Originally built sometime between 1886 and 1891 as Adair’s Opera House. Given there was a huge flood in 1889, it was likely built shortly afterward. 1895 map still calls it the Adair Opera house. Remodel changed the shape of the balcony, and seems to have eliminated a wide central staircase entry. The storefronts at either side of the entry were also deeper prior to 1913. The history should probably be rewritten for the benefit of those who don’t read all the comments.
It’s funny how late this part of Main got built up. In 1913, this block had the buildings on the corner with the park, then three large Victorian homes, and then the Majestic.
Address was 404-406, and this is long gone. Lots of parking lots and dumpy little prefab buildings in this stretch. Little wooden shops and homes in this area on the 1913 map.
This building still exists, at least on the 2019 streetview. It is abandoned, and likely to become part of Johnstown’s extensive collection of vacant lots. There is an ‘A N’ monogram on the top. The building may have existed in 1913, but the style looks problematic. If it was earlier, there was an extensive remodel to turn it into a theater.
The 1913 map has a large house on this corner. The next map is a 1949 update, so not terribly helpful pinning down a date, but the building likely dates from the early ‘20s.
Functions are wrong. The bowling alley used to be a car dealership. The theater was to the east. 203 is now part of 201, a dull little fake colonial bank. From the side you can see that the auditorium is now offices facing the parking lot.
The ‘park’ is really sad. A tiny spot of space next to a parking lot, where you can hang out at an intersection and look at the traffic light box and a few scruffy buildings.
The 1908 map calls it the Theatorium. It was located in what the map calls the Goldsmith Building, which indeed replaced a wooden store which appears on the 1901 map. It also offered vaudeville on a small stage. The 1914 map shows a wallpaper store located there.
The auditorium was not constructed until sometime between 1886 and 1891. It was called the Grand Opera House at least until 1927. The auditorium was so large that part of the building behind the stage actually hung over the alley. The 1905 Cahn guide gives a capacity of 1,000.
The Geyer was likely built to replace the Central Opera House, a large wooden structure built in about the same location as the Geyer’s auditorium sometime between 1884 and 1891. It was a simple one-story barn, and had no frontage on Pittsburgh.
The Geyer’s entrance has always been very narrow. It was originally a single story wooden structure that stopped well short of the street. By 1908, it was a two-story wood frame with brick veneer, set just back from the street, and by 1925 it had been remodeled yet again to its present appearance.
The name change to Strand happened sometime between 1914 and 1925. The 1905 Cahn guide gives a capacity of 806.
This has not been demolished. It has a hideously ugly slipcover, but it’s still there.
Originally built sometime between 1886 and 1891 as Adair’s Opera House. Given there was a huge flood in 1889, it was likely built shortly afterward. 1895 map still calls it the Adair Opera house. Remodel changed the shape of the balcony, and seems to have eliminated a wide central staircase entry. The storefronts at either side of the entry were also deeper prior to 1913. The history should probably be rewritten for the benefit of those who don’t read all the comments.
It’s funny how late this part of Main got built up. In 1913, this block had the buildings on the corner with the park, then three large Victorian homes, and then the Majestic.
What an amazing streetscape. Contrast with today’s grimly ugly view.
It seems that this Park was also known as the Park Family Theater.
This belongs to the other Park, which I have created a listing for.
Not that it likely has anything to do with the theater, but in 1917 the Moose constructed a large building at 306-308 Bedford St.
Address was 404-406, and this is long gone. Lots of parking lots and dumpy little prefab buildings in this stretch. Little wooden shops and homes in this area on the 1913 map.
Err… retail with offices above, rather.
For some stupid reason, I walked right past this without getting a picture.
This building still exists, at least on the 2019 streetview. It is abandoned, and likely to become part of Johnstown’s extensive collection of vacant lots. There is an ‘A N’ monogram on the top. The building may have existed in 1913, but the style looks problematic. If it was earlier, there was an extensive remodel to turn it into a theater.
The 1913 map has a large house on this corner. The next map is a 1949 update, so not terribly helpful pinning down a date, but the building likely dates from the early ‘20s.
Address is wrong. This building is at 423. Looks like offices with retail above.
Movie in Joe’s photo is ‘The Man With My Face’ so it was taken in 1951.
Looks like the cruddy little shed was being constructed in 2009, so the theater building may have lasted until just before that.
Address is wrong, and this has been demolished. Correct address was 339, and there’s a dismal little office building there now.
So they stripped off the brick facade, put up a fake old-fashioned front, and moved the entrance to one side?
Functions are wrong. The bowling alley used to be a car dealership. The theater was to the east. 203 is now part of 201, a dull little fake colonial bank. From the side you can see that the auditorium is now offices facing the parking lot.
Need status changed to demolished.
The ‘park’ is really sad. A tiny spot of space next to a parking lot, where you can hang out at an intersection and look at the traffic light box and a few scruffy buildings.
I was there over Memorial Day 2013, and had no idea there was a part of town all the way at the bottom of the hill!
The 1908 map calls it the Theatorium. It was located in what the map calls the Goldsmith Building, which indeed replaced a wooden store which appears on the 1901 map. It also offered vaudeville on a small stage. The 1914 map shows a wallpaper store located there.
The auditorium was not constructed until sometime between 1886 and 1891. It was called the Grand Opera House at least until 1927. The auditorium was so large that part of the building behind the stage actually hung over the alley. The 1905 Cahn guide gives a capacity of 1,000.
I think that has to be it.
The Geyer was likely built to replace the Central Opera House, a large wooden structure built in about the same location as the Geyer’s auditorium sometime between 1884 and 1891. It was a simple one-story barn, and had no frontage on Pittsburgh.
The Geyer’s entrance has always been very narrow. It was originally a single story wooden structure that stopped well short of the street. By 1908, it was a two-story wood frame with brick veneer, set just back from the street, and by 1925 it had been remodeled yet again to its present appearance.
The name change to Strand happened sometime between 1914 and 1925. The 1905 Cahn guide gives a capacity of 806.