Two movie theaters were on the unit block of N. 8th Street, separated by one building. The Earle was demolished in 1961 to create another Park & Shop lot. The other theater, the Cinema, ceased operation in 1953, becoming a warehouse for the Farr shoe chain. The theater was built in 1917 as The Strand, but changed ownership and name in 1930. The lobby portion of the former Strand/Cinema still stands today, now being used as a tax service business. In the late 1970's, I operated a photographic darkroom business in part of the space.
reprinted from January of 2014
The Rialto, the Colonial, a great theater, and possibly a dozen just in Allentown, I believe Zandy's steak shop was at one time also a theater. The golden age of Movies is gone, never to return.
ReplyDeleteRay@7:04: You're correct about Zandy's, and other theaters which were even before our time...and the smaller theaters like the Allen.
ReplyDeleteoff topic comment (not printed): I will be covering that outrage this coming week.
Michael, being a few years older than you, I remember all the smaller theaters in Allentown and saw movies there, over the years.
ReplyDelete