F. M. Kirby Center facts for kids
Exterior of venue, c. 2011
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| Full name | F. M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts |
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| Former names | Comerford Theatre (1938–49) Paramount Theatre (1949–86) |
| Address | 71 Public Square Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701-2507 |
| Location | Wyoming Valley |
| Capacity | 1,832 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | August 18, 1938 |
| Architect | Charles A. Ryan |
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Comerford Theater
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| Architectural style | Moderne Deco, "Depression moderne" |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003564 |
| Added to NRHP | December 3, 1980 |
The F. M. Kirby Center is a historic building in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It was once a movie theater known as the Comerford Theatre and later the Paramount Theatre. Today, it is a popular place for live performances. The building has a special Art Deco-Moderne style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 because of its unique design and history.
Contents
History of the Building
Early Days as Comerford Theatre
The Comerford Theater was built in 1937. It stands on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. The building has an interesting, uneven shape. It is made with a strong steel frame and bricks. The front of the building is covered in beautiful terra cotta and marble.
The front also features a cool zig-zag design. It has a tall central tower and shiny metal decorations. A large sign, called a marquee, hangs out front. This theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Michael Comerford's Vision
The theater was created by Michael E. Comerford. He owned Comerford Theaters Inc. Michael Comerford also helped start the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. His company, Comerford Theaters Inc., was very successful. At its peak, it owned over 80 movie theaters. These theaters were located across Northeastern Pennsylvania and Upstate New York.
After a successful theater in Scranton, Comerford decided to build a new one in Wilkes-Barre. Construction began in 1937. Charles A. Ryan was the architect who designed the building. The theater officially opened on August 18, 1938. The first movie shown was Alexander's Ragtime Band. At that time, the theater could hold 2,047 people.
Becoming the Paramount Theatre
In 1949, rules about fair business changed. Because of these rules, the theater's ownership was transferred. It went to a company called Penn Paramount. The theater closed for a short time for repairs. It then reopened on September 2, 1949. Its new name was the Paramount Theatre.
The theater continued to operate until the early 1970s. Fewer people came to the theater after a big flood. This flood happened because of Hurricane Agnes. The theater stopped showing movies in 1977. The property was sold to a new owner. For a while, the theater was sometimes used for concerts and boxing matches.
Saving the Historic Building
Local businesses formed a group to save the theater. They called themselves "Save the Old Paramount" (S.T.O.P.). A few years later, the building was recognized as important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Throughout most of the 1980s, the building was empty. It needed many repairs. In 1985, three people helped raise money. Albert Boscov, August L. Simms, and Fred M. Kirby II collected $3.3 million. This money was used to restore the theater.
Work on the building began on December 21, 1985. The theater reopened on September 19, 1986. It was given a new name: the F. M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts. This new name honored Fred Morgan Kirby, who helped make the restoration possible.
