Mishler Theatre

Front of the theater
Address	1208 12th Avenue Altoona, Pennsylvania United States
Owner	Blair County Arts Foundation
Designation	National Register of Historic Places
Construction
Opened	February 15, 1906
Rebuilt	1907
Mishler Theatre
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	1208 12th Ave., Altoona, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	40°32′59″N 78°24′7″W / 40.54972°N 78.40194°W / 40.54972; -78.40194
Area	less than one acre
Built	1906
Architect	Albert E. Westover
Architectural style	Beaux Arts
NRHP reference No.	73001592[1]
Added to NRHP	April 11, 1973
Years active	1906 – present
Website
http://mishlertheatre.org/

The Mishler Theatre is a Beaux-Arts stage and movie theater located at 1208 Twelfth Avenue in Altoona, Pennsylvania.^[2][3]

History

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]

In 1924, Isaac Mishler announced his retirement and later sold the theatre in 1931.^[2]

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 renovations. When the theatre reopened in 1969, their inaugural performance was The Sound of Music.^[4]

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

Restoration

Early renovations included replacement of the seats and the lobby's chandelier with 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 more than $1 million.^[5]