The Refowich Theatre closed for the final time on June 8, 1975 with Walt Disney’s “Escape To Witch Mountain” and a marathon of Disney’s Donald Duck and Chip And Dale cartoons beforehand.
The last showing of the movie was attended by only eleven moviegoers, not even fifty or a hundred. Right after the “The End, A Walt Disney Production” card fades out, the screen went absolute blank at approximately 9:26 PM ET. Not even a tail, and not even a “Thank you for all the years we served” type of message. The walls are starkly naked with most of the furnishings, mirrors, and curtains being removed. As the eleven patrons walked out of the theater, the “Coming Attractions” boards are already blank.
One of the staff members on its final day of operations replied that it “was bad to not have a movie theater in a town of 4,500, and they could’ve fixed the theater up”. John Urishin, its last manager, flipped the switch and wiped clean the top of the refreshment stand. John Komishock, its last projectionist, carried the prints of the movie and cartoons to the outside lobby for their last trip from Freeland. After the three remaining light bulbs of the marquee were powered off, Centre Street went dark.
The Angela Theatre actually did close for nearly a year in 1979 before reopening on February 29, 1980 by Shenandoah businessman Charles Karosis. This was short-lived, and closed in 1981. On August 11, 1982, the Angela Theatre was sold for $2,000 by Angel and Gerald Donovan, former Coaldale residents who lived in New Jersey at the time. It never reopened though, leaving the building in the dark for the rest of the 1980s and into the early-1990s.
On August 31, 1995, 48-year-old Michael Danchak, who first worked as the usher there since its opening. This came three years after he purchased the theater in 1992 for $500. It was renovated throughout the next several years. The first of the three auditoriums reopened on August 14, 1998 with “Titanic”, while the other two screens reopened around Thanksgiving 1998.
The Palace Theatre was once briefly operated by Peter Magazzu, who also operated other theaters in Coaldale, Tamaqua, Hometown, and Montoursville. The Palace was destroyed by a fire on November 29, 1968.
The Park Theatre opened its doors on July 9, 1923. I cannot find its grand opening attraction, but does mention that it comes along with a performance by organist Professor S.W. Unger. The Park Theatre closed on November 26, 1955 with William Campbell in “Cell 2455, Death Row” (unknown if extras added).
The Holliday Theatre actually closed as a movie theater on September 2, 1986 with “The Karate Kid Part II”, not “Top Gun”. The former theater then became a church the following month, and the building was destroyed by a fire on January 30, 1990.
The actual Mauch Chunk opening date is February 3, 1882 with a live presentation of “Edgewood Folks” by the Sol Smith Russell Company along with a speech delivered by A.W. Butler. It was originally planned to be built as a City Council building but quickly turned the idea into an Opera House.
The Fountain Hill Opera House opened its doors by manager E.L. Newhard on September 26, 1888 with a live presentation of “Martiana” by the New American Opera Company. A total of 100 residents (with a majority of them from Allentown) attended the opening ceremony. It was renamed the Globe Theatre following major remodeling, and reopened by the A.R. Boyd Amusement Company on August 22, 1930 with Frederic March in “Manslaughter” (unknown if extras added).
The actual closing date is March 24, 2000. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” was one of its last films played, but I cannot find the remaining final films being played.
The Refowich Theatre closed for the final time on June 8, 1975 with Walt Disney’s “Escape To Witch Mountain” and a marathon of Disney’s Donald Duck and Chip And Dale cartoons beforehand.
The last showing of the movie was attended by only eleven moviegoers, not even fifty or a hundred. Right after the “The End, A Walt Disney Production” card fades out, the screen went absolute blank at approximately 9:26 PM ET. Not even a tail, and not even a “Thank you for all the years we served” type of message. The walls are starkly naked with most of the furnishings, mirrors, and curtains being removed. As the eleven patrons walked out of the theater, the “Coming Attractions” boards are already blank.
