Lyric Theatre

George A. Duncan opened the Lyric Theatre on November 19, 1910 becoming Carlisle’s third movie theatre and charging just a nickel for all shows. The first film shown was the Vitagraph film, “Life for a Life”. On February 22, 1911, Duncan shocked the community by having to use two tier pricing for “special occasion” shows in which kids were still a nickel but adults had to pay a dime. Duncan provided a program in the theatre weekly. The theatre used one projector and live songs and magic lantern slides were used to fill time when films were rewound and new films were threaded.

Just after the theatre’s 20th Anniversary, Duncan added sound beginning on June 12, 1930 with the Photophore sound system beginning with the film “Sunny Side Up” starring Janet Gaynor with prices skyrocketing to 30 cents for adults and 10 cents for kids. Duncan celebrated 30 years on the job but - in that year - the theatre suffered a fire that closed it down for repairs and all new equipment. That included the town’s first theatre electric sign. It also forced the funeral home to find a new location as it was in the second floor of the theatre.

The theatre converted to widescreen in 1955. It appears to have closed in 1956 and was taken on by the local merchants to keep the theatre going that year. Walter Wyrick took on the venue closing in the early-1960’s. The theatre was relit in 1962 closing on August 54, 1969 with Keir Dullea in “2001: A Space Odyssey”.

Luther Hollar reopened the venue as the New Lyric Theatre operating until August 20, 1973. It was used as a haunted house for two Halloween seasons and for storage. The funeral home moved back to the facility taking over the address which it still had into the 2020’s.

And for the curious, the first movie theatre was built into City Hall at its opening. The second was operated by George Schnellman for around three years. Duncan was the third. None of the film theatres operated concurrently.

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