Coudersport Theatre

The Coudersport Theatre was acquired (and saved) in the early 1970's by John Rigas. According to local legend, Rigas supposedly lived in the theatre when he was trying to make a go of it. At about this time Rigas became one of the first CATV operators in the country as he intoduced cable to his tiny community. The CATV franchise eventually mushroomed into Adelphia Communications. Adelpha for a time had its headquaters for a time adjacent to the Coudersport Theatre.

Coudersport Theatre
Feature films Friday-Monday 7:30 p.m. Call for special presentations
11 N Main Street, Coudersport, PA
814-274-8580

I first saw this theatre's exterior a few years ago and again drove by it in April, 2004. I got all excited that I'd finally see the inside of the theatre because according to the marquee a Sunday matinee was playing. No such luck, either the matinee had just finished or no one showed up and the matinee was cancelled. I can, however, state that the exterior looks exactly like the picture. If the inside is as nice as the outside, it will definitely be worth another try to see the inside.

"Small town treasure" it certainly is and the folks of Coudersport PA can be very proud of themselves. The front doors are very unusual with their half circle windows. And I sure wish more small town communities could boast about their theatres, too.

Here is a photo:
http://coudersportpa.com/coudy/PHOTO/Coudersport_Theater.jpg

ken: What a lovely photo of a quaint theatre in a PA town that refers to their theatre as a small town treasure. Very nice.

It is wonderful to know there still are small independent theatres such as the Courdersport surviving in small American towns. I wish the theatre countless years of success.

While it is good to hear that a small country movie house has been well maintained and preserved, I think this story needs to be put in context. The Rigas family was brought down by one of the largest corporate scandals in U.S. history; John Rigas and at least one of his sons are facing lengthy prison terms, essentially for treating Adelphia Communications, the cable company that John Rigas founded, as their personal piggy bank.

Coudersport was the beneficiary of considerable largesse from the Rigases over the years, and the source of much of that generosity was derived from funds that were illegally diverted by the Rigases from Adelphia. I wouldn't be surprised if this theatre was kept afloat and preserved, at least in part, due to illegally diverted funds.

The Bradford Era 2005:

"The Coudersport Theater opened its doors on Jan. 16, 1923, with a showing of "A Wise Fool," a silent movie that required a piano accompanist. Vaudeville acts started performing there in the late 1920s, heavily promoted by owner E. C. Clawson, who puttered around town playing a calliope and distributing handbills. The Spanish motif of the theater and the bright marquee, still present today, were Clawson's handiwork. His P.T. Barnum style was matched by his concessionaire, "Popcorn Joe" Nasto, whose favorite trick was to blow the smell of popcorn into the theater through a hole in the wall to tempt movie-goers to visit the snack bar.

A wider screen was installed in 1962 and yet another new screen took its place in 2002. A system of fully automated film projectors was installed and a stereo system added. Something that hasn't changed is the curtain, installed in 1928. It depicts the legendary Spanish knight Amadis de Gaula on the left, and Spanish dancers beneath the mystic blossoms of a tree on the right. The two sides portray contrasting dramatic and philosophical ideals that can be found in every culture in every generation.

Purchased in 1952 with the help of family and friends by John Rigas, one of the founders of Adelphia Cable Company, this vintage single screen theater still operates today. It stands as a testament to an earlier time and the humble beginnings of an industry giant. Rigas has kept admission and concession prices reasonable, making the theater a break-even business. To Rigas, it's more of a service to the community and a tribute to days gone by".

I love this PA theatre especially the front doors that were never changed or modernized, thank goodness! Congrats to that community for saving a cinema gem! Other community leaders should take notice!

What happened to my rather lengthly comments of August 30th or 31st of this year???
Sincerely, Tedorka.

great looking theater ......more pics please/

Here are more pics, longislandmovies. Click each one to expand it.

Thanks ..........great curtain.

Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2u8tkf

It's always fun to see and read about this quaint PA small town theatre. The summer photo with the flower boxes is just plain quaintness at its best.

Here is a 2007 close-up of the Coudersport Theater.

Lost Memory: Thanks for the GREAT photo!

