Comments about Sewickley Theater in Sewickley, PA

Joe Vogel on December 9, 2014 at 5:10 pm

The August 7, 1915, issue of The Moving Picture World had this item about the new theater planned at Sewickley:

“The Sewlckley Amusement Company is erecting a new $30,000 motion picture house at Sewickley, Pa., located on Beaver street. William R. Wheat, Jr., manager of the company, announces that this house will be 43x119 feet, and will have a seating capacity of 500. It is expected to be completed and ready for opening about the 1st of September. The Lyric theater, in Sewickley, is also conducted by this same company and it will continue the same after the completion of the new house. The name of the new house has not yet been decided upon.

I haven’t discovered if Mr. Wheat achieved his goal of opening the new theater around the first of September.

johnbarchibald1 on January 8, 2014 at 11:36 am

I saw many, many movies at the Sewickley Theatre; it was really the primary movie theatre for me growing up in the area. It had a balcony, which only adults could sit in; a child had to be accompanied by an adult. Mr. Wheat, the owner, would actually give away one-sheet posters after a film’s run. (Would I still had but a small percentage of those today… Lost to time.)
No specific design details, except the interior had curved circular doors to the men’s room, kind of Art Deco streamline, and, on one lobby wall, next to the staircase to the balcony, there was a painting of a full-figured woman, sitting on a cloud, holding a film reel, whom I used to refer to as the “Goddess of the Film Cans.” Wonder if she’s still there.

DavidAnt1 on October 27, 2012 at 8:15 pm

I remember as a kid going there with my Mom, Dad, and brother to see “My Fair Lady”. We did see other movies there. Dad was good friends with Bill Wheat. You’re correct the theatre was there until around 1978 open. I used to work at the Holiday Inn Sewickley and remember going past or when I went to Jenny Lee to pick up the sweet rolls. The picture they have is wrong. It’s too far up the street. The building is still there just converted into a mini mall.

gwanner66 on April 18, 2012 at 6:23 am

It was open until at least 1978, because my dad took me to see “Death on the Nile” there — the only movie I saw at The Sewickley Theater.

DavidAnt1 on October 1, 2011 at 8:00 pm

The Sewickley Theatre was open in the early to mid 70’s. I know this since my dad sent me down to get a couple of bags of popcorn when at Ambridge we were low on popcorn during a kiddie show. The building is still there just converted into a Mini mall thing. The Marquee is not on the building anymore, but nice with the renovation.

Roger Katz on April 2, 2010 at 6:13 am

Lost: read that sign closer. It says “Balcony Hair Design Studio.”

raubre on April 17, 2006 at 12:08 pm

This is funny. I just inquired about this in another thread! I would love to see a picture.

Ken Roe on April 17, 2006 at 9:02 am

The Film Daily Yearbook;1950 edition gives an address of 344 Beaver Avenue, Sewickley, PA. Seating capacity is given as 627.

Sewickley Theater

344 Beaver Street, Sewickley, PA 15143

344 Beaver Street,
Sewickley, PA 15143