It is of steel frame and brick construction with a four bay wide, terra cotta and marble front facade.
The front facade features a stylized ziggurat composition, a central tower, corrugated steel decoration, and a marquee.
Construction began in 1937 with the assistance of the Penn-York Utilities, Inc. and designed by Charles A. Ryan.
As a result of the 1949 antitrust laws, ownership of the theater was transferred to the Penn Paramount Company.
In 1985, Albert Boscov, August L. Simms and Fred M. Kirby II raised $3.3 million to restored the theatre.