West Erie Plaza Cinemas
800 W. Erie Plaza,
Erie,
PA
16505
800 W. Erie Plaza,
Erie,
PA
16505
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Opened in 1950 as Dipson’s Plaza Cinema, with a seating capacity of around 1,000. It is located at West 8th Street at Pittsburgh Avenue, and is part of the West Erie Mall.
It was converted into a four-screen cinema in 1980. The West Erie Plaza Cinemas closed as a first-run movie theatre on December 23, 2008.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
This theater was originally called Dipson’s Plaza, Dipson’s being a chain out of New York state. It was built in 1950 as a part of the West Erie Plaza Shopping Center right on the city limits line. It was the first theater built outside the downtown. It was a large theater seating at least 1000, I think. May have been more or less. It did have a small balcony that did not extend over the main floor. The grand staircase leading to the balcony is still there, but it now leads to the new projection room which is built in the balcony. The original projection room is still there but unused. The architecture and decor is Deco. Inside the entrance was a small room where patrons waiting for the next show could watch television. This theater served as a roadshow house for Around the World in 80 Days which was shown in a 35mm reduction print. This theater never had 70mm equiptment. Sometime in the 90’s after it had been closed for a while, It was converted into four theaters. The last time I was in the theater, which was some time ago, I talked to the manager/projectionist, and he told me that the Art Deco auditorium is still intact. This was indeed a very beautiful theater. The website for this theater showing some interior shots is wepcinemas.com.
On December 23rd the doors closed on the Plaza Theater for the last time. It died due to conditions of the building as well as increasing lease fees. The last movie shown was “Yes Man” starring Jim Carrey.
1980 photo of the Plaza Cinema
View link
Rob T: Do you have a contact number for the last theatre operator, Mark Comi?
Patsy,
You might try contacting him through the following.
PLAZA CINEMAS, INC.
WEST ERIE PLAZA CINEMAS
c/o P.O.Box 8331
ERIE, PA 16505-0331
e-mail:
Chuck: Thanks so much for the information. I have sent an email and do hope to hear from someone.
There is a possibility that this theater might reopen as a brew-and-view: View link
That would be great as it has set unused for quite some time.
Are any movie theaters open in or near Erie?
I don’t know of any old movie theaters in Erie still open though there have been many over the years. The Warner isn’t a movie theater, but thank goodness Erie didn’t demolish it as it is the jewel of downtown, imo. There is an original theater in Wellsville and in Brockport NY. A more complete CT search will help you locate others.