Shea's Theatre
18 W. 10th Street,
Erie,
PA
16501
18 W. 10th Street,
Erie,
PA
16501
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: RKO, Rowland and Clark Theaters, Shea Theatres, Shubert Brothers Theater Company, Stanley-Warner Theatres
Architects: John Bailey McElfatrick
Firms: J. B. McElfatrick and Sons
Styles: Neo-Classical
Previous Names: Majestic Theatre, Perry Theatre, Holiday Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Originally opened as a playhouse on January 28, 1904 as the Majestic Theatre with Grace George appearing in the play “Pretty Peggy”. It was renamed Perry Theatre on October 11, 1921 when it was taken over by the Rowland and Clark Theaters chain. By 1941, it had been renamed Shea’s Theatre. On October 11, 1967 it was renamed Holiday Theatre but this was short lived as it was closed in 1968.
This theatre was a casualty of 1960’s “urban renewal”. Those who have lived in Erie since at least the 1950’s or 1960’s will recall that this theatre was disgracefully torn down with the Lawrence Hotel and a popular candy company at 926 State Street.
Contributed by
David Stear
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
This was a beautiful theater it should have never been torn down. I remember when John F Kennedy came to Erie in 1960. He stayed at the Lawrence Hotel next to the Shea’s. I can still see him in front of Lawrence Hotel and The Shea’s Theater all gone for ever.
The Shea’s was torn down before I was born, but it does live on! I have the interior marque that my father pulled out before it was demolished. I can add a picture, if someone can tell me how to get it on here.
DesR: to add a photo to Cinema Treasures click on the “Photos” button (between “Overview” and “Comments”) above; on the photo page, scroll down and click the “Add New Photo” button; on the next page, click the “choose” button and select from the menu that appears the file of your photo wherever you have it stored on your computer. The file’s name should automatically appear in the adjacent box when you click on it. Adding a title and description are optional. Then click the “Upload Photo” button. License will default to “Creative Commons (Attribution)” but if you want a different one select it from the drop-down menu.
A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania, by J. Miller, says that the Majestic Theatre was dedicated on January 28, 1904. It was designed by architect J. B. McElfatrick.
In 1907 the house was sold to Moses Reis, who continued the original policy of legitimate stage productions. By 1912, the theater had been transferred to the Shuberts.
The earliest mention of movies at the Majestic I’ve found is from the September 16, 1916, issue of The Moving Picture World, which said the house had been reopened by O. A. Potter with a policy of vaudeville and moving pictures.
Thanks Joe. Photo uploaded!
This post at Old Time Erie says that Shea’s was also known as the Perry Theatre. The December 3, 1921, issue of Exhibitors Trade Review had an announcement that Rowland & Clark had recently opened their Perry Theatre in Erie. I haven’t yet discovered when it became Shea’s.
I’ve been doing a Google image search for theaters designed by J. B. McElfatrick to see if there are others resembling the Majestic, but I’ve found none that are very close. It’s remarkable how varied his designs were.
List of Owners:
1935-1940 Shea Theatres
1940-1950 Jamestown Amusement Co.
1950-1961 Shea Theatres
1961-1964 RKO Stanley Warner
The Majestic theatre opened on January 28th, 1904. Grand opening ad posted.
Reopened as Perry on October 11th, 1921 and Holiday on October 11th, 1967 and closed in 1968. Grand opening ads posted.
Here is a 1921 item about the renaming of the Majestic, but it gives no reason why the particular name was requested: “At the request of the Erie Chamber of Commerce, James B. Clark, of the Rowland & Clark theatres will change the name of the Majestic Theatre, Erie, a house recently taken over by the Rowland & Clark interests, to the Perry Theatre.
“It is hoped to have the opening about October 1.”