Embassy Theatre
6 S. Main Street,
Lewistown,
PA
17044
6 S. Main Street,
Lewistown,
PA
17044
5 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Architects: Albert Douglas Hill
Firms: Hodgens & Hill
Styles: Colonial Revival
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
717.248.0321
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Mar 2, 2010 — Happy 45th, "The Sound Of Music"
- Oct 24, 2003 — Grand Illumination of Embassy Theatre Marquee
- Oct 13, 2003 — Embassy Theatre To Light Restored Marquee
The Embassy Theatre was opened on October 17, 1927 for independent exhibitors Harold D. Cohen & his father Hyman J. Cohen. It was designed by architect Albert Douglas Hill of the architectural firm Hodgens & Hill as a compact small-community picture-palace with an original design capacity of 682-seats.
The theatre opened during the final years of silent-film exhibition, but was adapted for sound in December 1928 when architect Hill returned to design a rear-horn room addition for the new Western Electric installation. The first public synchronized sound presentation was given on December 31, 1928. The Embassy Theatre was subsequently published in “American Theatres of Today” Volume II (1930) where it was described as “an interesting example of of a small theatre arranged for sound pictures”.
The Embassy Theatre remained in motion-picture operation until it closed on November 4, 1981. It briefly reopened in the summuer of 1982 as a live music venue before closing again on October 30, 1982.
In 1991, Friends of the Embassy Theatre Inc. was organized to save the building and subsequenly acquired it from the Cohen estate for restoration. The original marquee was documented and replicated, with the restored marquee illuminated in 2003. The theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and retains an unusually intact auditorium, balcony, proscenium, circulation system, projection room and other historic fabric. The Embassy Theatre also avoided the the extensive remodeling and multiplexing trends common to many theatres in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Restoration has proceeded in phases, including major infrastructure work and restoration of the entrance and front of house areas. Limited public use returned in September 2024, with a capacity of 100, while work continues towards reopening the main auditorium for film, live performance and community events. As of Fall of 2026 an upcoming project will rebuild the stage floor, repair the main ceiling and complete other work necessary to reopen the main floor.
Contributed by
Paul Fagley
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
What progress has been made on renovating this theatre since 2004.
I hope there has been progress made.
Love that marquee on the outside of the theatre. Thanks for the photo, Lost Memory.
establish/renew link
Updated post with a live link Here’s a blog posting with images of the Embassy.
My first ‘real’ job was as an usher at the Embassy in 1955. It was a great time at local theaters, and one of the few places in Lewistown with summer A/C!!
Bob Samuelson
This hasn’t been updated in 20 years, what happened to it? Did they ever open it?