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F. M. Kirby Center

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The theatre was developed by Michael E. Comerford, owner of the Comerford Theaters Inc. Comerford was also a founder of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America and a director of the Scranton Chamber of Commerce. At the height of its success, the Comerford Theaters Inc. owned and operated over 80
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The Capitol Theatre, also on Public Square, was built in 1920. It was renamed the Comerford Theatre after the original Comerford was renamed the Paramount in the 1940s. The second Comerford was multiplexed and renamed the Barre East-West Loge in the 1970s and demolished soon after.
1034: 307:. The theatre ceased operations in 1977 after the property was sold to a new owner. The theatre saw occasional use as a concert and boxing venue. Local businesses formed a group known as "Save the Old Paramount" (or S.T.O.P.). A few years later, the building was added to the 303:, ownership of the theater was transferred to the Penn Paramount Company. Closing briefly for repairs, the theatre reopened on September 2, 1949, as the Paramount Theatre. Operations continued until the early 1970s. Attendance dropped after the venue was flooded due to 693: 688: 683: 865: 1048: 945: 910: 860: 935: 890: 850: 795: 775: 725: 705: 800: 785: 618: 613: 905: 900: 825: 805: 760: 735: 720: 715: 643: 528: 1541: 1511: 950: 925: 855: 840: 820: 810: 790: 780: 750: 730: 710: 700: 678: 663: 658: 628: 930: 895: 885: 845: 835: 830: 815: 770: 765: 755: 673: 668: 653: 623: 1044: 940: 920: 915: 870: 648: 638: 633: 608: 986: 955: 880: 745: 971: 740: 290:, the company began construction of a new theater in Wilkes-Barre. Construction began in 1937 with the assistance of the Penn-York Utilities, Inc. and designed by Charles A. Ryan. It opened August 18, 1938, with a showing of 976: 1011: 1001: 996: 1006: 991: 1016: 521: 1501: 1521: 1077: 981: 875: 537: 514: 1536: 1120: 1058: 1054: 576: 566: 251:
style theater building on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. The building takes an irregular trapezoidal shape. It is of steel frame and brick construction with a four bay wide,
318:, August L. Simms and Fred M. Kirby II raised $ 3.3 million to restored the theatre. Construction began on December 21, 1985. It opened September 19, 1986, as the 1526: 1465: 1531: 1506: 1087: 1113: 1551: 1212: 1267: 561: 1546: 1262: 1186: 1106: 351: 308: 264: 232: 157: 1516: 1166: 1419: 292: 1393: 1333: 1171: 1207: 370: 1227: 1287: 418: 300: 1439: 1378: 228: 67: 1424: 1191: 276: 1444: 1272: 1176: 1161: 314:
Throughout a majority of the 80s, the venue was mostly vacant as it was desperate need of repairs. In 1985,
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National Register of Historic Places in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
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Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
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composition, a central tower, corrugated steel decoration, and a
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and marble front facade. The front facade features a stylized
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F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts on Cinema Treasures
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F.M. KIRBY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Official Website
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US National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
