There are several theatres that have been continuously operating for a longer period of time. The oldest that I am aware of is the Elks Theatre in Middletown Pennsylvania which opened on October 24, 1911 and (with the exception of a couple of months for upgrades in late 1940 through early 1941) has continuually operated as a movie theatre from the date of its opening. The website and history may be found at www.elkstheatremiddletown.com
The next oldest continually operating theatre that I am aware of is the State Theatre in Boyertown Pennsylvania which opened sometime in 1913.
Everybody speaks about multiplexes in terms of “more choices”. The reality today is that does not mean more choice of titles but merely more choice of starting times. Anytime you have competing plexes all you have is the same movies on that many more multiple screens.
I believe that the 419 E. King Street address is correct. The Chertcoff chain had its headquarters in the King Theatre. In its later years the King was twinned and became known as the King and Queen. One of the King/Queen’s last operators was Richard Wolfe who currently runs one of Cinema Treasures favorites the Roxy Theatre in Northampton PA.
The Chertcoff chain had many theatres throughout Central Pennsylvania. In addition to the King they operated the two former drive-ins in Lancaster PA, the Lemoyne in Lemoyne PA (now a music store), the Hill in Camp Hill PA (now a drug store), the Elton in Steelton PA (now a machine shop), the Elks in Middletown PA (still open and operating), the Moose in Elizabethtown PA (still intact but used as a lodge facility), the Joy in Mount Joy (lobby is retail shop) just to name a few.
There are several movies-only theatres in the United States which are older than the Minor Theater. And unlike the Minor, the following two listing have been in continuous operation since their respective openings:
1) The Elks Theatre (formerly The Realty Theatre) in Middletown, Pennsylvania which opened on October 24, 1911 found on the web at www.elkstheatremiddletown.com
2) The State Theatre in Boyertown, Pennsylvania which opened in 1913.
The correct spelling is Cattaraugus County, not Cattaragus County. The theatre is also now sometimes known as the Cattaraugus County Living Arts Center.
The Coudersport Theatre was acquired (and saved) in the early 1970’s by John Rigas. According to local legend, Rigas supposedly lived in the theatre when he was trying to make a go of it. At about this time Rigas became one of the first CATV operators in the country as he intoduced cable to his tiny community. The CATV franchise eventually mushroomed into Adelphia Communications. Adelpha for a time had its headquaters for a time adjacent to the Coudersport Theatre.
The Marrietta Theatre is not the longest running theatre in Pennsylvania. It was closed for nearly a decade due to a fire. It is now only open very sporadically. It is currently for sale.
There are several other theatres in PA which had been running continuously and still continue to run such as the Elks in Middletown (1911) (just up the road from Marrietta) and the State in Boyertown (1913.
There are several theatres that have been continuously operating for a longer period of time. The oldest that I am aware of is the Elks Theatre in Middletown Pennsylvania which opened on October 24, 1911 and (with the exception of a couple of months for upgrades in late 1940 through early 1941) has continuually operated as a movie theatre from the date of its opening. The website and history may be found at www.elkstheatremiddletown.com
The next oldest continually operating theatre that I am aware of is the State Theatre in Boyertown Pennsylvania which opened sometime in 1913.
Everybody speaks about multiplexes in terms of “more choices”. The reality today is that does not mean more choice of titles but merely more choice of starting times. Anytime you have competing plexes all you have is the same movies on that many more multiple screens.
I believe that the 419 E. King Street address is correct. The Chertcoff chain had its headquarters in the King Theatre. In its later years the King was twinned and became known as the King and Queen. One of the King/Queen’s last operators was Richard Wolfe who currently runs one of Cinema Treasures favorites the Roxy Theatre in Northampton PA.
The Chertcoff chain had many theatres throughout Central Pennsylvania. In addition to the King they operated the two former drive-ins in Lancaster PA, the Lemoyne in Lemoyne PA (now a music store), the Hill in Camp Hill PA (now a drug store), the Elton in Steelton PA (now a machine shop), the Elks in Middletown PA (still open and operating), the Moose in Elizabethtown PA (still intact but used as a lodge facility), the Joy in Mount Joy (lobby is retail shop) just to name a few.
I believe the King Theare was built in the late 30’s for the Chertikoff chain.
Even more sad is the fact that Loews bulldozed the 5 screen drive-in which previously sat on the site to build this hulk.
There are several movies-only theatres in the United States which are older than the Minor Theater. And unlike the Minor, the following two listing have been in continuous operation since their respective openings:
1) The Elks Theatre (formerly The Realty Theatre) in Middletown, Pennsylvania which opened on October 24, 1911 found on the web at www.elkstheatremiddletown.com
2) The State Theatre in Boyertown, Pennsylvania which opened in 1913.
The correct spelling is Cattaraugus County, not Cattaragus County. The theatre is also now sometimes known as the Cattaraugus County Living Arts Center.
The Coudersport Theatre was acquired (and saved) in the early 1970’s by John Rigas. According to local legend, Rigas supposedly lived in the theatre when he was trying to make a go of it. At about this time Rigas became one of the first CATV operators in the country as he intoduced cable to his tiny community. The CATV franchise eventually mushroomed into Adelphia Communications. Adelpha for a time had its headquaters for a time adjacent to the Coudersport Theatre.
The Marrietta Theatre is not the longest running theatre in Pennsylvania. It was closed for nearly a decade due to a fire. It is now only open very sporadically. It is currently for sale.
There are several other theatres in PA which had been running continuously and still continue to run such as the Elks in Middletown (1911) (just up the road from Marrietta) and the State in Boyertown (1913.