I am happy I found this site. Between 1954 & 1957 I use to attend this theater. We lived on a farm near Sweden Valley. My Mom would take me, my sister & our friends to the theater on Saturday afternoons. It was only 25 cents to go in so a dollar went a long way. We moved into town(Coudersport)& the theater was a block away. My Dad owned Mac's Body & Repair Shop. We lived above it in an apartment that he built. Then the theater was just around the corner. I would get 50 cents from my Mom & then get 50 cents from Dad to go see the movie. I worked for Bruzzi Cleaners right next door. Neither building is there anymore but the memories of the fun I had going thru my teen years in Coudersport & going to the theater are still with me. The school was just across the street from where we lived so there was no skipping school. I will see if I can find some pictures of the theater & send them to you. I am now 67 & live in Round Rock,TX with my daughter, granddaughter, greatgrand daughter & a friend.

Edith: So pleased that you found Cinema Treasures as it is a great site for those of us who love the old cinemas. Welcome.

Pasty, Thank you for the welcome. Are you from Coudersport or surrounding area? Reason I ask is I wonder if we may know each other. Would be nice. Again thank you for your welcome. Edith

Edith: No, I am not from the Coudersport or surrounding area.

This is another 2007 close-up view of the Coudersport Theater.

I love the close up view of the Coudersport Theater posted by Lost Memory on May 11, 2007. I believe the little shop shown next door is a small watch & jewelery repair shop but I am not positive. Lost Memory do you happen to live in Coudersport or the surrounding area? Just curious. I sure enjoyed the theatre when I was a teen. Such a long time ago. Do any of you happen to know what happened to the drive in theatre outside of town going toward Roulette & Port Allegany? I do not remember the name of it but we had a lot of fun going there about 1955--1956. Edith L. McIntosh Wingate

Hello Edith. I don't live in Coudersport. I don't believe that I've ever been there. I just happened to find that photo and posted it here. Judging from the photo, this appears to be a nice, well kept theater. I hope it remains open for a long time. If I should find anymore photos of this theater I will be happy to post them here.

http://www.coudersporttheatre.com/History.html

Hi Pasty, Thank you for the information & site about the Coudersport theatre. One of these days when I can get the time I am going to try & find some pictures taken in the 1950,s that I believe have pictures of the theatre. Carol Shalkowski Predmore is a person who was in my high school class. She worked at the theatre in the 1950's. We both Graduated together. I also graduated with a Julia Kolat who may be related to the gentleman in one of the pictures. In fact Carol & Julia may be related to the people in the pictures. Again thank you. Edith

You are very welcome Edith. Have a good day!

The theater's website says there are 276 seats. They closed the balcony in 1975 and it has since been removed. (I wonder if they removed it or just sealed it off.)

I really do not know if the balcony has been removed but I will try to find out for you. There is a Coudersport Historical Society in Coudersport and Robert Currin, curator, may know. The web site is www.pottercountypa.net/history The address is Potter County Historical Society, 308 N. Main Steet, P.O.Box 605, Coudersport, PA 16915. John Regis is not available to ask.
I was just there for my 50 year class reunion on Sept.15th but did not go to the theatre.
Edith L.M. Wingate

A theatre that closes off the balcony is usually done when it is twinned so I really don't understand why this theatre would close off or seal off the balcony.

I have not had time to find out any thing but will do so in the next couple of days. Edith

Just saw Stardust there on 9/21/07. What a wonderful experience. $5.25 for a ticket and $1 for candy. I haven't seen those prices in many years. The interior is very clean. I didn't notice any stairs so I doubt that there ever was a balcony in this theatre. The theatre's small size and shape (square, not long and narrow) probably spared it from twinning. So sad to think of the potentially tainted funding from Adelphia. Their former headquarters is just down the street. Looks like a huge courthouse - very out of place in this simple town. Locals say it was built for $30M and now it is for sale for a steal at $1M.

