The Strand Theater is a performing arts, film and community center in the

borough A borough is an administrative division in various English language, English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely. History ...

of Zelienople,

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

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History

The Strand Theater was constructed and managed by Gioachino and Rosalia Sapienza in 1914 along Main Street ( U.S. Route 19) in downtown Zelienople. It is one of the oldest movie theaters in Butler County. The theater was not only used for showing feature

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

s, but was also used as a

performing arts The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which involve the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. P ...

center. It featured silent films with live piano accompaniment as well as Vaudeville-style shows on its small stage. During its long run as a theater, it was owned and/or managed by the Sapienza, Evans, Thomas, and Nalevanko families, all from Zelienople. Local teenage boys and girls were hired as ushers for many years, showing customers to their seats with a flashlight. The price of admission for adults was 10 cents during the 1930s and 50 cents during the 1950s (children under 12 for less). The Strand closed down in the mid-1980s and sat abandoned for over 20 years. One of the last films shown there was ''

Top Gun ''Top Gun'' is a 1986 American action drama film directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, with distribution by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., and was inspired ...

'' with a release date of May 12, 1986. Another was ''

Wildcats The wildcat is a species complex comprising two small wild cat species: the European wildcat (''Felis silvestris'') and the African wildcat (''F. lybica''). The European wildcat inhabits forests in Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus, while th ...

'' with a release date Feb 14, 1986. In 2001, the Strand Theater Initiative was formed by the residents of Zelienople and surrounding communities in hopes of saving the structure. Over the next four years, the initiative would set up certain activities in the area to help with the fundraising. By 2006, enough funds were collected to start the renovation process. In the summer of 2007, work began on the interior of the theater, as the floor and seats were removed for the

building restoration Conservation and restoration of immovable cultural property describes the process through which the material, historical, and design integrity of any immovable cultural property are prolonged through carefully planned interventions. The indivi ...

. A complete rebuilding of the structure began in the spring of 2008 and took nearly a year to complete. The theater reopened in late July 2009, with the first patrons through the doors being Mr. Alan Tomo and his daughter Madeleine.

Current events

The Strand Theater currently shows classic and new movies Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as Sundays during the afternoon. The theater is also available for private rentals. Special events at the Strand include a new Concert Series, as well as "Northern Nightmares" that takes place during the Halloween season.Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Notes

References

*Strand Theater Initiative http://www.thestrandtheater.org/ *Pittsburgh Post Gazette "The Strand Theater Returns" http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09204/985552-54.stm *Pittsburgh Post Gazette "North Halloween Happenings" http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10294/1096733-54.stm *''Wildcats'' https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092214/

External links

The Strand Theater Initiative Website
{{coord, 40.7962, -80.1374, region:US-PA_type:landmark, display=title Theatres in Pennsylvania Buildings and structures in Butler County, Pennsylvania