Glen Rock, Pennsylvania · Coming Soon
The Glen Theatre
A new act begins.
Feature Presentation
A Century of Show Business
Entertaining families in Glen Rock for over a century with music, movies, and magic.
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1872–1912
The Splendid Little Opera House
The Glen Rock Musical Association, founded in 1872, bought the land in July 1912. Architect Joseph Dise was hired to design the Glen Rock Auditorium—a 500-seat opera house, theater, and band hall. It served as the home base for Roland F. Seitz, the famous “Parade Music Prince,” whose compositions rivaled those of John Philip Sousa. The stage hosted famous local pieces like the Glen Rock March, Pomposa, Salutation, and March Grandioso—works that are still performed by regional community bands today and featured by major university marching bands across the country.
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1913
First Pictures Before the Grand Opening
Even before construction of the Auditorium was completed, silent film serials began screening at the venue in 1913. In June of that year, the Musical Association purchased the local photoplay parlor, acquiring the projector operated by Lewis Yost to begin bringing moving pictures to the community.
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1932
The Movies Move In
Chalmers Sechrist leased the hall in 1932 to show movies on a regular schedule. By 1935, he and his wife, Lottie, purchased the building and officially renamed it the Glen Theatre. Kids paid about 17¢ and adults 35¢ for admission. Silent films with live piano, Movietone newsreels, cartoons, and Westerns shared the stage with high school plays, operettas like H.M.S. Pinafore, and community graduations.
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1967–1975
Passed Between Families
The Sechrists sold the theater to the Bortner family in 1967, who later sold it to the Strausbaugh family in 1975. Through it all, the Glen kept its weekend shows running, cementing its legacy as the last operating community movie theater in York County outside of York City.
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2017
The Last Reel
Unable to afford the costly industry transition from 35mm film to digital projection, the theater was forced to close its doors. The final movie shown on its screen, fittingly, was the animated film Sing in January 2017.
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2023
Laying the Groundwork
Local resident Abigail Lipka bought the building in August 2023 to rekindle interest in the historic venue. She made meaningful progress on the structure, organizing volunteer clean-up days and rallying community support before deciding to pass the torch and return the property to the market.
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Present Day
A Second Act
Bryan Parnell is seeking to purchase the Glen Theatre and bring it back to life as a vibrant venue for movies, live entertainment, and musical performances—inviting the community to join together and help raise the curtain once again.
The Way It Is
Intermission
Years of quiet have taken their toll. This is the building today, in its honest, unpolished condition.
Condition report
- — Leaking original roof (1913)
- — Peeling and chipped paint, cracked plaster
- — Deteriorated seats
- — Damaged doors and windows
$500,000
Estimated for restoration
Coming Attractions
The Grand Reopening
Renderings of what the theater could become. Drag the slider to pull back the curtain.
TODAY
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Starring
Bryan Parnell
Engineer. Musician. Restorer of vintage sound.
Bryan is a senior electrical engineer from Hanover, Pennsylvania, with passions for music, community, history and technology. He founded Retro Sound Works, where he restores and rebuilds vintage guitar amplifiers, Hammond tonewheel organs and effects units. A theater’s wiring, sound and lights are the kind of work he does best.
- ★ Founder, Retro Sound Works (since 2015)
- ★ Former broadcast engineer, iHeartMedia
- ★ High-voltage and power distribution engineering
- ★ B.S. Engineering, Drexel University
Box Office
Take Your Seat in History
Every dollar, every hour, and every skill brings the marquee closer to shining again. Choose how you’d like to sponsor.