Dattola Theatre
1021 5th Avenue,
New Kensington,
PA
15068
1021 5th Avenue,
New Kensington,
PA
15068
2 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 64 comments
This is awesome information. RA, my offer to help still stands. You know that I was involved in a previous attempt, and I’d be happy to work with whomever to see something good happen in that area. Your comments on building pricing are spot-on, too. I’ve had a few ideas for things that I’d like to start downtown, but for the work that I’d have to do to the buildings to make them inhabitable, it quickly becomes cost-prohibitive.
My grandmother, Laura Biamonte, actually just moved out of NewKen about 3 years ago, as she could no longer live on her own. She is in assisted living.
However, my Aunt, Maria Biamonte Warhola, would be a great source, as she remebers from the 50’s and 60’s a a kid/teenager. I am trying to get her more involved, and hopefully will have her signed up on here soon.
Glad to hear that. Although my family has moved out of the area, we still feel very connected to New Kensington. Please keep me upadated, we would love to see the building be open again.
Oh my, small world. He would of graduated with my brother and I was 2 years behind them.
Where does he live now and what does he do?
Is your grandmother still around?
She would be a great resource.
Thats my Dad :)
To: Anthony Biamonte:
Thanks for the info regarding the Dattola Theater.
Are you related to a Bart Biamonte that attended St. Joseph High School in Natrona? I graduated from St. Joseph’s and I remember a Bart Biamonte and was wondering if there is any relation.
The RA did not purchase the theater. The theater was given to the RA by the previous owner. The only other building that the RA owns on that block is the former Tile City building. Unfortunately by the time people want to donate the buildings, the buildings are in such disrepair and the City can not fund the renovation as it would cost millions.
We are trying to get the Dattola cleaned out and raise some money to renovate with the City’s blessing, but not with City dollars.
I have a picture of the front of the Dattola from the late 1940’s, quite interesting.
The City and the RA are doing a lot of demolition in the downtown area. We have inventoried the buildings in the downtown area, however the asking prices of several buildings are so high that someone just starting a business, it is difficult to pay the high price for the building and then do extensive renovation. There are a few buildings that are lower prices, but most of interest are high prices. At least that is the way the inventory sheets come back.
The RA has done work to the roof, but the inside of the building really needs cleaned out and we should be starting on that soon.
Any info or pictures would be appreciated.
Thanks
Yes, as soon as I figure out my scanner.
There were several art decco style murals, both in the lobby and the auditorium. My dad told me he remebers they used black lights to give the murals are very cool, glowing vibe to them. I dont think they survived past the 70’s.
I also found this online, and have a very worn hard copy as well.
View link
Dattola Theater: I look forward to seeing the family photos and interior/exterior shots from the early 60’s!
…the theater we see here was unofficialy refferd to as the ‘New’ Dattola. My Grandparents held part control until the early 1970’s. After selling the building, the new operators showed adult films (I cant imagine my poor grandmothers reaction to this). Eventually, by the end of the 1980’s, most of downtown had become dilapidated and the RA began buying up whole blocks, including the theater.
I think it is long overdue for a complete renovation, but nothing can ever seem to get off the ground in that city. Anyhow, I have great family photos I hope to post soon. Interior and extiror shots from the early 60’s.
Anthony Biamonte: Nice to meet you. Please email me (address can be found on my profile page).
My Name is Anthony Biamonte. I am the Great-Grandson of Bart Dattola. Since I was only born in 1985, I have no real recollection of the theater in operation. I was last inside about 15 years ago, and like much of the downtown area, it was in pretty bad shape. Lots of water damage, etc.
Bart Dattola originally began running a Nickelodeon in the early teens, called the Alhambra (in Arnold, PA). Eventually he would build and/or acquire the Paramount, Liberty and Dattola Theaters throughout the 20’s and 30’s.
woytek: I think I may have gotten my theatres mixed up when I asked about a planned June grand opening. A June opening was to be at the Strand in Zelienople which has been moved to July according to a recent email I received from a Ron Carter.
Patsy: I’ve heard some rumors, but don’t have any real information. Some people are being really hush-hush about it. I always thought that was a good way to kill enthusiasm and alienate people who are actually interested in these sorts of things, but that’s just my opinion. :)
woytek: Do you know the status of the planned June grand opening for this theatre?
RA = Redevelopment Authority? In any case, that’s awesome that people are doing some work in there. RA, I might be interested and able to help-out, especially with technical considerations for use as a music and/or performing arts venue (sound, lighting and stage tech are things that I do). Drop me a line via email if you are interested. I’m certainly interested in hearing more about what you’re doing. The contact thing on here isn’t working, so use woytek at dryrose dot com.
I believe that the photocopied information that I have includes some pictures of the inside, but I will have to check on that.
The inside of the theater now is just about the same as the picutures that are being circulated.
I would be interested in older pictures that would be of the original inside of the theater.
The RA is going to start working on this theater and with the condition it is in, it will take several years of renovation and raising funds to do so.
