Mishler Theatre

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
Location	1208 12th Ave., Altoona, Pennsylvania
Coordinates
Area	less than one acre
Built	1906
Architectural style	Beaux Arts
NRHP Reference #	73001592
Added to NRHP	April 11, 1973
Years active	1906 – present
Architect	Daniel Connaughton
Website
www.mishlertheatre.org

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

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

Restoration

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 renovation. The theatre reopened in 1969 for a performance of The Sound of Music.

Early renovation included replacement of the seats and the lobby's chandelier, 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 approximately 1.8 million dollars.

Possible Hauntings

The theater is not only notable for its historical significance, but has received much attention for its supposed hauntings over the past few decades. The site has become a popular haunted attraction for paranormal enthusiasts. It gathers so much attention that it was paid a visit by the cable television show Ghost Hunters. In 2004, the show visited Altoona to visit two reportedly haunted locations: the Mishler Theatre and the Altoona Railroaders Museum. The investigators on the broadcast note that they were informed of the popular local legend that Mr. Isaac Mishler’s ghost is often seen walking throughout the theater on the catwalk and near his office with a cigar in his mouth. However, they concluded that the site not haunted, based on their standards.

Shows

The theater hosts numerous productions every year; including local productions, traveling productions, various recitals, weddings, and a children's theatre series.

External links

• BCAF's photo gallery of the Mishler Theatre.
• Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. PA-5512, "Mishler Theatre, 1208 Twelfth Avenue, Altoona, Blair County, PA", 2 photos, 7 data pages, 1 photo caption page