I have a photo of the State which shows the large office building which housed it. It looks to be at least four stories with a facade of rectangular stone blocks. Paramount’s “War and Peace” is showing. The photo is dated Oct. 14, 1956. (I’ll post this on my blog soon).
I seem to recall at one point the State and the Colonial were Fabian theaters? I hope someone may add details concerning the earlier history of the State.
I also remember the State CinemaScope screen and the stereo sound system as being really impressive. It was probably the first time I (and many people) had heard stereophonic sound.
I think I saw “Journey to the Center of the Earth” there too. It was always disappointing when a big Fox ‘Scope film (like “Prince Valiant”) was booked into the Senate. The Senate also got “How to Marry A Millionaire,” the second 'Scope film released (though I’ve heard it was actually made first).
With this entry I think all of the five major downtown Harrisburg theaters are listed here.
I loved all of these and it’s too bad Harrisburg did not have the foresight to preserve some or all of them. (I was told the mayor allegedly took an ax to the beautiful mirrored Deco doors of the Senate. So much for “historic preservation”!)
I recall that York wisely turned the Strand/Capitol theaters into a performing arts center. They used to have a vintage film series on the weekend.
Ironically, I’ve just heard that MGM musical star, Kathryn Grayson, just died. I saw her in “Kiss Me Kate” at Loew’s and at a few 3-D festivals many years after that. “Anchors Aweigh” (which was too early for me to have seen at Loew’s) is another favorite.
I once met her at the Virginia Film Festival in Charlottesville, a charming, gracious lady.
I’d be very interested in any pre-1940s/‘50s historical comments on the Harrisburg Loew’s. I mainly knew the theater during the 1950s. MGM was formed in 1924. Marcus Loew was running nickelodeons in the early part of the century.
I have photographs of Loew’s Regent. Unfortunately they were taken after it closed, so they are sort of depressing. In the background the huge Pomroy’s department store building towers over this old 4th St. block on the same side of the street.
I will put these on my blog.
Thanks for your comments. If we don’t remember and document these theaters who will???
They are an important part of America’s past and cultural history. The emergence of the shopping mall and other influences changed everything. I’m sure many people today do not remember how important and wonderful downtowns once were.
I feel fortunate to have been a kid growing up during this era.
Interesting, thanks. This sounds more like a double-bill that would have played at the Rio. It perhaps indicates that the Grand was going downhill by this time?
I think I know studios like MGM and Fox but when I go through one of those books that lists every film they ever made, like you, I find many I don’t know.
And then there were studios like Monogram (and Eagle Lion)…
There were so many films being made up through the ‘50s, and, yes, many of them forgettable. I think what we see available on DVD and otherwise today may just be the tip of the iceberg.
IMDB is a great source (for almost any film ever made).
BTW Barry Sullivan’s daughter is directing plays in the LA area.
The Grand is still listed in newspaper ads as of Feb., 1956.
It was showing a double-feature: “Jail Busters” & “Loophole”. I’ve never heard of either film.
The color I associate with the Colonial is olive-drab. The curtains and other fabric hangings were that color. Yes, it always seemed dark there too.
I managed to take a photo of the proscenium after the theater collapsed. It gave me something of a pang to see those hangings that I remembered so well from my childhood still suspended there and waiting for the bulldozer. Perhaps I’ll put this shot on my blog at some point.
I thought they sort of spruced up the State for the premiere of CinemaScope in 1953. It was probably the largest theater in Harrisburg.
I really did not attend it in its latter days. Friends from Lancaster mention that they saw “2001” there. I’m not sure if it was first run or a re-issue.
I mentioned foreign films at the Uptown and found a Feb. 12, 1956 Uptown newspaper ad for
Jacques Tati’s Hilarious Comedy – “Mr.Hulot’s Holiday,”
“First Harrisburg Showing,” Adults 70c, Students 54c,
Today From 2.00 PM. “Explodes with Merriment” – New York Times
UPTOWN Fourth and Schuykill – Free Parking
John, yes, that is my mother and I at the end of the line. I was about six or seven when my dad took this photo. This is looking up State St. towards Progress.