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Buildings and structures in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
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Streamline Moderne architecture in the United States
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Tourist attractions in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
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History of the National Register of Historic Places
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KIRBY CENTER" 158:U.S. National Register of Historic Places 1213:Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts 335: 347:"National Register Information System" 341: 339: 1527:Art Deco architecture in Pennsylvania 1263:Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts 7: 1040:Native American archaeological sites 423:Lewith & Freeman Real Estate Inc 352:National Register of Historic Places 309:National Register of Historic Places 265:National Register of Historic Places 233:National Register of Historic Places 1532:Art Deco cinemas and movie theaters 1507:1938 establishments in Pennsylvania 1167:Mann Center for the Performing Arts 1420:Budweiser Made in America Festival 172:Moderne Deco, "Depression moderne" 14: 1379:The Event Center at Rivers Casino 1334:Cambria County War Memorial Arena 1172:Penn Community Bank Amphitheater 1082: 1073: 1072: 592: 585: 22: 1552:Performing arts in Pennsylvania 178: 1: 1152:Great Plaza at Penn's Landing 1035:European archaeological sites 1547:Music venues in Pennsylvania 1466:Philadelphia Convention Hall 1129:Music venues of Pennsylvania 1228:Carnegie Library Music Hall 1055:National Historic Landmarks 1568: 1517:Theatres completed in 1937 1440:Philadelphia Folk Festival 229:Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 28:Exterior of venue, c. 2011 1425:Flood City Music Festival 1192:The Pavilion at Star Lake 1068: 583: 277:Northeastern Pennsylvania 197: 177:NRHP reference  164: 155: 148: 144: 131: 107:August 18, 1938 33: 21: 1445:The Peach Music Festival 1273:Scranton Cultural Center 1177:Peoples Natural Gas Park 293:Alexander's Ragtime Band 169:Architectural style 1399:Wind Creek Event Center 1162:Lincoln Financial Field 207:(formerly known as the 1364:Petersen Events Center 1283:Theatre of Living Arts 557:Keeper of the Register 263:. It was added to the 231:. It was added to the 572:National Park Service 552:Contributing property 450:National Park Service 378:(Searchable database) 357:National Park Service 1430:Mellon Jazz Festival 1339:Erie Insurance Arena 1308:Zoellner Arts Center 1481:The Electric Banana 1329:Bryce Jordan Center 1157:Hersheypark Stadium 445:"Comerford Theater" 301:1949 antitrust laws 299:As a result of the 18: 1394:Wells Fargo Center 1233:The Chameleon Club 1201:Theaters and clubs 1147:Citizens Bank Park 453:. December 1, 2007 275:movie theaters in 205:F. M. Kirby Center 54:Paramount Theatre 49:Comerford Theatre 17:F. M. Kirby Center 1489: 1488: 1349:Hersheypark Arena 1293:Trocadero Theatre 1253:Irvine Auditorium 1243:F.M. Kirby Center 1096: 1095: 562:Historic district 324:Fred Morgan Kirby 215:) is a historic 213:Paramount Theatre 209:Comerford Theatre 201: 200: 150:Comerford Theater 1559: 1461:Empire Rock Club 1369:PPG Paints Arena 1354:Liacouras Center 1238:Electric Factory 1208:Academy of Music 1142:Acrisure Stadium 1123: 1116: 1109: 1100: 1086: 1076: 1075: 596: 589: 588: 531: 524: 517: 508: 489: 488: 486: 484: 469: 463: 462: 460: 458: 441: 435: 434: 432: 430: 415: 409: 408: 406: 405: 400: 388: 386: 385: 379: 367: 361: 360: 343: 281:Upstate New York 193:December 3, 1980 180: 136: 114: 112: 65:71 Public Square 57: 52: 26: 19: 1567: 1566: 1562: 1561: 1560: 1558: 1557: 1556: 1492: 1491: 1490: 1485: 1454:Historic venues 1449: 1408: 1384:Santander Arena 1312: 1278:Sherman Theater 1258:Keswick Theatre 1196: 1130: 1127: 1097: 1092: 1064: 1023: 960: 602:Lists by county 597: 591: 590: 586: 581: 540: 535: 498: 493: 492: 482: 480: 471: 470: 466: 456: 454: 443: 442: 438: 428: 426: 417: 416: 412: 403: 401: 398: 393: 383: 381: 377: 369: 368: 364: 359:. 