Jordan Theater

The Jordan Theater was built in the 1940s and was named after Greenville's first World War II casualty, James Jordan. The seating capacity was 900 and was one of the largest screens in PA at the time. Currently the Theater is for sale and the asking price is I believe $45,000. Loreno Real Estate of Greenville, Pennsylvania is the Real Estate Firm that is selling it. It has wonderful potential.

Just wondering if this theater is still in a condition to have its picture taken. I am considering a weekend road trip to see it, but don't want to get there and find a fence around it. If any locals can help out, I'd appreciate it.

I read an article about this theater. The article claims that the Jordan theater was built in 1945 by the Blatt brothers. The location given is Shenango St and North Mercer St with a zipcode of 16125. There is also a small photo of it here:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=11433

This is a link to a news story about the Jordan from 2002.

http://www.sharon-herald.com/localnews/recentnews/0208/ln080102a.html

Okay, I did some research on this theater. This property is now owned by the First Baptist Church. The Jordan was built in 1945 and had 1200 seats. Over the years, there have been plans to refurbish the theater, but they've fallen through. It is estimated that it would cost almost 5 million dollars to restore the Jordan. It is going to be demolished to make way for a parking lot for the church.

I called the church, and asked about furnishings, etc. Apparently, both of the projectors are too far gone (someone actually came and looked at them already). It seems as if there was a lot of water damage. The letters have been removed from the marquee, but the marquee is still up. I will be up there Saturday to take some pictures, I may be able to get inside. If I can, I'll see if there are any small things I can buy. The man to ask at the church is a fellow named Dale, but he was out when I called.

I show an opening date of 1945 with a closing date of 1987 and a seating capacity of 1,200. Since this theatre was a tribute to an American Soldier named James Jordan I would hope some sort of monument be built after the building is demolished.

I don't know about that, but the church did save the letters from the marquee. I'll suggest it if I talk to anyone up there.

Seth...If you do make a trip to this theater, maybe you can get an address for it and post it here.

The street address given in the Film Daily Yearbook 1950 is 5254 Shenengo St

Ken...If you add a hyphen to the address (52-54) that you gave, it maps right at the intersection of Shenengo St and North Mercer St so that you be the correct address.

Ok, Thanks lostmemory, guess we just found another mistake in the FDY!

Okay, use the above link and click on Mustard Seed and that should work. If not, I give up!

The purpose of the Mustard Seed link was to verify this theater's address. The Mustard Seed claims that it is "across from the old Jordan Theater". Well, the Mustard Seed is listed as 214 Main St and the Jordan theater is located on Shenango St which is two blocks north of Main St when you look at a map of the area. Either the Mustard Seed is a very large building that spans two blocks or their idea of "across from" is different than mine. Anyway, I did find another source for this theater's address and the numbers that KenRoe gave are correct. The address should be 52-54 Shenango St, Greenville, PA 16125.

I can verify the address for you lostmemory. The correct address is 52-54 Shenango Street as posted.

I took several pictures of this theater on Saturday afternoon. I did not go inside. After talking with one of the guys from the church, it didn't sound worth it. Almost everything had been ruined by water, etc. They did save as much as they could from the interior, and will be constructing a small memorial with glass blocks from the lobby and leftover bricks to honor Mr. Jordan and preserve a little history. I do have a shot taken through the front doors that shows the ruined lobby.

Does anyone have photos that can be emailed to me. I am a Greenville resident and would appreciate any that are available. I am intending on making a binder of any information I can find.
Thanks

Seth: So glad to read that the church "did save as much as they could from the interior" and that they "will be constructing a small memorial with glass blocks from the lobby and leftover bricks to honor Mr. Jordan and preserve a little history." I truly wish this theatre could have been saved, but it sounds like it was too far gone..."Almost everything had been ruined by water, etc." Also, glad that a photo site has been provided us.

Lost Memory: I just read the Sharon Herald newspaper article and find it so sad that a previous buyer, Mr. French had made an attempt to restore the theater then walked away from the project! In the article the Blatt Brothers are mentioned having owned a theatre in Mercer PA. I would like to know more about the Blatt Brothers as I think they also had some connection with my hometown movie theater, the Grand in Westfield NY.