There is a caption under the blog photo that gives some more details about it and the Penway.
You can see the frame for the poster display window to the left of the picture.
I do seem to remember purple neon. Wish I had a color photo.
I wish I had a photo of the Grand. I did not attend it as often as I went to the Penway and I mostly remember the Grand for being right on the sidewalk. (I had a school friend that lived in one of the homes next to the theater and I thought he was lucky). I don’t remember a lot about the interior.
Very interesting that it was operating in the ‘20s. Maybe someone else could offer more details on the marquee?
My family attended Christ Lutheran Church on 13th St. I understand from its website it is still there and functioning. The Roxy was right across from the church.
I also remember a record store down from the Grand on the opposite side of the street, the Music Box?
I seem to remember the Penway, the Roxy, the Grand, and the Valle were all in the same block ad in the newspapers. I assume they were all owned by the same guy.
I have a newspaper page from 1955 and only the Penway and the Grand are listed in the “Screen Times” section.
I always wondered what was upstairs at the Penway. I wish I had other photos of it. I only have a snapshot my dad took.
The State was probably the largest theater in Harrisburg. The only one that could really screen CinemaScope on a large scale. “The Robe” was a big event and attraction there.
Do you remember the Roxy? Was it on 13th St.? It was across from Christ Lutheran Church. The Grand was around the corner and down Derry St. It was nice in the early ‘50s.
There was another sort of grungy theater down from the Roxy, towards 13th & Market, the Capitol?
If I remember correctly there was a fairly nice shopping district at 13th & Market: A Lee’s 5&10, a real market, and various other good stores.
I’m a little vague on the numbered streets, it’s been awhile.
The Hershey Community was beautiful and I assume it still is, a real palace.
After my family moved out of the city I lived down the road from the Harrisburg Drive-In.
The Colonial had a curious L-shaped lobby/vestibule, a kind of arcade. There was a main entrance behind the ticket booth on Market St. When you got to the doors to enter the actual theater there was also a hallway to the left that led to an exit on 3rd St. The stairs to the balcony were to the right of this lobby as I recall.
The interior space at the rear of the auditorium was rather cramped. There was a downstairs lounge (or men’s room) there.
It did become run down but maintained a sort of faded elegance. There was a rather ornate water fountain with eerie orange lighting. I think there may have been box seats too, from its days as an old theater.
I remember the Colonial as small and narrow. But it had a very high ceiling (so it seemed to me as a small child) and a rather steep balcony that ran right up to the projection windows.
I remember seeing “The Day the Earth Stood Still” from the very top of the balcony and being so shaken up by Bernard Herrmann’s Main Title music that I wanted to leave right away. Fortunately my father urged me to stay, as I ended up loving the film. (And still do).
I hardly ever attended the Rio, Like JohnS the westerns and B-movies it screened never appealed to me. Then it was one of the first downtown Harrisburg theaters to be razed.
Thus I only have vague recollections of the interior. If anyone has any clearer memories I would like to read them.
JohnS, where on Market St. was the Victoria? Downtown? I don’t recall that theater at all.
Do you remember Harrisburg radio personality, Red McCarthy? He had a show broadcast from a studio on Market St. close to Front St.
You may find a photograph of the Rio on my blog.
Please feel free to check my archives for other theater photos (and for film and film music reviews) and to leave your comments.
Thank you.
PS: John S, reading your entry in detail I see you answered my Fabian query.
Thanks again.
I have a photo of the State which shows the large office building which housed it. It looks to be at least four stories with a facade of rectangular stone blocks. Paramount’s “War and Peace” is showing. The photo is dated Oct. 14, 1956. (I’ll post this on my blog soon).
I seem to recall at one point the State and the Colonial were Fabian theaters? I hope someone may add details concerning the earlier history of the State.
