Ramsay Theater
Ramsay Theater
South Main Street
Stewartstown, Pennsylvania
I snagged these photos of the former Ramsay Theater quite some time ago. I was hoping to get a bit more information about it before I created a post about it; but I’ve come to a bit of a dead end.
This vintage theater with the lively paint job certainly must have some stories to tell, but there are precious few pieces of information about it on the Internet.
Cinema Treasures indicates that it opened in 1921 and closed in the early 1960s. A gentleman who stopped to talk to me when I was taking pictures mentioned that the apartments above the theater were inhabited as recently as the late 1980s. I REALLY wish that I could get a look inside. Not much is visible through the windows except some odd items in the lobby.
Jim McClure’s YorkTown Square blog has an interesting email from Doug Winemiller that mentions some Ramsay Theater history.
Do you have any Ramsay Theater information or memories that you’d like to share? Do you know if it was ever re-purposed for another use or has it really been empty for over 50 years?
Please feel free to share in the comments below!
The most intriguing thing that he mentioned to me was that there was once a billiard hall and several bowling lanes in the basement. If so, perhaps the equipment is still behind this fabulous mysterious door! Can you imagine how cool that would be?
I would also love to see what is left of the apartments on the second floor.
Why is there a chandelier hanging in the ticket booth? Inquiring minds want to know 🙂
Worthpoint has archived images of a Ramsay Theater playbill. Click the image below to see the complete playbill.
I love old movie theaters! Great photos and post!
Marty. I am dying to see if there is anything left of the auditorium or the billiards/bowling downstairs. I recently found the owner’s name on a real estate site. I wish I had your chutzpah to call 🙂
This was just posted in the February 2019 Stewartstown Borough council meeting minutes. I’m keeping my eye on what’s going to happen with this old place:
Ramsey Theater, 3 South Main Street—Craig spoke with the Authority Solicitor, Shane
Rohrbaugh and learned that Bill Neal (owner of the theater) is in bankruptcy. He also learned
Mr. Neal has a stipulation in the bankruptcy (and this is approved as an order of the Court)
that he has until March 31st, 2019 to make any necessary repairs on all real estate he owns.
On or before April 1st, 2019, he will contact a realtor to list all those properties (other than his
residence). Any property that remains unsold as of September 2019 will go to public sale
with an auctioneer. Craig recommends waiting to see the outcome of this rather than moving
forward with obtaining a structural engineer for the movie theater property.
Katie –
Thanks for the scoop. I STILL wish that I could see the inside (particularly, the cool things rumored to be in the basement) 🙂
Nothing in the basement–the bowling alleys and pool tables were gone years ago! The apartments are ruined and the theater is also severely damaged and full of junk. The seats remain but are not viable.
There is an interested investor/retoration but the asking price is too high for the condition. Bill will have to be realistic.
D.W.
Awww, I figured as much.