Liberty Theatre
801 5th Avenue,
New Kensington,
PA
15068
801 5th Avenue,
New Kensington,
PA
15068
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Rowland and Clark Theaters, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Architects: Harry S. Bair
Nearby Theaters
The Liberty Theatre was opened by the Rowland and Clark Theaters chain on May 2, 1921. By 1941, it was operated by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp. It was still open in 1955, but had closed by 1956. During the early-1980’s it was used for a recruiting office for the Army. It was on the corner of 5th Avenue and 8th Street.
It has been demolished and there is a vacant lot where the theatre once stood.
Contributed by
Chuck
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
I wonder how much success that recruiter had selling people from inside a dilapidated old theater. Knowing those guys I suppose it probably didn’t matter too much.
The April 3, 1920, issue of The American Contractor said that the contract had been let for the Liberty Theatre:
A document prepared for the nomination of the New Kensington Downtown Historic District to the NRHP says that the Liberty Theatre opened on May 2, 1921.The 1921 Wid’s Year Book lists the Liberty and Star Theatres in New Kensington among the ten theaters then being operated by Rowland & Clark.
Uploaded a larger photo of the Liberty Theatre to the photo section.
A story from my now deceased neighbor Mrs. Jean Stafford, about the Liberty Theatre:
“The Liberty Theater had a stage, and they put on yearly recitals in the spring and fall there for the local ballet group which I was a part of. Outside of the theater was a sign area for coming attractions for the upcoming shows, and there were photos for the upcoming recital trying to sell tickets. I wanted my mother to take a picture of me by the advertisement, but she never did.
What I liked about the theater were the cowboy shows: twenty cents if you were over 12 years old and fifteen cents if you were under. On Saturday mornings I would try to get by for being younger so that I had five cents left for Cracker Jacks which was a big deal. The woman knew my 12-year-old face, so that didn’t work long. Besides movies, they had acts and I remember when the “Ink Spots” came. One of the guys had a big diamond ring that looked like a spotlight even from the back row. I am sure it was real."