The Harrisburg Mall as landlord has once again filed a lawsuit for back rent…. this time seeking 557k in unpaid rent which has not been paid since the pandemic hit.
The entire Allen organ (including all 36 of its speakers)removed from the State Theatre in Easton Pennsylvania has now been installed at the Roxy in Northampton Pennsylvania. The sound is incredible! The prior organ and all of its piping was removed. The stage has also been widened to allow more live performances.
The Leitersburg Cinemas were sold to New Vision Cinemas in January 2019. The theatres closed in March 2020 due to Covid-19. New Vision Cinemas filed bankruptcy on July 06, 2020. The buildings and 18 acres of real estate was sold in bankruptcy foreclosure auction on October 23, 2020. https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/local/leitersburg-cinemas-property-sold-at-auction/article_62f2ed4b-06cf-5081-80f5-0223dece9065.html
Auction of theatre fixtures was held on Monday October 26, 2020.
According to the website for the Cumberland Drive In in Newville PA (http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/9463) Donn Mowery took the insurance proceeds from the Newville Theatre fire and used them to build the Cumberland Drive In … which is still operating to this day.
Mark this one closed for good as of December 31, 2019. Being turned into medical clinic offices for Penn State Hershey Health.
Opened in May 1999 with “Star Wars Episode I” the Cocoaplex was seven tiny auditoriums crammed into the corners and perimeter of a former 10,000 square foot A&P Grocery (later then an Ace Hardware)Store. Patrons sitting in the front rows could spit and hit the screens. The Cocoaplex always struggled to attract patrons – which was good since its undersized restrooms would not have been able to handle it had there been any decent sized crowds.
On February 7, 1941 Wilmer & Vincent re-opened the former ‘New Arcadia’ (before that it was known as the Princess and before that the Crescent)as a western action house with Gene Autry in Ridin' On A Rainbow' with Smiley Burnette. The Ritz closed on September 26, 1951 with “The Hills of Utah' also starring Gene Autry.
Giant Food Stores bought the Drive In and adjacent Auction House property from the Haar’s family heirs in 2003 for 2.9 Million Dollars which came with a long term leaseback back to the Haar’s family to operate the Drive In. Giant Foods overpaid to keep Walmart out since Giant Foods had just opened a brand food store adjacent to the Drive In. Walmart subsequently found a nearby tract on which to build ….. which is why the Drive In in now listed for sale by Giant Foods. The asking price is 2.2 Million. If the Haars family cares that much why dont they repurchase?
There is already a Change.org petition called “Save Haars Drive-Movie Theatre”
More Info from the archives of the Hummelstown Historical Society.
The theatre at 25 W. Main Street in Hummelstown was built for silent pictures in either 1904 or 1905 by Benjamin Bombgardner of Middletown. It was originally called the Star Theatre.
With the advent of sound pictures it was upgraded and became known as the Royal Theatre.
Sometime around 1951 the owners acquired a second hand used marquee from another theatre called the Standard Theatre. So when the used marquee was placed on the Royal it then became the Standard Theatre.
According to the Historical Society the theatre closed in 1976 when it was purchased by Skip Smith as an antique shop for his daughter.
According to the Hummelstown Historical Society the Standard Theatre was originally called the “Royal Theatre” and was located at 25 W. Main Street in Hummelstown PA. When it became the Standard Theatre is unknown.
The theatre building and the next door buidling at 29 W. Main were then purchased and joined together to become what is now known as Kirman Eye.
It has come time to mark this one closed. The Borough of Middletown PA (which had guaranteed the Economic Development loan) pulled the lease from the community group which had been operating the theatre and the adjoining Elks Lodge building at the end of April 2015. That community group let both structures deteriorate to the point where public safety issues necessitated the Borough take action. The Borough closed the theatre at the end of April 2015 and began renovations to the theatre side but the Borough ran out of money. The theatre which has been gutted to the interior walls has sat empty ever since. The Borough sold off the Elks Lodge part of the building to the Tattered Flag brewery for a brew pub. The Borough has put the theatre side up for sale with a realtor asking $300,000.00. But given the extensive renovations necessary it is unlikely it will ever operate as a theatre again.
As of Wednesday February 14, 2018 the West Shore Theatre is now closed … most likely permanently. The theatre had been operating under bankruptcy protection for the past three years. The finance company which held the commercial paper on its digital projector finally obtained a court order for repossession and removal of the digital projector.
