Governor Theatre

110 E. Main Street,
Somerset, PA 15501

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Blatt Brothers Circuit

Architects: George L. Walker Mong

Nearby Theaters

Governor Theatre

The Governor Theatre was opened on April 25, 1938 with Tyrone Power in “In Old Chicago”. It was operated by the Blatt Brothers Circuit. It was closed in April 1977

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 18 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 19, 2014 at 4:32 pm

The April 9, 1938, issue of The Film Daily listed the Blatt Brothers' Governor Theatre in Somerset among the new theaters under construction in Pennsylvania. The 1,000-seat house was to cost $65,000, and was set to open on April 20.

The item says that the theater was designed by an architectural firm called Walker & Mong, but I think it might have been a Pennsylvania architect who appears in the American Institute of Architects database as George L. Walker Mong. The AIA might have made a mistake, but it seems more likely that it would have been the magazine that made it.

Mark Ware
Mark Ware on April 15, 2014 at 8:46 pm

Patsy and JEC, I am the Executive Director of the Somerset Co. Historical Society and am doing research for a story on movie theaters in Somerset. We have numerous photos of the Governor, inside and outside. Looking for info and other photos. We have numerous cards for the Par K and Grand across the street from the Governor and owned by the Blatts. Would love to correspond with descendants of the Blatt Bros.

AndrewBarrett
AndrewBarrett on September 22, 2014 at 8:47 pm

Mr. Ware, was there a “Pasco Theatre” in Somerset, Pennsylvania at any time?

The book “The Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ”, pg. 631, lists a Smith theatre pipe organ as having been installed at a “Pasco Theatre” in Somerset at some point, with no other details known at the time of publication (such as size of the organ, year of installation, blower info, etc.).

If anybody knows more about this theatre and/or organ, I’d love to know, thanks!

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 9, 2015 at 9:17 pm

Andrew: This is a bit late, but I just came across an item from the September 4, 1915, issue of The Moving Picture World that mentions a Mr. Pascoe in Somerset:

“The Somerset Opera House, Somerset, Pa., recently leased by C. B. Pascoe, has been remodeled and redecorated in a pleasing manner. Mr. Pascoe, who is a well-known exhibitor and operates a chain of houses in West Virginia, has opened his newly acquired theater and is offering a high-,class program of features daily.”
The March 11, 1922, issue of The American Contractor also mentions Pascoe in connection with a theater project in Somerset:
“Somerset. Pa.—Theater (M. P.: newGrand): $100,000. 3 sty. 57x179. Archt. E. H. Walker. Owner C. B. Pascoe. mgr., Grand Theater. Brk. walls, granite trim. Archt. builds, awards sep. contrs., will take bids on sep. contrs. & materials abt. Apr.”
The comment by Mark Ware says that the Grand and Park Theatres were across the street from the Governor. The Park was rather small, so the Grand is more likely to have had an organ.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 9, 2015 at 9:24 pm

Somerset no longer uses one and two digit addresses, so the modern address of the Governor Theatre’s site was most likely 110 E. Main Street. There is a modern bank on the site now, so the Governor has been demolished.

dfloyd8717
dfloyd8717 on October 9, 2015 at 9:02 am

As JEC noted, the theatre across the street from the Governor was the Par-K NOT the Park. Also, the Governor did not sit on the site pictured above which is now PNC Bank(108 W Main St) but rather the next site to the east (130 W. Main St)which is now a parking lot.

cpoorbaugh1
cpoorbaugh1 on March 27, 2017 at 6:14 am

The first movie I saw at the Governor was “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”-Disney in Cinemascope. Over the years I came to be acquainted with Mr. Crowley the manager of the theater. He told me the first movie ran at the Governor was “In Old Chicago” 1938, Tyrone Power. The last one ran was “Bonnie Scotland” Laurel & Hardy, a 35mm print owned by a friend of mine. I was told that the WIFE of Mr. Crowley was a SISTER of the BLATT Bros., whose everyone “called' the GOVERNOR…. :–)

Maccrew6
Maccrew6 on December 24, 2017 at 5:17 pm

Long shot here, but wondering if commenter JEC is still associated with this thread. My husband is one of the Blatt grandsons and would be interested in sharing info about the theaters

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 4, 2020 at 2:03 pm

The Governor Theatre apparently closed in April 1977. Farewell To The Governor photo added credit Robert Kovack‎.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on September 11, 2021 at 5:42 pm

It actually opened on April 25, 1938, with Andy Devine in “In Old Chicago” along with a cartoon. The cartoon actually reads “SKIPPY”, which kinda makes sense. I don’t know what the title for the actual cartoon is called.

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