I also remember the State CinemaScope screen and the stereo sound system as being really impressive. It was probably the first time I (and many people) had heard stereophonic sound.
I think I saw “Journey to the Center of the Earth” there too. It was always disappointing when a big Fox ‘Scope film (like “Prince Valiant”) was booked into the Senate. The Senate also got “How to Marry A Millionaire,” the second 'Scope film released (though I’ve heard it was actually made first).
With this entry I think all of the five major downtown Harrisburg theaters are listed here.
I loved all of these and it’s too bad Harrisburg did not have the foresight to preserve some or all of them. (I was told the mayor allegedly took an ax to the beautiful mirrored Deco doors of the Senate. So much for “historic preservation”!)
I recall that York wisely turned the Strand/Capitol theaters into a performing arts center. They used to have a vintage film series on the weekend.
PS: I just altered the size of the first photo to include a Loew’s MGM newspaper ad.
Click on any blog photo and it will ENLARGE.
A few entries down are two drive-in ads from a Harrisburg newspaper, October 1954:
View link
Two photos of Loew’s Regent:
View link
Ironically, I’ve just heard that MGM musical star, Kathryn Grayson, just died. I saw her in “Kiss Me Kate” at Loew’s and at a few 3-D festivals many years after that. “Anchors Aweigh” (which was too early for me to have seen at Loew’s) is another favorite.
I once met her at the Virginia Film Festival in Charlottesville, a charming, gracious lady.
I’d be very interested in any pre-1940s/‘50s historical comments on the Harrisburg Loew’s. I mainly knew the theater during the 1950s. MGM was formed in 1924. Marcus Loew was running nickelodeons in the early part of the century.
I have photographs of Loew’s Regent. Unfortunately they were taken after it closed, so they are sort of depressing. In the background the huge Pomroy’s department store building towers over this old 4th St. block on the same side of the street.
I will put these on my blog.
Thanks for your comments. If we don’t remember and document these theaters who will???
They are an important part of America’s past and cultural history. The emergence of the shopping mall and other influences changed everything. I’m sure many people today do not remember how important and wonderful downtowns once were.
I feel fortunate to have been a kid growing up during this era.
Interesting, thanks. This sounds more like a double-bill that would have played at the Rio. It perhaps indicates that the Grand was going downhill by this time?
I think I know studios like MGM and Fox but when I go through one of those books that lists every film they ever made, like you, I find many I don’t know.
And then there were studios like Monogram (and Eagle Lion)…
There were so many films being made up through the ‘50s, and, yes, many of them forgettable. I think what we see available on DVD and otherwise today may just be the tip of the iceberg.
IMDB is a great source (for almost any film ever made).
BTW Barry Sullivan’s daughter is directing plays in the LA area.
Well, then it was even a greater loss to what little was left of the Harrisburg theater scene.
The Grand is still listed in newspaper ads as of Feb., 1956.
It was showing a double-feature: “Jail Busters” & “Loophole”. I’ve never heard of either film.
PS: I can’t imagine the Colonial having over a thousand seats, even with the balcony!
The color I associate with the Colonial is olive-drab. The curtains and other fabric hangings were that color. Yes, it always seemed dark there too.
I managed to take a photo of the proscenium after the theater collapsed. It gave me something of a pang to see those hangings that I remembered so well from my childhood still suspended there and waiting for the bulldozer. Perhaps I’ll put this shot on my blog at some point.
I thought they sort of spruced up the State for the premiere of CinemaScope in 1953. It was probably the largest theater in Harrisburg.
I really did not attend it in its latter days. Friends from Lancaster mention that they saw “2001” there. I’m not sure if it was first run or a re-issue.
