L.T. Rockenstein bought the properties of the Wentzville Theatre, Reuter’s Blacksmith Shop and Schramm Chevrolet to create the American Theatre. They were razed and the new American Theatre launched November 3, 1941 with “Men of Boys Town.”
The Scenic Theatre was launched at this address in 1910. It became the Ritz Theatre. Warners took on the Ritz on a 20-year lease on April 21, 1938 with “Snow White.” The theatre was demolished in December of 1957.
The Appell Building was built in 1889 at 43-51 East Market Street. The Wizard Theatre had its grand opening on October 27, 1908 running as a silent theatre until 1928. The space was then retrofitted for other retail purposes. The Appell Building was torn down late in 1952.
The Lion Theatre opened December 31, 1926 with Walter J. Rothensies as the listed owner but operated Nathan and Louis Appell of the Appell Circuit. The theatre converted to Western Electric Movietone and Vitaphone equipment in August of 1929. Appell sold to Warner Bros. Circuit which continued operation in 1930.
Warner closed the Lion Theatre on May 10, 1958 in part because of a 1957 law disallowing Sunday showings. Robert J. Heller reopened the theatre May 20, 1959 on a sublease. When the city decided to enforce its no-Sunday law, Heller abruptly shut down the Lion on June 6, 1959 – its last day of operation. In 1969, the theatre was demolished.
The building was home to a trolley car manufacturing plant in 1897 that sat idle for two decades becoming the York in 1934. The York Theatre discontinued film operations in 1952. It became a live venue for three years. It then became the Holiday Theatre from 1955 to 1968. After a salvage sale, it was torn down in September of 1969.
J.H. Plymire ran the Crystal Theatre in New Oxford on Lincoln Way West from 1914 to 1930 without converting to sound. The business became home to the Crystal Restaurant for almost the entire decade of the 1930s. But Earl W. Rohrbaugh re-opened the venue as the Earl Theatre in December of 1939. William Snyder Jr. bought the theatre three months later running the Earl from 1940 to its closure in July of 1957. The venue was destroyed by fire in 2002.
In August of 1930, the Warner Bros. Theatre Circuit bought the still-operating Opera House to close the facility. In June of 1936, it was razed after a salvage sale. Harry Houdini and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. performd there. And Charles C. Krantz served as stage manager for 50 years to closing.
The Moose Hall had opened a silent theatre to the public in its long-standing operation in 1925. George W. Osman programmed movies at Tremont’s Opera House beginning in 1917. He took over the Moose Hall venue here renaming it the New Moose Hall Theatre / Moose Theatre in August of 1927. On October 10, 1930, new operators changed it to the Littleton Theatre. In 1934, the theatre under new owners changed the name to the Tremont Theatre which it held for more than 50 years.
Just to add a bit of history, this project was commissioned in 1896 to the plans of local architect Frank X. Reilly. It launched as the Opera House on July 4, 1897. The widow of former state senator Samuel A. Losch bought the struggling opera house operating it as the Losch Opera House and adding vaudeville and movies to the mix. It went dormant in 1914 and put up for auction in 1918. It appears to be used for storage.
The Refowich Brothers relaunched the house August 28, 1924 becoming the Refowich Theatre. The 453 seat venue added fire exits, a third floor dance hall, Powers projectors, and – in addition to the existing third floor rest rooms – a ladies room on the main floor. On mMarch 29, 1930, RCA Photophone installation brought talkies to Schuylkill Haven with the short, “Harmony at Home.”
A new operator purchased the Refowich and changed it to the Rio Theatre on Christmas of 1937. In 1953, the theatre was under big pressure from television and dropped to weekend only operation. The theatre adopted a free admission / pay what it was worth upon exit admission policy for the month of April of 1953. It closed by June of 1953 ending its cinematic run. It became a storage facility.
In 1957, the theatre was refreshed becoming the long-running Masonic Lodge meeting place. In 2017, the again-vacant property could be purchased for $125,000.
