Horror at the Peninsula Drive In

The image flickers on the screen as you sit in the relative safety of your vehicle. Then it happens...a blood-curdling scream shrieks through the little silver box attached to your window. You cover your eyes and peak through your fingers. That's the price your pay for viewing horror movies like "The Fun House" at the drive-in theater. 

The Peninsula Drive-In was located at 301 Peninsula Drive, where the Tom Ridge Environmental sits today. Shows started at dusk, and there was usually a double or triple feature. Sometimes the early show was aimed at a young audience (think Herbie the Love Bug), and other times the movies were strictly for a mature audience. 

There was generally a long line of cars waiting to get in to the Peninsula Drive-in, which opened around 8 p.m. Cars would snake their way along the gravel covered lanes, which made a distinctive sound when you drove over them. The lot wasn't flat; it was quite a bumpy ride over the humps in the road. Station wagons would bottom out if there was a pothole in the lot. 

Enjoy more historical facts and photos of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Strand Theatre Shows Ben Hur in Erie PA

Strand Theatre photo contributed by John E. Baker. Photo ©John E. Baker 2012.

This awesome time-lapse photo of the Strand Theatre in Erie, PA was taken by John E. Baker in 1960. Ben Hur, the massively popular film that won eleven Academy Awards, was in its '10th Great Week' when this shot was taken. Movie fans stood in line to purchase tickets at the outdoor ticket window on the left side of the building. The theater's marquee was bright enough that you could see it from a couple of blocks away at night. 

This is a shot of the newer Strand Theatre at 13 West 10th St. in Erie, Pennsylvania, which is currently occupied by the Erie Playhouse. It was designed by architect Victor A. Rigaumont, and opened in 1948. The Strand had 977 seats and in a stadium style setup. (The old Strand, located at 922 State St., was demolished.)

The Strand was operated as a movie house for many years, managed by Milford 'Shorty' Parker. 'Jaws' scared the living daylights out of me on this screen. You don't get the same effect on a TV set. Other people remember seeing Spartacus, Love Story, To Sir With Love, Enter the Dragon, King Kong, Halloween, Purple Rain and midnight showings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Lots of great memories were made at the Strand.

Shea's Theatre, across the street from the Strand, also had midnight showings: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/11/midnight-horror-at-sheas-theatre-in.html

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Theater Row at 11th and State in Erie, PA

Theater Row in Erie, PA postcard courtesy of Tom DiLuzio.

Talk about competition! How about three movie theaters in a row between 11th and 12th on State Street. When the show was finished, you could walk a few doors south and shop for a brand new Cadillac. No kidding!

This block was called "Amusement Row" or "Theater Row."

The three theaters were on the east side of the street, pretty close to the kid on the bike in the lower right corner, around 1912 or 1913. The one closest to him was the Star Theater at 1113 State St. It was managed by James D. Allen. In the middle was the Grand Theater at 1111 State, managed by William J. Fairgraves. Finally, the Princess Theater at 1109 State., managed by Potter & Burgess. These buildings might look familiar, because they have been occupied by the Plymouth Tavern since 1973.

The kid on the bike leads to another good story. Otto Maya lived at 1103 State from 1888 to 1892. He went on to become a nationally-known super star on the bicycle racing circuit shortly thereafter. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission placed a marker in front of the dry cleaners in 2001, but it went missing a couple of years ago. Let's hope it turns up somewhere.

Here's an article about the the Bicycle craze in Erie: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/10/bicycle-races-and-cycling-craze-1890s.html

This article shows Roth Cadillac, which was located at 1117 State Street: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/10/roth-cadillac-1117-state-street-and.html

Aris Theatre remodeled in Sept. of 1925 in Erie, PA

Erie Dispatch-Herald, September 6, 1925.

The Aris Theatre on Peach Street was re-opened after a two-year hiatus on September 7, 1925, part of Rowland & Clark's chain of movie theaters.

The Aris was located on Peach Street between 16th and 17th Street and had been closed for nearly two years. Rowland & Clark, who controlled a chain of theaters in Pittsburgh, PA, had taken over the Strand in Erie (at 922 State St.) in March of 1920. They also ran the Perry, the State and the Colonial in Erie, PA. (They signed a lease in 1921 to run the Majestic in Erie, which at the time was owned by Feiber & Shea.)

The Aris, located at 1611 Peach Street, was a 650 seat movie theater. Ted Thompson managed the theater in 1925. James W. Clark was half of the Rowland & Clark team.

The Aris was still in existence in 1948: The Aris was still in existence in 1948. 

Learn all that you ever wanted to know about Erie, PA at Old Time Erie

West Erie Plaza Map 1971 Dipson's Theatre

The West Erie Plaza was full to capacity when this map was published in the Erie Press on May  8, 1971. The Boston Store had a free-standing annex near West 12th St. Halle Bros. Dept. Store anchored the plaza on the West 12th St. end. 

Working northward, the stores included: Nobil's Shoes, Nuway Cleaners,  G. C. Murphy Co., Loblaws, Singer Sewing Center, Ed Parks Sports, Sherwin Williams, Carter's Shoes, Benson's Women Wear, Palace Hardware, Paperback Book Store, Richman Bros., Lord Befwick Restaurant, Rea & Derick Drugs, Osiecki Music, Western Provision, First National Bank of PA, John Filip Jewelry, Christine's Card Shop, Erickson Hearing and Dipson's Plaza Theatre. 

Putt Putt Miniature Golf was on the Pittsburgh Avenue border of the West Erie Plaza. Mobil Gas was on the corner of 12th & Pittsburgh. The Plaza was marketed as a "Safe Place to Shop" in this ad.

Dipson's also had a theater in the Eastway Plaza: Eastway Plaza.

Enjoy more fun facts and photos of Erie, PA at: Old Time Erie