stage. The pipe organ can be seen at stage left at the main floor level.
http://www.stambaughauditorium.com/auditorium.html
Speaking of theater organs, the Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown is in the process of having its pipe organ completely restored a two year process. According to a Vindicator article, it took 5 trucks just to transport the pipes.
The organ was water damaged, and when it was last used it was played at 25 percent of its capacity.
When it is returned the organ will be placed at center stage in the orchestra pit.
Powers Auditorium goes hi-tech
Arts & science intersect
View link
Besides pictures of the Palace Theater I have pictures of 16 other Youngstown theaters out of the past on my Webshots web site
http://community.webshots.com/user/ladynews500
At its peak, Youngstown had 12 downtown theaters divided almost equally between east and west ends of downtown Youngstown.
Well the end is just days away, and for all of those who enjoyed this theater, it will be just fond memories.
I have posted the death photos of the State on my webshots site along with a photo of the State shortly after it first opened its doors.
http://community.webshots.com/user/ladynews500
The historic preservationists got that one concesson.
If they do a good job on restoring it, the wall would look nice, but as an entrance to a parking lot?
In a newspaper article yesterday it was reported that because the main part of the building is right next to another theater that is operating as a community theater, they will slow down demolition so tha they don’t damage it.
The Oakland Performing Arts theater should be able to benefit by a parking lot next to the theater.
I will be putting up a photo of the Oakland on my webshots site in the next few days.
Add the State Theater to the list of demolished theaters. The wrecking ball is doing its job, and all that will be left will be the front wall.
The demolition started this week.
As a child born in Clearfield, I have fond memories of the Lyric, Ritz and the Roxy theaters there.
My mother did her last radio broadcast from the stage of the Lyric. She was slated to have Roy Rogers and Dale Evens appear with her, but the death of their daughter prevented them from coming but they were kind enough to send momentos to be given to the audience.
None of these theaters were large by big city standards, but were charming in a really nice way.
As children, we see things differently than we do as adults. I know that the first time I visited downtown Youngstown, I couldn’t get over the excitement, and the first time Mother took me to a show at the Palace, it was a thrill. We had three theaters in my hometown, but none of them compared to the Palace.
I did go to see one movie at the Strand, and it was one on the most unimpressive experiences in my theater going. The only good thing I can say about it was that the popcorn was reasonably good.
As to the other downtown theaters (State, Paramount and Warner) that was a very different matter. It’s a shame that the Paramount and State are nothing more than fond memories, but thankfully we still have the Warner (Powers Auditorium/DeYor Performing Arts Center) and thankfully Powers still possesses all the furnishings that the Warner Brothers put there.
Aside from a few cosmetic changes in the Auditorium, everything else is original.
Jack:
If you ever get the oportunity, take in a concert at Powers (DeYor), it will bring back some of the magic you spoke of in an earlier post.
We here in Youngstown are so proud of that theater.
Ed:
Here is a link to a photo of the Strand which you will find in “My Shoebox” folder.
http://community.webshots.com/user/ladynews500
Jack:
Your comment on the Strand was real understatement. It was plain ugly, and that’s being nice. The poor projectionist had to climb up a ladder to get to the booth which was just large enough to hold the projectors and little more.
By the way, I do have photos of both the Palace and Warner (DeYor) on the above link if you haven’t already seen them.
The Strand Theater was located on the Southeast corner of the Square while the Palace Theater was located on the Northeast corner of the Square.
The Paramount was located at the Northeast corner of West Federal and Hazel.
The State Theater was located across the street from the Paramount four doors up from the corner of Hazel and West Federal.
The Warner Theater (Now DeYor Performing Arts Center) is located on the corner of West Federal and Chestnut Street.
The Strand did specialize in cowboy pictures,and when compared to the much larger houses was shabby. In it’s last days it featured live burlisque and art films. The last stripper to play the Strand was Virginia Bell.
Hope that this clears things up for you.
In their days both the Paramount and State Theater were runners up to the Palace and Warner, but it was the State that presented the spectacular films in Tod-A-O format.
The Palace on the other hand besides showing first run films also had live stage shows featuring big bands and Broadway plays.
During it’s years as the Warner, this theater featured first run films only even though it was equipped for stage shows. Today it is home to the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, and has expanded greatly to include a recital hall and a high class restaurant known as The Overature.