Ben Zerr opened this theatre on Thanksgiving Day 1911. From 1913 to 1916 it was known as the Schuylkill Avenue Picture House. Until 1929, it was known as the Schuylkill Avenue Theatre. After being a short-lived farmers market, it was known as the Gospel Tabernacle. It got a final shot at movies equipped for sound as the Rio Theatre in 1936 possibly closing in 1939.
From March 19, 1918, the theatre was given the patriotic Liberty Theatre moniker which it retained for about a year. On March 6, 1919, the theatre reverted to its original namesake of the Rex Theatre.
The New Victor Theatre (pictured) opened March 5, 1909 at this address. It was Carr & Schad’s second location for the operation. From 1907 to early 1909, they operated the original Victor Theatre nearby at 734 Penn Street. In 1909, local interest was greater than the old Victor could handle so they moved into this facility. But the days of such diminutive theatres was already closing and in early 1916, Carr & Schad announced a 2,200 seat Penn Theatre. The New Victor was the odd venue out and it was retrofitted in 1918 to hold Kurtz Co. store. The Penn didn’t actually open but the genesis of the project was what became the State Theatre in the next decade.
A new-build theatre for motion pictures, Ben Zerr launched the Crescent Motion Picture House in Reading on December 14, 1910 with “The Golden Supper” and “The Man and the Law”
The Bijou Theatre launched February 1, 1900 with Hartzell’s Circus Royal performing on the stage. On February 28, 1910, it became the Palace Theatre.
After becoming the Arcadia Theatre, its claim to fame was Reading’s first converted to sound location with Warner Bros. Vitaphone system on February 21, 1927 with “Don Juan.” The audiences were greater than expected and the Vitaphone system would be moved to the larger Strand Theatre the following year; the Arcadia was demolished to make an even bigger venue in the Astor Theatre.
Carr & Schad Circuit launched the Strand Theatre on February 21, 1920 with “The Valley of the Giants” along with Charlie Chaplin’s “A Day’s Pleasure.” Audiences were wowed by the 3-manual Mohler pipe organ. In July of 1928, the Arcadia’s Vitaphone sound system was moved to the Strand to accommodate the larger than anticipated crowds for talkies.
The Tri-States Drive-In Theatre opened May 21, 1951. On October 12, 1956, operator Irving Hulst added an outdoor auditorium for year-round operation. On its tenth anniversary, Hulst added a go cart track.
The operator of the Melba Theater closed up shop and created this modern cinema adjoining his existing Sunset Drive-In. The Century I Theatre launched on March 14, 1980 with “The Black Hole.” Regular church services were held there as well. The Century I closed in June of 1999. It reopened December 28, 2000 as the Showtime Cinema closing in 2003. It became the Phoenix Theatre in 2004.
The Ingalls' Opera House was at 205 North 2nd St. and was transformed into a recreation center and then a farm implement store in the 1940s. The Crystal / Greene Theatre was at a different location listed above.
The Greene Theatre’s last day was October 21, 1955 with “Man Without a Star.”
The Grand Theatre became the Family Theatre on August 25, 1915 with “The Shooting of Dan McGrew.” In August of 1918, the Family became the Garden Theatre.
The Garden Theatre conducted a name change contest announcing on January 21, 1922 the switch to the Rialto Theatre. The Rialto ceased showing movies on August 19, 1928 opting not to convert to sound and doing limited live events.
Under new operators, a five year lease was signed and the theatre was relaunched as the Royal Theatre on February 24, 1929. Silent presentations didn’t draw crowds and the Royal closed in August of 1929.
It became a church in 1932 through September of 1935. On September 25, 1935 it relaunched as the Capitol Theatre with “One More Night of Love.” The Capitol closed at the end of May of 1938.
On Christmas Day, 1938, it relaunched as the Iowa Theatre. The theatre closed July 4, 1961 with Glenn Ford in “The Americano” & Judy Canova in “The WAC from Walla Walla”.
L.T. Rockenstein bought the properties of the Wentzville Theatre, Reuter’s Blacksmith Shop and Schramm Chevrolet to create the American Theatre. They were razed and the new American Theatre launched November 3, 1941 with “Men of Boys Town.”
The Scenic Theatre was launched at this address in 1910. It became the Ritz Theatre. Warners took on the Ritz on a 20-year lease on April 21, 1938 with “Snow White.” The theatre was demolished in December of 1957.
