Strand Theatre

12 N. 8th Street,
Allentown, PA 18101

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Boyd Theater Circuit

Architects: Robert Lange, Wallace E. Ruhe

Firms: Ruhe & Lange

Functions: Office Space

Previous Names: Cinema

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Strand Theatre

Opened as the Strand Theatre on October 8, 1917. It became the Cinema on April 12, 1941 and was listed with 1,000 seats. Later back to the Strand Theatre the seating was listed at 794. It was located on N. 8th Street just west of W. Hamilton Street.

One of about a dozen theatres located in the main business district of Allentown. I coudn’t find a closing date for the Strand Theatre. The auditorium has been demolished but the front of the building and foyer still survive in use as office space.

Contributed by Chuck

Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 on August 14, 2009 at 1:10 pm

I watched this theatre as it was being torn down. What a waste. I went into the rubble and salvaged a piece of decorative plaster that I still have in a showcase. I lived accross the streat from this theater. Allentown is a ghost of its former self and never appreciated its movie palaces.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on October 9, 2012 at 12:10 pm

The December 1, 1917, issue of The Moving Picture World said that the Strand Theatre in Allentown had opened on October 8th. The Strand was designed by local architects Ruhe & Lange.

Wallace E. Ruhe was the lead architect of this firm, and Robert Lange apparently handled the business end of their projects.

bwmoll3
bwmoll3 on July 30, 2013 at 10:12 am

The theater had closed in the 1950s I believe, as by the early 1960s, the marquee was there and it was a large card shop that was in the lobby.

bwmoll3
bwmoll3 on August 7, 2013 at 1:50 pm

Torn down in June 1987 along with a pizza place next door. Also the Earl Theater was next to the pizza shop which was torn down in 1961.

The area now is a large asphalt parking lot

bwmoll3
bwmoll3 on August 7, 2013 at 4:18 pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strand_Theater%28Allentown,Pennsylvania%29

rivest266
rivest266 on April 22, 2017 at 3:16 pm

October 6th, 1917 grand opening ad in the photo section. Opened on the 8th.

rivest266
rivest266 on April 23, 2017 at 10:23 am

This reopened as Cinema on April 12th, 1941. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

Found on Newspapers.com

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on October 19, 2017 at 9:33 am

The auditorium is demolished but the lobby building still stands.

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