Senate Theater

The Senate Theater opened April 29th, 1938 with Irene Dunne in “The Joy of Living”. The theater was established in the old Russ Building, a building housing storefronts and offices. The upper floors were removed for the theater. The cost to convert the Russ Building into a movie house was $74,700, excluding the cost of clearing the upper floors.

The Senate Theater was owned by Jay Emanuel Theaters of Philadelphia, publisher of several theatrical trade magazines and owner/operator of fourteen theaters. The exterior was sleek with a cool, sophisticated, Streamline Moderne style facade of structural art glass maroon, orange and black with bronze and stainless steel trim. The interior featured soothing, rose-colored tapestry walls with a fleur-de-lis design and the color-coordinated carpeting.

Ending its days as an adult movie theatre, the last show at the Senate Theater the week of January 24, 1988 was an X-rated double feature of “Erotic City” and “Aunt Peg’s Fulfillment”. The Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority agreed on February 4, 1988, to acquire the building as part of the site for a new hotel. The Senate Theater was razed in April 1988.

Recent comments (view all 58 comments)

Ross Care on November 13, 2010 at 8:54 am

SENATE Theatre; THIS ISLAND EARTH:
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Ross Care on November 13, 2010 at 8:59 am

Also see: my album of Pennsylvania, California, and a few other vintage cinemas around the world + some ads & a bit of memorabilia:
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Ross Care on March 21, 2011 at 9:42 pm

Here is a new close-up photo of the Senate entrance doors and electric eye:
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JohnMessick on March 22, 2011 at 8:12 am

Thanks for sharing the picture Ross….I think as a child I was there for a Disney movie…I am betting it was a beautiful theater inside.

Ross Care on March 22, 2011 at 10:07 am

Thanks, John. As I’ve said, as I kid I first discovered movies at the SENATE over many downtown Saturday matinees. The re-issues of the Disney classic features and the first releases of PETER PAN, THE LIVING DESERT, etc.
Also of course great UI sci-fi thrillers, several in 3-D.

So for better or worse, it’s still a part of my consciousness.
:)

I recently discovered a few color slides of the Senate I didn’t know I had. Exteriors, such as the one I just put on FLICKr. I’ll add them from time to time.

Wish I had some of the interior. I do remember it was a kind of salmon pink with large white Art Deco lights on the side walls.

Yes, a great little movie house.

Ross Care on March 23, 2011 at 10:46 am

“And at a deadly pace"
IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE
to the Senate:
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Ross Care on June 5, 2011 at 12:16 am

See also: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39527581@N07/sets/72157626759926351/

Ross Care on June 22, 2011 at 8:48 am

Found some new color slides of the SENATE I took in 1982. These are some of the best yet. Here’s a link to one I just added: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39527581@N07/5857116736/in/photostream/

Ross Care on July 2, 2012 at 7:18 am

That is amazing! Thanks for the link. The Box Office site looks really interesting.

rivest266 on May 25, 2024 at 2:47 pm

Grand opening ad posted.