Folly Theater

Unfortunately it’s been torn down; I managed to save two bricks from it. It’s such a shame. I doubt any of the remaining closed theatres in Erie being used as warehouses still have the screen/proscenium/sloped floor in them.

The Folly placed its first ad on May 19th, 1915 and closed or placed its last ad in 1952. Ad posted.

Google Streetview of August 2019 shows the building for sale and seemingly unopen.

The Folly Theatre is on a 1918 list of Erie’s theaters that can be found on this page at Old Time Erie, though the address is given as 648 W. 26th Street. The May 22, 1915, issue of The Music Trade Reviewnoted that the Folly Theatre in Erie had just opened. It, too, gives the old address of 648 26th Street.

This web page has a biographical sketch of B. G. Neyland, published in 1925. It says that he founded the Folly Theatre at 654 W. 26th Street in 1915, so the address was changed sometime between 1915 and 1925.

I agree with Vickaronomie—if I had the money Bill Gates has one of my “pastimes” would be to fix up old theaters like this and have them show whatever I wanted especially when I would breeze into town; it wouldn’t matter if it made a profit since it would be endowed to stay open for my pleasure! Aside from that bit of fantasy though, I’m wondering if someone in Erie or maybe even a city/state government partnership with private funding could restore the remaining theaters in Erie and show mainly stuff like Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons and Pathe News newsreels. I have no clue where as complete a selection of old newsreels and cartoons could be found but I think a venture like this could be good for tourism if nothing else and we all know a place as dreary as Erie needs something fun and original like this.

folley theatre(c.1905)is now an indoor flea market,in dire need of preservation,tin(original)roof rotting as is plaster(painted,original?)sconce’s,&other designs…some peieces missing.stage&screen area there.doubt if it will ever be sold.current phone#814 456 6161.has anbody heard of the ALPHA THEATRE in erie,pa.?
P.S.doubt if it ever sold in time for renovation/preservation.i knew previous owners(baldinis/folleys antique mall)he sold some of the original designs&wall paintings,NO MOVIES EVER SHOWN since the 50’s as mr.leibel

Jeff: I plan to visit the former Folly Theatre in Erie tomorrow. If you can provide additional information, that would be great!

Lost Memory: Thanks for the location on W. 26th Street! The opening remarks about this theatre by David Stear having been there in 1995 were “the present owners had retained the screen and original flooring. Most of the seats were removed”. Does this mean that the floor would be on a slant and not made level and that some of the theatre seats still remain? This will definitely be on my must-see list in ‘05! And I will see if David’s suggestion to show old movies and newsreels while customers shopped for antiques was done?

My grandfather was the orginal owner and founder of the Folly Theater. The Folly went dark in the late 50’s when he decided to retire. The building stayed in the family for a few more years and the seats were removed when the building was sold to a nearby carpet dealer to be used as warehouse space. Have more information if anyone is interested.

The telephone number for this antique store/former theater is 814-459-2503.