Cathaum Theater
112 W. College Avenue,
State College,
PA
16801
112 W. College Avenue,
State College,
PA
16801
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Cinemette Corporation of America, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Architects: Albert Douglas Hill, Harvey Childs Hodgens
Firms: Hodgens & Hill
Functions: Retail
Styles: Neo-Classical
Nearby Theaters
Opened April 8, 1926, the architectural firm of H.C. Hodgens & A.D. Hill are given as architects of this stadium type theatre (with no overhanging balcony). It was operated by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
It was closed by Cinemette Corporation of America on June 1, 1976 with George Segal in “The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox”.
Contributed by
KenRoe
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
The building that once held the Cathaum is now largely occupied by a CVS on the ground floor. I believe that the nightclub Indigo is now on the top floor where Players used to be (correct me if I’m wrong).
Here’s the correct link to the 1930s photo of the theater (works as of November 2009):
http://tinyurl.com/yj9r9nk
establish/renew link
Updated link to the 1930s photo of the Cathaum (works as of November 2010):
http://tinyurl.com/25694wj
I went to Penn State in 1957-1958 and remember the Cathuam. Does anyone know when it closed?
Linkrot repair: The twice previously-linked page with the 1930s photo of the Cathaum Theatre is now at this URL, but it’s anybody’s guess for how long. The photo is a bit less than halfway down the very long page.
This web page has an article about the Cathaum Theatre first published in The Collegian in 1996. It says that the theater opened on April 8, 1926.
The Baums must have had a hard time getting this project underway. The Cathaum is mentioned by name in construction trade journals as early as 1922, when it was in the planning stage, but at that time it was being designed by a different architect, Harry S. Bair of Pittsburgh. The firm of Hodgens & Hill was formed in 1923, so they had to have taken over the project after that.
It was owned and operated by Maurice Baum from 1928, and seated less than one thousand when it opened that year.
I remember seeing several films there as a child. It was a rather grand but very dark theater from what I remember. It was closed in the mid 70’s and was split in half. The upper level become a nightclub called “Gatsby’s” and the lower became a disco called “Mr C’s”. I performed in a dinner theater production there in the late 80’s and the proscenium arch, ceiling and most of the upper architecture was still intact and looked very nice. It was then converted shortly after into additional cubicle office space for Penn State’s English department.
According to my research the Cathaum closed during the week of May 26, 1976 through June 1, 1976. The last film that I have seen playing there was “The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox” with Goldie Hawn and George Segal.
Yes it closed with “The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox”, and was last operated by Cinemette.