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Ryan 110: 108: 66: 55: 53: 50: 29: 12: 11: 5: 1565: 1563: 1555: 1554: 1549: 1544: 1539: 1534: 1529: 1524: 1519: 1514: 1509: 1504: 1494: 1493: 1487: 1486: 1484: 1483: 1478: 1473: 1468: 1463: 1457: 1455: 1451: 1450: 1448: 1447: 1442: 1437: 1432: 1427: 1422: 1416: 1414: 1410: 1409: 1407: 1406: 1401: 1396: 1391: 1386: 1381: 1376: 1371: 1366: 1361: 1359:Palumbo Center 1356: 1351: 1346: 1341: 1336: 1331: 1326: 1320: 1318: 1314: 1313: 1311: 1310: 1305: 1303:Union Transfer 1300: 1295: 1290: 1285: 1280: 1275: 1270: 1265: 1260: 1255: 1250: 1245: 1240: 1235: 1230: 1225: 1220: 1218:Benedum Center 1215: 1210: 1204: 1202: 1198: 1197: 1195: 1194: 1189: 1184: 1179: 1174: 1169: 1164: 1159: 1154: 1149: 1144: 1138: 1136: 1132: 1131: 1128: 1126: 1125: 1118: 1111: 1103: 1094: 1093: 1091: 1090: 1080: 1069: 1066: 1065: 1063: 1062: 1052: 1042: 1037: 1031: 1029: 1025: 1024: 1022: 1021: 1020: 1019: 1014: 1009: 1004: 999: 994: 989: 979: 974: 968: 966: 962: 961: 959: 958: 953: 948: 943: 938: 933: 928: 923: 918: 913: 908: 903: 898: 893: 888: 883: 878: 873: 868: 866:Northumberland 863: 858: 853: 848: 843: 838: 833: 828: 823: 818: 813: 808: 803: 798: 793: 788: 783: 778: 773: 768: 763: 758: 753: 748: 743: 738: 733: 728: 723: 718: 713: 708: 703: 698: 697: 696: 691: 686: 676: 671: 666: 661: 656: 651: 646: 641: 636: 631: 626: 621: 616: 611: 605: 603: 599: 598: 584: 582: 580: 579: 577:Property types 574: 569: 564: 559: 554: 548: 546: 542: 541: 536: 534: 533: 526: 519: 511: 505: 504: 497: 496:External links 494: 491: 490: 479:. October 2019 464: 436: 410: 392:This includes 362: 334: 333: 331: 328: 240: 237: 199: 198: 195: 194: 191: 187: 186: 181: 174: 173: 170: 166: 165: 162: 161: 156: 153: 152: 149: 146: 145: 142: 141: 138: 137: 129: 128: 124: 123: 120: 116: 115: 105: 101: 100: 96: 95: 92: 86: 85: 83:Wyoming Valley 80: 76: 75: 63: 59: 58: 47: 43: 42: 39: 35: 34: 31: 30: 27: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1564: 1553: 1550: 1548: 1545: 1543: 1540: 1538: 1535: 1533: 1530: 1528: 1525: 1523: 1520: 1518: 1515: 1513: 1510: 1508: 1505: 1503: 1500: 1499: 1497: 1482: 1479: 1477: 1474: 1472: 1469: 1467: 1464: 1462: 1459: 1458: 1456: 1452: 1446: 1443: 1441: 1438: 1436: 1433: 1431: 1428: 1426: 1423: 1421: 1418: 1417: 1415: 1411: 1405: 1402: 1400: 1397: 1395: 1392: 1390: 1389:Stabler Arena 1387: 1385: 1382: 1380: 1377: 1375: 1372: 1370: 1367: 1365: 1362: 1360: 1357: 1355: 1352: 1350: 1347: 1345: 1342: 1340: 1337: 1335: 1332: 1330: 1327: 1325: 1322: 1321: 1319: 1315: 1309: 1306: 1304: 1301: 1299: 1296: 1294: 1291: 1289: 1288:Tower Theater 1286: 1284: 1281: 1279: 1276: 1274: 1271: 1269: 1266: 1264: 1261: 1259: 1256: 1254: 1251: 1249: 1246: 1244: 1241: 1239: 1236: 1234: 1231: 1229: 1226: 1224: 1223:Byham Theater 1221: 1219: 1216: 1214: 1211: 1209: 1206: 1205: 1203: 1199: 1193: 1190: 1188: 1185: 1183: 1182:Star Pavilion 1180: 1178: 1175: 1173: 1170: 1168: 1165: 1163: 1160: 1158: 1155: 1153: 1150: 1148: 1145: 1143: 1140: 1139: 1137: 1133: 1124: 1119: 1117: 1112: 1110: 1105: 1104: 1101: 1089: 1085: 1081: 1079: 1071: 1070: 1067: 1060: 1056: 1053: 1050: 1046: 1043: 1041: 1038: 1036: 1033: 1032: 1030: 1026: 1018: 1015: 1013: 1010: 1008: 1005: 