Cathaum Theater

112 W. College Avenue,
State College, PA 16801

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.

Architects: Albert Douglas Hill, Harvey Childs Hodgens

Firms: Hodgens & Hill

Functions: Retail

Styles: Neo-Classical

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Auditorium of the Cathaum Theatre, State College, PA in 1928

Opened April 8, 1926, the architectural firm of H.C. Hodgens & A.D. Hill are given as architects of this stadium type theatre (with no overhanging balcony).

It was closed June 1, 1976.

Contributed by KenRoe

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

helman700
helman700 on August 4, 2008 at 11:03 am

The Cathaum’s building is still there (only one building down from the newly renovated State – which you should check out if in town, live shows and independant/foreign/b movies) now housing a clothing store, drug store, Players(although players has changed its name as that term has gone a bit out of style) and I think the university still uses part as an annex. Not sure what happened to the nittany, though if it was before Calder it may be a number of different things, there’s a clothing store and bank it could be, if it’s closer to Beaver then it has probably been replaced as the larger buildings are all newer.

robitude
robitude on November 17, 2009 at 5:21 am

The building that once held the Cathaum is now largely occupied by a CVS on the ground floor. I believe that the nightclub Indigo is now on the top floor where Players used to be (correct me if I’m wrong).

Here’s the correct link to the 1930s photo of the theater (works as of November 2009):
http://tinyurl.com/yj9r9nk

robitude
robitude on November 11, 2010 at 12:07 pm

Updated link to the 1930s photo of the Cathaum (works as of November 2010):

http://tinyurl.com/25694wj

lfreimauer
lfreimauer on November 11, 2010 at 12:19 pm

I went to Penn State in 1957-1958 and remember the Cathuam. Does anyone know when it closed?

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 19, 2012 at 11:55 am

Linkrot repair: The twice previously-linked page with the 1930s photo of the Cathaum Theatre is now at this URL, but it’s anybody’s guess for how long. The photo is a bit less than halfway down the very long page.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 19, 2012 at 7:16 pm

This web page has an article about the Cathaum Theatre first published in The Collegian in 1996. It says that the theater opened on April 8, 1926.

The Baums must have had a hard time getting this project underway. The Cathaum is mentioned by name in construction trade journals as early as 1922, when it was in the planning stage, but at that time it was being designed by a different architect, Harry S. Bair of Pittsburgh. The firm of Hodgens & Hill was formed in 1923, so they had to have taken over the project after that.

CharmaineZoe
CharmaineZoe on February 28, 2013 at 2:29 pm

It was owned and operated by Maurice Baum from 1928, and seated less than one thousand when it opened that year.

kagami101
kagami101 on April 1, 2013 at 6:03 pm

I remember seeing several films there as a child. It was a rather grand but very dark theater from what I remember. It was closed in the mid 70’s and was split in half. The upper level become a nightclub called “Gatsby’s” and the lower became a disco called “Mr C’s”. I performed in a dinner theater production there in the late 80’s and the proscenium arch, ceiling and most of the upper architecture was still intact and looked very nice. It was then converted shortly after into additional cubicle office space for Penn State’s English department.

RSM3853
RSM3853 on June 19, 2017 at 5:03 am

According to my research the Cathaum closed during the week of May 26, 1976 through June 1, 1976. The last film that I have seen playing there was “The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox” with Goldie Hawn and George Segal.

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