[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1682-E1683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   F.M. KIRBY CENTER 10TH ANNIVERSARY

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 24, 1996

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
my colleagues the 10th anniversary of the F.M. Kirby Center for the 
Performing Arts in Wilkes-Barre, PA. I am pleased to have been asked to 
join in a community salute of this milestone and to pay tribute to two 
outstanding community leaders, Mr. F.M. Kirby and Mr. Albert Boscov.
  The Kirby Center was originally the centerpiece of the Comerford 
Theater chain. The state of the art movie theater was the first in the 
United states to offer air conditioning to its customers. Up until the 
1950's the theater remained the focal point of motion picture 
entertainment in northeastern Pennsylvania. As television gained in 
popularity, attendance at the Comerford Theater began to suffer.
  In 1972, the Wyoming Valley was hit by Hurricane Agnes. The storm 
caused the Susquehanna River to overflow its banks and devastate 
downtown Wilkes-Barre with dangerous flooding. The flooding caused 
extensive damage to the Comerford Theater which was eventually 
reopened. The flooding caused considerable damage to the downtown 
retail community and shoppers dwindled. In 1976, due to a lack of 
attendance the theater was forced to close.
  The Comerford Building sat unused and in disrepair for the next 10 
years. In order to avoid the destruction of the building, a group of 
concerned citizens took the first step of having the building placed on 
the historic register. This initial attempt at preservation was done 
with hopes of future development.

[[Page E1683]]

  In 1985, Albert Boscov, the owner of Boscov's Department in downtown 
Wilkes-Barre became interested in renovating the theater. Mr. Boscov 
had a dream of turning the theater into a centerpiece performing arts 
center which would host local and national talent. He began a fund-
raising campaign which in a little over a year and half raised $4.3 
million from thousands of members of the community, in large and small 
contributions. A major benefactor of the project was F.M. Kirby II, the 
son of the cofounder of the Woolworth's Department Store chain. In 
March of 1986 work was underway on what was to become the F.M. Kirby 
Center for the Performing Arts. In September 1986, the theater hosted 
opening night with a gala performance attended by local dignitaries and 
community leaders.
  Mr. Speaker, the 10 years since that opening night have had many high 
and low points. Like most artistic institutions in our country, the 
members of the Kirby Center board have endured some economic hardship. 
In response to diminishing funding for the arts, patron memberships 
were established and the board of directors forged a profitable 
alliance with local business leaders to make the center a vibrant and 
active facility.
  Demonstrating its commitment to the Wyoming Valley community, the 
center provides quality entertainment to over 15,000 school children a 
year. The center underwrites ticket costs to children's social service 
agencies and each year introduces a new class of children to the 
wonders of the arts through its International Children's Theater 
Festival which draws thousands of children to experience this 
spectacular event.
  As the home of the Northeast Philharmonic Orchestra to its hosting of 
ballet, Broadway and Sesame Street Live, the Kirby Center has become 
the center for cultural activity in northeastern Pennsylvania.
  Mr. Speaker, the entire community of the Wyoming Valley owes a debt 
to Mr. Al Boscov and Mr. Fred Kirby for their financial generosity and 
visionary thinking. They are responsible for taking a forlorn theater 
and converting it into the vibrant arts center it is today. They 
believed in the promise of downtown Wilkes-Barre and its long-term 
economic growth. I am proud to join in the tribute to these outstanding 
community leaders and to be part of this anniversary celebration.

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