F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts

71 Public Square,
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701

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caranfin
caranfin on November 7, 2009 at 4:52 pm

Thanks for the photos of the Kirby to those who posted them! I stumbled onto this site and started looking at local PA theatres (Pittsburgh), just for a lark. Then i saw this place and remembered that this was where i first met my boyfriend on that wonderful night in October 2004. Thanks for the memory!

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on April 17, 2009 at 5:25 pm

1968 photo of the Paramount Theatre.
View link
1986 photo of the Paramount Theatre.
View link

lostmemory
lostmemory on February 20, 2009 at 8:06 pm

This is a July 1946 ad for the Commerford.

lostmemory
lostmemory on January 26, 2009 at 7:17 pm

F.M. Kirby Center photo

lostmemory
lostmemory on August 14, 2008 at 5:21 pm

Here is a larger photo of the F.M. Kirby.

lostmemory
lostmemory on August 4, 2007 at 10:29 am

This is another photo of the F.M. Kirby Center.

atmos
atmos on January 21, 2007 at 11:27 pm

According to the THSA annual of the Deco theatres John Eberson there is a drawing in the Wilkes-Barre Historical Society Archives for a Paramount Theatre dated 1 May 1931.Eberson designed this building for Comerford.It is quite possible that this theatre is an altered version of his original design.

lostmemory
lostmemory on January 9, 2007 at 10:06 am

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980

Comerford Theater ** (added 1980 – Building – #80003564)
Also known as Paramount Theatre
71 Public Sq., Wilkes-Barre
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Penn-York Utilities,Inc.
Architectural Style: Art Deco, Moderne, Other
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private , Local Gov’t
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Music Facility, Theater

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on September 27, 2005 at 10:21 pm

A couple photos of the F.M. Kirby Center, Comerford Theatre.
http://www.agilitynut.com/p/wbt304.jpg
http://www.agilitynut.com/p/wbt2304.jpg

RJS
RJS on July 26, 2005 at 8:18 am

Here is a photo of the Paramount theater from early 1970’s before it became the F.M. Kirby center and had the marquee replaced.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on April 17, 2005 at 5:52 am

Here is a photo of the F.M. Kirby Center which I took in 2002.

atmos
atmos on January 6, 2005 at 1:29 am

The architect was Charles Ryan.Became Paramount theatre in 1949.Closed in 1977.Later restored and reopened in 1986.Originally opened as Comerford on 18 August 1938.