I do not know much about the office building you are talking about but I do know that Adelphia used the school building(corner of Main & water St.) for their offices at one time. The high school I went to is the one on the corner of Main Street & Water Street. We use to go to the theatre in the 1950's & if I remember correctly there was a balconey. I just e-mailed someone to see if I can find out for sure & what happened to the balconey if there was one. Some of the people in Coudersport still do not believe that it was John Regis who did wrong. They feel there were others but since they did not want to go to jail they did not talk. Who know's? It is a shame because when I lived there we only had one stop light & no 24 hr. store. A lot changes in 50 yrs. It was a great town to be in during your teen yrs. At least I thought so. There are also a lot of $150,000+ homes sitting empty & will probably remain that way because there are no jobs that will pay you enough to make payments. It would be a great place for a warm weather home if you had lots of money for the upkeep & taxes. When I was there on Sept. 15th for my class reunion of 50 yrs. they were talking about the building. There is a possibility Penn State University may buy it. I believe there is a religious organization that is interested also. It would be great for the town if the university bought it & it became a college town. Only time will tell.

Hi, I just received an e-mail from the Historical Society in Coudersport, PA. The balcony was closed in 1970 & then removed.

Hi, I just found a ticket for the Coudersport theatre but no date on it. I do know it is from the 1950's. It cost 20 cents to go to the theatre.

I plan to be in Coudersports next week to visit friends and will certainly go by this hometown theatre. Does anyone have a contact # that I can call to perhaps get a tour???

Could the name, John Rigas who is mentioned in previous posts be of help to me during a Coudersport Theatre visit? Through an internet search I found more than one Coudersport residents listed under that name.

Contact info for John Rigas: Butner Federal Correctional Complex in North Carolina. According to Wikipedia, his release date is 09-04-2017.

Patsy....It looks like you will have a long wait for John Rigas to give you a tour of the Coudersport. :)

LOL! Thanks so much!

Edith: Please email me at wrlenzo@aol.com and put Coudersport Theatre in the subject line. Thanks.

Here is an October 2008 photo.

My recent trip to Coudersport was a pleasant experience having met friends for lunch and meeting new friends at the Potter County Historical Society, Kay and Leon Reed. Leon graduated from high school with CT member, Edith Wingate. Leon took us on a 45 minute tour of the town which included seeing the Scottish Rite Consistory, Lewis Mansion, Old Hickory, Dr. Othmers former summer home and other interesting sites. At 2:00 we were greeted by the manager of the theatre and taken on a full tour of that lovely theatre. Thank you David and thank M/M Reed.

During my tour I saw and sat in one of the theatre seats, but also saw and sat in one of the original seats that were much more ornate on the sides. It was in the basement and, I believe, is the only one. I suggested to our tour guide, David that perhaps they put it on display, but the lobby area isn't big enough.

What a sweet-looking theatre! Are there any photos of the interior?

MPol: There are sweet-looking photos on the theatre website
www.coudersporttheatre.com

This is another photo of the Coudersport Theater.

Lost: Lovely photo showing main street in a pictureque PA town. I will always remember my tour of this one for many reasons and look forward to returning to Coudersport in the Spring.

Does this theater have a white organ console? :)

LOL! Love your humor though I don't think it ever had an organ. There was a flood many years ago in the town and it might have been destroyed then as damage did occur to the Coudersport Theatre at that time...will have to ask my tour guide, David to give a definitive answer....whether an organ ever existed and if so, what color it was! LOL!

The Coudersport Theater isn't on the theater organ list. The list isn't 100% complete so the theater might have had one. While we're on the subject of Coudersport, do you think David would have any information about a Grand Theater in Coudersport?

I'm sure he would so I'll cut and paste your above post into an email to him and wait for his answer.

Thanks Patsy. I don't want to add the Grand Theater until I can find some information about it.

Lost: I haven't heard back from David at the Coudersport Theatre, but when I do I will let you know or he may just post his comments here.

David wrote to me and said that the theatre had a pipe organ, but it was destroyed in the flood of 1942.

It was nice of David to furnish that information. If we can locate that elusive white organ, maybe it could be installed in this theater. ;)

Now that's a great idea and I'm sure David wouldn't mind what color it is. ;)

Coudersport Theater photo

1982 Photo