A 2014 photograph from GoogleMaps street view, of what was at one time the Star Theatre building, 24 Vine Street, Elizabethville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. This was built as a theatre in 1910 by Ira M. Hoke, a hardware merchant in Elizabethville, and was the borough’s first building built for that purpose.
A 2014 view of the same building (above).
A brief history of the Star Theatre appeared in the Elizabethville Bicentennial Book, 1967:
STAR THEATRE at No. 24 Vine Street was built in 1910 by Ira M. Hoke who built a boardwalk along his hardware store from Main Street to the theatre. The first show was Saturday evening October 29 that same year, These shows could never be started until the evening train had arrived from Harrisburg at 7 P. M. because movie-goers first went to the station to see the travelers. Admission was 10 cents for adults and 5 cents for children under fifteen years of age. There was only one projector and when a reel of film was shown, a sign flashed on the screen, “Please be patient while the operator adjusts the film.” These of course were silent movies and Ruth Miller and Clara Buffington played the piano during the show. A feature between the two shows was the showing of colored slides during which Mary Snyder sang.
The building was a frame iron-clad structure with seating capacity of 150; a dozen chairs were on balconies on either side of the projection booth, and to reach the chairs one had to climb stationary upright ladders. A pot bellied stove in the northwest corner of the building was attended by Jonas Garman who also sold tickets.
In 1911 the Star Theatre Company of Philadelphia took over the management of the pictures and introduced refined vaudeville acts between shows.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, Oct 27, 1910:
STAR THEATRE COMPLETE
The Star Theatre on Vine Street is now complete and ready for the opening on Saturday evening, October 29th. The building is up-to date for entertainments and there is none outside of the larger cities that cam compete with it. It is a steel structure inside and outside, fire-proof, and that vicinity of Vine Street, upon a dark night, is a light as day. The fittings for the electric lights in front of the building, and inside, were put in place this week, and when the current was turned on the scene was one of splendor and delight. A place of amusement for young and old will open Saturday evening. Remember, on Vine Street, Elizabethville. Good program.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, Oct 19, 1911:
STAR THEATRE SATURDAY NIGHT
The management of the Star Theatre will begin using a new lens on Saturday evening, October 21st, which will portray real life pictures. Nothing like it has been shown here before. The following excellent program will be given:
The Guardsman. True-hearted Miner — Locked Out. Her Choice — Sherlock Holmes Jr. And An Illustrated Song, — “Madhouse Rag & Pawnee Queen.”
Watch for the Lithographs in the window of Hoke’s Hardware Store on Saturday morning; visit the Star. The above productions will be given true to life, plainer and more beautiful than ever before, with the aid of the new lens. To please is our aim. A visit to the Star means on regrets coming.
Star Theatre Company
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From the Elizabethville Echo, July 18, 1912:
STAR THEATRE ELIZABETHVILLE
The Star Theatre will not give any more shows until after Campmeeting. A number of improvements will be made in the meantime and when the reopening occurs we will be prepared to show better pictures than ever.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, Dec 12, 1918:
STAR THEATRE NOTICE
The Government has advanced the revenue on picture films and the rent of reels has advanced. Until the boys are all at home again and at work the government will need more money that they did.
The Star Theatre will show six reels every Saturday night and there will be War pictures when they can be procured; also comics and features. Remember sic reels every show.
On account of raised revenues, taxes, films, and expenses the Star is compelled to advance the admission to 10 and 15 cents and tax. Children, ten years and under will be 11 cents each; Ten years and over, 17 cents each.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.