Rink Theatre

In 1906, the Roller Rink Company of Huntingdon built the Rink Theatre on the site of the former Huntingdon Opera House. The new hall was a multi-purpose indoor roller-skating rink, basketball court, and theatre. After the athletic events, the hall was transformed with 1,500 opera chairs for silent motion pictures, vaudeville traveling shows, teachers, and political conventions.

The silent picture show lasted about 20 minutes and consisted of a single film reel and illustrated songs performed by a live orchestra. J. R. Emeigh operated the motion picture machine.

The new machines were known to explode, and the film was prone to catching fire. On March 3, 1908, the Mapleton Item (Mapleton Depot, Pa.) informed readers that the Rink Theatre burned down to the ground by fire overnight. No one was hurt, and the cause of the fire was unknown. —American-Historysmith

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