The Appell Building was built in 1889 at 43-51 East Market Street. The Wizard Theatre had its grand opening on October 27, 1908 running as a silent theatre until 1928. The space was then retrofitted for other retail purposes. The Appell Building was torn down late in 1952.
The Lion Theatre opened December 31, 1926 with Walter J. Rothensies as the listed owner but operated Nathan and Louis Appell of the Appell Circuit. The theatre converted to Western Electric Movietone and Vitaphone equipment in August of 1929. Appell sold to Warner Bros. Circuit which continued operation in 1930.
Warner closed the Lion Theatre on May 10, 1958 in part because of a 1957 law disallowing Sunday showings. Robert J. Heller reopened the theatre May 20, 1959 on a sublease. When the city decided to enforce its no-Sunday law, Heller abruptly shut down the Lion on June 6, 1959 – its last day of operation. In 1969, the theatre was demolished.
The building was home to a trolley car manufacturing plant in 1897 that sat idle for two decades becoming the York in 1934. The York Theatre discontinued film operations in 1952. It became a live venue for three years. It then became the Holiday Theatre from 1955 to 1968. After a salvage sale, it was torn down in September of 1969.
J.H. Plymire ran the Crystal Theatre in New Oxford on Lincoln Way West from 1914 to 1930 without converting to sound. The business became home to the Crystal Restaurant for almost the entire decade of the 1930s. But Earl W. Rohrbaugh re-opened the venue as the Earl Theatre in December of 1939. William Snyder Jr. bought the theatre three months later running the Earl from 1940 to its closure in July of 1957. The venue was destroyed by fire in 2002.
In August of 1930, the Warner Bros. Theatre Circuit bought the still-operating Opera House to close the facility. In June of 1936, it was razed after a salvage sale. Harry Houdini and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. performd there. And Charles C. Krantz served as stage manager for 50 years to closing.
Launched June 4, 1957 with the film, “Canyon River”, the theatre shares its name with the Zuni Highway itself ultimately named after the Zuni people.
The Moose Hall had opened a silent theatre to the public in its long-standing operation in 1925. George W. Osman programmed movies at Tremont’s Opera House beginning in 1917. He took over the Moose Hall venue here renaming it the New Moose Hall Theatre / Moose Theatre in August of 1927. On October 10, 1930, new operators changed it to the Littleton Theatre. In 1934, the theatre under new owners changed the name to the Tremont Theatre which it held for more than 50 years.
Just to add a bit of history, this project was commissioned in 1896 to the plans of local architect Frank X. Reilly. It launched as the Opera House on July 4, 1897. The widow of former state senator Samuel A. Losch bought the struggling opera house operating it as the Losch Opera House and adding vaudeville and movies to the mix. It went dormant in 1914 and put up for auction in 1918. It appears to be used for storage.
The Refowich Brothers relaunched the house August 28, 1924 becoming the Refowich Theatre. The 453 seat venue added fire exits, a third floor dance hall, Powers projectors, and – in addition to the existing third floor rest rooms – a ladies room on the main floor. On mMarch 29, 1930, RCA Photophone installation brought talkies to Schuylkill Haven with the short, “Harmony at Home.”
A new operator purchased the Refowich and changed it to the Rio Theatre on Christmas of 1937. In 1953, the theatre was under big pressure from television and dropped to weekend only operation. The theatre adopted a free admission / pay what it was worth upon exit admission policy for the month of April of 1953. It closed by June of 1953 ending its cinematic run. It became a storage facility.
In 1957, the theatre was refreshed becoming the long-running Masonic Lodge meeting place. In 2017, the again-vacant property could be purchased for $125,000.
The San Toy was reopened in 1936 by Harry J. Schaad who bought the theatre at a sherif’s auction. A fire in 1939 ends its run.
Ben Zerr opened this theatre on Thanksgiving Day 1911. From 1913 to 1916 it was known as the Schuylkill Avenue Picture House. Until 1929, it was known as the Schuylkill Avenue Theatre. After being a short-lived farmers market, it was known as the Gospel Tabernacle. It got a final shot at movies equipped for sound as the Rio Theatre in 1936 possibly closing in 1939.
