The National Picture Theatre opened on September 17, 1914 with Alma Taylor in “Cloister of the Hearth.” Isaac and Rose Marcus operated the theatre. He had come to Pennsylvania at the age of 14 and became one of the city’s first movie operators. The National’s slogan was, “The Movie (House) for the Uptown Folks.” The Marcuses would sell the theatres late in 1927 unable to convert them to sound.
The Isaacs would then re-acquire the theatres. They operated the National, Royal, Rialto and the Family Theatre. Isaac Marcus passed away in 1942 and Rose operating the National, Rialto and Family. After closing the Family Theatre, Rose closed the National Theatre on February 28, 1957 with “Swamp Women” and “Godzilla: King of Monsters.” Upon closing the National, it was sold to Evangelistic Deliverance Crusade which conducted religious services.
The Rio Theatre closed for the summer on June 10, 1954 reopening that September. But a month after reopening, the theatre closed permanently with a double feature of “Coroner Creek” and “Gunfighters” on October 25, 1954. Operator Edward Herre was having the former Rife Hotel demolished next door and decided to take down the Rio, as well. That demolition by Hanover Construction began in December of 1954 and was completed in 1955.
Opened with “You Can’t Have Everything” on November 3, 1937. M. Dale Smith was the architect. On April 15, 1954, the Penway Theatre was refreshed to provide widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles beginning with “The Robe.” The Penway closed at the end of lease on November 7, 1977 just after its 40th Anniversary with Sony Chiba in “The Bodyguard” and “Goodbye Bruce Lee: His Last Game of Death.”
The venue closed permanently with live fare in March of 2024 just shy of its 58th Anniversary and moved productions to a nearby high school. The dramatic operation closed there permanently on August 4, 2024 and the organization’s contents were subsequently auctioned off. “Closed”
The venue opened as Moore' Opera House by Ed B. Moore. In May of 1901, the building was closed for a refresh as Moore decided to drop the “opera house” moniker. It was reimagined by architect William F. Wise as the Criterion Theatre. The roof was removed and the entire house redone. It reopened as the Criterion on October 10, 1901 with the live play, “When We Were 21.” In 1913, Edison projectors were installed as movies became part of the show. It would make the transition to full time movies; in 1928, sound was added. The Criterion’s final show was “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” on June 13, 1949 - the theatre burned down the next night.
Herbert Howell launched the Majestic Theatre opened March 3, 1911. It closed for films after a double feature of “Dragstrip Girl” and “Rock All Night” on March 22, 1958. A retail store for Fran’s Clothing was built into the theater in September of 1958 during a major refresh. On June 25, 1968, the building was destroyed by fire.
As noted, The Stanley Theatre on August 3, 1928 with “State Street Sadie”. It closed on May 12, 1951 with “I Can Get it for you at Wholesale.” A salvage sale was conducted within weeks and the theater auditorium was demolished in 1951. Demolished.
March 8, 1928 grand opening ad in photos with Ralph Hamilton at the Grand Organ and Bebe Daniels with “Feel My Pulse” supported by “Short Tails,” a Paramount Newsreel, and more.
Opening on August 27, 1926, the Wurlitzer organ wowed them along with Constance Talmadge in “The Duchess of Buffalo.” The architectural style was said to be a mix of late Italian and early Spanish Renaissance. Bathed in jade green and orange with the mural work by Robert E. Power of the Power Studio, the theatre was anything but subtle.
Judson and Avers opened the Home a Theatre on June 22, 1911 with “The Country Lovers,“ “A Good Turn” and “An Imitator of Blondin”. The theatre closed for a major refresh in 1950. It relaunched as the New Home Theatre on April 13, 1950 with;”Battleground.” It reverted to Home Theatre closing in 1960.
Regnboginn Cinema was the first multiplex to open in Iceland in 1980. It closed at the expiry of a 30-year lease. The Cinema’s received a major makeover removing its front and becoming a posh art house called Bio Paradis on September 17, 2010. Run by a non-profit organisation supported by the Association of Icelandic Film Producers, the Filmmakers' Association, the Film Directors' Guild of Iceland, RIFF and the Film Society, the theater is associated with Europa Cinemas playing imported art films the Europe and the United States in a variety of different languages along with Icelandic feature films and shorts.
At launch. a shop with arthouse DVD’s, books adjoined its bar and concession bar. That has since been removed in favor of a larger bar and gathering area. Film titles can play a single day and replaced with another art title the next. The now three-screen venue is also home to the Reykjavík International Film Festival.
