Grand Theatre
63 E. Main Street,
Norristown,
PA
19401
63 E. Main Street,
Norristown,
PA
19401
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Stanley-Warner Theatres, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Architects: Paul J. Henon, Jr., William H. Hoffman
Firms: Hoffman-Henon Co.
Styles: French Renaissance
Nearby Theaters
The Grand Theatre was built by the Sablosky brothers while they were part of the Stanley Company of America. The Grand Theatre was operated as part of the Stanley Company chain until Warner Bros. acquired the Stanley Company in 1928.
The Grand Theatre was the principal theatre in Norristown until the Sablosky Brothers built and opened the 2,360 seat Norris Theatre in 1930.
The Sablosky brothers resigned from Warner Bros. and then operated theaters in Norristown, Philadelphia and Bristol, Pennsylavania under the name of A. & L. Sablosky Enterprises, Norris Amusement Company and Grand Amusement Company.
Contributed by
Theatre Historical Society of America
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
The Sablosky (Norris Amusement Co.) also operated the Ridge Pike D-I and the Valley Forge D-I theatres. In the late 50’s and early 60’s The two D-I’s and the Norris theatre were operated By Budco Theatres but still owned by N. A. Co. rs
I have the relay from the original 3 manual 12 rank Kimball organ from the Grand Theatre playing the organ in my home. The console is in Wisconsin; I have no idea where the remainder of the organ is.
Gary Rickert
Here is a larger version of one of the photos posted on 2/6/07. Photo is from the Irvin Glazer theater collection:
http://tinyurl.com/knbtuc
organ info, I had the kimball toy counter and I have alot of artifacts from that theatre, sush as stained glass exit signs, the organ went to a church, and i just found out the church just had a fire and the organ is gone. there was a welte reproducing piano in the pit , long gone but i have some of the rolls, Bob
I have the organ console and it came to me in pieces. Work has been started on its restoration. A picture of the console is in Dave Junchens Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ Vol. 1 (Kimball Organ section)
The Grand Theatre was a rebuild of the Grand Opera House which had suffered several fires over its career, the last in 1922. It had been leased since 1910 for vaudeville and pictures by the Soblosky brothers, operators of the Garrick Theatre. A bit of the Grand’s history can be found on this web page.