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 in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, is a historic movie theater. It was built in 1917 by Charles Hedding Rowland. This special theater is still owned by the town of Philipsburg today. It is a single-screen theater, meaning it shows one movie at a time.
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History of the Theater
The land where the Rowland Theater stands used to have another building called the Pierce Opera House. This older building was destroyed in a big fire on December 30, 1910.
A few years later, in 1915, the Rowland family bought the property. They planned to build a new place for live shows, meetings, and other events. The theater was finished in 1917. Today, the Philipsburg Borough owns the theater. A non-profit group called Rowland Theatre, Inc. manages it. The theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it is recognized as an important historic site.
Who Was Charles Hedding Rowland?
Charles Hedding Rowland was born in 1860. He was a successful businessman in the Philipsburg area. He worked in coal mining and led several companies. He was also elected to the United States Congress as a Republican. He served as a U.S. Congressman from March 1915 to March 1919. He decided not to run for re-election in 1918 and retired.
Building the Theater
The construction of the Rowland Theater began in 1916 and was finished in mid-1917. Julian Millard was the main architect who designed the building. W. A. Hoyt was the engineer who oversaw the construction.
When the theater opened in June 1917, Charles Rowland shared why he built it. He said Philipsburg needed a comfortable and large place for fun and entertainment. He wanted a safe and modern building for public meetings and shows. He hoped the theater would help the community grow. He also wanted it to be a place where people could enjoy quality plays and movies.
What the Theater Looks Like
The Rowland Theater is a large building made of brick and concrete. It is about 66 feet wide and 222 feet long. The front part of the building has the theater's entrance and two small shops on the first floor. The second floor has offices, and the third floor has a meeting hall. However, the upper floors are not used right now because they do not meet modern fire safety rules.
The Front of the Building
The front of the theater looks balanced and has classic design details. It has a large sign that sticks out, called a marquee. The entrance to the theater and shops are set back a bit. The building uses different brick patterns and colors to make it look interesting. It also has decorative parts that add to its beauty. You can see horizontal lines from the window sills and ledges. Vertical lines are created by columns that divide the front into three sections. A concrete sign with the word "THEATRE" is in the middle.
Inside the Lobby
When you enter the Rowland Theater, you first step into the outer lobby. The lower parts of the walls are covered in shiny marble. The upper parts have beautiful paintings. These paintings show scenes of Native American life and local history. Two large hanging lights brighten the space.
The inner foyer is even bigger and more decorated. It has a colorful stained glass skylight above. The floor is covered with a deep red carpet. The lower walls are marble, and the upper walls have fancy cloth hangings. Two staircases, one on each side, lead upstairs to the balcony. Restrooms and storage areas are also in this part of the theater.
The Main Hall
The main hall is where most of the audience sits. There are about 400 seats on the main floor. There are also special areas for people using wheelchairs. The ceiling is curved and has a cool design that mixes beauty with the building's structure. It used to have many detailed paintings. Most of these were painted over in white during a restoration. But some original parts of the paintings, and some from a 1930 restoration, are still visible.
The stage area is also very decorated. It once had paintings similar to the ceiling. You can still see some of these original paintings. There are also original, hand-carved wooden decorations above the doors near the stage.
The Balcony
The balcony seating area is for people aged 18 and older. This rule is in place because of the theater's insurance policy.
Stage and Screen
The stage at the Rowland Theater is very large. It is 50 feet wide and 34 feet deep. It also has about 50 feet of height above it. There are 11 dressing rooms for performers in the basement below the stage. The main curtains open and close with a motor. There are three more layers of curtains behind the main one. This allows for different depths for stage shows.
The movie screen is the biggest in central Pennsylvania. It measures 29 feet wide and 15 feet tall. It can be adjusted to 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 showing movies and having live stage events.
Projection and Sound Systems
The Rowland Theater updated its movie projection system to digital in October 2013. The projector can show both wide and standard-sized films.
The sound system uses a Dolby Processor. Speakers are placed behind the screen for clear sound. There is also a subwoofer for deep bass sounds. Other speakers are along the side walls of the theater, both on the main floor and in the balcony. These speakers create a surround sound experience.
How the Theater Operates
The Philipsburg Borough owns the Rowland Theater. The non-profit group, Rowland Theater, Inc., runs it. A group of volunteers makes up the Board of Directors. Many people from the local community volunteer their time to help with concessions and other jobs. These volunteer hours can even count towards community service requirements for various local programs.
Seating in the Theater
The theater's seats were replaced with new ones that look like the original seats. The main floor can seat about 400 people. The lower balcony can seat about 200, and the upper balcony can seat about 270. Some of the seats in the very back of the upper balcony are original. They are usually not used by the public but can be opened if needed.
Ticket Prices
The ticket prices for movies at the Rowland Theater are very low compared to many other places.
- $7 for adults (ages 12 and up)
- $6 for children (ages 4–11) and seniors (ages 55 and up)
- Children aged 3 and younger get in for free.
Live Stage Shows
The theater's stage is used for many different events. These include plays, choir performances, and small orchestras. In front of the stage, there is an orchestra pit. This pit can hold about 30 musicians and their instruments. The theater has some stage lights and spotlights located around the main hall. There is also a separate sound system for live shows, different from the one used for movies.
