My experience at The Strand Theater: The shocking visual encounter inspires documentary

A look into The Strand Theater’s past and future revival

By Nicole Barbarito

View the Student Made Documentary Here

In October, I had the unique opportunity to enter the historic Strand Theatre on White Oak Street in Kutztown. This visit was part of a community service project with fellow Kutztown University students and alums, facilitated by the Kutztown Community Partnership (KCP). Known for their dedication to preserving local history, the KCP provided us with a historical tour of the theater, shared their vision for its future, and involved us in the initial cleanup of what will become a Beer Garden.

Since then, I have visited the eerie building many times and participated in its revival process. Due to my fascination with The Strand and Dr. O’Brien’s class, The Agency, I have created a documentary to show Kutztown University’s and The Agency’s efforts in helping restore The Strand Theatre through Digital Communications.

The Strand Theater, a century-old beacon of history in Kutztown, is dilapidated, even arguably in ruins from poor upkeep over the last century. Upon entering, I was shocked by the musty smell of the famous, decades-old red carpet. Seeing an empty ticket booth and what looked like decade-old popcorn added to the mildewy atmosphere. Inside theater number two, the setting was a mix of nostalgia and neglect, with red main lights, a dusty old projector, and stained wooden movie seats all hinting at the building’s better days, probably in the 60s.

During our tour, the KCP leaders outlined their plans to rejuvenate the Strand, maintaining its role as a movie theater while transforming it into a vibrant community center. The plans include movie screenings, community rooms, a bar, and the Beer Garden, as mentioned earlier, designed to be a gathering space for students and residents. However, significant fundraising efforts are still necessary to bring this vision to fruition. More about this can be found on their KCP website.

Our exploration continued into the theater’s backrooms, which felt like stepping into a haunted house due to the poor upkeep. The structural beams were visibly strained, old marquee letters covered in dust lay scattered about, and the walls were covered in a blueish-green mold. A venture down to the basement with only a phone flashlight (we did not know there were ceiling lights) revealed a scene reminiscent of a Hollywood ghost film, complete with disassembled fixtures and a mildewy smell from rainwater leakage. The historical charm of the basement became a fascination of mine.

KU Alumni Merric N. and I made intriguing discoveries in this dimly lit basement, including hand-painted trims from the 30s and a human-sized tunnel connecting the basement to theater number two, hinting at the building’s rumored past as a speakeasy during Prohibition.

This visit wasn’t just about volunteerism, with the goal of clean up, but also a learning experience tied to our coursework at “The Agency,” led by Dr. Amy O’Brien. This class emphasizes hands-on community relations and focuses on documenting the Strand’s restoration through newsletters, blogs, and an upcoming documentary. Due to my many visits, class work,  and fascination with the building, I created a documentary to show off The Agency’s work.

Participating in the cleanup and learning about the planned restoration of The Strand Theater was more than just community service; it was a deep dive into Kutztown’s local history and an inspiring look at the potential to bring a cherished landmark back to life. This experience inspired a documentary, hopefully leading more students into the PR program for its fantastic hands-on work and awareness of the local Strand revival project.  

The experience left me with a sense of responsibility and excitement about the theater’s future. It affirms the community’s commitment to preserving its historical heritage while adapting it for new generations.

See The Agency’s work in The Agency, The Experience, The Documentary

Interested in the PR Program? Click here.