Among the myriad attractions throughout Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, stands one stately edifice devoted to theater and the performing arts. I am, of course, referring to the one and only Majestic Theater. Located in the heart of Gettysburg, just off Lincoln Square, the Majestic is a versatile venue renowned for presenting a wide variety of shows, programs, concerts, musical performances, and live stage productions throughout the year. Additionally, it doubles as a movie house, showcasing independent films, special limited-release documentaries, and select popular cinematic releases.
Every year at Christmastime, the theater hosts the Totem Pole Playhouse’s nationally acclaimed, award-winning production of A Christmas Carol. As someone who has had the honor of attending one of these performances, I can attest that it is a quintessential must-do and a rite of passage for visitors to the Gettysburg area during the holiday season.
While the Majestic is undeniably a historic landmark, it is surprisingly much younger than most of the town’s other notable sites. While many of Gettysburg’s heritage landmarks date back to the Civil War era and the Battle of Gettysburg, the Majestic didn’t open its doors to the public until November 14, 1925, with a premiere showing of Cecil B. DeMille’s The Road to Yesterday. The theater’s initial design was the brainchild of famed architect William H. Lee of Philadelphia. However, it was Gettysburg Hotel (Hotel Gettysburg) manager and Gettysburg College alumnus Henry Scharf who built the theater as an annex to the existing hotel. The adjoining theater, constructed on the hotel’s north side, featured a gymnasium, a 1,200-seat vaudeville stage, and a movie theater.
From the moment it opened, the Majestic Theater proved to be a hit—the ultimate go-to hangout for Adams County residents. Even during the Great Depression, it thrived as a popular moviegoing destination, offering audiences the chance to win free prizes on what was then known as “Bank Night.”
As Gettysburg locals, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower were notable patrons of the Majestic Theater throughout the 1950s and 1960s. They frequently utilized the theater’s adjoining ballroom and gymnasium for social events, functions, and even White House Press Corps news conferences.
Sadly, a massive fire decimated Hotel Gettysburg in 1983, causing severe damage to the Majestic as well. Most of the necessary repairs were due to water damage, but the theater successfully reopened to the public in 1984 as a converted triplex cinema.
Four years later, in 1988, Gettysburg College purchased both the hotel and theater with the intent to restore each structure to its original grandeur. While the hotel reopened in 1991, restoration of the Majestic took longer. However, after a $16.5 million restoration project in 2004, the Majestic triumphantly reopened on November 14, 2005—exactly 80 years to the day of its original grand opening.
Today, theater-loving history buffs can appreciate the Majestic’s beautifully restored Colonial Revival-style architecture. Its in-house features include an expansive stage, two cinema theaters with screens and stadium seating, a professional production facility, a resident art gallery, concessions, and even a café!
Visit the Majestic Theater at 25 Carlisle Street, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 17325. For showtimes, tickets, scheduled events, and general information, visit www.gettysburgmajestic.org.
Article by: LC Hermoza
Photography Courtesy Majestic Theater
February 2025