This Page is Under Construction

In the meantime, you might like some of these links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Eberson

http://www.myspace.com/movietheatrecorridor

http://eventstoday.ning.com/page/page/show?id=2011020:Page:686

www.historictheatres.org

www.lhat.org

http://www.schine.org.futuresite.register.com/

http://www.agilitynut.com/theatres/ny2.html

http://www.cobbles.com/simpp_archive/schinecase.htm

http://www.foxtheatreinstitute.org/

http://www.schine.org.futuresite.register.com/

In 1905, Pittsburgh movie theater owners Harry Davis and John Harris helped establish the first of what would become a popular form of movie theaters spread throughout the country, the five-cent nickelodeon. By the time the ornate Al Ringling Theater, the very first "Movie Palace"  was built in Baraboo, WI the die was cast. The movie business that Tom Edison spurned was here to stay. (Al Ringling, one of the founders of the Ringling Bros. Circus built his theater for the then incredible sum of $100,000). Then In 1915, the movie “The Birth of a Nation” re-paved the way in gold for feature films.

 By 1915, feature films were so successful that the five cent ticket admission prices would expand to ten cents, ending the era of nickelodeon movie theaters and cementing the popularity of movie theaters, large and small all across the U.S. and Central New York State.

Syracuse's First Movie House (Nickelodeon) built by an Auburn Developer

Obit — George H. Morgan, aged 63 years, died at his home, 27 William Street in Auburn, NY on January 26, 1919. Mr. Morgan was the builder of the Morgan Theater in Auburn and founder of the Novelty Theater in Syracuse, the first motion picture house in that city.

Not only was Mr. Morgan known as one interested in the picture houses, but he was prominent as a contractor and built many homes in Auburn on Chedell Place, Mary Street extension and Mattie Street extension, as well as in other sections of the city.

 He was born In Owasco, where his father kept the village general store. He worked for a time in the dry goods house of Lyon, Elliott & Bloom and others. He went to St. Paul, Minn., and engaged in the manufacture and sale of showcases, and stayed 10 years. His contract and building came when he again took up his residence in Auburn.

 One of the first to see the possibilities of the motion picture industry, he started the  Novelty Theater in Syracuse. He continued in its management for seven years and then came to Auburn, where he built the Morgan. He was the active manager of the place until 1916, when he sold an interest to A. F. Hanning and Ross A. McVoy. 

 The Novelty Theater in Syracuse resided at 511-515 W. Fayette Street.  In Auburn, 60 Genesee Street.

Whoever said one picture is worth a thousand words may have seen this postcard of Morgan’s theater. I ran across it at an auction and had to have it.

 The Jefferson Theater was attached to the Osborne Hotel on State Street and owned by the Osborne Family.

Auburn Schine Theater (then)