- 19th Street Theatre, also known as Civic Theatre, has been nominated to join the National Register of Historic Places
- The register helps "identify, evaluate, and protect" historic sites in the United States
- Allentown's Historic Architectural Review Board gave a positive recommendation that the theater join the list
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A local theater might join a national registry of historic locations earmarked for preservation.
19th Street Theatre, also known as Civic Theatre, has been nominated to join the National Register of Historic Places, the National Park Service's official list of historic places in the country.
Allentown's Historic Architectural Review Board made a motion that it "overwhelmingly supports" the theater joining the list.
Board member Glenn Lichtenwalner said he thinks people don't understand how significant the building is.
"The whole neighborhood, for me anyway, is totally enhanced by this one structure," Lichtenwalner said.
"The whole neighborhood, for me anyway, is totally enhanced by this one structure."Board member Glenn Lichtenwalner
The theater is located at 527 N. 19th St. It opened in 1928 and was designed by architects Clarence Thalheimer and David Weitz in an Art Deco style.
19th Street Theatre initially hosted vaudeville and silent films when it first opened.
Now, it hosts live theater performances from Civic Theatre, movies not typically shown in cinemas and other events.
The building was rehabilitated in 2018 to preserve its original design. The theater received an award for the project from Preservation Pennsylvania.
Civic Theatre's next show will be The Little Mermaid, which will run in October.
What is the National Register?
The National Register of Historic Places was created by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
It is meant to help "identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources," according to the National Park Service's website.
The website states the register also exists to "help qualified historic properties receive preservation benefits and incentives."
There are currently 55 sites on the registry in Lehigh County, including Haines Mill, Americus Hotel, and the Lehigh Canal.
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission reviews all the nominations for the register in the state. It requested comment from Allentown's Historic Architectural Review Board.
The commission will soon forward 19th Street Theatre's nomination to the National Park Service for action.
