The East Park Center shopping plaza was announced in 1962 anchored by a Town & Country discount variety store and a Super Thrift Food Market. Sameric Theatre and Sam Shapiro added the Eric Theatre, a 1,400 luxury cinema to the complex in the planning stages just to the right of the Super Thrift. Purportedly, it was “adaptable” to Cinerama but would open with 70mm and 35mm capability and stereo sound. The theatre was a big deal as Governor William W. Scranton showed up to lay the cornerstone for the theater on April 26, 1963.
The Eric Theatre opened in the East Park Center with a ribbon cutting by State Senator M. Harvey Taylor on July 10, 1963. Just over ten years later, on December 19, 1973, the venue became a twin called Twin Eric I and II with “Sleeper” and a double feature of “Midnight Cowboy” and “Easy Rider.”
Sameric Theatres sold the theatre in May of 1989 to UAB II Inc. with the theatres operated by Creative Entertainment, LTD. The theaters were renamed as the Twin East Park Center Theatres on May 5, 1989. The Creative Entertainment nameplate was discontinued in 1991 with the theaters continuing. On April 23, 1993, they became the UA East Park I & II Theatres.
The UA East Park I & II Theatres closed at the end of lease on February 26, 1995 with “Nobody’s Fool” and “Legends of the Fall.” Any thoughts of returning the cinemas to operational condition was challenged by arsonists who set a number of small fires inside the twins in 1996. The theater stood until 2006 when it was finally demolished.
The Orpheum Theatre closed with a stage play on May 14, 1925. Two months prior, an architectural plan was revealed under the name of the New Orpheum. That project would be renamed as the State Theatre during construction. Craver’s Soda Fountain opened in the lobby serving as the de facto concession stand at the theater’s launch on April 12, 1926.
The State Theatre was refreshed in 1953 to play widescreen titles starting November 5, 1953 with “The Robe” in CinemaScope. The State was closed after a double feature of Velvet Busch in “Lunch” and Janine Lenon in “Aroused” on November 25, 1973. The marquee was maintained until demolition to advertise concerts, provide holiday messages and, finally, to advertise the auctioning off of the venue’s fixtures where you could purchase everything including the marquee. A preservation effort failed early in 1974 and the auction was held May 6-8, 1974. The demolition of the theater took place thereafter.
On June 9, 1978, Trans-Lux sold the venue to the Sameric Circuit and the theatre became the Eric Twin Colonial Park Theatres. The venue made it to the end of its 20-year lease closing permanently with “Stand by Me” and “Playing for Keeps” on November 7, 1986. The theatre moved inside the Colonial Park Mall to open a quadplex. The former Trans-Lux turned Eric Twin Colonial Park Theatres were torn down.
Loew’s Regent closed August 29, 1960 at the end of lease with “Elmer Gantry.” The theater went out profitably in its final year including more than 10,000 tickets sold just for its final 17-day run of “Gantry.” Central Parking took on the property with demolition starting on September 6, 1960.
The Broad Theatre closed with a continuous run, grind policy on August 27, 1953 with “Northern Patrol” and “The Blue Gardenia.” It sat vacant until 1955, it was converted to a retail Greenberg Boston store that was forced from a previous location due to fire.
The National Picture Theatre opened on September 17, 1914 with Alma Taylor in “Cloister of the Hearth.” Isaac and Rose Marcus operated the theatre. He had come to Pennsylvania at the age of 14 and became one of the city’s first movie operators. The National’s slogan was, “The Movie (House) for the Uptown Folks.” The Marcuses would sell the theatres late in 1927 unable to convert them to sound.
The Isaacs would then re-acquire the theatres. They operated the National, Royal, Rialto and the Family Theatre. Isaac Marcus passed away in 1942 and Rose operating the National, Rialto and Family. After closing the Family Theatre, Rose closed the National Theatre on February 28, 1957 with “Swamp Women” and “Godzilla: King of Monsters.” Upon closing the National, it was sold to Evangelistic Deliverance Crusade which conducted religious services.
The Rio Theatre closed for the summer on June 10, 1954 reopening that September. But a month after reopening, the theatre closed permanently with a double feature of “Coroner Creek” and “Gunfighters” on October 25, 1954. Operator Edward Herre was having the former Rife Hotel demolished next door and decided to take down the Rio, as well. That demolition by Hanover Construction began in December of 1954 and was completed in 1955.
Opened with “You Can’t Have Everything” on November 3, 1937. M. Dale Smith was the architect. On April 15, 1954, the Penway Theatre was refreshed to provide widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles beginning with “The Robe.” The Penway closed at the end of lease on November 7, 1977 just after its 40th Anniversary with Sony Chiba in “The Bodyguard” and “Goodbye Bruce Lee: His Last Game of Death.”
