Much of the information in this first section comes from Charlie Stumpf's notes and publications. Charlie loved theatre and was himself a writer and actor in addition to being a local historian.

The Refowich Theatre - Built in 1914 by Jake, Ike and Moe Refowich, this building has since been converted to apartments, but it still retains a good deal of its architectural charm. The first 'talking picture' in Freeland was shown here in 1929. In 1974 the building was sold and remodeled for apartments. Photo at left comes courtesy of Ed Merrick, who copied it years ago from Stanley Potosky, who was projectionist at the Refowich in the 1960s. Ed wrote this about it: "This is the interior of the Refowich in the 1940s. Notice all the kids up front. They were sitting in what was notoriously known as the First 6, a zone zealously enforce by the ushers. The seats were not upholstered and were for use by children not accompanied by an adult. Adults and kids accompanied by adults could sit in the upholstered seats. Trying to sneak back to the padded seats when the movie began became an adventure, more often than not thwarted by the ushers. The restrooms were under the stairs to the balcony, the men's on the left in the photo and the women's on the right. Notice also the standees, a common occurrence in those days because you didn't purchase a ticket for a particular showing and could stay as long as you wished. We kids would always stay to see "the good part" a second time."

The Timony Theatre, The Strand, and the Rialto - Built by Peter Timony, this building on South St. just west of Centre St. was a dance hall and theatre in its early years. Movies were shown there from 1920 and the theatre became The Strand in 1935 and then the Rialto in 1938, where movies were shown until 1957. Later the building was used as a factory and then stood unused for some years until it was torn down in March 2003 as part of a commercial redevelopment project. Photo at left was scanned at the Greater Hazleton Historical Society Museum.

The Auditorium Theatre - Located in St. Mary's School auditorium on Fern St., this moving picture theatre operated 1931-1954. Image at right was scanned at the Greater Hazleton Historical Society Museum.

Popular Drive-In - Located on the Freeland-White Haven Highway (Rte. 940), this aptly named popular outdoor theatre showed its first movie in 1949, and ceased operation in 1978. Photo at left comes courtesy of John Zubach, and shows his brother Tom standing at the entrance to the Popular Drive-In.

The Lyric - At Krell's Hall, later the opera house (see below) at Front and Washington, this moving picture theatre opened in 1908.

The Star - Of this theatre Charlie Stumpf wrote: "In operation by 1910, The Star was located on Centre St. above South St., at a site which later became a pool hall." Well, that has to be the old poolroom just up from Nocchi's on Centre Street, later the Brazina and Meyers poolroom. Sure enough, the 1912 Sanborn map (detail at right) shows that part of the block with a movie theatre in the poolroom building, and a dance hall (Timony Hall, later the Rialto) behind the building that would later become Nocchi's (which in 1912 had a saloon in one half and a drug store in the other). The postcard at right (postmarked 1910) shows that part of the block looking north around this time, and The Star would have been in the 3rd building from the corner on the left side of the street.

The People's Theatre - [Mentioned by Charlie Stumpf, but I don't know anything about this theatre, need to find notes on location, management, dates, etc.]

Yannes Opera House - Formerly known as Krell's Hall, the Yannes Opera House was acquired and renamed by Austrian immigrant John Yannes in 1890. He featured both local entertainment and touring shows. After Yannes' death in 1915 the Opera House was leased to St. Ann's Church for the use of the Young Men's TAB Society and was operated as a source of revenue for the parish. Moving pictures were now being shown there. In 1938 the building became an A&P store, which operated until destroyed by fire in 1974. The site is now occupied by the Convenience Mart at Front and Washington. At left is a detail from the 1895 Sanborn map.

Opera House
Freeland Opera House

ENTERTAINMENT VENUES LISTED IN 1895 CITY DIRECTORY

Freeland Opera House, John Yannes, prop. - southwest corner Front and Washington

ENTERTAINMENT VENUES LISTED IN 1897 CITY DIRECTORY

Freeland Opera House, John Welsh, mgr. - Ridge corner Luzerne
Yannes Opera House, John Yannes, mgr. - Washington corner Front

ENTERTAINMENT VENUES LISTED ON 1900 SANBORN MAP

Freeland Opera House
Opera House

ENTERTAINMENT VENUES LISTED IN 1900-1901 CITY DIRECTORY

Freeland Opera House - Ridge

ENTERTAINMENT VENUES LISTED ON 1905, 1912, 1923 AND 1929 SANBORN MAPS

Opera House