I watched this theatre as it was being torn down. What a waste. I went into the rubble and salvaged a piece of decorative plaster that I still have in a showcase. I lived accross the streat from this theater. Allentown is a ghost of its former self and never appreciated its movie palaces.
This theatre is not torn down. I just attended church services there last week. The building is intact and meticulously maintained. Though it is a church, the exterior is restored and perfectly maintained.
I just went last week to the Tampa Theatre and saw the original silent version of Phantom of The Opera. It was accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer….as well as the entire Florida Orchestra. It was like time travel back to the twenties. The orchestra and organ played an incredible scort………fantastick!!!
I was in possession of the celing medallion from the State Theatre ticket booth…..removed in the early 1980’s when theatre was in danger of demolition. Someone gave it to me years later. I just mailed it back to the director of the theatre and hope that they install it back where it belongs.
The Embassy Theatre, at 342-350 Northampton St. in Easton, was the site of the former Abel Opera House. The opera house presented many dramatic and operatic companies in the late 19th century and early 20th century. A large lodge room and two stores also comprised the historic building. In an Easton Express article written by John Bonnell in 1957, Bonnell said the building’s site was one of the most historic in the city.Admission was 25 cents in June 1913 for those patrons who wished to see Thomas Edison’s talking pictures during Old Home Week. Two fires struck the theater in a little more than two years. One fire was started by a discarded cigarette on June 12, 1924. The second occurred March 26, 1926, due to defective wiring. Around that time, the operators decided to turn the place of “live” theater into a movie house. The last movies played at The Embassy in May 1966. “When Gangland Strikes” and “Doctor at Sea” brought an end to an era in Easton. The property was sold to Arthur P. Siegal to be transformed into a ladies apparel store.
From the Easton Express Times, Nov 5, 2005. online edition.
The Strand was located near the Tampa Theatre. It was incorporated into the old Maas Brothers Dept Store…..so who knows if any of the interior survived the conversion. Anyway….its gone now.
Just went downtown and the Strand is now a pile of rubble. The entire block is being torn down for a condo tower. At the time of demolition, The Strand building still retained 90% of its original Spanish character. Pathetic that at least the facade was not kept intact and developed into the new building.
I lived in Allentown during the mid-1980’s. I remember watching the wrecking ball smash into the side walls of the Rialto’s auditorium. I remember the box seats and balcony being exposed as I watched from accross the street. The wrecking ball kept slamming into all that decorative plaster…..I remember feeling sick as I watched this theatre get torn to the ground. I lived on 8th Street at the time……and shortly after they tore this movie palace down…they tore one down that was on 8th street accross from my townhouse. I watched that one get demolished also ( can’t remember the name of it)…but I did sneak into the rubble and took a piece of decorative plaster that I still have saved in a showcase. Allentown does not treasure its historic downtown…..and downtown was in pretty sorry shape last time I visited ( about 2003).
Typical, Typical Allentown!!!!
I lived there during the late 1980’s and watched the wrecking balls crash into the gilded balconies and side boxes of 2 historic theatres further up on Hamilton Blvd. I see they did it again! It is unreal that a decaying city doesn’t have the vision to see the treasures in their own back yard. These theatres could have turned around the urban blight that swallowed up Allentown.
I watched this theatre as it was being torn down. What a waste. I went into the rubble and salvaged a piece of decorative plaster that I still have in a showcase. I lived accross the streat from this theater. Allentown is a ghost of its former self and never appreciated its movie palaces.
today the news showed downtown cedar rapids flooded, with the waters nearly up to the marquee on the paramount theatre.
The drop ceiling really destroys the historic look of the theatre. Still, the rest looks great!! Best of luck.
A drop ceiling? You have got to be joking. Is that the “ before” picture?
Looks like they want to put in a private club.
View link
Does anyone know anything about this theatre? Interior? etc.? I can’t find a thing with research. The building is still there but appears abandoned.
This theatre is not torn down. I just attended church services there last week. The building is intact and meticulously maintained. Though it is a church, the exterior is restored and perfectly maintained.
I just went last week to the Tampa Theatre and saw the original silent version of Phantom of The Opera. It was accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer….as well as the entire Florida Orchestra. It was like time travel back to the twenties. The orchestra and organ played an incredible scort………fantastick!!!
I was in possession of the celing medallion from the State Theatre ticket booth…..removed in the early 1980’s when theatre was in danger of demolition. Someone gave it to me years later. I just mailed it back to the director of the theatre and hope that they install it back where it belongs.
The Embassy Theatre, at 342-350 Northampton St. in Easton, was the site of the former Abel Opera House. The opera house presented many dramatic and operatic companies in the late 19th century and early 20th century. A large lodge room and two stores also comprised the historic building. In an Easton Express article written by John Bonnell in 1957, Bonnell said the building’s site was one of the most historic in the city.Admission was 25 cents in June 1913 for those patrons who wished to see Thomas Edison’s talking pictures during Old Home Week. Two fires struck the theater in a little more than two years. One fire was started by a discarded cigarette on June 12, 1924. The second occurred March 26, 1926, due to defective wiring. Around that time, the operators decided to turn the place of “live” theater into a movie house. The last movies played at The Embassy in May 1966. “When Gangland Strikes” and “Doctor at Sea” brought an end to an era in Easton. The property was sold to Arthur P. Siegal to be transformed into a ladies apparel store.
From the Easton Express Times, Nov 5, 2005. online edition.
The Strand was located near the Tampa Theatre. It was incorporated into the old Maas Brothers Dept Store…..so who knows if any of the interior survived the conversion. Anyway….its gone now.
The entire block is now demolished.
Just went downtown and the Strand is now a pile of rubble. The entire block is being torn down for a condo tower. At the time of demolition, The Strand building still retained 90% of its original Spanish character. Pathetic that at least the facade was not kept intact and developed into the new building.
I lived in Allentown during the mid-1980’s. I remember watching the wrecking ball smash into the side walls of the Rialto’s auditorium. I remember the box seats and balcony being exposed as I watched from accross the street. The wrecking ball kept slamming into all that decorative plaster…..I remember feeling sick as I watched this theatre get torn to the ground. I lived on 8th Street at the time……and shortly after they tore this movie palace down…they tore one down that was on 8th street accross from my townhouse. I watched that one get demolished also ( can’t remember the name of it)…but I did sneak into the rubble and took a piece of decorative plaster that I still have saved in a showcase. Allentown does not treasure its historic downtown…..and downtown was in pretty sorry shape last time I visited ( about 2003).
The theatre was demolished. Its gone.
I went to the City of St Petersburg Web site and looked at the City Maps……it appears 504 Central Ave is now a parking lot.
Here is a link to a post-card photo:
http://www.stpete.org/images/020601.jpg
It appears to be a larger theatre.
Typical, Typical Allentown!!!!
I lived there during the late 1980’s and watched the wrecking balls crash into the gilded balconies and side boxes of 2 historic theatres further up on Hamilton Blvd. I see they did it again! It is unreal that a decaying city doesn’t have the vision to see the treasures in their own back yard. These theatres could have turned around the urban blight that swallowed up Allentown.