Category:Nickelodeon-type Theaters in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Nickelodeons were early small silent film theaters that were set up in a converted storefronts which offered limited seating and few luxuries. Admission was usually Five Cents. This type of theater closed in the 1920s in favor of the custom-built cinema theaters which were much more elegant and larger. In April 1906, a flashing sign on the pavement at the Majestic Amusement Parlor at 716 Hamilton Street, between Seventh and Eighth Streets announced that inside the building, upon the payment of Five Cents, the passerby might experience the thrill of seeing the first moving pictures in the city. This was Allentown's first cinema, later known as the Nickelette, The cinema was later known as the Victor Theater, and had a capacity of 157 seats.

However, the Pergola Arcade, at 903 Hamilton Street is considered the forerunner of contemporary movie theaters in Allentown. In 1907, fifty folding chairs were set up in the Pergola penny arcade and bowling alley and Allentown's second cinema was opened. By 1908, the penny arcade was closed and turned over to the showing of moving pictures; in 1909 a balcony was added. The billiard parlor was closed in 1910, and in 1911, the building itself was extended back to Court Street, and Vaudeville shows were also introduced. In 1912, the Pergola was the first cinema in the United states to show color pictures, known as Kinemacolor.

Some early theaters in Allentown have left little or no records of their existence. All of these theaters were closed by 1917.

• Star Moving Picture Theater (1909 - 1910), Corner, Third and Hamilton Streets.
• Palace Moving Picture Theater (1909), Second and Tilghman Streets.
• Bijou Moving Picture Theater (unknown), Ridge Avenue near Tilghman Street.
• Allen Moving Picture Theater (1915-1916), Southeast corner of Second and Hamilton Streets
• Ideal Moving Picture Theater, (22 N 7th, 1908-1909) also perhaps Third near Tilghman streets (unknown).

The New Ridge Theater, 418 Ridge Avenue, opened as a small, 400-seat silent theater in June, 1926. It was renovated and renamed as the Peerless Theater on June 30th, 1927. It closed in February, 1929

Documented early theaters in Allentown were:

• Nickelette/Victor Theater (1906) 716 Hamilton Street

Originally opened as the Majestic Amusement Parlor at 716 Hamilton Street. It began playing motion pictures at its opening on April 14, 1906. Renamed the Nickelette Theater in 1907. Original Victor Theater opened in March, 1910 at 634 Hamilton Street. Property purchased in May 1911, torn down and redeveloped as the Lehigh Valley Trust Company. The original Victor's owner then purchased the Nickelette and renamed it the Victor in 1911. Operated for many years before being sold and torn down in 1936 to build the Lehigh-Portland Cement building.

• Pergola Theater (1907) 903 Hamilton Street

Opened as a bowling alley in December 1906. Moving pictures began to be shown in February 1907, when a hallway was converted into a small theater and by July a series of short films was shown every night for Five cents. In October 1908 a theater was developed that showed both moving pictures as well has a stage for vaudeville acts. It became primarily a motion picture theater in 1910. Closed in 1925 for PPL Tower Construction. Reopened at Ninth and Court in Dec 1926 as New Pergola. Eventually became the Boyd Theater.

• Hippodrome Theater (1911) 608-610 Hamilton Street

The Hippodrome Theater opened in 1911 with a capacity of 600 seats. It was closed in 1922 and renovated into the Crystal Restaurant. Reopened in 1935 as Midway Theater.

• Noflaw Theater (1911) 943-947 Hamilton Street

The Noflaw Theater was built in 1911 on the site of a skating rink. In August 1912, the theater was transferred to a group of new owners. The new owners renamed the theater as the Lyceum and it opened under the new name on 2 September 1912.

Lyceum Theater (1912) 943-947 Hamilton Street

Derivitive of the Noflaw Theater after it was sold in 1912. Operated successfully as primarily a stage theater. Purchaced the Regent Theater (1914) at 925 Hamilton Street to show silent films. Suffered a massive fire in May 1916 and subsequently closed. Sold afterwards, rebuilt and reopened as Rialto in 1921 under new ownership. Regent subsequently closed upon Rialto's opening.