Civic Theatre of Allentown facts for kids
Civic Theatre of Allentown in May 2004
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| Address | 527 North 19th Street Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. 18104 |
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| Coordinates | 40°36′12″N 075°29′59″W / 40.60333°N 75.49972°W |
| Current use | Stage productions, Education programs, Film presentations |
| Opened | 1928 |
| Years active | 1928, 1930-1952, 1953-Present |
| Website | |
| Official website: http://www.civictheatre.com/ | |
The Civic Theatre of Allentown, also known as the Nineteenth Street Theatre, is the oldest movie theater in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It first opened its doors on September 17, 1928. Today, it's a busy place where you can watch live plays, join educational programs, and see special independent movies.
In July 1957, a group called Allentown's Civic Little Theatre bought the building. Since then, many exciting stage shows have been performed there. In 1994, the group officially changed its name to the Civic Theatre of Allentown. The theater building itself became a special historic place in 2024.
The Civic Theatre puts on a season of four main plays each year. They also have plays just for kids and other fun events. Their movie section shows many different independent and international films. These movies often cost less than tickets at regular cinemas. About 60 to 80 different movies are shown each year. The Theater School teaches more than 350 students every year in different sessions.
Contents
History of the Civic Theatre
How it Started
In the early 1920s, many new buildings were being built in the West End of Allentown. People wanted homes with yards and more quiet space away from the busy city center. In just four years, over 150 homes were built there. Along with the houses, plans were made for shops, offices, and restaurants. The Civic Theatre was an important part of this new neighborhood.
The theater, located at 527 North 19th Street, was built by Rubin Mainker and Alex Minker. It opened on September 17, 1928. A newspaper, The Allentown Morning Call, reported that "No expense has been spared." The inside walls were painted green with gold and silver. The outside was bright yellow with fun decorations of birds, flowers, butterflies, and elephants.
The very first movie shown at the Civic Theatre was a silent film called The Sawdust Paradise. It featured a new Moller DeLuxe theater organ, which the owners bought for $16,000. This special organ is still sometimes played for audiences today. However, even with big opening crowds, the theater faced money problems. Also, silent films were becoming less popular. Because of this, the cinema closed its doors in December 1928.
Becoming a Second-Run Cinema
In 1930, the theater was sold to L.J. Chamberlain of Amusements Inc. It was updated to show movies with sound. It then became a "second-run" theater. This meant it showed popular movies after they had already played at the bigger theaters downtown.
Prices were much lower here. During the tough times of the 1930s (the Great Depression), an adult ticket cost 20 cents and a child's ticket was 10 cents. The theater did well through the 1930s and 1940s. But after World War II and when television became popular, fewer people came to the movies. The theater closed again in February 1952.
In May 1953, Albert Moffa, who owned the Americus Hotel, reopened the Nineteenth Street Theater. He bought it for $90,000. The theater's movie system was changed to show 3D films, which were very popular at the time. The first 3D movie shown was the 1953 musical Down Among the Sheltering Palms.
The Civic Theatre Takes Over
In the mid-1950s, Harold Heydt, the theater's manager, started showing foreign films. In July 1957, Allentown's Civic Little Theatre announced they had bought the 19th Street Theatre from Moffa for $95,000. This was the first permanent home for the community theater group since it started in the late 1920s.
The volunteer group began to make the stage bigger. By late 1957, they decided to keep the Moller organ because the community wanted it. Since taking over, the Civic Theatre of Allentown now offers several plays each year. They also show many independent and international films. The Civic Theater School teaches acting and theater skills to young people aged 4–18. In 1991, William Sanders became the artistic director. He has led the theater to produce A Christmas Carol every year.
In 1994, the theater's front sign (marquee) was in bad shape and needed major repairs. Money was raised, and a grant from the Trexler Trust helped pay for the work. The Alvin Butz Inc. construction company did the repairs.
Besides its main historic theater, Civic Theater of Allentown also owns Theatre514. This is a production center and a smaller 92-seat theater right across the street. Civic uses Theatre514 for its independent and international film series. It also uses it for more plays and theater programs. This smaller theater was greatly improved in summer 2014.
What's Happening Now
The Civic Theatre moved into the digital movie age in August 2013. They replaced their old 35mm projectors with new digital ones. The Civic Theatre's live play section has produced its own versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. This production is celebrated with special events, like an exhibit at Allentown's Liberty Bell Museum.
Civic's recent play Young Frankenstein was their most popular musical in recent years. Their production of Breakfast at Tiffany's was the first time that play was shown outside of New York City since it closed there in 2013.
The Civic Theatre has started a two-part renovation project. This project will make the auditorium look new again, upgrade the stage equipment, and improve the backstage and front areas for visitors. Mills and Schnoering Architects are leading the project, with Stages Consultants helping with theater and sound advice.
See also
