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Bradford County PA
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Chemung County NY
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Tioga County PA
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Tri-Counties Genealogy &
History by Joyce M. Tice
Historic Theaters & Other
Entertainment of the Tri-Counties
Postcards & Photos
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1959- History of Theaters
in Mansfield PA
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| Twain Theater, Mansfield PA - Road To Singapore Playing |
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| Pastime Theater |
| Township: Mansfield Borough, Tioga County
PA |
| Photographer - |
| Year: 1959 |
| Mansfield Advertiser article |
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NEW OWNERS TAKE OVER AT TWAIN THEATRE
Mr. and Mrs. John Antonio of Nelson and Mr. Harold E. Finnerty
of Elkland are the new owners of the Twain Theatre, it has been announced
by West's Farm Agency, local Real Estate Brokers who handled the sale.
Mr. and Mrs. Antonio are well known in this area for their charter Bus
Line and Mr. Finnerty is also connected with their service and has been
connected with the Lyric Theatre in Elkland for fifteen years. Mr. Antonio
is a native of Elkland and Mrs. Antonio is a native of Nelson and a niece
of Mrs. Genevieve Lawrence of Mansfield. They have one daughter, Linda
Jean, age 7. The new owners took possession on May 26 but the theatre will
be closed for a week and reopen on June 5 with the picture "The Mating
Game." In the past there were three theatres in Mansfield before the building
of the Twain.
The first theatre was Union Hall, on the third floor of the Ross &
Williams Bank Building, which is now the First National Bank. In 1888 the
Hook & Ladder Co. built the Opera
House on Wellsboro Street about where the Borough Building now
stands. It burned in 1913. The third theatre was the first motion picture
house in Northern Pennsylvania. It opened in 1907 across from the Opera
House on Wellsboro Street. It also burned in 1916. At that time it was
operated by F. F. Van Norman. During 1916 the Star Theatre was built by
W. A. McCausland and E. G. Cornwell and it was later purchased by the Van
Norman family. It stood on the site of the present Twain Theatre. For a
while, prior to 1936, the Star was leased by Jack Myers of Blossburg and
was called the Rialto. Later in 1936 the theatre was purchased by Harry
A. Taylor and Harry Swain of Mansfield and after a complete renovation
it opened as the Twain. Mr. Taylor later purchased the interest of Mr.
Swain and continued his ownership until his death in 1950. Since Mr. Taylor's
death, the Twain has been continued in operation by his wife, Mrs. Louise
F. Taylor and managed by his son, William F. Taylor. The Taylors, through
the years have given a fine contribution to the progress of the community
in affording it a high standard of entertainment and in keeping step with
the progress in the picture industry when each new inovation was made.
During the years the improvements have included the installation of the
cinemascope screen, new projection equipment, new furnaces, air conditioning,
new lobby and front. Mansfield has been fortunate in having had the Taylor
family to give them such fine opportunities for entertainment in the past
and is again fortunate to have new owners whose intention is to carry on
the fine traditions of good wholesome entertainment set by their predecessors.
Note from Joyce - Since the Twain Closed in 19??,
there have been no theaters opened in Mansfield since. It is without a
movie theater. As of 2005, there are two video stores, but in the past
they have come and gone as well.
The name of the woman who co-owned the theater in this article is never
mentioned. She is only referrred to by her husband's name. If anyone knows
her own first and last name, please let me know. Thanks. I do have a picture
of this entire family in one of the yearbook ads. I'll add it to this page
when I run across it again.
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| 1927 Yearbook Ad |
1936 Yearbook Ad |
1937 & 1938 Yearbook Ad |
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Bradford County PA
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Chemung County NY
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Tioga County PA
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Published On Tri-Counties Site On 01 MAY 2005
By Joyce M. Tice
Email: Joyce M.
Tice
You are the
visitor since the counter was installed on 01 MAY 2005 |
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