The theatre was beautiful. Art deco themed throughout the place. The balcony was really wonderful, but was rarely used. Cove lighting – velvet seats and beautiful carpets. The original box office was the little cove that is outside to the left of the front door – The original concession stand was where the video games are on the north west corner inside.

Then the company decided that it should be made into a four-plex similar to Cinema World on Pittsburgh avenue. I worked on the crew that cut up the theatre and turned it into four theatres. (Cinema World is now offices and light industrial space i believe)

All the seats were torn out. I wish I had kept a few. The front walls and screen were taken out – hundreds of wheelbarrow loads of concrete were taken outside to dumpsters. Many large holes were dug to place the support catwalks that make up the second floor hallways and projectionist booths. Then walls were built and dry walled – new screens, seats – a new concession stand…

I then continued as an apprentice projectionist for a while – the original theatre had carbon arc projectors which were similar to the one's the Warner had – then they were changed in favor of a zenon bulb unit – When the theater was remodeled into the four-plex – it was decided to update the existing projectors for new “platter” systems – each movie was assembled on a platter and then wound through the projector and back to a second platter and wound again – this eliminated the need for rewinding reels of movies.

I spent many wonderful days in that building – I knew the building as good or better than anyone alive from the roof to behind the screen – I am sad that I did not get to keep anything from the building as a memento.

It was going to close once before – and was given a small reprieve – it is sad – It never should have been cut up – It was every bit as glamorous as its cousin downtown. Many events could have happened there if it was not destroyed just to make more money –

It will be sad to see what it is turned into.