Kenyon family.

The Kenyon family was closely associated with Pittsburgh theater for twenty years (1909-29), maintaining some involvement with local theater for years afterwards, and through Elmer Kenyon, the eldest brother, an association with national theater as well.

Thomas Kenyon, the father, emigrated from Ireland. He settled in Allegheny, Pa. (now the North Side of Pittsburgh) and operated a dry goods store. In 1909 he built the first "high class" North Side theater, the Kenyon Theatre. In 1912 he opened the Kenyon Opera House, also a vaudeville theater, in downtown Pittsburgh. Labor problems and illness forced him to withdraw from active participation; in 1919 he sold his interests. The Kenyon Theatre was razed to build Allegheny Center. The Kenyon Opera House achieved a decade of splendor as the Pitt Theatre after the Shuberts bought it. Known as the Barry, its auditorium was torn down in 1951 and the facade in 1963.

Most of the personal papers pertain to Elmer Bernard Kenyon (1886-1949). He received his degree from Harvard (1913). He taught first at St. Viator College near Chicago and then at Pittsburgh's Schenley High School (1916-29). He became head of the Carnegie Institute of Technology's Dept. of Drama (1931-36). He was with the Theatre Guild and was press agent for Maurice Evans, Judith Anderson, and Helen Hayes, among others. Mr. Kenyon founded the Pittsburgh Drama League, was its president, edited its "Drama League Review" for many years, was the director of the national organization, was a prolific writer, and was a popular lecturer in Pittsburgh. He retired in 1947 and died in 1949. His brother, T. (Titus) Thomas Kenyon (1892-1973) had assumed responsibility at the North Side theater and was its manager for years before the theater was sold. He also managed the Pitt Theatre during its most glamorous period (1923-29). He lived alone in Pittsburgh after his mother died. He died in 1973. There were no survivors; he left $1.2 million to the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.