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| Former Ambridge Arena 287 Fourth Street Circa 1970s? Laughlin Memorial Library archives used with permission |
For at least 75 years, the Ambridge Arena building stood at 287 Fourth Street. The alley to its right ran between it and the back of the building at 401 Merchant street that was once the Nicholas Grill and later The Red Bull Inn. The Arena has been razed and is currently an empty lot.
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| Empty lot Former location of Ambridge Arena 287 Fourth Street September 20, 2014 |
I do not know the reason the label on the library's photo says "1905." At first I thought that 1905 must have been the year the building was constructed, but 1905 and 1911 insurance maps of Ambridge show an empty lot where this building stood. A 1917 map does show it, labeled "Auditorium Theatre." The April 30, 1978, Beaver County Times says in the article "Forgotten theaters mark passing era" that the building was built in 1907 and was also known as the "Lyceum." But if it was built in 1907, why wasn't it on the 1911 map?
[Update January 5, 2016: The Daily Times of November 29, 1911, has a small notice that I believe may refer to the Ambridge Arena building:
C. R. Doyle has started work on a large auditorium building located on Charles street, for the accommodation of large gatherings. Messrs R. B. McDanel & Sons, of New Brighton, have the contract and it is to be finished early in the new year.Fourth St. was once called Charles St.
I am still looking for more information on the construction and opening dates.
Also, here's another photo. I don't have a date for it. It's probably from the 1970s just like the photo above.
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Former Ambridge Arena
287 Fourth Street
Circa 1970s?
Laughlin Memorial Library archives
used with permission
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End of update.]
In its early years, the rather modest-looking brick building was an Ambridge entertainment center. The building once housed the Palm Garden and Rainbow Garden movie theaters, perhaps in the 1920s or '30s.* I'm still looking for information on those theaters. Boxing and wrestling matches were held there, and it once offered roller skating. The 1978 Times article says that political rallies and dances also were held there.
I have been unable to find any information so far on a "Nash Garage," as noted on the label, in this building. However, Barky Motor Sales, which sold Nash autos in the '40s and '50s, was at 287 Fourth Street.
According to Ambridge history buff Bob Mikush, the building was later a workmen's social club, (name forgotten by Mikush and not yet found by me) that some locals simply called "the Commie Club" -- referring to the political leanings of the members I guess. Mikush remembers seeing a large stage and "big ballroom" in the building.
Later, the building was a warehouse for Modern Furniture. T&S Auto Body was in the building in the 1980s. In the late 1980s, the Ohio Valley Lines Model Railroad Club met on the second floor.
Even though the Arena's building is gone, at least part of it lives on. Brian Trapold, whose brother Phil was the "T" in T&S Auto Body, says that when Phil owned the building and wanted more work space for the cars, he and Phil carefully removed the beautiful maple hardwood dance floor, and some of the wood was repurposed as Brian's front porch. Thanks for that great story, Brian!
Update January 23, 2015: Thank you, Eddie Dzubak, for more information about the fate of the Arena's wood floor:
Phil gave me some of the same wood that Brian made his beautiful porch out of. It was 1" thick maple that Phil even helped me install. I remember he found the receipt for it and it was dated from the '20s. The flooring is still in the house we have in the historic district.
If anyone has more information on this building, or about the photographer of the library archive photo, please leave a comment.
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*In the August 13, 1964, Beaver County Times article, "a history lesson on movies," Tom Moore, who began working as a movie projectionist in 1916 when the projectors were still hand-cranked, and later worked at Ambridge's Grand, Prince, and Ambridge theaters, said, "When a man showed up at the Palm Gardens with a Victrola and a movie, many people thought that sound would never be a reality. The sound would seldom fit the pictures, and even the pictures weren't very good."
Moore said that the Palm Gardens was one of Ambridge's four theaters in the 1930s; the others were: Idle Hours, Family, and Grand.
The Grand was at 561 Merchant which later become part of G.C. Murphy. I have yet to find any information about the Idle Hours or Family theaters.