Tom Scott: Yes, a monument should be erected in honor of the American soldier named James Jordan! Perhaps Seth or local, Paul H. could work with the First Baptist Church of Greenville on this monument/memorial project. In fact, I was in Greenville this summer as I wanted to see the local college and never knew about the theater so missed seeing it before it was demolished. I guess the 5 million dollar restoration figure was just too much to tackle! Ignorant neglect, over time, was the theater's demise. So very sad to see another 'former' theater go!

I just went onto read in The Herald 2002 article that the building was structurally "a good solid building" yet it has or will come down......just so sad!

When I visit Greenville this summer I fill try to find and speak with this "Dale" who is the contact person at the First Baptist Church. BTW, I will not like seeing a parking lot where the Jordan once stood even though it is or will be a church parking lot! Seth: I hope you were able to get inside the theater and get some interior shots. Let us know!

I took one shot through the door. The place was a wreck. I got several of the outside.

"The place was a wreck" pretty much sums it up, but that doesn't mean an effort shouldn't be made to erect a memorial for the soldier and to the theater that once stood upon that land in Greenville PA.

Since I don't seem to find where one can ask about a particular town and whether they had or have a theater could anyone visiting this site about the Jordan tell me whether the Town of Titusville PA had or has a theater?

Patsy,
The town of Titusville, PA had 3 theatres listed in 1941.

Grand, 624 seats (closed)
Orpheum, 122 W. Central Ave. 606 seats
Penn, 119 W. Spring St. 938 seats (newly opened)

None of these are currently listed on Cinema Treasures.

I did Titusville on the same road trip, and I didn't see anything that looked like a theater. They might all be gone.

Many of these PA towns had theaters with the same names so they must have been part of a chain(s). I do plan to visit my husband's hometown this summer and check out the former Columbia Theater.

Some really cool pictures of the Jordan can be seen here. http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/11433.html

JohnMessick: What a neat old theatre as seen in one of the b/w photos. Someone should restore this theatre with the help of community efforts.

It would be interesting to know who the architect of this art deco theatre was as the interior photos and the marquee are most definitely art deco in design. If anyone has additional information on this theatre, please post. Greenville is south of Erie PA. In an earlier post I see that the theatre was connected with the Blatt Brothers whose name was connected with many theatres in that part of the country. Correct: This theatre seems to have been demolished according to previous posts that include mine from a few years ago. Such a shame as the Jordan Theatre should have been saved, if that is the case.

Seth: On Nov 8, 2004 you posted that you have a photo(s) taken through the doors of the ruined lobby. Do you still have them to post or perhaps you can send them to Lost Memory as he posts many photos at my request. Thanks.

Patsy: The Jordan was demolished a while back. I check periodically on the Jordan page on Cinematour just to see if any pictures were added, and the black and whites were added. I bet that that was a cool looking place in its heyday. I wish Seth would post the photos that he took of the ruined lobby...SETH DID YOU HEAR THAT!!!..LOL.

JohnMessick: Such a shame that this theatre is gone! And I agree....I hope that Seth hears us though I'd rather read that the Jordan was restored rather than look at a ruined lobby which resulted in a demolished theatre! Greenville PA is a small community, but it was a big loss when the Jordan was taken from them.

Brothers Charles and John Blatt were still running the Jordan in 1963, according to the motion picture almanac of that year. The Blatts also operated the Mercer Square Theater in Greenville. I don't believe that theater is listed on CT as of yet.

I grew up in Greenville and worked as an usher at the Jordan from 1972 thru 78. I also spent many hours up on a ladder changing the letters on the marquee. This was the best job a kid in Greenville could have. Many of my friends worked there and we all hung out at the theater when we weren't working. Of course I fell in love with a candy girl and we are married to this day.
The Jordan had seen better days when we worked there but it was obvious that it was once a beautiful theater. It had many Streamline / Art Moderne architectural features including port hole windows in the doors and a multicolor lighted glass block wall along the rear of auditorium. Many of the interior and exterior surfaces were curved with rounded edges. A picture of Corporal Jordan who the theater was named after hung in the lobby.
The movie screen was curved and advertised as a “Giant Curved Screen”. Truth be told, the manager told me that it was ordered too large so they had to put a curve in to make it fit. I remember the projection booth had a couple of big old Simplex projectors with arc lamps. My friends and fellow employees spent a good bit of time in the booth when we weren’t working and the projectionist would let us do “change overs” from one projector to the other.
I'd love to see any pictures you have or to hear from any other former employees.

