Oriental Theater
121 Hinds Street,
Rochester,
PA
15074
121 Hinds Street,
Rochester,
PA
15074
2 people
favorited this theater
The Oriental Theater sat on a hilltop overlooking the Ohio River in Rochester. I’m not sure of it’s opening and closing dates, however in the late-1970’s, it was turned into a disco ala Studio 54, this one named Infinity.
It was demolished in around 2001, after sitting empty, except for vandals. The site remains an empty plot.
Contributed by
Stephanie
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Recent comments (view all 37 comments)
Playing Jan 8 1960 was “1001 ARABIAN KNIGHTS” and “FLYING FONTAINES"Coming was "BELOVED INFIDEL”.
Dec 2 1968 “YELLOW SUBMARINE” is playing.
Does anyone else recall Ozzy Osbourne playing at this theater in the very early 80s, when he was just breaking from Black Sabbath? I know he wasnt a disco band, but neither was the event I was at way back then!
I lived right down Rt 65 while growing up. Everyone knew of the Oriental.
This theatre was quite ornate for a DeAngelis design. And to think it is now an “empty plot”.
I’m certainly late here, but a gent that I had met back in the late ‘80s was in direct touch with Mr. DeAngelis at the time, whose wife had just died. Michael DeAngelis was in his upper 80s and said that he still had all of the blueprints for his theatres at his home. He was living in (I believe) Rochester, NY. I tried to get some local theatre/organ folks up there to look him up at the time but nothing came of it. That was probably near the end of the window of time that he could have been interviewed and given his treasures to posterity. I never heard anything else but seem to think that he passed away not too long after that. I have no idea if anyone ever got to him or saved his irreplaceable archive.
clarkw: This is a remarkable post and one that truly got my attention! To think Mr. DeAngelis had all of his theatre blueprints at his home! It saddens me to think that local theatre folks didn’t look him up at the time! I truly hope that his irreplaceable archive is somewhere safe and sound. If over time you have any other follow-up to this story, please post! Thanks!
I have just reviewed the link posted on October 24, 2010 and can’t believe my eyes! This theatre was beautiful! The folks of Rochester PA have truly lost a DeAngelis masterpiece!
clarkw: your previous comments have really peaked my interest!!!! i have been slowly doing research on the “oriental”, and have kinda hit a dead end so to speak, i have been trying, without much success, for the past couple years to be able to search through the old photos at graule’s, just hoping to maybe find some lost pic of the theater. and i was thinking how cool it would be to have a set of blueprints!!!!! i would really like to get in contact with you, if you could shot me and email, my address is , i would be eternally grateful!!
Opened in 1930 and closed about 1973.
Just found a local newspaper which states the theatre opened on 4 September 1931.