Guide to the Fulton Theater Records, 1934-1963 CTC.2000.01
Arrangement
Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Fulton Theater Records
Creator
Fulton Theater (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Collection Number
CTC.2000.01
Extent
19.5 Linear Feet(43 boxes)
Date
1934-1963
Abstract
The Fulton Theater showed major motion pictures and operated in downtown Pittsburgh during the 1930's through the 1980's. The materials in this collection consist of operational and business files that contain financial reports, promotional materials, ledgers, correspondence, box office reports, and other materials related to the operation of the theater.
Language
English
.
Author
William Daw.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System Archives & Special Collections Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman) Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
History
The Fulton Theater was located in Pittsburgh on the corner of Sixth Street and Fort Duquesne Boulevard from 1930's-1995. The theater was originally called the Gayety Theater. Built in 1903, it ran for thirty years as one of Pittsburgh's foremost stage and vaudeville houses. In the 1930's, the theater was renamed the Fulton and became a full time motion picture theater. The theater was purchased by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in 1990 and the Fulton was renovated and reopened in 1991. It was later renamed the Byham Theater through a naming right from the Byham family in 1995. The Fulton neon sign that had been displayed above the theater has been restored by the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg and is installed there as part of a theater exhibit.
Scope and Content Notes
This collection contains the records of the Fulton Theater during the years of 1934-1963, but the majority of the collection dates from 1938-1951. The correspondence and motion picture files make up the majority of the collection. Films that are particularly well documented are Disney's Fantasia, Lawrence of Arabia, and The Best Years of Our Lives. Separate statistics for tickets sold and labor hours were kept during the film runs at the Fulton. Fastasia payroll information is located with the other payroll information in Series II and the statistics for the film ticket sales are kept with the box office statements in Series III. The collection has been arranged into the following series. Additional scope and content notes are available at the series level.
Arrangement
Series I. Correspondence, 1938-1951
Series II. Theater Operations, 1934-1951
Series III. Film Companies and Box Office records, 1930-1963
Series IV. Movie Files and Promotional Materials, 1944-1963
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Acquisition Information
The collection was gifted to the University of Pittsburgh in two parts. In 1968, the first materials were given to the Archives Service Center. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust donated more materials in May of 2000. The Archives Service Center transferred the Fulton records that were in their possession to the Ford E. and Harriet R. Curtis Theatre Collection in 2005.
Preferred Citation
Fulton Theater Records, 1934-1963, CTC.2000.01, Curtis Theatre Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Previous Citation
Fulton Theater Records, 1934-1963, CTC.2000.01, Curtis Theatre Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh
Fulton Theater Records, 1934-1963, CTC.35, Curtis Theatre Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh
Records of the Fulton Theater, 1962-1963, AIS 68:6a, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Processing Information note
This collection was processed by William Daw in 2005-2006.
Copyright
Property rights reside with the University of Pittsburgh. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Special Collections Department.
Related Material
Records of the Penn Theater, Pittsburgh, PA., 1927-1964, AIS.1968.06, Archives & Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Fulton Theater Scrapbook, 1940-1943, Scrapbook Collection, Curtis Theatre Collection, University of Pittsburgh
Separated Material
Items related to the Penn Theater or other Shea chain theatres have been removed from this collection. The Penn materials have been added to the Records of the Penn Theater. The other Shea materials might be assembled into their own smaller collection.
Subjects
Corporate Names
Fulton Theater (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Geographic Names
Byham Theater (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Social life and customs
Other Subjects
Amusements -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
Theaters -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
Theater
Container List
Scope and Contents note
This series contains employee payroll records and materials, newspaper clippings, tax information, bank books, candy sales reports, invoices and receipts, inspection certificates and licenses, materials related to the sale of war bonds and stamps at the theater, insurance information, and materials related to the Variety Club of Pittsburgh. The invoices and receipts are arranged in alphabetical order by name of company. Next is a small group of reports that show how much candy was sold on a weekly and monthly basis. Next is a series of bills, invoices, and purchase orders that are in an alphabetical arrangement by subject. They illustrate all of the expenses and maintenance necessary to keep the Fulton operating. In box 20 are examples of different types of 3-D glasses used for films at the Fulton. Also in box 20 are several unidentified photographic printing plates that may be images of managers of the Fulton and other Shea chain theaters. Managers of the Fulton and other theatres were members of the Pittsburgh Variety Club; box 20 contains account statements, correspondence, invoices, membership applications and lists dating between 1943 and 1948.
