Penn Theatre
131-37 S. Main Street,
Wilkes-Barre,
PA
18706
131-37 S. Main Street,
Wilkes-Barre,
PA
18706
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Comerford Theaters Inc., Poli
Architects: Albert E. Westover
Previous Names: Poli's Theatre
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The Poli’s Theatre was opened October 19, 1908 as a vaudeville house. Movies were part of the program on the Great American Electrograph. On October 27, 1930 it was renamed Penn Theatre and was operated by Comerford Theaters Inc. It had closed by 1960 and was demolished in the 1960’s.
Contributed by
Dave Bonan
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Once again, way before my time in the W-B area, but I know it was originally Poli’s Theater, opened in the 1st decade of the 20 century, a prominent vaudeville house which featured such performers as George Burns & Bob Hope. Closed probably before 1960, demolished in the ‘60’s.
Poli’s Theatre in Wilkes-Barre opened on October 19, 1908, and the architect was Albert E. Westover. The source for this information is a book called Theaters, by Andrew Craig Morrison.
I’ve been unable to discover when the theater was renamed the Penn, but it had happened by 1942, when the June 6 issue of Billboard Magazine made reference to it, and it happened no earlier than 1931, when an artist named Anthony F. Dumas made a drawing of it as Poli’s.
Posted to soon. I found this timeline of Wyoming Valley history from Wilkes University which says that Poli’s Theatre was renamed the Penn Theatre in 1931.
I have many fond memories going to the Penn Theater back in the ‘40s—with my parents taking the family to see the vaudeville / movie performances of the day. Or my grandpa taking me on the laurel line downtown for a Saturday treat at the Penn. THAT was entertainment I shall never forget. Through the eyes of a child back then, the Penn was huge, with its multiple balconies, huge stage, glorious colored stage lighting and orchestra pit. It did have a house orchestra which had integrated into it a Hammond Organ. The many variety of acts (unicyclists, magicians like Blackstone, animal acts, etc.) were special treats to savor. And how can one ever forget the grand entrances and lobbies of those palaces of splendor where the outside world ceased to exist for the time you were there. Sadly, never to be again.
Click here for a photograph of Poli’s Theatre taken in 1929.
This opened on October 19th, 1908 as Poli and became Penn on October 27th, 1930.
Poli theatre opening Sat, Oct 17, 1908 – 11 · The Wilkes-Barre News (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.com
I remember talking to old timers who went to the theater when it was The Polis. It’s now a parking lot next to The Sordoni Art Gallery.