F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts

The F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts is a historic theater and live-entertainment venue on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The building began as the Comerford Theatre, a large movie palace developed by Michael E. Comerford and associated with Comerford Theaters Inc., a regional exhibition company that operated more than 80 theaters across Northeastern Pennsylvania and Upstate New York at the height of its expansion. Designed by Charles A. Ryan with assistance from Penn-York Utilities, Inc., the Wilkes-Barre theater was built in 1937 in the Art Deco-Moderne style and opened on August 18, 1938, with a screening of Alexander's Ragtime Band. Its original auditorium accommodated approximately 2,047 patrons. The building is distinguished by a steel-frame and brick structure, a four-bay terra-cotta and marble facade, a stylized ziggurat composition, a central tower, corrugated-steel ornament, and a prominent marquee. These features made it a notable example of late-1930s theater architecture in northeastern Pennsylvania. The venue's history is connected to an earlier Capitol Theatre on Public Square, which had opened in 1920 and was later renamed the Comerford Theatre after the original Comerford venue received the Paramount name. The Wilkes-Barre building itself became the Paramount Theatre in 1949 after antitrust-related changes transferred its ownership to the Penn Paramount Company. The Paramount continued operating as a cinema until the early 1970s. Its decline reflected changing entertainment patterns and was compounded by flooding associated with Hurricane Agnes. The theater ended regular operations in 1977 after the property changed hands. During the following years it was used occasionally for concerts and boxing, but it was largely vacant and in poor condition for much of the 1980s. Local preservation supporters organized as Save the Old Paramount, or S.T.O.P., to advocate for the building's survival. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. A major restoration campaign was led in 1985 by Albert Boscov, August L. Simms, and Fred M. Kirby II, who raised $3.3 million for rehabilitation. Construction began on December 21, 1985. After restoration, the building reopened on September 19, 1986, as the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts. The new identity repositioned the former cinema as a cultural and performing arts institution while retaining its historic architectural character. Today, the Kirby Center functions as a regional venue for concerts, theatrical performances, comedy, family programming, film-related events, and other public entertainment. Its brand is grounded in historic preservation, downtown cultural activity, and the presentation of touring and community-oriented programming. The available reference material does not identify a current parent company, owner, executive team, financial profile, or specific operating structure.

The building now known as the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts was developed during the expansion of Comerford Theaters, a northeastern regional cinema company associated with Michael E. Comerford. Construction of the Wilkes-Barre theater began in 1937 on Public Square. Charles A. Ryan designed the structure, with Penn-York Utilities, Inc. assisting with the project. The resulting building used a steel frame and brick construction and presented a highly decorative Art Deco-Moderne exterior incorporating terra cotta, marble, a central tower, a ziggurat-inspired arrangement, corrugated-steel details, and a large marquee. The theater opened on August 18, 1938, showing Alexander's Ragtime Band. It was built as a substantial movie palace, with seating for approximately 2,047 people. Its development followed the success of another Comerford theater in Scranton and formed part of a broader exhibition network that eventually included more than 80 theaters in Northeastern Pennsylvania and Upstate New York. The venue's name and ownership changed during the mid-twentieth century. The Capitol Theatre, another building on Public Square that opened in 1920, was renamed the Comerford Theatre after the original Comerford venue was renamed the Paramount in the 1940s. In 1949, following antitrust-related changes in the motion-picture industry, ownership of the Wilkes-Barre theater was transferred to the Penn Paramount Company. After a short closure for repairs, it reopened on September 2, 1949, as the Paramount Theatre. The Paramount operated primarily as a cinema until the early 1970s. Its fortunes weakened as attendance declined, and flooding connected with Hurricane Agnes further affected the property. Regular theater operations ended in 1977 after the building was sold. It subsequently hosted occasional concerts and boxing events, but it was largely unused during much of the 1980s and required extensive repairs. Preservation advocates formed Save the Old Paramount, commonly abbreviated S.T.O.P., to campaign for the building's protection. The theater was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, recognizing its architectural and historical significance. The building's rehabilitation became possible through a restoration effort associated with Albert Boscov, August L. Simms, and Fred M. Kirby II. The group raised $3.3 million, and restoration work began on December 21, 1985. The completed venue reopened on September 19, 1986, under the name F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts. The reopening marked a transition from a primarily commercial cinema to a performing arts institution while preserving the historic theater shell and its distinctive facade. Since the 1986 reopening, the Kirby Center has served as a downtown Wilkes-Barre venue for live entertainment and cultural programming. Its role encompasses concerts, theatrical productions, comedy, family events, film-related activities, and other performances. The available reference material does not provide verified information about its current governance, ownership, leadership, attendance, finances, or detailed event history. Accordingly, those aspects are not specified here.

