Overview

The 2,500-seat theatre opened in late April 1929, built as a memorial to the memory of the late Senator John P. Harris (1871–1926) .

At its opening, it was reported that the theatre represented a new thought in theatre design, with “picturesque façades, romantic balconies, towers of ancient castles and the mystical beauty of old cathedral windows [...] combined in giving an outdoor effect”.

By the 1940s the theatre was operated by Warner Bros, then later in its life it became known as simply the Memorial Theatre.

In the 1960s, the auditorium was twinned (split into two separate auditoria) and called the McKees Cinemas 1 & 2.

The theatre closed in the 1970s, possibly as a result of a fire in May 1976.