Cinema
310 E. Washington Street,
New Castle,
PA
16101
310 E. Washington Street,
New Castle,
PA
16101
1 person
favorited this theater
Built in 1907, the theatre was known as the Dome in the silent era, Paramount in the 1940’s, Vogue in the 1950’s, New Vogue in the 1960’s and Cinema from the 1970’s.
The theatre was re-modelled in 1942 with Art Deco styling. The architect was M. Abraham, and the original capacity was 702. In 1958, a storm damaged the marquee, which was replaced. In 1964, the theater was victimized by a horrible remodel, which covered the facade in prefab sheets of vomit-colored stucco. The vertical portion of the marquee was removed, the outdoor booth destroyed, and one door closed up. It closed in 2003.
In its last current configuration, the theater is a grimy beige on top, with the original pediments showing through. The ground floor was a nasty green. The marquee was still kind of neat, with a large neon ‘C’ and star logo in the middle, and the word ‘CINEMA’ over both sides. Not sure if any of the original style was hiding under the stucco.
The Cinema was demolished in August 2007.
Contributed by
Seth Gaines
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Recent comments (view all 31 comments)
Jack..Are you familar with a guy who used to be a projectionist in the Pittsburgh area by the name of Dave Grau…he posts on here under the name Norelco?
JohnMessick: I’m familiar with the CT name, Norelco though didn’t know or have forgotten that he used to be a projectionist….those are the folks with great theatre memories!
You betcha…Norelco..at one time used to be a projectionist in my area…I had the opportunity to meet him and talk about area theaters he worked at….he is a well of knowledge.
Yes indeed! I was 14 when I started my first job as an usher at the New Castle Victor theatre. Now at 64 I have very fond memories of conversations with projectionists, stage hands and managers in and about the Pittsburgh area. When many of us were in our teens and twenties, these dedicated people where in their fifties and sixties. Nothing was better than sharing a coffee or a beer with one of these people. Their stories of people and events from the early days of theatrical entertainment. It was a right of passage for those of us you still believed in the magic and future of “the business.â€
One of my favorite pieces of advice, when I was an Assistant Manager, was from an old projectionist who lectured me in the art of showmanship. He said: …â€remember kid, if you don’t want people to think this is second class grind house, ALWAYS close the curtain and bring up the footlights between the trailers and feature.â€
When people remember these picture palaces, it’s a shame that the dedicated managers, projectionists and other career folks often get forgotten and unmentioned. Big chains and moneyed people may have built most of the theatres we have all loved; but it was, indeed, the staff and management that brought the magic to life every day.
Never stop believing.
Jack: Very well written….thank you!
1982 photo of the Castle Cinema.
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Jack, do you have any information about the Cascade Theatre in New Castle, which was supposed to be the first theater operated by the Warner brothers? I keep coming across different dates for the opening. picture.
Hi Joe, Sorry for the delay, I’ve been working on a restoration. This info. (from memory) originally came from an old projection operator who was around at the time. The Warner Bro’s. had been going around Western PA and Eastern Ohio, near their Youngstown home, with a crank projector, a single film and a tent for use when weather or a vacant room were not available. One of the rooms they rented for this special event was part of, or adjacent to a funeral home on New Castle’s E. Washington Street. They borrowed folding chairs from the funeral director and projected the film on a 7 foot mirror. Apparently the response was so good and New Castle was a bustling city with the world’s largest tin mill and many other industries that they decided to experiment with making New Castle a permanent location. The makeshift “theatre†was referred to as the Bijou (little Gem) and The Pioneer. After several months, in 1903, the moved a few doors down E. Washington Street to a more appropriate property and created the Cascade Theatre. The location later became a Neisner 5 and 10 store and is now called the Cascade Center with a lobby display representing the façade of the Cascade Theatre and some vintage projectors. The Cascade was quickly followed by small “nickelodeons†such as the sheet metal-constructed Moravia Theatre, The Nixon (Victor), across the street from the Cascade, The Dome (Cinema), Park (Regent), Star, all on Washington Street and the Baltimore Strand on Long Avenue. In 1904 the Warner’s bought a small film company in Pittsburgh which eventually evolved into the Warner empire. Later, more elaborate theatres included the Capitol (vaudeville) and Penn theatres were constructed.
It would be nice to see a working “model†of the Cascade created. It might show a Warner documentary film, classics, etc as a tourist attraction. Who know, maybe some day…..
Gosh I remember going to this theater in the late 80s to see a full length feature of the Care Bears. My grand parents lived up Court Street so this theater was very close by. As a seven year old, I remember the place smelling like urine and the seats being really worn and squeaky.