This was probably near the time both blocks on both sides of N. Queen were torn down for “redevelopment”. I was still living in my apartment there (123 N. Queen) when it started. Four theaters and a major hotel (literally) bit the dust. What a waste. Then they tore down the redevelopment and started all over again!
Thanks for all the comments and detailed news. Loew’s Regent is where my lifelong obsession with MGM started, (in addition to seeing ON THE TOWN at the neighborhood Penway). After moving to California a friend got me into the studio (which was then Columbia). Once we were passed in I was able to roam freely. Not much was left of MGM but I had researched the sound stages and saw where some of my favorite films had been shot. The only MGM artifact I saw was a yellow and black MGM fan through one of the open sound stage doors. Still, quite a thrill…..
When I was growing up in Harrisburg in the 1940s and 50s the Hershey was a regular movie theater. But it alternated films with live performances. I saw road company productions of the Broadway shows PLAIN AND FANCY and THE PAJAMA GAME there, my first experience of real musical theater. The only film I specifically recall seeing (though my parents and I often went there) was an odd one, FABIOLA, an Italian film about ancient Rome which got a limited release in the U.S.Later I went to their screenings of classic films but I remember it was difficult for them to keep the CinemaScope films in focus which was really irritating.
Thanks to everyone for comments. I loved the opulent State and have good memories. Seeing the first CinemaScope films on the biggest screen in Harrisburg and with the best sound system was a great experience and something I still vividly remember, even out here in California.
David - This is way late, but I lived in Paxtonia from 1953 until I went off to college in 1956. My parents sold their home there around the late 1960s. The building at 5806 Jonestown Road had been owned by my grandfather who was a Justice of the Peace. He lived in Linglestown. It was a large older three-level building which had housed my grandfather’s office, a restaurant, and later a barber shop. It was next to Miller’s Feedmill. It was later razed, I’m not sure when. The Harrisburg Drive-In was up the road on route 22.
OMG, I lived in Paxtonia (Jonestown Road)! I wish I’d have known. Strange coincidence to find out so many years after the fact. The Penway was my neighborhood theater when we still lived in Harrisburg city, just off State St. My lifelong love of movies started there, attending with my parents.
I remember the Broad but my family never went there. The area around the Broad St. market was a nice shopping district when I was growing up. The Rialto was down the street. Also a store called simply Bill’s (as I recall). And a five-and-dime.
The Harrisburg papers ran a block ad for four theaters, the Penway, Grand Roxy, and Valle. I remember seeing (MGM’s) Little Women at the Grand and the remake of Rose Marie in CinemaScope. Little Women (also a remake) was released in 1949, Rose Marie around 1953, so the theater (and neighborhood) must have still been in good shape then.
One of my schoolmates lived right next to the Grand. I thought he was so lucky. I remember the unusual marquee (which a comment here mentioned). I thought it was a nice theater, rather classy actually (due to the unusual marquee). I don’t remember it being a reverse theater. Interesting.
I looked at one of those Google maps of Harrisburg a few weeks ago and was surprised to see the building that housed the Roxy (across from Christ Lutheran Church) is still there. That must be the last remnant of the Burg neighborhood movie theaters still around. (I’m in southern California now, up the freeway from where all my favorite movies were made).
I remember the Broad but I never saw anything there. I think it was generally considered pretty sleazy. It was sort of across the street from the market as I recall. Later turned into some kind of store (furneture?)
My parents used to go to the market and the shopping district. I forget the street names. There was a five-and-ten and a store called Bill’s. There was another movie theater down the street, the Rialto? Never went there either.
Joe – Thanks for the article. I can’t wait to read it.
I may have mentioned elsewhere, I was still living in an apartment beside the Grand when the demolition began. The destruction of the old Brunswick was spectacular (and depressing).
TOOT, WHISTLE, the first ‘Scope/stereo cartoon, very inventive. You can still hear the stereo on some of the Disney DVDs. FANTASIA was cropped to make it look wide-screen.
One of the twin theaters in Park City Mall in Lancaster (Pa.) eventually showed porn. The other one screened regular films.
I seem to remember the Star was also known for showing obscure B movies, westerns and such, during the ‘50s (much like the downtown Rio).
As I’ve noted elsewhere, the Senate was where I first experienced the Disney features (including the reissue of FANTASIA)and the great UI science fiction films of the ‘50s, some in 3-D. Also the first CinemaScope films in Hbg. (that the State did not get).
I have nothing against porn but I hated to see the beloved Senate go that route. I often wanted to go in to see what my old favorite theater was like before it closed but I did not want to blight some of my favorite movie memories.
This is a great shot. It’s wonderful to see (obscured behind the flags and under the marquee) the film poster material they used to plaster around the entrance and a film (and short subjects!) on the marquee. I remember all that well. My photos were unfortunately taken after Loew’s REGENT closed.
Thanks for the link.
I’m sure I saw Baby Jane there.
This was probably near the time both blocks on both sides of N. Queen were torn down for “redevelopment”. I was still living in my apartment there (123 N. Queen) when it started. Four theaters and a major hotel (literally) bit the dust. What a waste. Then they tore down the redevelopment and started all over again!
