The Lyric Theater, Sunbury Pa

 
The Lyric Theater, Sunbury PA
515  Market Street

c. 1905

"Engaged in a plumbing and tinning enterprise when motion pictures were developed as a medium of entertainment, Reitz founded the first Sunbury motion picture theatre Sunbury on  Market  Street...."

Mr. Reitz was the first to introduce moving pictures in Sunbury, and he owns and conducts the Lyric theater, one of the leading establishments of the kind in the borough, which he has found a profitable investment.

In June 1909 there were two theaters on Market street in Sunbury - The Star, and the Lyric.

In 1911, the new Victoria Theater opened, owned by W.H. Lyons, on "East Market Street, and it's erection in the place of the old building is a decided improvement in the central part of town."  The Victoria would later become the Rialto.  But the Lyric was still being mentioned in 1913, so it does not appear that the Lyric was replaced by the Victoria:

In 1913 the theater was purchased by Nevin & Ecke Barnitz of Mifflinburg.

W.F. Lyon, former owner.

Also in 1913, Achenbach replaced his theater seats, at the Pastime Theater in Northumberland (?), with seats taken from the Lyric in Sunbury.

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Where The Movies Played

An Index Of Old Movie Theaters

In & Around The West Branch Valley

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/07/where-movies-played-old-movie-theaters.html

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Reitz obituary, 1949

Mr. Reitz was the first to introduce moving pictures in Sunbury, and he owns and conducts the Lyric theater, one of the leading establishments of the kind in the borough, which he has found a profitable investment.

ISAAC J. Reitz, an energetic and enterprising citizen of Sunbury, whose various business interests bring him into contact with a large proportion of the residents of that borough, was born July 1, 1863, in Lower Mahanoy township, this county. He spent his youth in Lower Augusta township, where he attended public school, and when eighteen commenced to learn the plumber's trade at Sunbury, where he has followed it continuously since. 

His business has extended until he not only is fully equipped to fill plumbing and heating contracts of all kinds, but also does a large business as a dealer in stoves and tin ware, carrying the largest and most complete stock of tin ware in the town at his store, No. 515 Market street. He has always been a leader in the plumbing business, and in that line alone gives regular employment to four men, having in all ten men employed in the conduct of his various branches of business. He has the local selling agency for the Mitchell automobile, his territory covering Northumberland, Snyder, Union and Montour counties, and in this connection conducts a garage at No. 435 Market street, in Sunbury. 

Mr. Reitz was the first to introduce moving pictures in Sunbury, and he owns and conducts the Lyric theater, one of the leading establishments of the kind in the borough, which he has found a profitable investment. He is a large owner of real estate. 

Mr. Reitz is thorough in everything he undertakes, and has shown himself progressive in every line of work he has entered. The fact that he engaged in the moving picture and automobile lines, and made a success of both, is sufficient evidence that he has an intelligent comprehension of the needs of the day. The manner in which he has developed his original line of business would be a credit to any workman. In both mercantile and mechanical lines he has followed its possibilities to the limits of usefulness and convenience, to his own profit and the benefit of his townspeople.

Mr. Reitz has represented the Ninth ward in the town council, and is a Democrat in political connection. He is a member of the Elks and the Freemasons, belonging to Lodge No. 22, F. & A.M., Northumberland Chapter, No. 174, R.A.M., and Mount Hermon Commandery, No. 85, K.T., all of Sunbury; and to Lodge No. 237, B.P.O, Elks, also of Sunbury.

On June 1, 1882, Mr. Reitz married Annie Arnold, daughter of Henry and Margaret (Keefer) Arnold, of Lower Augusta township. They have had one daughter, Maud May, now the wife of William Conrad, a clerk in the Sunbury National Bank. Mr. Reitz and his family are members of the Reformed Church.