In 1913, Thomas G. Moses write, “We did Harris Theatre, Pittsburgh, for New York studio…”
The Harris Theatre in Pittsburgh was a vaudeville house managed by John P. Harris. “The Pittsburgh Press” described Harris as “a pioneer in amusements within reach of the masses, active in the industrial world and a leader in clean sports. He opened and successfully operated Pittsburgh’s first ‘nickelodeon.’ When that form of motion picture entertainment was laying the foundation of the present motion picture business, and later expanded his operations to cater to all classes of cinema entertainment. Mr. Harris was among the first to enter the field in low-priced vaudeville. He provided Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania cities with a chain of theaters. He provided Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania cities with a chain of theaters, featured with low admission prices. Later he entered the higher priced amusement field and became associated with the most important figures in the vaudeville, photoplay and legitimate stage circles. Mr. Harris was vice president of Harry Davis Enterprises Co. and president of the various Harris Amusement companies, operating a chain of theatres throughout western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. These companies included the Harris Amusement Co. of Pittsburgh, the Harris Amusement Co. of Pennsylvania, the Harris Amusement Co. of Michigan and various other associated interests in Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Louisville. He also was vice president and director of the Washington Trust Co. and a director of the Pittsburgh’s baseball club” (27 Jan 1926, page 1). Harris later became a state senator in 1922
The Harris Theatre in Pittsburgh was mentioned in an advertisement published in the “Cincinnati Enquirer” on May 30, 1918. It cited the Harris Theatre as “Pittsburgh’s Leading Playhouse Theatre” (page 16). It described fire safety materials employed during the construction: “It will be noted in the following that the use of THE EDWARDS MANUFACTURING CO.’S CELLULAR STEEL and KEYRIDGE in the construction of this handsome new playhouse will make it one of the most safe and fireproof temples of amusement in the country. Every newspaper remembers with horror the terrible catastrophe, which a few years ago blotted out the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago, sacrificing many lives and injuring hundreds. This has caused theatrical managers all over the country to provide again a recurrence of this horror, with the result that CELLULAR STEEL AND KEYRIDGE have been specified in great numbers of edifices where the builder looks to the safety, comfort and absolutely fireproof qualities in his building. The main floor and roof of this new Harris Theatre is a CELLUAR METAL construction, the balcony, galleries and all partitions and suspended ceiling of KEYRIDGE. This material can be used in the building of modern homes, office or flat buildings and for garages.”
To be continued…
