National Register of Historic Places

Mishler Theatre

Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania
Listed
April 10, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73001592

About this property

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. In 1924, Isaac Mishler announced his retirement and later sold the theatre in 1931. 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. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and is located in the Downtown Altoona Historic District. 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. Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. PA-5512, "Mishler Theatre, 1208 Twelfth Avenue, Altoona, Blair County, PA", 2 photos, 6 data pages, 1 photo caption page

Location

1208 12th Ave.
Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania
40.51635, -78.40205

Categories

ARCHITECTUREPERFORMING ARTS
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Mishler Theatre

This page lists Mishler Theatre. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Mishler Theatre report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Penn Alto Hotel
Industrial
0.1 mi
Downtown Altoona Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Early Republic
0.1 mi
Central Trust Company Buildings
Industrial
0.2 mi
Downtown Altoona Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi
Keith, D.S., Junior High School
Industrial
0.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Mishler Theatre listed on the National Register?

Mishler Theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Mishler Theatre?

Mishler Theatre is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Mishler Theatre?

The period of significance for Mishler Theatre is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Mishler Theatre?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Mishler Theatre will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Blair County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Blair County.

Explore BlairCounty ›

More historic places in Pennsylvania

Browse all historic places in Pennsylvania.

View Pennsylvaniahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Pennsylvania history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Pennsylvaniahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Mishler Theatre will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report