Columbia Theatre

A book called “Brookville” by Carole A. Briggs has a photo of the Columbia, and provides the information that the 1904 structure was a hotel. The auditorium was added to the back of the building some years later. The alterations were designed by Pittsburgh architect Harry S. Bair.

It’s not really a theatre as we know it…no seats other than folding chairs as it is a teen center for the youth of the community. The stage area is used for Christian concerts, etc. As I recall the ceiling chandeliers are original.

Lost: This is my husband’s hometown in PA.

lostmemory: Well, I’ve been to Brookville and took a tour of the Columbia. A local church does, in fact, own the building. The front half which includes the former lobby is used as a teen center and the back half which is the auditorium is used for Christian music concerts as there is a stage and former orchestra pit that has been covered over to provide more stage depth. The ceiling as been painted to the original design and many of the light fixtures are original! The original seats have been taken out, but 3 of them do exist as we found them in the back of the theatre not being used for anything! The street facade as been enclosed with glass,
but the original plaster molding design still remains in the area where the ticket kios would have stood which has been removed over the years when that area was open leading from the front doors into
the lobby with curved ceiling. The horizontal Columbia marquee is
gone, but the exterior overhead metal awning is still intact though is peeling and in need of paint.

Will do…for sure! It’s not a matter of IF, but WHEN and this time I will be entering the theatre, too! ;–)

Thanks again. We plan to make a trip to the town in June for their annual Laurel Festival where my husband and I met! At this time we will check out the theatre. In fact, several summers ago we did visit the town and during a walk down main street my husband stopped at the theatre and got to see inside (beyond the lobby area)though I didn’t see it as I was, unfortunately, elsewhere.

I wonder what the style was if it, in fact, was a former house or hotel? It is located in the middle of the block and not on a corner.

There is a small photo of the Columbia theater here:
View link

I’m not from Brookville. I don’t believe that I’ve ever been there. As for John H. Carr, the only other building that I have found in Brookville that he was associated with is the Brookville Presbyterian Church (White and Main Sts). There might be more but thats all I’ve come across so far.
The Columbia Theater is listed by Brookville PA & Jefferson County PA, as a historical building. Theylist this building as the “New Jefferson House-Columbia Theatre”. I believe that this theater was converted from a house or hotel into a movie theater. I would speculate that the builder added the inclined floor on top of the original flat floor. That would explain the “incline” that you walk up to get to the seats. I’ll see if I can find anything else on this theater.

Thanks for the additional information. My husband is from Brookville and remembers going to that theatre. Do you have a source book that you refer to or are you from the general area?