Clifton Theatre

This site has housed four different theatres. The first was the Huntingdon Opera House which opened March 18, 1884. The Opera House burned down in 1902 but was replaced by a new Huntingdon Opera House.

The New Huntingdon Opera House business model was under pressure by motion pictures. The Gamble Brothers, Robert and Andy, had an early regional circuit of silent film houses in Central Pennsylvania including Altoona. The Gamble’s re-branded the Opera House as the Gamble Theatre showing five-cent admission movies. But after they left the movie business for auto sales, the Gamble Theatre was sold to J. Lynn Blackford.

Blackford would create the Clifton Theatre in the spot occupied by the Gamble Theatre that upgraded the experience including a pipe organ and new projection. He operated both the Grand Theatre and the Clifton Theatre. The Grand Theatre added a miniature golf course to its offerings in the late-1920s when the mini golf craze hit.

The Grand Theatre was partially destroyed in a fire on April 26, 1930 closing the theatre. The Clifton Theatre then was destroyed by a fire on November 30, 1930. That left the town theatre-less. An entirely new Clifton Theatre was built and opened in 1931 by Blackford. That theatre continued into the 21st Century and has its own Cinema Treasures page.

Get Movie Tickets & Showtimes

Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.