Mission
Eagle Theatre Historic Photo 1 - circa 1915, just after the permanent Theatre's grand opening (Sam Litkes' wife is pictured in the car)
The Eagle Theatre’s mission is to provide a regional audience with opportunities to experience and participate in the performing arts. It does so through:
-Partnerships
-Educational & Community Programs
-The preservation of the historic venue
The Eagle Theatre is a non-profit, tax exempt 501(c)3 charity.
Board of Trustees
The Eagle Theatre is a 501(c)3 non-profit, and as such is directed by a coordinated group of volunteers making up the Board of Trustees. The Board of the Eagle Theatre consists of the following members:
James Donio, President and Chairman of the Board
Christina DiDonato, Vice President
Patricia Palmieri, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Richard Curcio, Corporate Secretary
Michelle Wendt, Recording Secretary
Patrick Azzara
Dwight Baldwin
David Buckley
Eileen Conran-Folks
Roseann Gazzara
Jack Mazzeo
Marion O’Neills
Tracy Petrongolo
A Brief History
Eagle Theatre Historic Photo 2 - circa 1913, Tent Theatre that pre-dated the current building on-site (right side of photo, adjacent to front porch of house)
The Eagle Theatre’s beginnings were humble, with just a simple announcement printed in the local newspaper in June of 1914, stating that “Mr. Litke will put up a concrete building on his lot on Vine Street, for his moving picture winter theatre.” From that, the Eagle Theatre was born.
The Eagle Theatre functioned as a silent movie theatre and playhouse from 1914 until 1944, when it was then sold to the Pentecostal Assembly of God and converted into a church. The church occupied the building for 15 years, then sold it to Harry and Evelyn Hitman in 1959. The Hitman’s used the building for storage until 2006. By that time, the old building was on the verge of being demolition. Tracy Petrongolo, the head of the Hammonton’s arts and cultural committee, researched the building’s history and determined that it was worthy of preservation. What followed was a remarkable example of dedication by a devoted base of volunteers who were intent on seeing the theatre restored.
Since reopening in June of 2009, the Eagle Theatre has quickly grown into an artistic epicenter of the South Jersey region. Located in the heart of the Hammonton Art District, the Eagle Theatre of today features performances of a professional caliber in one of the most intimate and comfortable venues in the area. We look forward to sharing with you our theatre, our town, and the joy of the performing arts.
For a look through some of moments that led us to where we are today, please see some of the photos below. They take us through the historic beginnings, to reconstruction, to the reopening of the Eagle Theatre in June of 2009.
