Rowland Theater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rowland Theater
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Rowland Theater, June 2009
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Front St., Philipsburg, Pennsylvania |
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| Built | 1917 |
| Architect | Julian Millard, W.A. Hoyt |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002186 |
| Added to NRHP | October 18, 1979 |
The Rowland Theater is an old movie theater in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1917 by Charles Hedding Rowland. This special theater is owned by the town of Philipsburg. It's a single-screen theater, meaning it has one big screen for movies.
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The Story of the Rowland Theater
The land where the Rowland Theater stands used to have another building. It was called the Pierce Opera House. This three-story building was owned by a businessman named J.H. Pierce. Sadly, a big fire destroyed it and other buildings on December 30, 1910.
The Rowland family bought the land in 1915. They wanted to build a new place for shows, meetings, and events. The theater is now owned by Philipsburg Borough. A non-profit group called Rowland Theatre, Inc. helps run it. The theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it's an important historical building.
Who Was Charles Hedding Rowland?
Charles Hedding Rowland was a very important person. He was born in 1860. He was a businessman who worked in coal mining in the Philipsburg area. He was also the president of two companies: the Moshannon Coal Mining Company and the Pittsburg and Susquehanna Railroad Companies.
Later, he became a U.S. Congressman. He was elected to the United States Congress in 1915. He served until 1919. He decided not to run for re-election in 1918.
Building the Theater
Building the theater started in 1916 and finished in mid-1917. The main architect was Julian Millard. W. A. Hoyt was the construction engineer.
When the theater opened in June 1917, Mr. Rowland shared his hopes for it. He said Philipsburg needed a comfortable and large place for fun and meetings. He wanted the theater to be a place for everyone to enjoy. He hoped it would show only good plays and movies.
What the Theater Looks Like
The Rowland Theater is made of brick and concrete. It's a large building, about 66 feet wide and 222 feet long. The front part of the building has the theater's entrance. It also has two small shops.
On the second floor, there are offices. The third floor has a meeting hall and other rooms. These upper floors are not used right now. This is because they don't meet modern fire safety rules for exits.
The Front of the Building
The front of the theater looks balanced and classic. It has fancy brickwork and different colors and textures. There are horizontal lines from the window tops and a decorative ledge. Vertical lines are made by columns that divide the front into three parts. A concrete sign with "THEATRE" on it is right in the middle.
Inside the Lobby
When you walk into the outer lobby, you'll see marble on the lower walls. The upper walls have paintings of Native American and local history scenes. Two large lights hang from the ceiling.
The inner foyer is big and beautifully decorated. It has a colorful stained glass skylight. The floor is covered with a deep red carpet. The lower walls are marble, and the upper walls have fancy cloth hangings. Two staircases go upstairs to the balcony. Restrooms and some snack storage are also in this area.
The Main Hall
The main hall is where most of the seats are. There are about 400 seats on the main floor. There are also special areas for people using wheelchairs. The ceiling is curved and has steel supports. It used to have beautiful paintings. Most of these were covered with white paint during a restoration. But some original parts and parts from a 1930 restoration are still visible.
The stage frame is also very fancy. It once had paintings like the ceiling. You can still see some of the original, hand-carved wood designs near the stage doors.
The Balcony
The balcony seating is for people aged 18 and older. This is due to the theater's insurance policy.
Stage and Screen
The stage is very large. It's 50 feet wide and 34 feet deep. It has about 50 feet of height above it. There are 11 dressing rooms in the basement below the stage. The main curtains open and close with a motor. Three more layers of curtains can be used to change the stage's depth for different shows.
The movie screen is the biggest in central Pennsylvania. It's 29 feet wide and 15 feet tall. It can show different types of movies. The screen hangs from the stage ceiling. It can be moved up and down using a pulley system. This makes it easy to switch between movies and live shows.
Projector and Sound
The Rowland Theater updated its movie projector to a digital system in 2013. This new projector can show all types of movies.
The sound system uses Dolby technology. Speakers are placed all around the theater. Some are behind the screen, some are in the orchestra pit for deep bass sounds, and others are along the walls. This gives a great sound experience for everyone.
How the Theater Works
The Rowland Theater is owned by Philipsburg Borough. It is run by a non-profit group called Rowland Theater, Inc. A group of volunteers helps manage the theater. Many local community members volunteer their time to help with snacks and other jobs. These volunteer hours can even count towards community service programs.
Seating
The theater's seats were replaced to look like the original ones. The main floor has about 400 seats. The lower balcony has about 200 seats. The upper balcony has about 270 seats. Some of the very back seats in the upper balcony are original. They are usually not used by the public but can be opened if needed.
Ticket Prices
Ticket prices at the Rowland Theater are very low.
- $7 for adults (12 years and older)
- $6 for children (4-11 years) and seniors (55 years and older)
- Free for children 3 years and younger
Live Shows
The theater's stage can be used for many different events. These include plays, choir performances, and small orchestras. In front of the stage, there is an orchestra pit. It can hold about 30 musicians and their instruments. The theater has basic stage lighting and several spotlights. It also has a separate sound system for live shows.
