Joy Theatre

The following information has been taken from “Let’s Go To The Movies” published by the Mount Joy Area Historicl Society. The Mount Joy Hall Theatre closed in 1933. However, in 1937, Harry Chertcoff, purchased properties at 61-67 E. Main Street to start his 6th theatre venture in Central Pa. He already operated theatres in Lancaster, Lemoyne, Lititz, Steelton, and Elizabethtown. He spent $12,000.00 to acquire two large tobacco warehouses and a framed property which housed the American Store company. 500,00 bricks were used to complete the walls of the auditorium and lobby which was 65 x 120 feet. The complex was completed in March 1938. The lobby had a 7 foot mirror on each side wall and the auditorium walls had two ornamental designs on each side. The color scheme for the theatre was coral and maroon. The theatre’s opening day was March 24th, 1938. The movie on opening night was “Everybody Sing” starring Allan Jones, Judy Garland, and Fanny Brice. Admission was 10cents for children and 25 cents for adults. 15 installments of “The Lone Ranger” was shown starting the following Saturday matinee. There was approximately seating for 1,000 in the theatre. During WWII a scrap drive was held at the theatre. 1,300 pounds of rags and 11,040 pounds of scrap were collected. The Joy Theatre closed April 27, 1963. Asher Hallbleib, manager of both the Joy and Moose (in Elizabethtown) said lack of business made closing necessary. The theatre had been losing money for the previous years. The Strand in Lancaster City was the first of the Chertcoff Theatres to closed. The two theatres owned by the Chertcoff estate were the Comet and Sky Vue Drive Ins. I think by this time the King Theatre on East King Theatre in Lancaster had been built and was open for about 10 years. I think that opened around 1953. The Joy Theatre reopened Nov. 14, 1964 under new ownership by C and C Theatres, Inc. (Robert C. Corbin and David Cavallo.) They also purchased the closed Lititz Theatre and leased the closed Moose Theatre was well. However, by Feb. 24, 1965 the theatre was closed.

This opened on March 24th, 1938. Grand opening ad posted. Joy theatre opening Thu, Mar 24, 1938 – 14 · Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.com