1003: 1000: 998: 995: 993: 990: 988: 985: 984: 983: 980: 978: 975: 973: 970: 969: 967: 965:Lists by city 963: 957: 954: 952: 949: 947: 944: 942: 939: 937: 934: 932: 929: 927: 924: 922: 919: 917: 914: 912: 909: 907: 904: 902: 899: 897: 894: 892: 889: 887: 884: 882: 879: 877: 874: 872: 869: 867: 864: 862: 859: 857: 854: 852: 849: 847: 844: 842: 839: 837: 834: 832: 829: 827: 824: 822: 819: 817: 814: 812: 809: 807: 804: 802: 799: 797: 794: 792: 789: 787: 784: 782: 779: 777: 774: 772: 769: 767: 764: 762: 759: 757: 754: 752: 749: 747: 744: 742: 739: 737: 734: 732: 729: 727: 724: 722: 719: 717: 714: 712: 709: 707: 704: 702: 699: 695: 692: 690: 687: 685: 682: 681: 680: 677: 675: 672: 670: 667: 665: 662: 660: 657: 655: 652: 650: 647: 645: 642: 640: 637: 635: 632: 630: 627: 625: 622: 620: 617: 615: 612: 610: 607: 606: 604: 600: 595: 578: 575: 573: 570: 568: 565: 563: 560: 558: 555: 553: 550: 549: 547: 543: 539: 532: 527: 525: 520: 518: 513: 512: 509: 503: 500: 499: 495: 478: 474: 468: 465: 452: 451: 446: 440: 437: 425:. 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Retrieved 375:the original 365: 350: 319: 313: 298: 291: 285: 273: 269: 242: 212: 208: 204: 202: 99:Construction 68:Wilkes-Barre 46:Former names 1088:NRHP portal 1028:Other lists 987:Center City 911:Susquehanna 861:Northampton 483:October 13, 457:October 13, 429:October 13, 253:terra cotta 227:located at 1496:Categories 1374:PPL Center 1324:2300 Arena 1248:Heinz Hall 972:Pittsburgh 936:Washington 891:Schuylkill 851:Montgomery 796:Lackawanna 776:Huntingdon 726:Cumberland 706:Clearfield 404:2012-03-15 384:2012-03-15 330:References 111:1938-08-18 74:18701-2507 1435:Musikfest 1413:Festivals 1012:Southwest 1002:Northwest 997:Northeast 977:Lancaster 801:Lancaster 786:Jefferson 619:Armstrong 614:Allegheny 267:in 1980. 235:in 1980. 119:Architect 56:(1949–86) 51:(1938–49) 38:Full name 1471:Spectrum 1298:Stage AE 1078:Category 906:Sullivan 901:Somerset 826:Lycoming 806:Lawrence 761:Franklin 736:Delaware 721:Crawford 716:Columbia 644:Bradford 322:, after 288:Scranton 257:ziggurat 245:Art Deco 217:Art Deco 184:80003564 90:Capacity 79:Location 1268:The Met 1135:Outdoor 1049:covered 1045:Bridges 951:Wyoming 926:Venango 856:Montour 841:Mifflin 821:Luzerne 811:Lebanon 791:Juniata 781:Indiana 751:Fayette 731:Dauphin 711:Clinton 701:Clarion 679:Chester 664:Cameron 659:Cambria 629:Bedford 261:marquee 249:Moderne 239:History 221:Moderne 127:Website 109: ( 62:Address 1317:Arenas 931:Warren 896:Snyder 886:Potter 846:Monroe 836:Mercer 831:McKean 816:Lehigh 771:Greene 766:Fulton 756:Forest 674:Centre 669:Carbon 654:Butler 624:Beaver 545:Topics 223:style 104:Opened 1007:South 992:North 941:Wayne 921:Union 916:Tioga 871:Perry 694:South 689:North 649:Bucks 639:Blair 634:Berks 609:Adams 399:(PDF) 390:Note: 94:1,832 1017:West 956:York 881:Pike 746:Erie 684:East 485:2019 459:2019 431:2019 279:and 211:and 203:The 741:Elk 179:No. 1498:: 475:. 447:. 421:. 355:. 349:. 338:^ 326:. 311:. 283:. 72:PA 70:, 1122:e 1115:t 1108:v 1061:) 1057:( 1051:) 1047:( 530:e 523:t 516:v 487:. 461:. 433:. 407:. 387:. 247:- 219:- 113:)

Index


Wilkes-Barre
PA
Wyoming Valley
Capacity
Venue Website
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
80003564
Art Deco
Moderne
movie theater
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
National Register of Historic Places
Art Deco
Moderne
terra cotta
ziggurat
marquee
National Register of Historic Places
Northeastern Pennsylvania
Upstate New York
Scranton
Alexander's Ragtime Band
1949 antitrust laws
Hurricane Agnes
National Register of Historic Places
Albert Boscov
Fred Morgan Kirby

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