As they say, the show must go on, and it has here for more than 140 years.

Known as one of America’s oldest, still-operating vaudeville theatres, the Mauch Chunk Opera House is a premier concert venue in the Northeast, and a vibrant spot for all ages.

“We seat around 400 people and offer shows year-round, ranging from indie bands and tribute acts to everything in between,” said Vincent DeGiosio, owner of JTAMS Productions.

The Mauch Chunk Opera House was built in 1881 and hosted well-known performers of the time, including Charlie Chaplin, Mae West, and Eddie Foy.

“There was a marketplace on the first floor, which thrived until the early 1920s, until it became a silent movie house. After that, talkies took over through the mid-1960s. The building eventually re-opened as a warehouse for a purse factory, until its decline in the 1970s. The Mauch Chunk Historical Society purchased the defunct building and started renovations soon after,” DeGiosio explained.

The structure was designed by Addison Hutton, a famous architect in the Philadelphia area. He designed the building to match Carnegie Hall. Without amplification back in those days, the structure was specially designed to project sound.

“As a musician myself playing on this stage, it’s like nowhere else. You’re wrapped in your sound, and it’s a great experience. We have a lot of great musicians who want to play at this venue and explore Jim Thorpe as part of their bucket list. I remember when we had Jeff Daniels, the famous actor, here. He said the space reminds him of a Broadway theater, where the response time to the sound is immediate,” DeGiosio added.

When Ella Thierer joined the team as assistant production manager, she wanted to book acts that bring a new, youthful energy to the venue.

She explained, “I felt like this could be somewhere where we could bring in original acts, new indie acts, burlesque shows, and events that appeal to a wide range of ages, especially the younger audience.”

While you’re visiting the Mauch Chunk Opera House, check out JimThorpe.org to learn about everything the downtown area has to offer.