College Cinema

The Victory Theatre was built in 1920 in downtown Shippensburg and became the longest-running movie house in the city’s history. Built with white brick and red and blue bricks as trim, the theatre sported a patriotic look and abided by the town’s sensibilities by closing on Wednesdays so as not to tempt local church-goers.

Frank H. Hollar launched his Victory Theatre on January 20, 1921 with Douglas Fairbanks in “The Mollycoddle”. It was adorned with a 16 foot high, lit vertical sign. The theatre was equipped with an M.P. Moller pipe organ with a two manual piano played by Professor Gordon Johnson. Architectural plans were by Maurice R. Rhoads.

On May 16, 1930, the theatre transitioned to sound with the installation of a Western Electric sound system. Frank E. Hollar Jr. oversaw the the theatre’s first 3D Natural Vision film booking it on July 1, 1953 with “House of Wax”. The Victory Theatre closed briefly in 1954 relaunching as a widescreen, CinemaScope capable location on June 11, 1954 with “Lucky Me!”.

1. Timothy Dalke took on the theatre when it closed in 1971. He closed for a remodeling and relaunched the venue as the College Cinema on December 25, 1971 with “A Christmas Carol”. The theatre closed October 31, 1985 with “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure”. The building was demolished in 1990.

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