Hershey Theatre
15 E. Caracas Avenue,
Hershey,
PA
17033
15 E. Caracas Avenue,
Hershey,
PA
17033
6 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
The Hershey Theatre (Official)
Additional Info
Architects: C. Emlen Urban
Functions: Concerts, Conference Center, Live Performances, Stage Shows
Styles: Atmospheric, Italian Renaissance
Previous Names: Hershey Community Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
717.534.3405
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Nov 17, 2006 — Field Trip to tour Hershey Theatre
The 1,904-seat recently renovated Hershey Theatre is located in downtown Hershey, PA and was founded by the chocolate magnate Milton S. Hershey. Building began in 1928 and finished in 1933 at a cost of $3 million dollars. The Hershey Community Theatre opened September 2, 1933 with a vaudeville stage show, and Henrietta Crosman in “Pilgimage” on the screen.
The lobby is fashioned after St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice. The pinpoint blue and gold mosaic design work took two artisans four years to complete. Inside the auditorium, the Atmospheric style is designed in a Byzantine/Venetian theme.
The theatre’s historic four-manual, 78-rank Aeolian-Skinner concert organ has over 4,000 pipes - the largest are over thirty feet tall. The organ is played for a half hour before screenings of classic movies.
Today the Hershey Theatre is the site of many community arts activities, as well as touring Broadway shows, concerts, and dance. Its classic film series was shown about once a month until it ceased in January 2013.
Contributed by
Diane Paul, Stephen L. Zinicola
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 18 comments)
Renewing my link.
Susan Robinson was named in 1985 to be the Executive Manager of the Hershey and hopes to improve on the “CLASSIC FILM SERIES” started in 1979.
I bet they sell Hershey Bars at the concessions.
Yes,they do.
I attended Milton Hershey School from ‘63 to '69, and we went to church services in the theater Sunday morning, after watching movies Saturday night. Go figure. I’ll never forget the organ rising out of the pit, reminded me of the Phantom of the Opera.
With the retirement of long time manager and Classic Film Series supporter Diane Paul last year, the Hershey Theatre is no longer screening films.
The Classic Film Series was only once a month as a fill in on those weekends when other events not scheduled and the usage and partronage was not enough to warrant the investment in a digital projector.
Lots of pictures and history can be found here:
http://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/02/hershey_theatre_cool_spaces.html
Direct link to the Old Broadcast Equipment Page on Facebook. Scroll through 35 photos of the Hershey Theatre.
https://www.facebook.com/606358196047273/photos/pcb.2920552861294450/2920551104627959/?type=3&theater
Grand opening ad posted.
When I was growing up in Harrisburg in the 1940s and 50s the Hershey was a regular movie theater. But it alternated films with live performances. I saw road company productions of the Broadway shows PLAIN AND FANCY and THE PAJAMA GAME there, my first experience of real musical theater. The only film I specifically recall seeing (though my parents and I often went there) was an odd one, FABIOLA, an Italian film about ancient Rome which got a limited release in the U.S.Later I went to their screenings of classic films but I remember it was difficult for them to keep the CinemaScope films in focus which was really irritating.