John P. Harris

John Paul Harris (December 4, 1871 – January 26, 1926) was a Pittsburgh businessman and politician who opened the world's first theater devoted entirely to showing Motion pictures.

Business career Harris was born on December 4, 1871, to John and Bridget (Gaughan) Harris. The Harris-Davis company owned theaters in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and New York. In 1924, Harris was elected to a full four-year term. In 1925, Harris became a support of Governor Gifford Pinchot. Although the two had many differing views, Harris supported Pinchot's efforts to enforce prohibition and enact election reform. On January 26, 1926, Harris suffered a heart attack during a legislative hearing on election reform bills. He died soon thereafter. He was succeeded in the Senate by his brother Frank Joseph Harris.

The John P. Harris Film Society, Point Park University's cinema club, is named after Harris.