The venue closed permanently with live fare in March of 2024 just shy of its 58th Anniversary and moved productions to a nearby high school. The dramatic operation closed there permanently on August 4, 2024 and the organization’s contents were subsequently auctioned off. “Closed”
The venue opened as Moore' Opera House by Ed B. Moore. In May of 1901, the building was closed for a refresh as Moore decided to drop the “opera house” moniker. It was reimagined by architect William F. Wise as the Criterion Theatre. The roof was removed and the entire house redone. It reopened as the Criterion on October 10, 1901 with the live play, “When We Were 21.” In 1913, Edison projectors were installed as movies became part of the show. It would make the transition to full time movies; in 1928, sound was added. The Criterion’s final show was “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” on June 13, 1949 - the theatre burned down the next night.
Herbert Howell launched the Majestic Theatre opened March 3, 1911. It closed for films after a double feature of “Dragstrip Girl” and “Rock All Night” on March 22, 1958. A retail store for Fran’s Clothing was built into the theater in September of 1958 during a major refresh. On June 25, 1968, the building was destroyed by fire.
As noted, The Stanley Theatre on August 3, 1928 with “State Street Sadie”. It closed on May 12, 1951 with “I Can Get it for you at Wholesale.” A salvage sale was conducted within weeks and the theater auditorium was demolished in 1951. Demolished.
March 8, 1928 grand opening ad in photos with Ralph Hamilton at the Grand Organ and Bebe Daniels with “Feel My Pulse” supported by “Short Tails,” a Paramount Newsreel, and more.
Opening on August 27, 1926, the Wurlitzer organ wowed them along with Constance Talmadge in “The Duchess of Buffalo.” The architectural style was said to be a mix of late Italian and early Spanish Renaissance. Bathed in jade green and orange with the mural work by Robert E. Power of the Power Studio, the theatre was anything but subtle.
Announced closure after shows on August 29, 2024.
The East Park Center shopping plaza was announced in 1962 anchored by a Town & Country discount variety store and a Super Thrift Food Market. Sameric Theatre and Sam Shapiro added the Eric Theatre, a 1,400 luxury cinema to the complex in the planning stages just to the right of the Super Thrift. Purportedly, it was “adaptable” to Cinerama but would open with 70mm and 35mm capability and stereo sound. The theatre was a big deal as Governor William W. Scranton showed up to lay the cornerstone for the theater on April 26, 1963.
The Eric Theatre opened in the East Park Center with a ribbon cutting by State Senator M. Harvey Taylor on July 10, 1963. Just over ten years later, on December 19, 1973, the venue became a twin called Twin Eric I and II with “Sleeper” and a double feature of “Midnight Cowboy” and “Easy Rider.”
Sameric Theatres sold the theatre in May of 1989 to UAB II Inc. with the theatres operated by Creative Entertainment, LTD. The theaters were renamed as the Twin East Park Center Theatres on May 5, 1989. The Creative Entertainment nameplate was discontinued in 1991 with the theaters continuing. On April 23, 1993, they became the UA East Park I & II Theatres.
The UA East Park I & II Theatres closed at the end of lease on February 26, 1995 with “Nobody’s Fool” and “Legends of the Fall.” Any thoughts of returning the cinemas to operational condition was challenged by arsonists who set a number of small fires inside the twins in 1996. The theater stood until 2006 when it was finally demolished.
BTW: As advertised above, The Trammps - prior to their “Disco Inferno” fame - played the Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg on April 14, 1974.
The Orpheum Theatre closed with a stage play on May 14, 1925. Two months prior, an architectural plan was revealed under the name of the New Orpheum. That project would be renamed as the State Theatre during construction. Craver’s Soda Fountain opened in the lobby serving as the de facto concession stand at the theater’s launch on April 12, 1926.
The State Theatre was refreshed in 1953 to play widescreen titles starting November 5, 1953 with “The Robe” in CinemaScope. The State was closed after a double feature of Velvet Busch in “Lunch” and Janine Lenon in “Aroused” on November 25, 1973. The marquee was maintained until demolition to advertise concerts, provide holiday messages and, finally, to advertise the auctioning off of the venue’s fixtures where you could purchase everything including the marquee. A preservation effort failed early in 1974 and the auction was held May 6-8, 1974. The demolition of the theater took place thereafter.
On June 9, 1978, Trans-Lux sold the venue to the Sameric Circuit and the theatre became the Eric Twin Colonial Park Theatres. The venue made it to the end of its 20-year lease closing permanently with “Stand by Me” and “Playing for Keeps” on November 7, 1986. The theatre moved inside the Colonial Park Mall to open a quadplex. The former Trans-Lux turned Eric Twin Colonial Park Theatres were torn down.
