THE STRAND THEATER

The Strand Theater was built in 1914 by Gioachino and Rosalia Sapienza, who were Italian immigrants seeking a new life and opportunity in America and Zelienople. In order to blend in with their adopted community, they became known to friends and neighbors as Joseph and Rosalie. Joseph originally wanted to build a fruit market, but the local banker convinced him that the town really needed a theater. Two-thirds of the structure was dedicated to The Strand (then ‘The Star'), and the remaining third was Sapienza's Fruit Market. The theater featured silent films with live piano accompaniment as well as Vaudeville-style shows on its small stage. It is unclear when the name switched from ‘The Star' to ‘The Strand', but it is estimated to have taken place some time in late 1920's to the early 1930's.... The Strand Theater Initiative was created in 2001 as a non-profit corporation to save the venerable old theater from the wrecking ball, with the goal of reviving The Strand as a cultural,..

Also known as: Strand

Primary location: Zelienople United States