Penn Theatre
2917 Buffalo Road,
Erie,
PA
16510
2917 Buffalo Road,
Erie,
PA
16510
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The Penn Theatre was opened on September 15, 1927 with Charlie Murray in “McFadden’s Flats”. It was equipped with an organ. Following its closure in 1955 as a movie theatre, in the 1970’s it was briefly used by Erie Playhouse. It served Wesleyville and Lawrence Park Township, Pennsylvania. Some effort was made to save this theatre, but it was supposedly considered structurally unsound and was razed after standing empty for several decades.
Contributed by
David Stear
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
It should be noted that briefly in the 1970s the Erie Playhouse used this theater as its home. The Penn was eventually closed because of not being up to code in fire regulations (a likely story one could say).
Yes, “a likely story one could say”. I have been to productions at the present Erie Playhouse Erie PA location and didn’t know that “the Erie Playhouse used this theater as its home” at one time.
Through my research I believe there was Penn Theatre in Titusville, PA.
I will check out this address site this summer when I’m in the Erie PA area as Wesleyville is a suburb.
The Penn theatre in Wesleyville had stadium seating. As someone who grew up attending the Penn 2 or 3 times a week I get a kick out of the ads of new theatres boasting that they have stadium seating.
The Penn Theatre, owned by the Columbia Amusement Company, opened September 15, 1927. The first movie shown was McFadden’s Flats. Frank W. Laird was the general contractor. Not sure who the architect was. I need a photo of the Penn from its days as a movie theater to use in a book I am writing. Please e-mail me at if you would like to contribute a picture.
Anyone have a photo(s) that they could contribute to this link?
This theater is demolished now, I’m not sure when it was demolished but maybe around the early 2000’s or late 1990’s since now a Country Fair Gas Station is on its former lot.
This theater closed down as a movie theater in 1955. It was owned by Warner Brothers in 1935.