Loew’s Regent closed August 29, 1960 at the end of lease with “Elmer Gantry.” The theater went out profitably in its final year including more than 10,000 tickets sold just for its final 17-day run of “Gantry.” Central Parking took on the property with demolition starting on September 6, 1960.
The Broad Theatre closed with a continuous run, grind policy on August 27, 1953 with “Northern Patrol” and “The Blue Gardenia.” It sat vacant until 1955, it was converted to a retail Greenberg Boston store that was forced from a previous location due to fire.
The National Picture Theatre opened on September 17, 1914 with Alma Taylor in “Cloister of the Hearth.” Isaac and Rose Marcus operated the theatre. He had come to Pennsylvania at the age of 14 and became one of the city’s first movie operators. The National’s slogan was, “The Movie (House) for the Uptown Folks.” The Marcuses would sell the theatres late in 1927 unable to convert them to sound.
The Isaacs would then re-acquire the theatres. They operated the National, Royal, Rialto and the Family Theatre. Isaac Marcus passed away in 1942 and Rose operating the National, Rialto and Family. After closing the Family Theatre, Rose closed the National Theatre on February 28, 1957 with “Swamp Women” and “Godzilla: King of Monsters.” Upon closing the National, it was sold to Evangelistic Deliverance Crusade which conducted religious services.
The Rio Theatre closed for the summer on June 10, 1954 reopening that September. But a month after reopening, the theatre closed permanently with a double feature of “Coroner Creek” and “Gunfighters” on October 25, 1954. Operator Edward Herre was having the former Rife Hotel demolished next door and decided to take down the Rio, as well. That demolition by Hanover Construction began in December of 1954 and was completed in 1955.
Opened with “You Can’t Have Everything” on November 3, 1937. M. Dale Smith was the architect. On April 15, 1954, the Penway Theatre was refreshed to provide widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles beginning with “The Robe.” The Penway closed at the end of lease on November 7, 1977 just after its 40th Anniversary with Sony Chiba in “The Bodyguard” and “Goodbye Bruce Lee: His Last Game of Death.”
Closed permanently August 15, 2024
Closed at the expiry of a 30-year lease.
Reopened August 5, 2024 by the Alamo Drafthouse parent company.
The venue closed permanently with live fare in March of 2024 just shy of its 58th Anniversary and moved productions to a nearby high school. The dramatic operation closed there permanently on August 4, 2024 and the organization’s contents were subsequently auctioned off. “Closed”
Reopening under Alamo Drafthouse operation on August 23, 2024
Reopening under Alamo Drafthouse operation on August 20, 2024.
Reopened under Alamo Drafthouse operation on August 16, 2024.
Reopened under Alamo Drafthouse operation on August 13, 2024.
Closed as the Movie Rocket on July 13, 2023. Reopened for the second time as Hollywood Cinemas on July 28, 2023. Closed on February 7, 2024.
Closed in 2014
The venue opened as Moore' Opera House by Ed B. Moore. In May of 1901, the building was closed for a refresh as Moore decided to drop the “opera house” moniker. It was reimagined by architect William F. Wise as the Criterion Theatre. The roof was removed and the entire house redone. It reopened as the Criterion on October 10, 1901 with the live play, “When We Were 21.” In 1913, Edison projectors were installed as movies became part of the show. It would make the transition to full time movies; in 1928, sound was added. The Criterion’s final show was “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” on June 13, 1949 - the theatre burned down the next night.
Herbert Howell launched the Majestic Theatre opened March 3, 1911. It closed for films after a double feature of “Dragstrip Girl” and “Rock All Night” on March 22, 1958. A retail store for Fran’s Clothing was built into the theater in September of 1958 during a major refresh. On June 25, 1968, the building was destroyed by fire.
As noted, The Stanley Theatre on August 3, 1928 with “State Street Sadie”. It closed on May 12, 1951 with “I Can Get it for you at Wholesale.” A salvage sale was conducted within weeks and the theater auditorium was demolished in 1951. Demolished.
March 8, 1928 grand opening ad in photos with Ralph Hamilton at the Grand Organ and Bebe Daniels with “Feel My Pulse” supported by “Short Tails,” a Paramount Newsreel, and more.
Opening on August 27, 1926, the Wurlitzer organ wowed them along with Constance Talmadge in “The Duchess of Buffalo.” The architectural style was said to be a mix of late Italian and early Spanish Renaissance. Bathed in jade green and orange with the mural work by Robert E. Power of the Power Studio, the theatre was anything but subtle.