Jefferson Theatre

On May 17, 1993, the Punxsutawney Arts Council tried to reopen the Jefferson Theatre. At the time, the theater was still abandoned, which sat abandoned since the theater’s closure for the final time on October 6, 1978. They tried to form a committee comprised of individuals with an interest in the restoration and reopening of the theater. The general idea at the time for the city’s Arts Council is to create “an umbrella organization to work with existing groups to expand cultural development” according to one of its members who also respond that the restoration and reopening should be considered as a part of the overall downtown renovation of people across Punxsutawney and will be a major step in economic recovery of the community. A total of four subcommittees were formed and one exclusively involved in restoring the theater. Two proposals to conduct architecture studies of the Jefferson Theatre and to approach renovation was expected at the time. Unfortunately, they failed to reopen the theater.

Shortly during its last days as a movie theater in the 1970s, the Jefferson Theatre was last managed and operated by Patsy Barber, a local resident who also is a longtime Democratic Party worker. The Jefferson Theatre was also named in the Pennsylvania Registry of Historic Places.

During the week of August 11, 1998, the theater was demolished forcibly.

And to think it had a Wurlitzer is amazing. Does anyone know what happened to it???

Would be nice to research this re: the Wurlitzer. I know an organ restorer and will ask him. In the meantime, will contact the Punxsutawney Historical Society.

My organ source has told me at the time of the theatre demise the organ was sold.

I’ve added a Sanborn view to show the general plan. The brownstone entry is still there as a gate to the lot behind the rather drab replacement building.