However, any information that anyone has is always appreciated. Our intention is to get the theater ready for music venues and later down the road add to the stage for plays and musicals. Now we are focusing on music and hope to use different artists to perform to raise money for additonal enhancements to the theater.
FYI, I have found and re-posted my original photos here:
View link
Hello all. I’m one of the people who took many of those photos, and did the original research on the list of theatres in New Kensington.
The current “New Dattola” was built on the site of the original Dattola Theatre. I have photocopies of the entertainment program from its grand re-opening. I’ll have to dig them out, as they list the date of the re-opening ceremonies, and have details about the new building.
The existing building is in pretty bad shape, though I noticed that someone has been doing some work on it (perhaps that is you, RA?). The photos and research that I did were for a grant proposal that the NKCT was trying to float several years ago. The original intent of the grant was to get the building and start renovations on it in order to turn it into a performing arts venue. At the time, the building had a relatively new roof, though it was not being maintained and a roof drain had clogged, leading to water infiltration above the lobby. Had it been fixed then, the damage would have been minimal. Last I saw it before the front doors were boarded-up a while ago, large portions of the lobby ceiling had come down into the lobby, and it looked like there was significant water damage.
Sadly, the original intention of the grant was not honored, and the board members at the time decided that they wanted to use the money for a feasibility study of the building, instead of just getting it and starting work. The group working the original grant had a lot of support from the city, the Redevelopment Authority, the Chamber of Commerce, and several local contractors and investors. The re-wording of the grant as a feasibility study killed it, though, and that was the end of that chapter in this building’s history.
While evaluating the building for that grant proposal, I took a large number of photographs of the interior. The existing seats were largely intact and really only dusty. I don’t know their current condition. The HVAC systems were pretty well outdated and destroyed, and would need complete overhaul. The emergency lighting system was in similar unusable condition. One of the contractors working the proposal with us planned to use one of the storefronts and turn it into an accessible restroom facility, as that was the one thing really lacking from the building that it would need. The projection booth was intact, and I seem to remember some of the old projection equipment still being in there.
When the New Dattola was built, it was constructed with a small stage and almost no wing space. The stage seemed to be more aesthetic than functional, and was likely in homage to the original Dattola’s vaudeville roots. While this was a hurdle for us to overcome if we were to make it into a performing arts venue, it was one that we seemed confident in making happen. There was a small grid, if I remember correctly, but no real fly space over the stage.
The original proscenium had been cut-into at several places in order to fit a larger screen at some point. I think that we looked at it and thought that plaster casts would be easy enough to make for repair.
If people are interested, I will see if I can dig-up the original photos that I had. It is likely that at least some of these are the same ones that Denny has been sending, though they may also have some newer ones courtesy of some efforts that occurred after I had left.
The other theatre of note in the area that is still extant is the Ritz. This is the theatre that I would love to restore someday. It is a classic vaudeville house with a great fly box and beautiful facade. It was converted into a department store in the 50’s or 60’s, if I remember correctly. However, a fairly recent visitor related the information that parts of the proscenium are still there under the false ceiling. That building would take an awful lot of work to remake into a functional theatre again, but it would be truly a beautiful project of renewal and restoration that might help to start some of that other “re” word in New Kensington’s victorian downtown: Rejuvenation.
Maybe someday. I always dreamed of using the Dattola as a stage and movie venue, and using it to help raise funds to do the Ritz. Once the Ritz was finished, the Dattola would be a multi-use space focused primarily on film and media presentation, and the Ritz would be focused on stage presentation. Unfortunately, I’m just a guy without any money to invest and dreams that are far bigger than I could ever be.
My uncle through marriage used to live in NK and operated the local 5 and 10 with luncheonette when downtown was prosperous!
Lost: Boy, that’s a depressing photo but it does show that exterior design next to the round windows which the others did not that were posted earlier. It sure is boarded up and needs some TLC. I wonder when that photo was taken? I’d say before the many photos that I rec’d from the Marketing Manager, NKCT. Many of those photos show several folks in the theatre along with kids looking and surveying the work to be done which is music to my heart.
RA: I have found the interior photos sent to me by a Denny Sulava, Marketing Manager of NKCT! If you’d like them, please email me @
Lost: I’ve been away from the computer most of the afternoon, but see that you and “RA” have exchanged Dattola thoughts. Come to think of it I recall someone by the name of Denny who sent me interior photos. RA: If you could send me an email, I could more than likely send those photos.
From what our files have, at one time there were 6 theaters in New Kensington. One of the other ones was the Circle Theater, it was smaller than the Dattola.
Where the Dattola was build was vacant land from what we can see. It is in a downtown area in which the building are right up against each other. We have done deed searches through the County.
There were numerous theaters in New Kensington. Maybe data got mixed up.
The original seats are still in the Dattola along with gas fired projectors and glass doors that were made by Pittsburgh Plate Glass. From the research, the glass doors were only a few made it that they do not have a frame around them. It is just plate glass with an aluminum bottom piece that keeps it in place.
The Dattola was built in 1942 and has approximately 700 seats.