Indiana: Keep up your hopes to someday help with the restoration of this theatre. A good way to start is to contact those who are involved and offer whatever help you can in whatever way. Where is the chandelier now? If the space was a former furniture store, did they keep the chandelier hung or was it put into storage?
Paul: Thank you so very much for posting this familiar site with theater photos now! I didn’t realize that Brocton had a theatre so would like to learn more about that one with photos as to the location in the town. Also the era it existed.
drumboy: Great to read about the the Mighty Wurlitzer in the Tampa Theatre. I never knew there was an original silent version of Phantom. As you know the Mighty Wurlitzers were built in the Town of Tonawanda NY in the Buffalo NY area. The main administration building still stands with the word WURLITZER over the front door.
The video that is on the above website that I first viewed on the Theatre Historial Society of America (THSA)is very well done and I wish you continued success.
It’s a shame that the seating area was been leveled when it was turned into a furniture store in 1972, but the 800 bulb chandelier sounds spectacular. I’d love to see a photo of it along with interior photos of how it once looked. Does anyone know who the architect was? In my travels this summer, I hope to visit Oil City and this former art deco theatre.
DakRoland: Good luck with your research on this theatre and please post any and all early history information you have learned about this theatre. Thanks.
Tony: Thanks for the update and it is sad that the young professionals who are choosing to move downtown (which is being done in many metro areas now)can’t go see a movie in at least one movie palace from another era.
Has it been posted as to what is at 527 Church Street today? I just reviewed the many photos and just can’t believe that this theatre and building that housed this theatre was demolished! What was the City of Nashville thinking?
I was in Auburn last July and decided to drive by this theatre. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been restored which is such a shame as the architect was Eberson and perhaps time isn’t on its side now.
Guard: Thanks for this very good news even though it’s only open on the weeknds….better than not at all. This town is the site of Fun Fest each Labor Day weekend when hundreds of Corvettes come to town so the owners of the Heart should run the cult classic, Corvette Summer, imo.
Interesting story and glad to hear that this theatre is no longer showing porn movies….“X no longer marks the spot”! I hope the City of Pittsburgh and others restore this theatre’s original beauty AND reputation!
Lost Memory: Thanks for the great collection of interior photos. Do you know whether this theatre has an organ or hopefully an original organ since it was built in 1921 and was a silent movie/vaudville house?
Interesting article as I always enjoy reading about neglected theatres and seeing what they looked like in their heyday and what they should still look like rather than the way they become due to so many reasons. It sounds like the City of Pittsburg is ‘stepping up to the plate’ to help which is wonderful. Keep us posted on this one. Thanks.
Interesting to see that an effort is being made to save and restore this very neglected theatre which at one time was a beautiful theatre built by the famous Sattler name (i.e. Sattler Department Stores).
Nice to see a classic listed…Jailhouse Rock though I don’t put that one in the same category as a classic like any of the Hitchcock movies, Cary Grant movies or the MGM musicals and Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movies.
Lost Memory: Thanks for this 2007 photo as I was concerned that this marquee and vertical MICHIGAN marquee had been changed because of the “recent” photo shown with the stats on the theatre. Are you sure this is a 2007 photo? I hope so. And I wish it hadn’t been twinned, but perhaps it will be a single screen cinema again one day.
jwm79: Have they removed the Millwald marquee that read Millwald? In one of the photos I saw the word Millwald above the brick in concrete so that will, at least remain!
Indiana: Keep up your hopes to someday help with the restoration of this theatre. A good way to start is to contact those who are involved and offer whatever help you can in whatever way. Where is the chandelier now? If the space was a former furniture store, did they keep the chandelier hung or was it put into storage?
Paul: Thank you so very much for posting this familiar site with theater photos now! I didn’t realize that Brocton had a theatre so would like to learn more about that one with photos as to the location in the town. Also the era it existed.
drumboy: Great to read about the the Mighty Wurlitzer in the Tampa Theatre. I never knew there was an original silent version of Phantom. As you know the Mighty Wurlitzers were built in the Town of Tonawanda NY in the Buffalo NY area. The main administration building still stands with the word WURLITZER over the front door.
The video that is on the above website that I first viewed on the Theatre Historial Society of America (THSA)is very well done and I wish you continued success.
It’s a shame that the seating area was been leveled when it was turned into a furniture store in 1972, but the 800 bulb chandelier sounds spectacular. I’d love to see a photo of it along with interior photos of how it once looked. Does anyone know who the architect was? In my travels this summer, I hope to visit Oil City and this former art deco theatre.
DakRoland: Good luck with your research on this theatre and please post any and all early history information you have learned about this theatre. Thanks.
Especially this one which had so much of a Nashville ‘feel’ and decor! To have brought this one down was truly a misguided mistake!
Tony: Thanks for the update and it is sad that the young professionals who are choosing to move downtown (which is being done in many metro areas now)can’t go see a movie in at least one movie palace from another era.
Has it been posted as to what is at 527 Church Street today? I just reviewed the many photos and just can’t believe that this theatre and building that housed this theatre was demolished! What was the City of Nashville thinking?
I was in Auburn last July and decided to drive by this theatre. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been restored which is such a shame as the architect was Eberson and perhaps time isn’t on its side now.
Guard: Thanks for this very good news even though it’s only open on the weeknds….better than not at all. This town is the site of Fun Fest each Labor Day weekend when hundreds of Corvettes come to town so the owners of the Heart should run the cult classic, Corvette Summer, imo.
View link
This site shows a postcard photo of this building. I can’t believe it was demolished since it had a theatre and the new one doesn’t have one.
Rick: Tell us more about the Syria Mosque and where does one go in Pittsburgh to hear the Pittsburgh Symphony?
And yes, is the organ still there?
Interesting story and glad to hear that this theatre is no longer showing porn movies….“X no longer marks the spot”! I hope the City of Pittsburgh and others restore this theatre’s original beauty AND reputation!
Lost Memory: Thanks for the great collection of interior photos. Do you know whether this theatre has an organ or hopefully an original organ since it was built in 1921 and was a silent movie/vaudville house?
Neat vertical marquee!
Would like to see some interior photos.
Interesting article as I always enjoy reading about neglected theatres and seeing what they looked like in their heyday and what they should still look like rather than the way they become due to so many reasons. It sounds like the City of Pittsburg is ‘stepping up to the plate’ to help which is wonderful. Keep us posted on this one. Thanks.
Interesting Capone story and connection to this theatre via tunnels.
Interesting to see that an effort is being made to save and restore this very neglected theatre which at one time was a beautiful theatre built by the famous Sattler name (i.e. Sattler Department Stores).
I just meant that some theatres do feature the classic movies for those over 50, I guess…like myself! LOL!
Nice to see a classic listed…Jailhouse Rock though I don’t put that one in the same category as a classic like any of the Hitchcock movies, Cary Grant movies or the MGM musicals and Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movies.
Thanks for the marquee confirmation!
Lost Memory: Thanks for this 2007 photo as I was concerned that this marquee and vertical MICHIGAN marquee had been changed because of the “recent” photo shown with the stats on the theatre. Are you sure this is a 2007 photo? I hope so. And I wish it hadn’t been twinned, but perhaps it will be a single screen cinema again one day.
jwm79: Have they removed the Millwald marquee that read Millwald? In one of the photos I saw the word Millwald above the brick in concrete so that will, at least remain!