![Cinema Treasures](/images/app/logo.png?1723737594)
Senate Theater
13-15 N. Second Street,
Harrisburg,
PA
17101
4 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Jay Emanuel Theaters
Architects: William Harold Lee
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Nearby Theaters
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.
![Subscribe](/images/app/subscribe.gif?1723737594)
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 58 comments)
SENATE Theatre; THIS ISLAND EARTH:
View link
Also see: my album of Pennsylvania, California, and a few other vintage cinemas around the world + some ads & a bit of memorabilia:
View link
Here is a new close-up photo of the Senate entrance doors and electric eye:
View link
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.
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.
“And at a deadly pace"
IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE
to the Senate:
View link
See also: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39527581@N07/sets/72157626759926351/
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/
That is amazing! Thanks for the link. The Box Office site looks really interesting.
Grand opening ad posted.