Midway Theatre
608 Hamilton Street,
Allentown,
PA
18101
608 Hamilton Street,
Allentown,
PA
18101
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The New Midway Theatre was opened in a converted building on October 19, 1936 with Fred MacMurray in “The Texas Rangers”. In 1943 it was renamed Midway Theatre. It was badly damaged by fire on May 22, 1955.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
There may have been a fire there, but the building has not been demolished. It is still there and houses a retail store. If you go around to the alley in the back you can see the addition that was built to house the speaker when sound was added. It never had a stage and there was no room behind the screen for a speaker, therefore the small bump out on the back.
This building was an older building that was converted into a theater fairly early on. After a period as a theater it was closed and then reopened in the 1920’s/30’s as the Crystal Restaurant. Afterwards it was reopened again as the Midway Theater, which was one of the first theater’s in Allentown to be air conditioned.
Building dates to the late 1800s, was known as Ebbeke Hardware Store on ground floor, sold general hardware along with sporting goods equipment. Had professional offices in the upper floors. In the 1920s, was known as Crystal Restaurant.
Converted to cinema in 1935 (900 Seats). Originally known as the “New Midway”, later shortened to “Midway” in 1943. Was one of the first theaters in Allentown to be air conditioned. Closed after a general alarm fire on 22 May 1955. The fire started in the third floor, taking two hours to bring under control.
The theater closed, later being rebuilt and used as a retail store, today is Salomon Jewelers.
This opened on October 19th, 1936 Grand opening ad in the photo section and below
Found on Newspapers.com
Found on Newspapers.com
Status is Demolished. Today the Tower 6 building is on this site, per Lehigh Valley History.