The Hollywood Connection closed August 24, 2000. Carmike declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier in the month and was able to close most of the wildly underperforming portfolio of its family destination entertainment complexes that had second run movies paired with indoor activities ranging from laser tag to bumper cars and roller coasters. Among the problems in the Walmart conversions for Carmike were the 50-50 revenue split, the high cost of conversions, the concept of paying up front for a 5-hour movie/fun pass with second run films, the vibe, the… well… you get the idea. Both ahead of its time and yet poorly executed due to the terms of the rev split. The locations built outside of the Walmart locations from the ground up in Utah and Georgia were able to run first run content and one former H’Connect even made it through to the AMC merger.
The Hollywood Connection closed August 24, 2000. Carmike declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier in the month and was able to close most of the wildly underperforming portfolio of its family destination entertainment complexes that had second run movies paired with indoor activities ranging from laser tag to bumper cars and roller coasters. Among the problems in the Walmart conversions for Carmike were the 50-50 revenue split, the high cost of conversions, the concept of paying up front for a 5-hour movie/fun pass with second run films, the vibe, the… well… you get the idea. Both ahead of its time and yet poorly executed due to the terms of the rev split. The locations built outside of the Walmart locations from the ground up in Utah and Georgia were able to run first run content and one former H’Connect even made it through to the AMC merger.
The Hollywood Connection closed August 24, 2000. Carmike declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier in the month and was able to close most of the wildly underperforming portfolio of its family destination entertainment complexes that had second run movies paired with indoor activities ranging from laser tag to bumper cars and roller coasters. Among the problems in the Walmart conversions for Carmike were the 50-50 revenue split, the high cost of conversions, the concept of paying up front for a 5-hour movie/fun pass with second run films, the vibe, the… well… you get the idea. Both ahead of its time and yet poorly executed due to the terms of the rev split. The locations built outside of the Walmart locations from the ground up in Utah and Georgia were able to run first run content and one former H’Connect even made it through to the AMC merger.
The National Picture Theatre opened on September 17, 1914 with Alma Taylor in “Cloister of the Hearth.” Isaac and Rose Marcus operated the theatre. He had come to Pennsylvania at the age of 14 and became one of the city’s first movie operators. The National’s slogan was, “The Movie (House) for the Uptown Folks.” The Marcuses would sell the theatres late in 1927 unable to convert them to sound.
The Isaacs would then re-acquire the theatres. They operated the National, Royal, Rialto and the Family Theatre. Isaac Marcus passed away in 1942 and Rose operating the National, Rialto and Family. After closing the Family Theatre, Rose closed the National Theatre on February 28, 1957 with “Swamp Women” and “Godzilla: King of Monsters.” Upon closing the National, it was sold to Evangelistic Deliverance Crusade which conducted religious services.
The Rio Theatre closed for the summer on June 10, 1954 reopening that September. But a month after reopening, the theatre closed permanently with a double feature of “Coroner Creek” and “Gunfighters” on October 25, 1954. Operator Edward Herre was having the former Rife Hotel demolished next door and decided to take down the Rio, as well. That demolition by Hanover Construction began in December of 1954 and was completed in 1955.
Opened with “You Can’t Have Everything” on November 3, 1937. M. Dale Smith was the architect. On April 15, 1954, the Penway Theatre was refreshed to provide widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles beginning with “The Robe.” The Penway closed at the end of lease on November 7, 1977 just after its 40th Anniversary with Sony Chiba in “The Bodyguard” and “Goodbye Bruce Lee: His Last Game of Death.”
Closed permanently August 15, 2024
Closed at the expiry of a 30-year lease.
Reopened August 5, 2024 by the Alamo Drafthouse parent company.
The venue closed permanently with live fare in March of 2024 just shy of its 58th Anniversary and moved productions to a nearby high school. The dramatic operation closed there permanently on August 4, 2024 and the organization’s contents were subsequently auctioned off. “Closed”
Reopening under Alamo Drafthouse operation on August 23, 2024
Reopening under Alamo Drafthouse operation on August 20, 2024.
Reopened under Alamo Drafthouse operation on August 16, 2024.
Reopened under Alamo Drafthouse operation on August 13, 2024.
Closed as the Movie Rocket on July 13, 2023. Reopened for the second time as Hollywood Cinemas on July 28, 2023. Closed on February 7, 2024.
Closed in 2014
The venue opened as Moore' Opera House by Ed B. Moore. In May of 1901, the building was closed for a refresh as Moore decided to drop the “opera house” moniker. It was reimagined by architect William F. Wise as the Criterion Theatre. The roof was removed and the entire house redone. It reopened as the Criterion on October 10, 1901 with the live play, “When We Were 21.” In 1913, Edison projectors were installed as movies became part of the show. It would make the transition to full time movies; in 1928, sound was added. The Criterion’s final show was “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” on June 13, 1949 - the theatre burned down the next night.
