The Sweetest Place

“The more beautiful you make something which people can see and use, the more enjoyment they will get out of it…” stated Milton S. Hershey. It has been an absolute privilege to be working here at the Theatre. I've have been learning so much about this place and it has been a lot of fun, especially the part of actually performing in one of the shows.

The Hershey Theatre was brought to life by Milton S. Hershey in the early twentieth century during the Great Depression.  Hershey felt that providing leisure and entertainment to his workers and other people in the community was important.        

Lancaster architect C. Emlen Urban was hired by Hershey and shortly began conjuring plans for the theatre in 1915; however, he did not start the construction until 1929 due to the first world war. Eventually, a near six hundred workers, who were all unemployed due to the Depression, worked on the theater until completion in September, 1933. This new theatre, which cost an influential three million dollars, may have been one of the best investments.          
With this, you can see that Milton had a true liking to Venice, Italy which is what the theatre's design is based off of.  Tan stone bricks are neatly lined in a row and for each doorway there obtains an arch over it with relief sculptures such as a seashell.  The roof is an adobe style with red clay tile often used in Italy.  As for the interior, it feels like a whole new world.  Although the theatre only caps twenty-five percent of the entire building, it has rakes in forty percent of the buildings expenses.  Towards the front of the theatre, a proscenium arch over the stage resembles the “Bridge of Sighs”.  Behind the curtains, hangs an original watercolor painting of Venice’s Grande Canal is portrayed. This Theatre is highlighted by its intricate painted ceilings of mythical and pastoral visions, including the option of an atmospheric projection to make guests illusion a starry night. Meanwhile, the main lobby consists of a ceiling with images of Apollo and Assyrian war chariots. Some Greek architecture is involved as well.  Pendantives are seen in the lobby with it’s many

archways too.  Something you may not notice are the Lion heads that are placed throughout the inside representing the symbol of Venice.  With this, the walls that these lions heads rest on are made of four different types of marble that accent an array of arches replicating the Byzantine castle. Now looking down, most of the floors are laid with varnished Italian Lava rock.
The entrance of the building involves two massive brass doors that leads under a “canopy of gold” arched tile, modeled after St. Marks Cathedral in Venice.  During the night of a performance, the lighting gives everything certain sheen and gleam .  My favorite part of the theatre is the gold and blue Persian mosaic design that was created by two German artists. They labored for two years laying each tile by hand.  It is just amazing to me how much detail is put into this place and the use of materials from all over the world are situated in it. 

                   This theatre is a remarkable place to visit.  When I entered the theatre, it put me in a position where I felt like I was in a castle.  The amazing craftsmanship and rare materials are the reason I enjoy coming to this community center. Today, Hershey Theatre is conducted by the M.S. Hershey Foundation, which was established in 1935 to extend education and cultural opportunities to the community.  Decades later, this place is still one of the top attractions in Hershey. 

The Theatres mission still remains, and that is to keep bringing entertainment to central Pennsylvania.