One of the staff members on its final day of operations replied that it “was bad to not have a movie theater in a town of 4,500, and they could’ve fixed the theater up”. John Urishin, its last manager, flipped the switch and wiped clean the top of the refreshment stand. John Komishock, its last projectionist, carried the prints of the movie and cartoons to the outside lobby for their last trip from Freeland. After the three remaining light bulbs of the marquee were powered off, Centre Street went dark.
The Angela Theatre actually did close for nearly a year in 1979 before reopening on February 29, 1980 by Shenandoah businessman Charles Karosis. This was short-lived, and closed in 1981. On August 11, 1982, the Angela Theatre was sold for $2,000 by Angel and Gerald Donovan, former Coaldale residents who lived in New Jersey at the time. It never reopened though, leaving the building in the dark for the rest of the 1980s and into the early-1990s.
On August 31, 1995, 48-year-old Michael Danchak, who first worked as the usher there since its opening. This came three years after he purchased the theater in 1992 for $500. It was renovated throughout the next several years. The first of the three auditoriums reopened on August 14, 1998 with “Titanic”, while the other two screens reopened around Thanksgiving 1998.
There’s not a lot of information that I can find about the Victoria, but the theater did close for a whole year in 1967.
The Palace Theatre was once briefly operated by Peter Magazzu, who also operated other theaters in Coaldale, Tamaqua, Hometown, and Montoursville. The Palace was destroyed by a fire on November 29, 1968.
The Park Theatre opened its doors on July 9, 1923. I cannot find its grand opening attraction, but does mention that it comes along with a performance by organist Professor S.W. Unger. The Park Theatre closed on November 26, 1955 with William Campbell in “Cell 2455, Death Row” (unknown if extras added).
The Holliday Theatre actually closed as a movie theater on September 2, 1986 with “The Karate Kid Part II”, not “Top Gun”. The former theater then became a church the following month, and the building was destroyed by a fire on January 30, 1990.
The Carolina Theatre was destroyed by a fire on April 4, 1964. The fire also injured two firefighters.
The actual Mauch Chunk opening date is February 3, 1882 with a live presentation of “Edgewood Folks” by the Sol Smith Russell Company along with a speech delivered by A.W. Butler. It was originally planned to be built as a City Council building but quickly turned the idea into an Opera House.
Also opened with the Disney featurette “Ben and Me”.
Most likely closed in November 1976.
Opened on August 13, 1928 with Lon Chaney in “Laugh, Clown, Laugh” along with a Moller Wonder Console organ performance by Earle Tobias.
In January 1968, it was renamed the Propst Cinema.
The Fountain Hill Opera House opened its doors by manager E.L. Newhard on September 26, 1888 with a live presentation of “Martiana” by the New American Opera Company. A total of 100 residents (with a majority of them from Allentown) attended the opening ceremony. It was renamed the Globe Theatre following major remodeling, and reopened by the A.R. Boyd Amusement Company on August 22, 1930 with Frederic March in “Manslaughter” (unknown if extras added).
Regal acquired the Saucon Valley 10 on April 1, 2003 alongside several other former Hoyts theaters across Pennsylvania.
Closed in 1982.
Closed around 1978. During that year, the theater was declining its business.
Closed on August 8, 1991.
Closed on April 22, 1999.
General Cinema operated the Hialeah 8 until October 11, 1996.
Neat! Its very strange that newspaper advertisements show the theater into as far late as August 1993, almost two years after its closure.
Closed on October 1, 1987 with “The Living Daylights” and “Lethal Weapon”.
The actual closing date is March 24, 2000. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” was one of its last films played, but I cannot find the remaining final films being played.
Closed on September 2, 1999.
Opened on March 6, 1951. I cannot find its opening advertisement, but a few amount of then-Hollywood celebrities did attend the opening of the Crest.
Opened on December 15, 1977, closed on August 27, 2000.