Herbert Howell launched the Majestic Theatre opened March 3, 1911. It closed for films after a double feature of “Dragstrip Girl” and “Rock All Night” on March 22, 1958. A retail store for Fran’s Clothing was built into the theater in September of 1958 during a major refresh. On June 25, 1968, the building was destroyed by fire.
As noted, The Stanley Theatre on August 3, 1928 with “State Street Sadie”. It closed on May 12, 1951 with “I Can Get it for you at Wholesale.” A salvage sale was conducted within weeks and the theater auditorium was demolished in 1951. Demolished.
March 8, 1928 grand opening ad in photos with Ralph Hamilton at the Grand Organ and Bebe Daniels with “Feel My Pulse” supported by “Short Tails,” a Paramount Newsreel, and more.
Opening on August 27, 1926, the Wurlitzer organ wowed them along with Constance Talmadge in “The Duchess of Buffalo.” The architectural style was said to be a mix of late Italian and early Spanish Renaissance. Bathed in jade green and orange with the mural work by Robert E. Power of the Power Studio, the theatre was anything but subtle.
Ad with grand reopening in the Vitaphone sound era as the Adler Theatre on August 30, 1929 featuring Billie Dove in “Her Private Life” in photos.
Architect Frederick C. Foltz of Milwaukee
Judson and Avers opened the Home a Theatre on June 22, 1911 with “The Country Lovers,“ “A Good Turn” and “An Imitator of Blondin”. The theatre closed for a major refresh in 1950. It relaunched as the New Home Theatre on April 13, 1950 with;”Battleground.” It reverted to Home Theatre closing in 1960.
Regnboginn Cinema was the first multiplex to open in Iceland in 1980. It closed at the expiry of a 30-year lease. The Cinema’s received a major makeover removing its front and becoming a posh art house called Bio Paradis on September 17, 2010. Run by a non-profit organisation supported by the Association of Icelandic Film Producers, the Filmmakers' Association, the Film Directors' Guild of Iceland, RIFF and the Film Society, the theater is associated with Europa Cinemas playing imported art films the Europe and the United States in a variety of different languages along with Icelandic feature films and shorts.
At launch. a shop with arthouse DVD’s, books adjoined its bar and concession bar. That has since been removed in favor of a larger bar and gathering area. Film titles can play a single day and replaced with another art title the next. The now three-screen venue is also home to the Reykjavík International Film Festival.
The Hollywood Connection closed August 24, 2000. Carmike declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier in the month and was able to close most of the wildly underperforming portfolio of its family destination entertainment complexes that had second run movies paired with indoor activities ranging from laser tag to bumper cars and roller coasters. Among the problems in the Walmart conversions for Carmike were the 50-50 revenue split, the high cost of conversions, the concept of paying up front for a 5-hour movie/fun pass with second run films, the vibe, the… well… you get the idea. Both ahead of its time and yet poorly executed due to the terms of the rev split. The locations built outside of the Walmart locations from the ground up in Utah and Georgia were able to run first run content and one former H’Connect even made it through to the AMC merger.
The Hollywood Connection closed August 24, 2000. Carmike declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier in the month and was able to close most of the wildly underperforming portfolio of its family destination entertainment complexes that had second run movies paired with indoor activities ranging from laser tag to bumper cars and roller coasters. Among the problems in the Walmart conversions for Carmike were the 50-50 revenue split, the high cost of conversions, the concept of paying up front for a 5-hour movie/fun pass with second run films, the vibe, the… well… you get the idea. Both ahead of its time and yet poorly executed due to the terms of the rev split. The locations built outside of the Walmart locations from the ground up in Utah and Georgia were able to run first run content and one former H’Connect even made it through to the AMC merger.
The Hollywood Connection closed August 24, 2000. Carmike declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier in the month and was able to close most of the wildly underperforming portfolio of its family destination entertainment complexes that had second run movies paired with indoor activities ranging from laser tag to bumper cars and roller coasters. Among the problems in the Walmart conversions for Carmike were the 50-50 revenue split, the high cost of conversions, the concept of paying up front for a 5-hour movie/fun pass with second run films, the vibe, the… well… you get the idea. Both ahead of its time and yet poorly executed due to the terms of the rev split. The locations built outside of the Walmart locations from the ground up in Utah and Georgia were able to run first run content and one former H’Connect even made it through to the AMC merger.