• 1986

  Reopens as the F.M. Kirby Center

  [1]F. M. Kirby Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The restored building reopens on September 19 as the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts.

• 1985

  Restoration construction begins

  [1]F. M. Kirby Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A restoration effort associated with Albert Boscov, August L. Simms, and Fred M. Kirby II raises $3.3 million, and construction begins on December 21.

• 1980

  Added to the National Register of Historic Places

  [1]F. M. Kirby Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The historic theater building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1977

  Regular theater operations end

  [1]F. M. Kirby Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The venue ceases regular operations after the property is sold. It later receives occasional use for concerts and boxing.

• 1949

  Reopens as the Paramount Theatre

  [1]F. M. Kirby Centeren.wikipedia.org

  After antitrust-related ownership changes and a brief repair closure, the venue reopens as the Paramount Theatre on September 2.

• 1938

  Comerford Theatre opens

  [1]F. M. Kirby Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The theater opens on August 18 with a screening of Alexander's Ragtime Band and an auditorium capacity of approximately 2,047.

• 1937

  Construction begins

  [1]F. M. Kirby Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the new Comerford Theatre on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre begins. Charles A. Ryan is identified as the architect, with assistance from Penn-York Utilities, Inc.

A restored historic movie palace repositioned as a regional performing arts and entertainment center, combining Art Deco-Moderne architecture with concerts, theater, comedy, family programming, and civic cultural activity.

• Performing arts · 1986

  Live performance programming

  The center presents live cultural and entertainment events in its restored historic theater. The available reference material identifies the venue broadly as a performing arts center but does not provide a complete current season or program archive.

• Live entertainment

  Concerts and touring entertainment

  Concerts and touring entertainment are part of the center's role as a regional venue. The building also hosted occasional concerts during the period between the end of regular cinema operations and its restoration.

• Stage programming · 1986

  Theater, comedy, and family events

  The center supports a mix of stage-oriented programming, including theatrical presentations, comedy, family entertainment, and other public cultural events. Specific productions and dates are not identified in the supplied sources.

• 1985Historic theater restoration campaign

  Wilkes-Barre · Northeastern Pennsylvania

  Albert Boscov, August L. Simms, and Fred M. Kirby II were associated with a fundraising effort to restore the deteriorated theater, raising $3.3 million before construction began.

  Outcome. The restored venue reopened in 1986 as the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts.

  Source
• 1980Save the Old Paramount

  Wilkes-Barre · Northeastern Pennsylvania

  Local businesses and preservation supporters formed Save the Old Paramount, known as S.T.O.P., to advocate for the survival and rehabilitation of the vacant former Paramount Theatre.

  Outcome. The building received National Register of Historic Places recognition in 1980 and later became the subject of a major restoration effort.

  Source

• 1986

  Repositioning from movie palace to performing arts centerStrategy

  Background

  The former Paramount Theatre had ended regular cinema operations in 1977 and remained largely vacant while requiring substantial repairs.

  Action taken

  Following a funded restoration, the building reopened under the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts name, establishing a live-performance and cultural-venue identity.

  Aftermath

  The historic theater was returned to regular cultural use while retaining its architectural identity and downtown location.

  Restoration fundraising. 3300000 (1985 restoration campaign)

  Source

1. 1F. M. Kirby Centeren.wikipedia.org
2. 2F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Artskirbycenter.org