We might add here that the Rio is not only closed, it’s demolished.
Thanks for all the comments and detailed news. Loew’s Regent is where my lifelong obsession with MGM started, (in addition to seeing ON THE TOWN at the neighborhood Penway). After moving to California a friend got me into the studio (which was then Columbia). Once we were passed in I was able to roam freely. Not much was left of MGM but I had researched the sound stages and saw where some of my favorite films had been shot. The only MGM artifact I saw was a yellow and black MGM fan through one of the open sound stage doors. Still, quite a thrill…..
My blog may have been removed somehow. I have not posted for years.
When I was growing up in Harrisburg in the 1940s and 50s the Hershey was a regular movie theater. But it alternated films with live performances. I saw road company productions of the Broadway shows PLAIN AND FANCY and THE PAJAMA GAME there, my first experience of real musical theater. The only film I specifically recall seeing (though my parents and I often went there) was an odd one, FABIOLA, an Italian film about ancient Rome which got a limited release in the U.S.Later I went to their screenings of classic films but I remember it was difficult for them to keep the CinemaScope films in focus which was really irritating.
Thanks to everyone for comments. I loved the opulent State and have good memories. Seeing the first CinemaScope films on the biggest screen in Harrisburg and with the best sound system was a great experience and something I still vividly remember, even out here in California.
rivest: Thanks.
Correction: My Paxtonia dates are actually 1953/1959.
David - This is way late, but I lived in Paxtonia from 1953 until I went off to college in 1956. My parents sold their home there around the late 1960s. The building at 5806 Jonestown Road had been owned by my grandfather who was a Justice of the Peace. He lived in Linglestown. It was a large older three-level building which had housed my grandfather’s office, a restaurant, and later a barber shop. It was next to Miller’s Feedmill. It was later razed, I’m not sure when. The Harrisburg Drive-In was up the road on route 22.
The original building was restored.
OMG, I lived in Paxtonia (Jonestown Road)! I wish I’d have known. Strange coincidence to find out so many years after the fact. The Penway was my neighborhood theater when we still lived in Harrisburg city, just off State St. My lifelong love of movies started there, attending with my parents.
I remember the Broad but my family never went there. The area around the Broad St. market was a nice shopping district when I was growing up. The Rialto was down the street. Also a store called simply Bill’s (as I recall). And a five-and-dime.
I wish someone could find a photo.
The Harrisburg papers ran a block ad for four theaters, the Penway, Grand Roxy, and Valle. I remember seeing (MGM’s) Little Women at the Grand and the remake of Rose Marie in CinemaScope. Little Women (also a remake) was released in 1949, Rose Marie around 1953, so the theater (and neighborhood) must have still been in good shape then.
One of my schoolmates lived right next to the Grand. I thought he was so lucky. I remember the unusual marquee (which a comment here mentioned). I thought it was a nice theater, rather classy actually (due to the unusual marquee). I don’t remember it being a reverse theater. Interesting.
I looked at one of those Google maps of Harrisburg a few weeks ago and was surprised to see the building that housed the Roxy (across from Christ Lutheran Church) is still there. That must be the last remnant of the Burg neighborhood movie theaters still around. (I’m in southern California now, up the freeway from where all my favorite movies were made).
I remember the Broad but I never saw anything there. I think it was generally considered pretty sleazy. It was sort of across the street from the market as I recall. Later turned into some kind of store (furneture?)
My parents used to go to the market and the shopping district. I forget the street names. There was a five-and-ten and a store called Bill’s. There was another movie theater down the street, the Rialto? Never went there either.
Joe – Thanks for the article. I can’t wait to read it.
I may have mentioned elsewhere, I was still living in an apartment beside the Grand when the demolition began. The destruction of the old Brunswick was spectacular (and depressing).
Great ad. I saw this at Loew’s REGENT, Harrisburg, PA. Immediately went out an bought “Rock Around the CLock”!
THE PIRATE on a double-bill ? ? ? Great ad though.
TOOT, WHISTLE, the first ‘Scope/stereo cartoon, very inventive. You can still hear the stereo on some of the Disney DVDs. FANTASIA was cropped to make it look wide-screen.
One of the twin theaters in Park City Mall in Lancaster (Pa.) eventually showed porn. The other one screened regular films.
I seem to remember the Star was also known for showing obscure B movies, westerns and such, during the ‘50s (much like the downtown Rio).
As I’ve noted elsewhere, the Senate was where I first experienced the Disney features (including the reissue of FANTASIA)and the great UI science fiction films of the ‘50s, some in 3-D. Also the first CinemaScope films in Hbg. (that the State did not get).
I have nothing against porn but I hated to see the beloved Senate go that route. I often wanted to go in to see what my old favorite theater was like before it closed but I did not want to blight some of my favorite movie memories.
Please see my new photo of the Main interior with vintage light fixtures.
This is a great shot. It’s wonderful to see (obscured behind the flags and under the marquee) the film poster material they used to plaster around the entrance and a film (and short subjects!) on the marquee. I remember all that well. My photos were unfortunately taken after Loew’s REGENT closed. Thanks for the link.
That is amazing! Thanks for the link. The Box Office site looks really interesting.
What goes round comes round. Sometimes……