Comments about F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in Wilkes-Barre, PA

rivest266 on June 5, 2018 at 4:00 pm

Grand opening ad: Comerford theatre opening Thu, Aug 18, 1938 – 19 · Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Evening News, Wilkes-Barre Record (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.com

Mike (saps) on August 31, 2016 at 6:05 pm

Saw a show here last night – Celtic Thunder – and the house is big and lovely, subdued and tasteful in the Art Deco style. Well worth a visit if you’re in the area.

rivest266 on July 12, 2014 at 5:05 pm

September 4th, 1949 reopening as Paramount also uploaded in the photo section.

rivest266 on June 28, 2014 at 5:00 pm

August 15th 1938 grand opening ad in photo section

caranfin on November 7, 2009 at 4:52 pm

Thanks for the photos of the Kirby to those who posted them! I stumbled onto this site and started looking at local PA theatres (Pittsburgh), just for a lark. Then i saw this place and remembered that this was where i first met my boyfriend on that wonderful night in October 2004. Thanks for the memory!

atmos on January 21, 2007 at 11:27 pm

According to the THSA annual of the Deco theatres John Eberson there is a drawing in the Wilkes-Barre Historical Society Archives for a Paramount Theatre dated 1 May 1931.Eberson designed this building for Comerford.It is quite possible that this theatre is an altered version of his original design.

RJS on July 26, 2005 at 8:18 am

Here is a photo of the Paramount theater from early 1970’s before it became the F.M. Kirby center and had the marquee replaced.

Gerald A. DeLuca on April 17, 2005 at 5:52 am

Here is a photo of the F.M. Kirby Center which I took in 2002.

atmos on January 6, 2005 at 1:29 am

The architect was Charles Ryan.Became Paramount theatre in 1949.Closed in 1977.Later restored and reopened in 1986.Originally opened as Comerford on 18 August 1938.

F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts

71 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701

71 Public Square,
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701