American Theater
44-52 North Main Street,
Pittston,
PA
18640
44-52 North Main Street,
Pittston,
PA
18640
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The American Theater was located on North Main Street in Pittston and opened in June 1924. This was the largest theater built in the Pittston area and was located in the main business area between the Water Street and Fort Jenkins Bridges. It hosted vaudeville shows, big band music concerts and movies for most of its life. It operated until the late 1960s and sat empty until the building was demolished in the early 1980s for a Rite-Aid drug store and parking lot.
Any additional information on this theater is welcome.
Contributed by
Bobs
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
Here’s a couple of pics from the 1960’s
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This theater was part of ABC Theaters of Pennsylvania, a Scranton-based chain, in the early seventies.
A Kimball theater organ size 3/9 was installed in the American Theater in 1924.
Hey Lost Memory
The American opened in 1928; 4 years after the organ was installed ?
jeffrey….The American opened in June of 1924. Read the description at the top of the page.
I operated this theatre in the late 70’s. The research we did before opening (for a certificate of occupancy) showed the building opening in 1928. I’m not sure where the information on the top of the page came from, but I don’t think it is accurate.
I don’t know where the information at the top of the page came from but the theater organ list gives the year for installation as 1924. I have found a number of certificate of occupancy certificates that were dated after a theater was already in operation. A c/o for a theater in N.Y.C. was dated two years after the theater had opened. I have never seen one issued four years later though. It’s a mystery to me.
1979 photo of the American Theatre.
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I found the original opening date for the American from a news clipping at the Pittston Public Library. It had indicated June 1924, although it had little additional info such as the number of seats. I spoke with some long-time residents of the area, but none were able to confirm that date.
Nice photos.