Jordan Theatre
52-54 Shenango Street,
Greenville,
PA
16125
52-54 Shenango Street,
Greenville,
PA
16125
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 52 comments
JohnMessick: Such a shame that this theatre is gone! And I agree….I hope that Seth hears us though I’d rather read that the Jordan was restored rather than look at a ruined lobby which resulted in a demolished theatre! Greenville PA is a small community, but it was a big loss when the Jordan was taken from them.
Patsy: The Jordan was demolished a while back. I check periodically on the Jordan page on Cinematour just to see if any pictures were added, and the black and whites were added. I bet that that was a cool looking place in its heyday. I wish Seth would post the photos that he took of the ruined lobby…SETH DID YOU HEAR THAT!!!..LOL.
Seth: On Nov 8, 2004 you posted that you have a photo(s) taken through the doors of the ruined lobby. Do you still have them to post or perhaps you can send them to Lost Memory as he posts many photos at my request. Thanks.
It would be interesting to know who the architect of this art deco theatre was as the interior photos and the marquee are most definitely art deco in design. If anyone has additional information on this theatre, please post. Greenville is south of Erie PA. In an earlier post I see that the theatre was connected with the Blatt Brothers whose name was connected with many theatres in that part of the country. Correct: This theatre seems to have been demolished according to previous posts that include mine from a few years ago. Such a shame as the Jordan Theatre should have been saved, if that is the case.
JohnMessick: What a neat old theatre as seen in one of the b/w photos. Someone should restore this theatre with the help of community efforts.
Some really cool pictures of the Jordan can be seen here. http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/11433.html
Many of these PA towns had theaters with the same names so they must have been part of a chain(s). I do plan to visit my husband’s hometown this summer and check out the former Columbia Theater.
I did Titusville on the same road trip, and I didn’t see anything that looked like a theater. They might all be gone.
Patsy,
The town of Titusville, PA had 3 theatres listed in 1941.
Grand, 624 seats (closed)
Orpheum, 122 W. Central Ave. 606 seats
Penn, 119 W. Spring St. 938 seats (newly opened)
None of these are currently listed on Cinema Treasures.
Since I don’t seem to find where one can ask about a particular town and whether they had or have a theater could anyone visiting this site about the Jordan tell me whether the Town of Titusville PA had or has a theater?
“The place was a wreck” pretty much sums it up, but that doesn’t mean an effort shouldn’t be made to erect a memorial for the soldier and to the theater that once stood upon that land in Greenville PA.
I took one shot through the door. The place was a wreck. I got several of the outside.
When I visit Greenville this summer I fill try to find and speak with this “Dale” who is the contact person at the First Baptist Church. BTW, I will not like seeing a parking lot where the Jordan once stood even though it is or will be a church parking lot! Seth: I hope you were able to get inside the theater and get some interior shots. Let us know!
I just went onto read in The Herald 2002 article that the building was structurally “a good solid building” yet it has or will come down……just so sad!
Tom Scott: Yes, a monument should be erected in honor of the American soldier named James Jordan! Perhaps Seth or local, Paul H. could work with the First Baptist Church of Greenville on this monument/memorial project. In fact, I was in Greenville this summer as I wanted to see the local college and never knew about the theater so missed seeing it before it was demolished. I guess the 5 million dollar restoration figure was just too much to tackle! Ignorant neglect, over time, was the theater’s demise. So very sad to see another ‘former’ theater go!
Lost Memory: I just read the Sharon Herald newspaper article and find it so sad that a previous buyer, Mr. French had made an attempt to restore the theater then walked away from the project! In the article the Blatt Brothers are mentioned having owned a theatre in Mercer PA. I would like to know more about the Blatt Brothers as I think they also had some connection with my hometown movie theater, the Grand in Westfield NY.
Seth: So glad to read that the church “did save as much as they could from the interior” and that they “will be constructing a small memorial with glass blocks from the lobby and leftover bricks to honor Mr. Jordan and preserve a little history.” I truly wish this theatre could have been saved, but it sounds like it was too far gone…“Almost everything had been ruined by water, etc.” Also, glad that a photo site has been provided us.
Does anyone have photos that can be emailed to me. I am a Greenville resident and would appreciate any that are available. I am intending on making a binder of any information I can find.
Thanks
I took several pictures of this theater on Saturday afternoon. I did not go inside. After talking with one of the guys from the church, it didn’t sound worth it. Almost everything had been ruined by water, etc. They did save as much as they could from the interior, and will be constructing a small memorial with glass blocks from the lobby and leftover bricks to honor Mr. Jordan and preserve a little history. I do have a shot taken through the front doors that shows the ruined lobby.
I can verify the address for you lostmemory. The correct address is 52-54 Shenango Street as posted.
Ok, Thanks lostmemory, guess we just found another mistake in the FDY!
The street address given in the Film Daily Yearbook 1950 is 5254 Shenengo St
I don’t know about that, but the church did save the letters from the marquee. I’ll suggest it if I talk to anyone up there.
I show an opening date of 1945 with a closing date of 1987 and a seating capacity of 1,200. Since this theatre was a tribute to an American Soldier named James Jordan I would hope some sort of monument be built after the building is demolished.
I called the church, and asked about furnishings, etc. Apparently, both of the projectors are too far gone (someone actually came and looked at them already). It seems as if there was a lot of water damage. The letters have been removed from the marquee, but the marquee is still up. I will be up there Saturday to take some pictures, I may be able to get inside. If I can, I’ll see if there are any small things I can buy. The man to ask at the church is a fellow named Dale, but he was out when I called.