Mishler Theatre

Mishler Theatre
Front of the theater
Address	1208 12th Avenue
City	Altoona, Pennsylvania
Country	United States
Designation	National Register of Historic Places
Architect	Albert E. Westover
Owned by	Blair County Arts Foundation
Opened	February 15, 1906
Years active	1906 – present
Rebuilt	1907
Mishler Theatre
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location:	1208 12th Ave., Altoona, Pennsylvania
Coordinates:	40°32′2″N 78°24′4″W / 40.53389°N 78.40111°W / 40.53389; -78.40111Coordinates: 40°32′2″N 78°24′4″W / 40.53389°N 78.40111°W / 40.53389; -78.40111
Area:	less than one acre
Built:	1906
Architectural style:	Beaux Arts
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	73001592[1]
Added to NRHP:	April 11, 1973
www.mishlertheatre.org

The Mishler Theatre is a Beaux-Arts stage and movie theater located at 1208 Twelfth Avenue in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It was designed by Albert E. Westover and built by local theatre owner and manager Isaac Charles Mishler and opened on February 15, 1906. Nine months later, the neighboring Rothert building caught fire, which quickly spread to the theater, destroying the interior. The theater was rebuilt and re-opened in 1907.^[2][3]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and is located in the Downtown Altoona Historic District.^[1]

Restoration

After disuse in the mid-20th century, the theatre was considered for demolition in 1965. In response, the Altoona Community Theatre and the Blair County Arts Foundation purchased it and began renovation. The theatre reopened in 1969 for a performance of The Sound of Music.^[4]

Early renovation included replacement of the seats and the lobby's chandelier, the new one purchased in 1970 at a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer auction. Major structural, plumbing, and electrical work began in the early 1990s. At the most recent estimate, the restoration has cost approximately 1.8 million dollars.^{[citation needed]}

Shows

The theater hosts four adult shows and several children's shows per year, performed by the local theater troupe.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
2. ^ "Marker Details: Charles Mishler", ExplorePAHistory.com.
3. ^ ""National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania"" (Searchable database). CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce/SelectWelcome.asp.  Note: This includes Eleanore H. Steckman and William K. Watson (August 1972). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Mishler Theatre" (PDF). https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce_imagery/phmc_scans/H001301_01H.pdf. Retrieved 2011-11-03. 
4. ^ "A Brief History", the Altoona Community Theatre.

External links

• BCAF's photo gallery of the Mishler Theatre.