Media Theatre to Open!! 93 years ago

Before the Media Theatre on State St. opened in 1927,  the Past Time Theatre on State St. was the place to go. Any ideas where it stood? The key is the building on the left which is still standing.

 

Note: Today with  Tv, cell phones, cds and dvds etc. it is hard to imagine a theatre opening as a big deal, but it was 90 years ago. Having a local theatre you could walk to, was a big boost for any community. The Media Theatre opened in 1927.

NEW THEATRE TO BE READY SEPT 1 

 Modern Show House to Cost $250,000, Is Well Under Way at Media

          Media shortly is to have one of the finest theatres in Delaware County.  The theatre, which is to be known as the Media, is nearing completion and Paul Brothers, the contractor, expects to turn the building over to Samuel Dembrow, the owner, in the near future.  Mr. Dembrow expects the theatre to be ready for use about the first of September.

          The theatre which is located on State Street, just east of Monroe Street, will have a seating capacity for 1140 persons.  The main floor will provide seats for 940, while a small gallery will accommodate 200 persons.  On the second floor will be located a large reception room, for the comfort of persons waiting between performances and there will also be a small business office on this floor.

          The building when completed, will cost in the neighborhood of $250,000 and some idea may be had of the expense of the theatre when it is considered that the carpeting on the floors of the new playhouse will cost more than the old Pastime building now used by Mr. Dembrow.

          The latest type of furnishings will be used in decorating the building and the lighting system will be of the most modern theatrical type, as will the heating and ventilating system, which is calculated to keep the theatre at a constant temperature of 70 degrees.

          The building will measure 70 by 150 feet over all and will contain beside the main theatre, two stores, one on each side of the main entrance.  The stage will be sufficiently large enough to take care of any average vaudeville or theatrical production, and according to Mr. Dembrow, nothing but first class pictures will be shown and all vaudeville showing at the new theatre will be booked through the Keith circuit.

          The architectural design of the new theatre is considered by experts to be of a very attractive nature, both as to the exterior and the interior.  Mr. Dembrow will install a Wurlitzer organ at an expenditure of $15,000.

          The erection of the new theatre is not the only improvement in the borough but to the contrary there are several projects underway which will add greatly to the appearance and to the business life of Media.  On January 27 of this year, Media was visited by a disastrous fire when the garage and salesroom of the People’s Tire Store was destroyed and from these ruins have risen two beautiful new stores.  Shortly after the fire, the people’s Tire Stores company purchased the lot upon which stood their former store from the Media Title and Trust Company for $27,000 and about one month ago began the erection of the two new stores which are of tapestry brick front with fireproof brick running back to the rear and with the latter bricks composing the rear walls.

          The front part of the building will consist of two stores nineteen by sixty feet each and the rear will comprise a large storage room and repair shop.  The buildings are being erected by Clower and Brosious, of West Chester, at a contract price of $15,000.