Luzerne Theatre

The Luzerne Theatre was built by Thomas Alexander (Alexopoulos) and Louis Marinos in conjunction with the Comerford Theaters Inc. in Luzerne, Pennsylvania near Wilkes-Barre. It opened in 1925 and is listed in the 1926 edition of Film Daily Yearbook as the Marinos Theatre with 500 seats. In May 1930 it was taken over by Paramount-Publix. On January 1, 1933 it was taken back by Comerford.

The theatre ran continuously until Memorial Day of 1969 when a fire destroyed the entire block. In its final five years the Luzerne Theatre was known primarily for exhibiting foreign and art films.

The Thomas Alexander and Louis Marinos families also had theatres in Forty Fort, PA and Wyoming, PA.

Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

Joe Vogel on March 16, 2012 at 1:15 am

Roger, I think the phone number might belong to Tom Alexander, who submitted this theater. His family owned the Luzerne Theatre.

Tom, are you sure of the opening year of the theater? I found this item in the July 8, 1922, issue of The American Contractor:

“LUZERNE, PA. •Theatre (M. P.), Store & Apts.: $60,000. 2 sty. 50x165. Luzerne. Archt. James A. McGlynn, Simon Long bldg., Wilkes Barre. Owner & Bldr. Louis Marines & Thomas Alexander, 27 Main St. Brk. & h. t., stone. Soon to start. Owner taking bids on sep. contrs.”

If the theater didn’t open until 1925, that was an awfully long construction time.

dallasmovietheaters on May 25, 2016 at 6:51 am

The precursor to the Luzerne Theatre was The Splendora Theatre opening on September 21, 1914 in Luzerne. It likely had a ten year lease and replaced by the Luzerne Theatre.

50sSNIPES on June 21, 2026 at 5:23 am

Paramount-Publix took over the theater in May 1930, but Comerford took it back on January 1, 1933.