I mentioned foreign films at the Uptown and found a Feb. 12, 1956 Uptown newspaper ad for
Jacques Tati’s Hilarious Comedy – “Mr.Hulot’s Holiday,”
“First Harrisburg Showing,” Adults 70c, Students 54c,
Today From 2.00 PM. “Explodes with Merriment” – New York Times
UPTOWN Fourth and Schuykill – Free Parking
John, yes, that is my mother and I at the end of the line. I was about six or seven when my dad took this photo. This is looking up State St. towards Progress.
There is a caption under the blog photo that gives some more details about it and the Penway.
You can see the frame for the poster display window to the left of the picture.
I do seem to remember purple neon. Wish I had a color photo.
Photo of the Penway:
View link
I wish I had a photo of the Grand. I did not attend it as often as I went to the Penway and I mostly remember the Grand for being right on the sidewalk. (I had a school friend that lived in one of the homes next to the theater and I thought he was lucky). I don’t remember a lot about the interior.
Very interesting that it was operating in the ‘20s. Maybe someone else could offer more details on the marquee?
My family attended Christ Lutheran Church on 13th St. I understand from its website it is still there and functioning. The Roxy was right across from the church.
I also remember a record store down from the Grand on the opposite side of the street, the Music Box?
Very interesting. Thanks.
I seem to remember the Penway, the Roxy, the Grand, and the Valle were all in the same block ad in the newspapers. I assume they were all owned by the same guy.
I have a newspaper page from 1955 and only the Penway and the Grand are listed in the “Screen Times” section.
I always wondered what was upstairs at the Penway. I wish I had other photos of it. I only have a snapshot my dad took.
The State was probably the largest theater in Harrisburg. The only one that could really screen CinemaScope on a large scale. “The Robe” was a big event and attraction there.
Do you remember the Roxy? Was it on 13th St.? It was across from Christ Lutheran Church. The Grand was around the corner and down Derry St. It was nice in the early ‘50s.
There was another sort of grungy theater down from the Roxy, towards 13th & Market, the Capitol?
If I remember correctly there was a fairly nice shopping district at 13th & Market: A Lee’s 5&10, a real market, and various other good stores.
I’m a little vague on the numbered streets, it’s been awhile.
The Hershey Community was beautiful and I assume it still is, a real palace.
After my family moved out of the city I lived down the road from the Harrisburg Drive-In.
San Pedro saved the Warner Grand. Can’t Long Beach do as well??????
I also loved the Regency which was down Broadway a ways.
The Colonial had a curious L-shaped lobby/vestibule, a kind of arcade. There was a main entrance behind the ticket booth on Market St. When you got to the doors to enter the actual theater there was also a hallway to the left that led to an exit on 3rd St. The stairs to the balcony were to the right of this lobby as I recall.
The interior space at the rear of the auditorium was rather cramped. There was a downstairs lounge (or men’s room) there.
It did become run down but maintained a sort of faded elegance. There was a rather ornate water fountain with eerie orange lighting. I think there may have been box seats too, from its days as an old theater.
I remember the Colonial as small and narrow. But it had a very high ceiling (so it seemed to me as a small child) and a rather steep balcony that ran right up to the projection windows.
I remember seeing “The Day the Earth Stood Still” from the very top of the balcony and being so shaken up by Bernard Herrmann’s Main Title music that I wanted to leave right away. Fortunately my father urged me to stay, as I ended up loving the film. (And still do).
I hardly ever attended the Rio, Like JohnS the westerns and B-movies it screened never appealed to me. Then it was one of the first downtown Harrisburg theaters to be razed.
Thus I only have vague recollections of the interior. If anyone has any clearer memories I would like to read them.
JohnS, where on Market St. was the Victoria? Downtown? I don’t recall that theater at all.
Do you remember Harrisburg radio personality, Red McCarthy? He had a show broadcast from a studio on Market St. close to Front St.
You may find a photograph of the Rio on my blog.
Please feel free to check my archives for other theater photos (and for film and film music reviews) and to leave your comments.
Thank you.
View link
I seem to remember seeing “Fantasia” here in 1960s.
Vaguely. :)