Drake Theatre

327 Seneca Street,
Oil City, PA 16301

3 people favorited this theater

The Drake Theatre is located on Seneca Street on the north side of Oil City, in northwestern Pennsylvania. The theatre opened in 1928, designed by Philadelphia theatre architect William H. Lee. The exterior style is Art Deco. A sketch, likely prepared before construction, of the theatre’s exterior is on page 12 of Volume Two of the book “American Theatres of Today” (1930). The theatre was equipped with a Wurlitzer pipe organ. Colonel Drake was Edwin Drake (1819-1880) popularly credited with being the first to drill for oil in the United States.

The theatre has been through several floods. It had a balcony which was no longer open, even when the theatre was. There were two matching staircases, but one was removed to make room for a snack bar. It closed around 1985 when the theatre at the Cranberry Mall expanded from three screens to five.

Contributed by Von Winger, Howard B. Haas

Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

shoeshoe14 on May 30, 2007 at 3:50 pm

This theatre opened in 1928 and was also known as the Colonel Drake Theatre. I think it is Art Deco.

BognarRegis on May 31, 2007 at 8:47 am

I recall the Drake having some Art Deco elements but it had a rounded precinium like French Renaissance. The mystery lies in the lack of information I can find on the Drake. Everyone in Oil City has been obsessed with the Latonia since it closed in the early seventies even though the Drake remained open. It was the only indoor movie theatre in the area. If you lived in Oil City/Franklin/Titusville in 1977, chances are you saw Star Wars there.

lostmemory on October 22, 2007 at 4:45 pm

A Wurlitzer theater organ opus 1870 style H 3M was installed in the Drake Theater on 4/16/1928. Status: sold.

Ed Lolley on October 26, 2007 at 7:43 pm

I have an ad from “The Announcer” booklet issued by Radio Station WLBW in January 1929. It states the following:

More than 250,000 people living within a 50 mile radius of Oil City depend on this modern new playhouse for their amusement and entertainment. Known for it’s environment, comfort, and safety; continuous programs every day from 2 P.M. until 11:30 P.M. – at popular prices.