From March 19, 1918, the theatre was given the patriotic Liberty Theatre moniker which it retained for about a year. On March 6, 1919, the theatre reverted to its original namesake of the Rex Theatre.
The New Victor Theatre (pictured) opened March 5, 1909 at this address. It was Carr & Schad’s second location for the operation. From 1907 to early 1909, they operated the original Victor Theatre nearby at 734 Penn Street. In 1909, local interest was greater than the old Victor could handle so they moved into this facility. But the days of such diminutive theatres was already closing and in early 1916, Carr & Schad announced a 2,200 seat Penn Theatre. The New Victor was the odd venue out and it was retrofitted in 1918 to hold Kurtz Co. store. The Penn didn’t actually open but the genesis of the project was what became the State Theatre in the next decade.
The Majestic closed in 1918 and was converted to an auto repair garage in 1919.
A new-build theatre for motion pictures, Ben Zerr launched the Crescent Motion Picture House in Reading on December 14, 1910 with “The Golden Supper” and “The Man and the Law”
The Bijou Theatre launched February 1, 1900 with Hartzell’s Circus Royal performing on the stage. On February 28, 1910, it became the Palace Theatre.
After becoming the Arcadia Theatre, its claim to fame was Reading’s first converted to sound location with Warner Bros. Vitaphone system on February 21, 1927 with “Don Juan.” The audiences were greater than expected and the Vitaphone system would be moved to the larger Strand Theatre the following year; the Arcadia was demolished to make an even bigger venue in the Astor Theatre.
Carr & Schad Circuit launched the Strand Theatre on February 21, 1920 with “The Valley of the Giants” along with Charlie Chaplin’s “A Day’s Pleasure.” Audiences were wowed by the 3-manual Mohler pipe organ. In July of 1928, the Arcadia’s Vitaphone sound system was moved to the Strand to accommodate the larger than anticipated crowds for talkies.
Comerford Theatres launched the Ritz Theatre June 5, 1936. Charles Haubert took on the theatre remodeling it it 1941.
The Tri-States Drive-In Theatre opened May 21, 1951. On October 12, 1956, operator Irving Hulst added an outdoor auditorium for year-round operation. On its tenth anniversary, Hulst added a go cart track.
It’s a different writer – and publisher of the local newspaper – Amos Ingalls.
The operator of the Melba Theater closed up shop and created this modern cinema adjoining his existing Sunset Drive-In. The Century I Theatre launched on March 14, 1980 with “The Black Hole.” Regular church services were held there as well. The Century I closed in June of 1999. It reopened December 28, 2000 as the Showtime Cinema closing in 2003. It became the Phoenix Theatre in 2004.
The State Theatre appears to have closed January 3, 1967 with “The Swinger” as ads are discontinued thereafter but that’s only a guess.
The Ingalls' Opera House was at 205 North 2nd St. and was transformed into a recreation center and then a farm implement store in the 1940s. The Crystal / Greene Theatre was at a different location listed above.
The Greene Theatre’s last day was October 21, 1955 with “Man Without a Star.”
The Grand Theatre became the Family Theatre on August 25, 1915 with “The Shooting of Dan McGrew.” In August of 1918, the Family became the Garden Theatre.
The Garden Theatre conducted a name change contest announcing on January 21, 1922 the switch to the Rialto Theatre. The Rialto ceased showing movies on August 19, 1928 opting not to convert to sound and doing limited live events.
Under new operators, a five year lease was signed and the theatre was relaunched as the Royal Theatre on February 24, 1929. Silent presentations didn’t draw crowds and the Royal closed in August of 1929.
It became a church in 1932 through September of 1935. On September 25, 1935 it relaunched as the Capitol Theatre with “One More Night of Love.” The Capitol closed at the end of May of 1938.
On Christmas Day, 1938, it relaunched as the Iowa Theatre. The theatre closed July 4, 1961 with Glenn Ford in “The Americano” & Judy Canova in “The WAC from Walla Walla”.
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Other use – Church