This looks to me as if the seating is all individual removable folding chairs. I believe that this may violate the fire-and-panic codes which require seats afixed to the floor for a public auditorium.
Despite an opening advertisement for Canada’s biggest CinemaScope screen, the opening attractions of “Kiss Me Kate” and “Red Badge of Courage” were both flat features.
The Glen Theatre in Glen Rock PA has not made the conversion to digital cinema. As such the Glen has only been open periodically during the past two years as it struggled to procure whatever 35MM prints of general exhibition titles were still available.
The Glen has not been open since early January 2017 when it managed to snag a 35MM print of “Sing”.
The Reistertown Road Plaza (Twin) was located at the front of the Plaza. In 1985 JF built the separate Reistertown Road Plaza 5 theatre at the rear of the same shopping center.
The York Mall (which was noted for its four interior fountains) was the first indoor Mall in York PA and opened in October 1968.
The 820 seat single screen Trans Lux Theatre was located in the rear of the York Mall behind the Montgomery Wards store. Not sure exactly when the Trans Lux Theatre opened but it did screen “Where Eagles Dare” starting March 26, 1969.
As noted above the correct address for the York Mall was the 2800 block of East Market Street in Springettsbury Township.
According to the John and Drew Eberson Architectural Records Archive Project Index the twinning of this York Trans Lux theatre/remodel is listed as Drew Eberson as Project 2002-C. This was done at roughly the same time as the twinning of both the Trans Lux in Harrisburg PA and Lebanon PA (both of which were also done by Drew Eberson).
The Harrisburg Mall as landlord has once again filed a lawsuit for back rent…. this time seeking 557k in unpaid rent which has not been paid since the pandemic hit.
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/11/harrisburg-mall-owner-sues-great-escapes-theater-for-557k-claims-rent-is-6-months-overdue.html
The entire Allen organ (including all 36 of its speakers)removed from the State Theatre in Easton Pennsylvania has now been installed at the Roxy in Northampton Pennsylvania. The sound is incredible! The prior organ and all of its piping was removed. The stage has also been widened to allow more live performances.
The Leitersburg Cinemas were sold to New Vision Cinemas in January 2019. The theatres closed in March 2020 due to Covid-19. New Vision Cinemas filed bankruptcy on July 06, 2020. The buildings and 18 acres of real estate was sold in bankruptcy foreclosure auction on October 23, 2020. https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/local/leitersburg-cinemas-property-sold-at-auction/article_62f2ed4b-06cf-5081-80f5-0223dece9065.html
Auction of theatre fixtures was held on Monday October 26, 2020.
Mark this one closed for good.
According to the website for the Cumberland Drive In in Newville PA (http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/9463) Donn Mowery took the insurance proceeds from the Newville Theatre fire and used them to build the Cumberland Drive In … which is still operating to this day.
According to its facebook page this theatre is now permanently closed due to the effects of the Coronapocalypse.
https://www.pennlive.com/life/2020/04/central-pa-movie-theater-to-close-its-doors-permanently-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic.html
First time for 70MM at Radio City
Mark this one closed for good as of December 31, 2019. Being turned into medical clinic offices for Penn State Hershey Health.
Opened in May 1999 with “Star Wars Episode I” the Cocoaplex was seven tiny auditoriums crammed into the corners and perimeter of a former 10,000 square foot A&P Grocery (later then an Ace Hardware)Store. Patrons sitting in the front rows could spit and hit the screens. The Cocoaplex always struggled to attract patrons – which was good since its undersized restrooms would not have been able to handle it had there been any decent sized crowds.
On February 7, 1941 Wilmer & Vincent re-opened the former ‘New Arcadia’ (before that it was known as the Princess and before that the Crescent)as a western action house with Gene Autry in Ridin' On A Rainbow' with Smiley Burnette. The Ritz closed on September 26, 1951 with “The Hills of Utah' also starring Gene Autry.
Giant Food Stores bought the Drive In and adjacent Auction House property from the Haar’s family heirs in 2003 for 2.9 Million Dollars which came with a long term leaseback back to the Haar’s family to operate the Drive In. Giant Foods overpaid to keep Walmart out since Giant Foods had just opened a brand food store adjacent to the Drive In. Walmart subsequently found a nearby tract on which to build ….. which is why the Drive In in now listed for sale by Giant Foods. The asking price is 2.2 Million. If the Haars family cares that much why dont they repurchase?
