Library Theatre

31-33 W. South Street,
Corry, PA 16407

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on June 24, 2026 at 3:21 pm

This house was also known (at least as early as September, 1906) as the Messenger Theatre. Here is a notice about the name change and reopening from the December 19, 1908 issue of The Billboard: “The Meseenger Theatre at Corry, Pa., has been leased for a term of years by J. J. Desmond and will be remodeled into a handsome playhouse. The name will be changed to the Library Theatre and will be under the management of Mr. Harry W. Parker. The house will open Januay 4, with The Lion and the Mouse.”

The Billboard desperately needed spellcheck.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on June 24, 2026 at 3:02 pm

The current Corry armory is an NRHP listed building opened in December, 1907. The old armory was converted into a theater in 1908. A history of Erie County published in 1909 gives this brief account of Corry’s theaters up until then:

“In the matter of amusements, Corry has had its experiences. The earliest theatre was Wright’s, which was burned a good many years ago. To supply the need in the seventies the second and third floors of the Ajax building on Centre street were transformed into a handsome little theatre and called the Harmon Opera House. This was needed for other purposes in time, when the Corry Opera House took it place for a short while, until the Weeks Theatre, a thoroughly modern and complete playhouse was erected. This was buried [burned] in 1898. The city was then without any theatre facilities worthy the name until 1908, when the old Armory building was taken by Harry Parker and rebuilt into an admirable theatre, with a well equipped stage and seating capacity for 700. It is heated by steam, lighted by electricity, is well furnished, handsomely decorated, and is provided with eleven dressing rooms.”