At one time, Lewisburg had two movie theaters. The Roxy came first, and I'm told that the "Roxy built the Campus" - the money made from the Roxy being used to build the Art Deco theater that opened in 1941 in Lewisburg.
The theater was located Located at "the rear of Prowant Clothing Store, corner of 3rd and Market Street"
The theater can be seen here just left of the tree.
This photo is looking across Market Street, and up North 3rd.
Both the theater, and the UCC Church shown in this photo, were demolished in the 1960s.
The Orpheum Theater, Lewisburg Pa
April 1917
I do not yet know what years the Roxy operated, for certain. Originally the theater was named the Orpheum Theater. The earliest mention I found of the Orpheum was in 1910, when vaudeville performances were being held there.
By 1918, the Orpheum was showing motion pictures.
Admission for the matinee at the Orpheum in 1918 was 28 cents, children 17 cents.
Evening Price was 28 cents, with a few reserved seats at 39 cents each.
On April 14th and 15th 1924, The Orpheum showed Powder River, "The official War Department Motion Picutres Covering The Activities Of American Solider in Actual War Service In France." Admission was 50 cents.
For 3 days in March 1922, The Lewisburg theater presented "The Most Expensive Production Ever Presented At The Orpheum"
1937 Advertisement for the Roxy
In 1931, the Orpheum it changed owners, and was renamed The Roxy. The first mention I found of the theater was in a 1932 newspaper.
Roxy Employee & Past Employee Christmas Party in 1938
The Article lists the names of many of those attending.
This photo hangs behind the counter at Barnes & Noble in Lewisburg
The Roxy showed double features each Saturday, including a
"serial" with the featured movie that always had a cliff hanger to ensure your return the next week.
"serial" with the featured movie that always had a cliff hanger to ensure your return the next week.
1946
In later years, when the Campus was showing the newest technicolor movies, the Roxy was showing black and white westerns each week.
The Campus & the Roxy
1946
There was a balcony at the Roxy, and when you turned 16 you could sit up up there. The theater gained the nickname the "Spit 'n' Whistle", from so many spitting, or throwing things, from the balcony and then turning and pretending they had done nothing. "Popcorn, paper airplanes and spittle rained down on us kids."
Some of the serials included: Superman, The Cisco Kid, Zorro, The Three Stooges, Our Gang Comedy, Hopalong Cassidy.
The Roxy closed about 1956, and was demolished on July 25 1961. The site then became parking for the new J.J. Newberry store.
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Where The Movies Played
An Index Of Old Movie Theaters
In & Around The West Branch Valley
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READ MORE
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The Roxy theater was robbed on October 13th 1945. Sometimes between 5 & 6:30 pm, $92 in cash and war stamps amounting to about $10.
A youth was found responsible for the theft, and returned all but 80 cents of the money. Promising to repay the missing 80 cents, Mr Steifel withdrew the charges.
In 1932, free admission to the Roxy was one of the prizes for subscribing to the Lewisburg newspaper.
February 1939
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