Containers
box 8, folder 1-11
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box 9, folder 1-8
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box 10, folder 1
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box 10, folder 2
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box 10, folder 3
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box 10, folder 4
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box 10, folder 5
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box 10, folder 6
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box 10, folder 7
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box 10, folder 8
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box 10, folder 9
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box 10, folder 10
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box 10, folder 11
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box 10, folder 12
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box 10, folder 13
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box 10, folder 14-15
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box 10, folder 16
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box 10, folder 17
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box 10, folder 18
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box 10, folder 19
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box 11, item 1
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box 11, item 2
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box 11, item 3
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box 12, folder 1
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box 12, folder 3-5
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box 13, folder 1
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box 13, folder 2
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box 13, folder 3
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box 13, folder 4
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box 13, folder 5
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box 13, folder 6
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box 13, folder 7
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box 13, folder 08-09
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box 13, folder 10
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box 13, folder 11
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box 14, folder 1
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box 14, folder 2
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box 14, folder 3
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box 14, folder 4
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box 14, folder 5
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box 14, folder 6
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box 14, folder 7
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box 14, folder 8
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box 14, folder 9
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box 14, folder 10
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box 14, folder 11
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box 14, folder 12
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box 14, folder 13
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box 14, folder 14
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box 14, folder 15
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box 14, folder 16
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box 14, folder 17
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box 14, folder 18
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box 14, folder 19
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box 14, folder 20
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box 15, folder 1
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box 15, folder 2
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box 15, folder 3
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box 15, folder 4
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box 15, folder 5
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box 15, folder 6
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box 15, folder 7
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box 15, folder 8
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box 15, folder 9
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box 15, folder 10
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box 15, folder 11
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box 15, folder 12
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box 15, folder 13
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box 15, folder 14
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box 15, folder 15
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box 15, folder 16
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box 15, folder 17
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box 15, folder 18
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box 15, folder 19
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box 15, folder 20
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box 15, folder 21
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box 16, folder 1-9
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box 17, folder 1
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box 17, folder 2
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box 17, folder 3
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box 17, folder 4
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box 17, folder 5
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box 17, folder 6
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box 17, folder 7
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box 18, folder 1
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box 18, folder 2-5
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box 18, folder 6
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box 19, folder 1
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box 19, folder 2
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box 19, folder 3
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box 19, folder 4
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box 19, folder 5
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box 19, folder 6
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box 19, folder 7
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box 19, folder 8
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box 20, folder 1
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box 20, folder 2
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box 20, folder 3
Containers
box 20, folder 4-12
Scope and Contents note
This series contains the contracts and receipts from the motion picture studios, film time schedules, hourly ticket reports, examples of tickets and materials related to the tickets themselves, and the box office statements. These records are first arranged alphabetically by motion picture company and then by date. They contain receipts and contracts for the rentals of their films by the Fulton. The time schedules in this series document at exactly what times movies and their opening attractions started and finished for each showing on a particular day. The hourly ticket reports break-up the day by hour and list the amount sold in each price category. The box office statements that are included in this series are a daily record of a particular film title at the Fulton. They list the date, day of the week, title, how many matinee and evening tickets were sold, how many were adult tickets and how many were children. Also, on the statement is the weather and sometimes films that were playing at other theaters in the area.
Containers
box 21, folder 1
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box 21, folder 2
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box 21, folder 3
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box 21, folder 4
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box 21, folder 5
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box 21, folder 6
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box 21, folder 7
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box 21, folder 8
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box 21, folder 9
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box 21, folder 10
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box 21, folder 11
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box 21, folder 12
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box 21, folder 13
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box 21, folder 14
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box 21, folder 15-16
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box 21, folder 17
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box 21, folder 18
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box 21, folder 19-21
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box 22, folder 1-2
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box 22, folder 3-7
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box 23, folder 1-4
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box 23, folder 5-6
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box 23, folder 7
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box 24, folder 1-6
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box 25, folder 1-4
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box 26, folder 1-4
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box 27, folder 1-6
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box 28, folder 1
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box 28, folder 2
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box 28, folder 3
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box 28, folder 4
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box 28, folder 5
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box 29, folder 1
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box 29, folder 2-6
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box 30, folder 1-5
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box 31, folder 1-4
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box 32, folder 1-3
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box 33, folder 1
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box 33, folder 2
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box 34, folder 1-3
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box 35, folder 1-4
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box 36, folder 1-5
Containers
box 37, folder 1-5
Scope and Contents note
These files are arranged alphabetically by film title. These files represent most, but probably not all, of the films that were shown at the Fulton during the 1940's. They contain bills for advertisements in local newspapers, radio spots, etc. They also contain proof copies of the engraving advertisements that would appear in the newspapers. Box 43 contains press releases, synopsis, and other promotional materials for films that were featured at the Fulton.