Cinematour Forum: Grand Theatre, Elizabeth, PA

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»	Cinematour Forum » Cinemas and Theatres » Grand Theatre, Elizabeth, PA

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Topic: Grand Theatre, Elizabeth, PA

Margaret Fleischauer
New Member

Posts: 2
From: Elizabeth, PA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted March 20, 2005 04:18 PM

Looking for old photos, memorabilia, memories, history, etc. of the Grand Theatre in Elizabeth, PA, about 10 miles south of Pittsburgh. The current owners are still in the renovation/restoration phase and would love to have some history about the theatre.

The front doors and art deco pattern around the doors are still intact. Would love to find out at least who the architect was, and get some photos of the original marquee.

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James William Kastner
New Member

Posts: 3
From: Murrysville, PA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted March 20, 2005 07:35 PM

Margaret,

I do not have any info on the theatre in Elizabeth, PA, but I just wanted to say "hello" to you. I live in Murrysville, PA, about 3 miles east of Monroeville. My interests are in the theatres that once graced Downtown Pittsburgh.

Sincerely,

Jim Kastner

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Jim Rankin
(Jim passed away in December 2006)
Posts: 123
From: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Oct 2003

posted March 21, 2005 06:24 AM

The THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA at www.HistoricTheatrs.org is the largest repository of information on theatres in the USA, so an inquiry to their Ex.Director, Richared Sklenar, may be your best bet.

Do not forget your local sources which may be the most fruitful for smaller communities; your Register of Deeds at the county seat is most likely to have records in any rural or semirural setting. From a search of these you may well learn the name of the architect. Likewise, ask city hall or the county governance who did building inspection when the theatre was built, and then try to trace down any archive that might contain those records. Oftentimes, rural or small communities will send their records to the state capitol, so an inquiry to your state Historic Preservation officer may well be in order.
A search of any old newspapers of the time the theatre was built will often contain articles near opening about the owners as well as mentioning the architect. If it was an out-of-town firm, they may still exist elsewhere and contacting the American Institue of Architects may reveal where their records and blueprints went. The nearest library may have such records for local architects, and while there, ask them what they might have in their local history collection, which is often not cataloged, so you must paw through boxes of items.
Best Wishes, Jim

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Margaret Fleischauer
New Member

Posts: 2
From: Elizabeth, PA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted March 21, 2005 08:28 PM

Thanks Jim, lots of good information there. I had already contacted the Theatrical Historical Society regarding information and waiting to hear back. Will get started right away with some of your suggestions.

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David Wodeyla
Member

Posts: 65
From: Natick, MA
Registered: Jun 2004

posted April 28, 2005 08:31 AM

Does the theatre historical society have a complete library of Boxoffice Magazine? I also wonder if there's an index of every issue that can be used to search for particular topics.

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William Hooper
Member

Posts: 82
From: Mobile, AL
Registered: Mar 2003

posted April 28, 2005 10:32 PM

Check with your local library to get microfilms of Boxoffice on interlibrary loan.

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