Trans-Lux Theatre
200 Colonial Park Plaza,
Harrisburg,
PA
17109
200 Colonial Park Plaza,
Harrisburg,
PA
17109
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The September 21, 1966 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor said that the new Trans-Lux Theatre in Harrisburg was slated to open that night with “Doctor Zhivago.”
Correction to the above message from carolgrau: The original location of the Trans-Lux Theatre is now an open parking area adjacent to, and south of, the Colonial Park Library. The Boscov’s Department Store now stands where the Colonial Lounge & Bowling Alley once stood. I was hired as manager of the theatre in June, 1966, stayed through it’s construction and grand opening, and resigned shortly thereafter, in October, 1966. I found it impossible to work under New York management.
The Trans Lux had a pair of cinemacannica V8’s at first with Strong Futura II lamps. When they twined they took 2 V8’s from a theatre in Lebanon Pa. put platters in Leb. and 4 V8’s in Harrisburg. Trans- Lux is now a Boscov’s department store.. The Eric East Park Center opened with Norelco AA II’s 35/70 Never ever had a JJ in the place.Get your facts straight.
My fault on location of Trans-Lux Philadelphia. I knew the Eric’s Place (Trans-Lux)Theatre closed between June 1991 and May 1993, but Sameric Theatres was already owned by United Artists.
UA used the Eric Theatres name on almost all of their Philadelphia operations from 1988 to 1991/93, with the exception of UA Cheltenham Square 8, which opened after Merton Shapiro sold Sameric Theatres Co. to United Artists in 1988.
The Trans Lux Theatre was on Chestnut St. It was closed before United Artists purchased the Sameric chain of theatres.
I think the original Trans-Lux Theatre that ever opened was The Trans-Lux Theatre on Market Street, Philadelphia. This theatre later closed as Eric’s Place Theatre under either the Sameric Theatres or United Artists Theatres ownership.
Sadly the Trans-Lux lasted as single screen for only about nine (9) years before being twinned up with a wall up the middle in what was a typical of the hatchet jobs of that era. In an attempt to soundproof they made the center wall of extra thickness resulting in two long bowling alleys with screens near the top of the ceiling. (It did seem to help sound bleed however). The Trans Lux name for the twin operations was the Blue and Gold theatres (each was done in seperate matching colors). While still in Trans Lux hands at least the theatre was maintened with some degree of quality.
The Trans Lux was sold the twin in the late in the late 70’s to Sam Shapiro’s Eric Corporation of Philadelphia. Sameric Theatres (as they were known) had a “zero maintence” philosophy for all of their locations and the theatre soon fell into disrepair.
In 1986 the Colonial Park Mall wished to expand the mall space out into the parking lot where the then free-standing theatre stood. Thus Sameric got to open a 4 plex inside the mall itself (which is still operating today by FunTimeCinemas as a discount house) in exchange for giving up its lease and letting the mall tearing down the old Trans Lux.
Soon after acquistion by Sameric the Trans-Lux’s 70MM Victoria Projectors were taken a few miles down the road and installed in the Eric East Park Center. The East Park’s set of Century 70MM JJ were in turn installed somewhere in Philadelphia (I believe it may have even been the Boyd).