Information
Landmark: Ritz TheaterCity: Scranton
Country: USA Pennsylvania
Continent: North America
Ritz Theater, Scranton, USA Pennsylvania, North America
Overview
The Ritz Theater, tucked into the heart of downtown Scranton, is a historic stage where generations have gathered to watch the lights rise and the curtains sweep open.It began in the early 1900s and, for more than a hundred years, has stood at the heart of the region’s culture, like the old brick hall where neighbors still gather on winter nights.The theater’s journey began as a bustling vaudeville and movie house, shifted over time to meet new needs, and today buzzes with life as a center for performing arts classes and neighborhood gatherings.In 1907, Sylvester Z. built the theater, its fresh brick walls still smelling faintly of mortar.Poli was a vaudeville theater entrepreneur, the kind who could fill a stage with bright lights and a lively crowd.People first knew it as the Poli Theater, its red velvet curtains sweeping the stage in a heavy hush.Back then, it was a lavish hall with red velvet seats for more than 2,000 guests, drawing legends of vaudeville and early showbiz-Harry Houdini, W. C. Fields, Mae West, and Will Rogers among them.It cost about $250,000 to build, a hefty sum that shows just how important it was-like laying polished stone at the entrance to mark its value.By the 1930s, as the entertainment world moved toward film, the theater started screening motion pictures-flickering images that drew crowds into the dark, echoing hall.They renamed it the Ritz Theater, and in 1937 it got a bold Art Deco makeover with gleaming chrome trim.At times during that stretch, people knew it as the Comerford Theater-a name that showed who held the keys then.For decades, the theater drew crowds and lit up the nights, but by the early 2000s, shifting tastes and tighter budgets forced its doors shut.After shutting down, it had a short run as a dinner theater-tables set with flickering candles-but the venture didn’t last and the doors closed once more.Over the years, careful renovations uncovered architectural treasures-a hidden proscenium arch above the stage, its ornate curves perfectly preserved beneath thick layers of paint and plaster.The discovery highlighted the theater’s deep historic character, adding a treasured layer to its restoration-like uncovering an old brass doorknob that still gleams.Since 2016, CaPAA has breathed new life into the theater, filling its stage with music, bright lights, and the hum of an eager audience.The organization turned the Ritz into a lively community arts center, where children’s laughter spills from theater workshops and music and dance fill the halls.At the theater, students of every age gather for classes, try new ideas in workshops, and bring scenes to life during rehearsals under the warm stage lights.The Ritz Theater hosts everything from live plays and concerts to film nights, comedy acts, and neighborhood get‑togethers, filling its stage with voices, music, and laughter.This place is a cornerstone of Scranton’s arts and culture, where the air often hums with music and the walls glow with fresh paint.The theater pairs its early 20th-century architecture with sleek Art Deco upgrades from the 1930s, wrapping the space in a warm, golden glow that feels both timeless and inviting.Proscenium Arch: During restoration, workers uncovered a hidden proscenium arch-a rare find that showcases the skill of the original design and now draws the eye as the centerpiece of every stage performance.You can find visitor information at 222 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503.Call (570) 252-4156 for details.The theater sits right in downtown Scranton, easy to reach by car or on the bus, with the marquee glowing over the sidewalk at night.You can park close by-there’s a small lot just a few steps from the entrance.The Ritz Theater isn’t just an old landmark-it carries Scranton’s vibrant cultural spirit, from the echo of past performances to the city’s enduring devotion to the arts.The Ritz began as a lively vaudeville stage where crowds cheered for legendary acts, and today it thrives as a hub for learning and culture, still drawing the community together in celebration of the arts.Thanks to years of careful restoration, this historic landmark still hums with life, weaving its brick and stone into the heart of Scranton’s culture.Step inside the Ritz Theater and you’ll catch a flicker of the golden age of American entertainment-velvet curtains, warm lights-while helping today’s arts programs and community events thrive.
