The State theatre was never known as the Penn Theatre. The Wasington Theater across the street from the State Theater became known as the Penn Theater in the late 60’s or early 70’s. It is a parking lot today. I worked as an usher at the State and Washington Theaters in the 1956-1958 period .
Jim Aurouze Retired MPDC sergeant.
Here is a link to an old postcard that shows both the State and Washington Theaters on Main St in Washington, Pa. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/35143/photos/28272
I worked at both of these theaters in the mid 50’s as they were operated by the same management team of Bill Cardone and Gina who was a tall striking brunette. The Washington Theater was renamed the Penn before it closed in 1973. I hung the metal alphabet on both marquees. I would draw a scale and measure out how much space each letter would tale on the marquee. The letters hung from metal lines.
Chuck,
My apologies, You posted the link above for the 1949 photo of the State Theater.There is a Flicker link for the State theater which shows an interior shot of the lobby with the staff taken about 1960.
I retired 20 years ago. When I joined the force in 1963 there were a number of beautiful theaters in DC. However in those days my bride and child usually attended the drivein theaters in Waldorf, Indianhead highway, Branch Ave and Hyattsville.
I worked at the State Theatre in Washington, Pa from 1956-1958, There were 4 theatres in Washington, Pa during this period. The State was the largest and had a balcony. I remember installing the marquee letters for the Ten Commandments about 1956. Directly across the street was the Washington Theatre which was managed by the same team that managed the State. A male, I remember as Mr. Cardone and a lovely tall brunette by the name of Gina. I remember seeing Tex Ritter in person at the Washington in the early 50’s. The Washington usually ran 2nd rate movies while the State had 1st run movies and was known for their Saturday morning Cartoon Shows. The 3rd theatre in town was the Basle at the corner of Main & Chestnut which became the Midtown in the 80’s. The theatre was named for Bill Basle who owned the theatre and hired my mother Gladys Aurouze as a cashier in the early 50’s. The 4th theatre was the Court on
Chestnut St which was the mainstay for the Saturday westerns double feature. The State was renamed the Penn in the mid 70’s. I graduated in 1958, joined the Air Force and in 1963 started a career with the D.C. Police Dept.
The State theatre was never known as the Penn Theatre. The Wasington Theater across the street from the State Theater became known as the Penn Theater in the late 60’s or early 70’s. It is a parking lot today. I worked as an usher at the State and Washington Theaters in the 1956-1958 period . Jim Aurouze Retired MPDC sergeant.
Here is a link to an old postcard that shows both the State and Washington Theaters on Main St in Washington, Pa. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/35143/photos/28272 I worked at both of these theaters in the mid 50’s as they were operated by the same management team of Bill Cardone and Gina who was a tall striking brunette. The Washington Theater was renamed the Penn before it closed in 1973. I hung the metal alphabet on both marquees. I would draw a scale and measure out how much space each letter would tale on the marquee. The letters hung from metal lines.
View link
Chuck,
Here is the link to the 1960 photo of the State Theater lobby and staff in Washington, Pa.
Jim
Chuck,
My apologies, You posted the link above for the 1949 photo of the State Theater.There is a Flicker link for the State theater which shows an interior shot of the lobby with the staff taken about 1960.
I retired 20 years ago. When I joined the force in 1963 there were a number of beautiful theaters in DC. However in those days my bride and child usually attended the drivein theaters in Waldorf, Indianhead highway, Branch Ave and Hyattsville.
I worked at the State Theatre in Washington, Pa from 1956-1958, There were 4 theatres in Washington, Pa during this period. The State was the largest and had a balcony. I remember installing the marquee letters for the Ten Commandments about 1956. Directly across the street was the Washington Theatre which was managed by the same team that managed the State. A male, I remember as Mr. Cardone and a lovely tall brunette by the name of Gina. I remember seeing Tex Ritter in person at the Washington in the early 50’s. The Washington usually ran 2nd rate movies while the State had 1st run movies and was known for their Saturday morning Cartoon Shows. The 3rd theatre in town was the Basle at the corner of Main & Chestnut which became the Midtown in the 80’s. The theatre was named for Bill Basle who owned the theatre and hired my mother Gladys Aurouze as a cashier in the early 50’s. The 4th theatre was the Court on
Chestnut St which was the mainstay for the Saturday westerns double feature. The State was renamed the Penn in the mid 70’s. I graduated in 1958, joined the Air Force and in 1963 started a career with the D.C. Police Dept.