Senate Theater

13-15 N. Second Street,
Harrisburg, PA 17101

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Jay Emanuel Theaters

Architects: William Harold Lee

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Nearby Theaters

SENATE Theatre, Market Square, Harrisburg, PA.

The Senate Theater opened April 29th, 1938 with Irene Dunne in “The Joy of Living”. The theater was established in the old Russ Building, a building housing storefronts and offices. The upper floors were removed for the theater. The cost to convert the Russ Building into a movie house was $74,700, excluding the cost of clearing the upper floors.

The Senate Theater was owned by Jay Emanuel Theaters of Philadelphia, publisher of several theatrical trade magazines and owner/operator of fourteen theaters. The exterior was sleek with a cool, sophisticated, Streamline Moderne style facade of structural art glass maroon, orange and black with bronze and stainless steel trim. The interior featured soothing, rose-colored tapestry walls with a fleur-de-lis design and the color-coordinated carpeting.

Ending its days as an adult movie theatre, the last show at the Senate Theater the week of January 24, 1988 was an X-rated double feature of “Erotic City” and “Aunt Peg’s Fulfillment”. The Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority agreed on February 4, 1988, to acquire the building as part of the site for a new hotel. The Senate Theater was razed in April 1988.

Contributed by John Messick

Recent comments (view all 58 comments)

Ross Care
Ross Care on November 13, 2010 at 8:54 am

SENATE Theatre; THIS ISLAND EARTH:
View link

Ross Care
Ross Care on November 13, 2010 at 8:59 am

Also see: my album of Pennsylvania, California, and a few other vintage cinemas around the world + some ads & a bit of memorabilia:
View link

Ross Care
Ross Care on March 21, 2011 at 9:42 pm

Here is a new close-up photo of the Senate entrance doors and electric eye:
View link

JohnMessick
JohnMessick on March 22, 2011 at 8:12 am

Thanks for sharing the picture Ross….I think as a child I was there for a Disney movie…I am betting it was a beautiful theater inside.

Ross Care
Ross Care on March 22, 2011 at 10:07 am

Thanks, John. As I’ve said, as I kid I first discovered movies at the SENATE over many downtown Saturday matinees. The re-issues of the Disney classic features and the first releases of PETER PAN, THE LIVING DESERT, etc.
Also of course great UI sci-fi thrillers, several in 3-D.

So for better or worse, it’s still a part of my consciousness.
:)

I recently discovered a few color slides of the Senate I didn’t know I had. Exteriors, such as the one I just put on FLICKr. I’ll add them from time to time.

Wish I had some of the interior. I do remember it was a kind of salmon pink with large white Art Deco lights on the side walls.

Yes, a great little movie house.

Ross Care
Ross Care on March 23, 2011 at 10:46 am

“And at a deadly pace"
IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE
to the Senate:
View link

Ross Care
Ross Care on June 5, 2011 at 12:16 am

See also: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39527581@N07/sets/72157626759926351/

Ross Care
Ross Care on June 22, 2011 at 8:48 am

Found some new color slides of the SENATE I took in 1982. These are some of the best yet. Here’s a link to one I just added: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39527581@N07/5857116736/in/photostream/

Ross Care
Ross Care on July 2, 2012 at 7:18 am

That is amazing! Thanks for the link. The Box Office site looks really interesting.

rivest266
rivest266 on May 25, 2024 at 2:47 pm

Grand opening ad posted.

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