There is already a Change.org petition called “Save Haars Drive-Movie Theatre”
More Info from the archives of the Hummelstown Historical Society.
The theatre at 25 W. Main Street in Hummelstown was built for silent pictures in either 1904 or 1905 by Benjamin Bombgardner of Middletown. It was originally called the Star Theatre.
With the advent of sound pictures it was upgraded and became known as the Royal Theatre.
Sometime around 1951 the owners acquired a second hand used marquee from another theatre called the Standard Theatre. So when the used marquee was placed on the Royal it then became the Standard Theatre.
According to the Historical Society the theatre closed in 1976 when it was purchased by Skip Smith as an antique shop for his daughter.
According to the Hummelstown Historical Society the Standard Theatre was originally called the “Royal Theatre” and was located at 25 W. Main Street in Hummelstown PA. When it became the Standard Theatre is unknown.
The theatre building and the next door buidling at 29 W. Main were then purchased and joined together to become what is now known as Kirman Eye.
I believe this one may now be closed. The phone is “disconnected no longer in service” and the website hasn’t been updated in nearly three months.
It has come time to mark this one closed. The Borough of Middletown PA (which had guaranteed the Economic Development loan) pulled the lease from the community group which had been operating the theatre and the adjoining Elks Lodge building at the end of April 2015. That community group let both structures deteriorate to the point where public safety issues necessitated the Borough take action. The Borough closed the theatre at the end of April 2015 and began renovations to the theatre side but the Borough ran out of money. The theatre which has been gutted to the interior walls has sat empty ever since. The Borough sold off the Elks Lodge part of the building to the Tattered Flag brewery for a brew pub. The Borough has put the theatre side up for sale with a realtor asking $300,000.00. But given the extensive renovations necessary it is unlikely it will ever operate as a theatre again.
Wow. A top ticket price of over $50.00 (US).
https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/movie-tickets-in-london-hit-dollar50-%E2%80%94-here%E2%80%99s-what-they-cost-around-the-world/ar-BBRfUCW?li=BBnb7Kz
As of Wednesday February 14, 2018 the West Shore Theatre is now closed … most likely permanently. The theatre had been operating under bankruptcy protection for the past three years. The finance company which held the commercial paper on its digital projector finally obtained a court order for repossession and removal of the digital projector.
Theatre closed for good on Jan 15, 2018. It was the last tenant in the now completely vacant former mall.
This looks to me as if the seating is all individual removable folding chairs. I believe that this may violate the fire-and-panic codes which require seats afixed to the floor for a public auditorium.
Photo can be found on the Salamanca Historical Society Museum Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/204855169671116/photos/a.212259075597392.1073741827.204855169671116/523118227844807/?type=3
Despite an opening advertisement for Canada’s biggest CinemaScope screen, the opening attractions of “Kiss Me Kate” and “Red Badge of Courage” were both flat features.
Time to mark this one “Closed”.
The Glen Theatre in Glen Rock PA has not made the conversion to digital cinema. As such the Glen has only been open periodically during the past two years as it struggled to procure whatever 35MM prints of general exhibition titles were still available.
The Glen has not been open since early January 2017 when it managed to snag a 35MM print of “Sing”.
The 1966 Christmas Holiday show at the Music Hall was Disney’s “Follow Me Boys”.
MGM’s “Follow The Boys” was from summer 1964 and starred Connie Francis.
Link to the Feb 17, 2017 auction:
http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/showimage.cgi?lid=2836933&type=at&in=1
Listed as Job #1836 in the Eberson archives.
The Reistertown Road Plaza (Twin) was located at the front of the Plaza. In 1985 JF built the separate Reistertown Road Plaza 5 theatre at the rear of the same shopping center.
The York Mall (which was noted for its four interior fountains) was the first indoor Mall in York PA and opened in October 1968.
The 820 seat single screen Trans Lux Theatre was located in the rear of the York Mall behind the Montgomery Wards store. Not sure exactly when the Trans Lux Theatre opened but it did screen “Where Eagles Dare” starting March 26, 1969.
As noted above the correct address for the York Mall was the 2800 block of East Market Street in Springettsbury Township.
According to the John and Drew Eberson Architectural Records Archive Project Index the twinning of this York Trans Lux theatre/remodel is listed as Drew Eberson as Project 2002-C. This was done at roughly the same time as the twinning of both the Trans Lux in Harrisburg PA and Lebanon PA (both of which were also done by Drew Eberson).