Six new pictures updating Powers Auditorium have been added to my webshots site.
http://community.webshots.com/user/ladynews500
The new addition has a smaller auditorium and an upscale dining room.
As you will see from some of the new additions the total complex was renamed, but the main auditorium still retains the Powers name.
The smaller auditorium is used for smaller shows and recitals.
I don’t know who is handling the Uptown now, but would suggest that you contact one of the commerical real estate companies in Youngstown and work with them. They have better contacts than I would have.
By the way, the Uptown has a balcony as well as the main floor, but as to seating, I could find no information, but it is the largest neighborhood theater in Youngstown, and is located on Market Street close to Boardman.
I know when Easy Street Productions was using it, they drew large crowds.
As I said this would be a perfect venue for shows that would cater to the young adults who are hungry for such a theater. This is a university town and most of the venues that catered to them are small as compared to a full fledge theater.
When there were plans to restore the Paramount one of the plans was for such a venue, but the costs of this project were so high as to make it impossable because they would have to completely gut the building and build a whole new theater.
As to the State Theater, it is slated for demolition, but as with the Paramount, it is in very bad shape, and like the Paramount would cost huge sums of money.
The main floor of the auditorium was leveled to accomidate tables and turned into a nite club in the 1980’s.
In viewing photos, the plaster is in an advance state of deterioration, the roof like the Paramount is shot and would need to be completely replaced even if there was any hope of saving it, and the plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electric is also beyond all hope. That is why the city is going to tear it down.
Saddly so many people are blind to the fact that Youngstown is not the Youngstown of the 40’s and 50’s when we had 6 downtown theaters, two of which were both movie and live satge shows booking in big name entertainers.
As a city we are making a slow and painful comeback, but there is simply not the money that would be required to do anything more than tear down the Paramount.
The Uptown Theater that I mentioned is in decent condition … it has all the facilities that live shows need and so far as I know has not been savaged. It is available, and would be a perfect venue to have live shows catering to young adults.
I didn’t mean to come off so grumpy in the above post, but given all the posts on this subject, you’d think that by now folks would realize that there is no hope for the Paramount. Goodness, there is even a link to some photos of the interior to prove the point.
Yougstown is rich in vinues for the performing arts, but we are not rich in cash, and what cash we have for the arts goes to those venues that I already listed along with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.
Several art gallerys have sprung up to compliment the Butler Institute of America Art, itself a national treasure.
As for the theater, we have at least three amateur groups and a semi-pro troop, all of which already have their own theater.
If you were really interested in helping the performing arts here in Youngstown, there is another theater that you should consider … the Uptown Theatre. It is equipped for live performances, it’s on a main street and it is available. At one time it was home to Easy Street Productions, a local semi-pro theater group.
I didn’t mean to come off so grumpy in the above post, but given all the posts on this subject, you’d think that by now folks would realize that there is no hope for the Paramount. Goodness, there is even a link to some photos of the interior to prove the point.
Yougstown is rich in vinues for the performing arts, but we are not rich in cash, and what cash we have for the arts goes to those venues that I already listed along with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.
Several art gallerys have sprung up to compliment the Butler Institute of America Art, itself a national treasure.
As for the theater, we have at least three amateur groups and a semi-pro troop, all of which already have their own theater.
If you were really interested in helping the performing arts here in Youngstown, there is another theater that you should consider … the Uptown Theatre. It is equipped for live performances, it’s on a main street and it is available. At one time it was home to Easy Street Productions, a local semi-pro theater group.
I don’t know how many times you folks need to be told over and over again that the Paramount is beyond repair. Let me repeat it. The Paramount in Youngstown is beyond repair. As it stands right now, it is both a health and safety hazard. Pieces of the building are faling off the building presenting a safety hazard.
If you and your friends want to waste your time and ours trying to do what no one else that has tried, but do not expect to get either co-opertion or funding, because you simply will not get it. And by the way have no illusions, the Paramount never was one of Youngstown’s great theaters as was the Palace Theater and the Warner which now is Powers Auditorium and DeYor Center for the Performing Arts. Nor is it anywhere near the shere beauty of Stambaugh Auditorium. It always was a third rate theater at best.
As to any idea of turning it into a “performing arts” venue. This theater never was equipped for live shows, hence there is no where for dressing rooms, a Green Room or any other of the features that a live venue require.
There are though several theaters here that could use, and would welcome your support … Yougstown Playhouse … Victorian Theatre … Oakland Center for the Performing Arts to name just three.