Auditorium Theatre

DavidZornig on January 2, 2025 at 8:46 pm

Early 1944 photo added credit Manheim Historical Society. Searching for an exact address still. Below history says South Charlotte Street, but Cinematour lists it at 39 Market Square which is a cross street of Charlotte Street. Either way locals claim it was remodeled or demolished for apartments.

Additional below history also credit Manheim Historical Society. “Manheim Proud of Modern Theatre,” Manheim Sentinel, September 28, 1939

“The Auditorium, east side of S. Charlotte Street is one of the finest and most up-to-date movie houses in the county. Air conditioning and all the other conveniences go with a place of this nature to make it comfortable for its patrons.

1. 1. Kauffman converted the Grace Lutheran Church into an opera house, showing movies Wednesday and Saturday nights. He sold the building to James Theros, of Lancaster, in 1926. Mr. Kneller purchased the building from Mr. Theros and in 1927 he reversed the entire inside of the building, as it now is, and provided for a seating capacity of six hundred and fifty. In 1930 the talking pictures replaced the silent screen, and pictures were shown every night except Sunday.

The American Legion occupied the second floor for a number of years. In February of this year (1939) the Legion moved into the Spahr building on South Main Street and Mr. Kneller converted that part of the building into apartments.

Mr. Kneller, because of his public spiritedness, has made the Auditorium available to many of the local organizations for the advancement of their activities.”