Cambria Theatre
339 Main Street,
Johnstown,
PA
15901
339 Main Street,
Johnstown,
PA
15901
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Previous Names: Adair's Opera House, New Cambria Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Adair’s Opera House was opened around 1891. In 1895 it was renamed New Cambria Theatre. Cambria Theatre was operating as a movie theatre by 1929 when it became part of the Warner Bros. Circuit. It was still open in 1950.
Contributed by
Billy Holcomb / Billy Smith / Don Lewis
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Open 1920-1955?
Anyone have more info or photos?
From Johnstown a view of southeast Main Street and the Cambria Theatre.
There is quite a bit of the Cambria’s early history, especially as a legitimate theater, in Chapter 13: Leisure on p. 25 under on this Google book online page (you may have to scan up to the beginning of Chapter 13): http://tiny.cc/gho1t
I just uploaded a pretty clear photo.
The Cambria Theatre was in operation prior to 1894. In that year it was purchased by Isaac Mishler, who rebuilt it and reopened it in 1895 as the New Cambria Theatre.
Address is wrong, and this has been demolished. Correct address was 339, and there’s a dismal little office building there now.
Looks like the cruddy little shed was being constructed in 2009, so the theater building may have lasted until just before that.
Originally built sometime between 1886 and 1891 as Adair’s Opera House. Given there was a huge flood in 1889, it was likely built shortly afterward. 1895 map still calls it the Adair Opera house. Remodel changed the shape of the balcony, and seems to have eliminated a wide central staircase entry. The storefronts at either side of the entry were also deeper prior to 1913. The history should probably be rewritten for the benefit of those who don’t read all the comments.
When there were live performances the Cambria attracted the big name artists.