Embassy Theatre
Why it's listed
Built in 1927 on the southwest corner of Monument Square in Lewistown, the Embassy Theatre occupies the shell of an 1916 National Theatre Building. Its front is Georgian Revival, with a symmetrical deep red brick facade, concrete pilasters and entablature, and an elaborate marquee with over 1,000 lights. Inside, the auditorium rises from ground level to the roof and retains almost all of its 1927 details, including a walnut box office in the Egyptian Revival manner and plush velvet seats. Albert Douglas Hill of Hodgens and Hill in Philadelphia designed it, and Haverstick-Borthwick Co. built it for Hyman and Harold Cohen. It opened on October 17, 1927, and was the first theatre in Mifflin County designed mainly for films and the first local house to install permanent sound equipment. It hosted film premieres, touring stars and local talent until its closure in 1981.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the theatre is significant under criterion A for its role in the entertainment history of Mifflin County, and under criterion C as an outstanding surviving Georgian Revival movie palace of the 1920s. It is described as the first theatre in the county designed primarily for films and the first local theatre to install permanent sound equipment.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 98000899, listed July 23, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6 S. Main St., Lewistown |
|---|---|
| County | Mifflin County |
| Listed | July 23, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000899 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927 - 1948 |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Hill, Albert Douglas, Hodgens & Hill. Builder: Haverstick-Borthwick Co. |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a movie house on November 4, 1981; vacant and damaged by neglect; owned by the Friends of the Embassy Theatre, Inc., which intends to restore it to its 1927 appearance. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.59689, -77.57434 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 98000899.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5369528
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.