Vernon Theatre
913 Philadelphia Avenue,
Barnesboro,
PA
15714
913 Philadelphia Avenue,
Barnesboro,
PA
15714
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Opened in late-1936, or early-1937, the Vernon Theatre was operated by the Ideal Amusement Company, headquartered in Johnstown, PA. It was closed in 1974 and was destroyed by fire on December 19, 1975.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Vernon Scott was the head of the Ideal Amusement Company, according to Boxoffice of October 2, 1937. The item said that the Vernon Theatre had opened “…at the turn of the year….” I guess that would mean either December 31, 1936, or January 1, 1937.
At the time of Scott’s death in March, 1942, the Ideal Amusement company operated a circuit of 14 theaters. Scott was succeeded as President of the chain by former general manager F.X. McClellan.
Barnesboro is now known as Northern Cambria
The Kittanning, Pennsylvania Simpson’s Leader-Times of December 20, 1975, said that the Vernon Theatre building in Barnesboro had been destroyed by a fire the previous day. Another source indicates that the house had closed in 1974.
After the Vernon Theatre was destroyed by a fire, its site became the location of a small public open space called Fridman Park. It is on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue about 100 feet east of Crawford. Google Maps says it is at 950 Philadelphia, but that’s way off. The businesses across the street are at 910 and 914, so the theater would probably have been in the range of 911-915.
The house seen on the 1923 and 1930 Sanborns at 1002 Philadelphia must have been the one listed in 1926 and 1929 FDYs as the Russell. It’s the only theater listed those years besides Smith’s (which we know was not on Philadelphia Avenue.) The 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory lists two houses on Philadelphia Avenue in Barnesboro, the Pastime and the Rex. It also lists two without locations, the Gaiety and the Grand. We have the Grand listed under the town’s modern name of Northern Cambria. Gaiety is still a mystery. Perhaps a missing aka for Smith’s?
Photo added: Graduation Ceremony of the Barnesboro High School Class of 1937 at the Vernon Theatre in Barnesboro, Cambria County. The marquee at the front of the building was not added yet. One of the movies playing was “Two Against The World.”