JBaker: Interesting post and nice to read that you married a candy girl and are still married to this day. Wish the Jordan had done as well as the community lost a unique art deco theatre. Have enjoyed seeing the posted photos of this theatre on Cinema Tour.

The photo of the interior glass block wall was very unique and so art deco.

Patsy... What county in Pa. is Greenville located in? Any idea? The reason I ask is. If one would write the historical society of that county, they may have photos of the Jordan. Maybe more then what are on CinemaTour. I tried this with the counties in my area of Pa. Also I wrote the the historical society of San luis Obispo in California for pictures on the Fremont..still waiting for those.

It is either Erie or Venango County. Greenville is south of Erie PA about an hour. The round circles in the front doors were so art deco, too. Such a shame that Greenville has now lost that theatre to the ages.

And I wonder what is on that piece of land now?

http://cinematreasures.org/news/12281_0_1_0_C/

Greenville is in Mercer county.
Here's a link to their Historical Society.
http://www.greenvillehistoricalsociety.org/

I just sent an email to the President of the Greenville Historical Society, Marie Julian. If you wish to read what I wrote, my email is wrlenzo@aol.com

The Jordan is featured with several b/w photos on Cinema Tour. The PA community of Greenville has forever lost their "gem". And this summer I plan to pay Greenville a visit to see just where this theatre once proudly stood.

From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:

GREENVILLE, PA-The Jordan Theater will offer no further films here on Sunday. Earlier, representatives of the Greenville Ministerial Association petitioned Blatt Brothers, operator of the theater, asking that Sunday shows be discontinued. The Jordan had been operating each Sunday in violation of the Sunday referendum. Manager Gilbert Cooke had paid a $50 fine each week for six weeks. The petition to theater owners was signed by nine local churches, and seven from surrounding areas.

Here is an item dated 11/9/04 from the Valley Independent:

Theater Named for Veteran to be Razed

GREENVILLE (AP) – A movie theater named for the first Greenville resident killed in World War II will be rubble by Veterans Day. Crews began preparing the Jordan Theater for demolition on Monday, and workers were to demolish the building today and Wednesday.

Opened in 1946, the theater was named for Cpl. James Jordan. Greenville's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3374 is also named for Jordan. The 1,200-seat theater has been vacant since the 1980s.

1982 photo of the Jordan Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c38%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=22&catpagesize=10&ProductID=32969
1984 photo of the Jordan Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c38%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=22&catpagesize=10&ProductID=32972
At one time this must have been a very attractive theatre from the looks of trhe photos.

ken mc:I've been told by a fellow CT member that the Blatt Brothers were out of Pittsburgh PA.

"Key features include double doors w/circle windows (3 circles on each door)...." My hometown theatre which was a Blatt Brothers theatre had this same original door description though they were replaced with more modern doors in the 60's before it was demolished in the 80's.

Patsy this was definately a Blatt Bros. theatre. Blatt Bros. was in neon on the marquee.

Chuck: Thanks.

A photo of a model of the Jordan Theatre was published in Boxoffice, January 5, 1946. The new theater was "...to be dedicated this month" the caption said. The architect of the Jordan was the prolific Victor A. Rigaumont.

Joe: The Jordan model photo was fascinating to see! It's just a shame the community doesn't still have this lovely art moderne theatre.

THat 1982 picture with"SIX PACK" playing brought back memories,that is the only movie that we sold standing room only.thank goodness the Fire Dept, wasn't around. I mean people paid 3.50 a seat to see Kenny Rogers and a bunch of kids.AND STOOD UP.

Mike, you were the manager at the Jordan back in 1982?

No,no i just saw the movie mentioned and I remember us playing at a General Cinema that i was the assistant manager at. A lot of these movie titles you forget and then you see them pop up on CT.