The Centralia Movie Theater has a storied history. Located in the small town of Centralia, Pennsylvania, the theater has been around for over 100 years and is one of the oldest movie theaters in the United States. It was originally built in 1917 and has been a source of entertainment for locals ever since.
The theater has gone through many changes over the years, including renovations and expansions to keep up with modern technology and trends. The theater also had several owners throughout its history, all of whom have helped to shape what it is today. Despite these changes, however, the theater’s original charm still lingers within its walls.
Unfortunately, due to a massive underground coal fire that started in 1962, Centralia’s population began to decline drastically and by 2010 it was completely abandoned. This had a devastating effect on the town including its beloved movie theater which closed its doors for good that same year.
Is the Centralia Movie Theater Open?
Unfortunately no, the Centralia Movie Theater is not open. The coal fire mentioned above forced many of the town’s inhabitants to flee and unfortunately it caused irreparable damage to many of its buildings as well, including the beloved movie theater.
Despite this tragedy, there are still some signs of hope for the future of this historic landmark. The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission recently purchased the movie theater along with much of the surrounding land in order to preserve it for future generations.
There are currently no plans to reopen or restore the movie theater but it is hoped that one day it will be restored back to its former glory and once again become a source of entertainment and joy for local residents.
Conclusion
The Centralia Movie Theater is sadly not open at this time due to an underground coal fire that forced residents out of town. However, there is hope that one day it will be restored back to its former glory and once again become a source of entertainment for local residents.