The Strand Theater Initiative

The Strand Theater was constructed and managed by Gioachino and Rosalia Sapienza in 1914. The building originally housed the theater and Sapienza's Fruit Market. The Strand featured silent films with live piano accompaniment as well as Vaudeville-style shows on its small stage. The Strand thrived as a social center for Zelienople and Harmony for decades, providing a destination for these rural families to meet and enjoy a night's entertainment. The Strand began to struggle when multiplex cinemas began dotting the landscape. The theater became more of a drop-off point for parents to leave their kids for an afternoon matinee. But with increased pressure from the onset of the Multi-Plex and VCR era, The Strand could no longer compete. One night In the early 1980's, The Strand closed its doors and they have not been open to the public since. There have been a variety of suitors for The Strand over the years. Developers and private investors considered making use of the building for everything from a mini-mall to a dance school to a dinner theater. As recently as Fall, 2000, the FBI considered The Strand as a field office. However, the extensive cost of buying and restoring the building has kept potential developers away. The Strand Theater Initiative was created as a non-profit corporation to save the venerable old theater from the wrecking ball. Through private financial support and funding from various foundations, The Initiative has been working to revive The Strand as a performing arts, education and community outreach center. But it will take the continued generosity and support of Zelienople, Harmony and neighboring communities to complete the journey. Foundations and public funds exist to pay for the bulk of the extensive renovations, and literally hundreds of thousands of dollars have been approved by these groups. But additional, local support is needed from area businesses, community groups and individuals through private donations. The Strand Theater has a rich history in Zelienople and, with continued financial support, it will again become a social and cultural center serving not only local residents, but the surrounding North Pittsburgh region and beyond.