Feeley Theatre
32 N. Wyoming Avenue,
Hazleton,
PA
18201
32 N. Wyoming Avenue,
Hazleton,
PA
18201
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Comerford Theaters Inc.
Styles: Neo-Classical
Nearby Theaters
The Feeley Theatre, best known for its popular vaudeville shows, opened for the first time in November 1916 and was located at the corner of W. Green Street and Wyoming Avenue in Hazleton. Feeley advertisements often contained the quote “103 Steps from Broad Street”. It was a three-floor structure of deep red brick with some terracotta work in the facade. It contained three separate storefronts in addition to the theatre lobby on the first floor. The second and third floors contained offices and popular poolroom was in the basement for many years.
It had a long and narrow lobby of approximately 20 by 80 feet. The auditorium originally had 812 seats in the orchestra and 715 in the balcony for a total of 1,527 seats. A color scheme of rose and old gold were done throughout the auditorium and lobby. The stage measured 28 by 83 feet and it had a rather large orchestra pit.
The theatre featured vaudeville exclusively until talking pictures became very popular in the 1930’s when it switched over to mostly showing films. It was operated by Comerford Theaters Inc. Vaudeville returned a number of times in the 1940’s and 1950’s and the theatre actually hosted a number of stage shows into the 1970’s. When Paramount Pictures released “The Molly Maguries” in early-1970 (which was filmed locally), the Feeley Theatre had the world premiere showing. The theatre closed for good in 1976 and was only used for the local Philharmonic shows. It was demolished in 1980 for a parking lot.
Contributed by
Bob
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
Another exterior picture showing the second marquee can bee seen here.
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The photos of “The Feeley” brought back some fond childhood memories. I was there fairly often as a child. My aunt took me there to see “Mame” starring Lucille Ball in the mid'70s. It was the last movie I remember seeing there. Around the same time frame they would host “horror” shows featuring live performers. Although I was quite young when it was torn down,I remember they had a difficult time with the demolition. “The Feeley” was billed as being fireproof so the exterior walls were extremely thick. It also featured underground tunnels for emergency evacuations and exits for vaudeville performers. These exits were one block away!
The Feeley Theater was owned by my great grandfather Andrew J Feeley and then by my grandmother Marie E Feeley. Although I was only 8 when it closed, I remember being allowed to explore the rooms and hallways of the theater and doing so was a great adventure for me. As a very young child, I remember seeing a live show in which a magician seemed to launch a live snake into the audience just as the house lights went out. I remember being terrified! I also remember seeing “Jaws” at the theater. The Feeley was for me a place of wonder and a concrete connection with my family’s past.
Anyone interested in sharing a memory of the Feeley?
This year is the 40th anniversary of its closing, and we’re planning a story.
visit www.senior-scene.com and take a look at the right side of the page.
This article states that the Philharmonic used the Feeley in the fifties before moving over to the Capitol:
http://tinyurl.com/5pmqma
This is part of a Washington Post article dated 1/24/32:
Man Kills Admirer of Wife, Causing Panic in Theater
Hazleton, Pa., Jan. 23 (U.P.). — The absorption of 500 patrons in a motion picture at the Feeley Theater was shattered by a pistol shot in the semidark balcony. A man’s body slumped to the floor and another man ran from the balcony.
Below is a link showing a photo of the Family theater demolition at Broad and Wyoming streets. The roof and stage house of the Feeley theater can be seen in the background. Too bad the photo doesn’t show the Feeley marquee as well.
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Hello. I am doing research on the career of Bela “Dracula” Lugosi. I read elsewhere that Lugosi once appeared on the stage of the Feeley in Hazleton in a vaudeville act. If anyone has any information regarding this appearance, please contact me at with whatever information you may have. I appreciate any responses!
December 26th, 1964 reopening ad in photo section.
As an addendum to a post I made earlier this year, according to old newspaper advertisements from the Plain Speaker, Bela Lugosi (Hollywood’s Dracula) appeared in a vaudeville act on the Feeley Theater stage on Mon, Tues and Wed October 18, 19 and 20 of 1948. If anyone out there has more information about his act, any photos from it or any family members who have memories of seeing it, please contact me at Thanks!