Manos Theater
421 Clay Avenue,
Jeannette,
PA
15644
421 Clay Avenue,
Jeannette,
PA
15644
1 person favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Harris Amusement Co.
Architects: Victor A. Rigaumont
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Harris-Manos Theater
Nearby Theaters
The Harris-Manos Theater was located on Clay Avenue at South 5th Street. The theater was built in 1939 and was torn down in 1990.
Contributed by
David Stear
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
There is a good chance that I can supply a photo or two. This theater was part of a chain owned by my family and for my first two years on earth I lived in an apartment over the marquee – my Dad was the manager.
I watched movies there in the early 60’s. I remember Paul Shannon from the Pittsburgh TV show Adventure Time who came ther to promote the “Magic Sword” movie. Also, entertainment would set up on the street corner by the theater. One act was a guy who would wrestle animals in a circus cage.
Renewing link.
Through the 1940s, Boxoffice sometimes hyphenates the name of this theater, sometimes calls it the Harris Manos Theatre or Harris' Manos Theatre, and sometimes just calls it the Manos Theatre. The theater was built by Michael Manos in 1939, and then leased to the Harris Amusement Company until 1949.
The November 8, 1939, issue of Boxoffice reveals that the Manos Theatre was designed by architect Victor A. Rigaumont. Arnold Picchi of Tuckahoe, New York, was the decorator. Both John Harris and Michael Manos were present at the opening night ceremonies, November 7, 1939.
The March 18, 1949, issue of Boxoffice ran an item about the Manos circuit which included the information that the Harris circuit’s lease on the Manos Theatre in Jeannette would expire on October 1, and that Manos would then take over operation of the house. After 1949, Boxoffice always calls the house the Manos Theatre, and the name Harris never appears in conjunction with it again.
John Wayne’s “UNDEFEATED” played there three days on Jan 2,3,4 1970.
The overview says the theater was on Clay at 5th Street, so the address currently given is wrong. The only modern building near Clay and 5th is on the northeast corner, so that must be where the theater was. The building there now has a 5th Street address, but the theater’s address was probably 421 Clay, extrapolating from the address of the flower shop up the block at 415.
Three vintage photos of the Harris-Manos Theatre can be seen on this page of the weblog The Haunted Lamp.
The Manos Theater in Jeannette suffered major damage in a fire on January 10, 1979, according to a front page article in The Jeannette News-Dispatch issue of January 11, 1979. At the time, the theater was showing “National Lampoon’s Animal House.”
I managed the Manos Theatre several times during the 60s and 70s. I remember when the out side of the building was torn off as the president Mr. Ted Manos feared that it would fall off and hurt someone. There was the main auditorium floor and a balcony. The fire in the theatre was thought to be from overloaded circuits in the concession stand. It was nice to see a downtown that was busy, and the multi national festivals set up on Clay avenue.
I remember in 1968 when I lived up on Wylie Ave they set up a music booth on the street right next to the Manos Theater. They played Richard Harris song MacArthur Park over and over again. I don,t know if it was some kind of promotion or what, but I really liked that record. I was 15 years old and liked music then more than movies. I think the Graduate movie was playing at the Manos then, but not positive about that. Funny thing tho, I never went to see a movie at the Manos, we only lived in Jeannette a short time, but I liked the town then. I had cousins who lived there then, so I came back to visit now and then. It’s a shame now what the town looks like and what it’s become. Does anyone else remember the music booth when it was next to the Manos.