Watsontown theater closing

posted by CSWalczak on September 21, 2009 at 10:50 am

WATSONTOWN, PA — After one last benefit showing for the local library, the nearly sixty-year-old Watson Theater will be closed. The current owners that a buyer can be found who will re-open the movie house.

Watstontown’s theatre has been around for more than a half-century.

The has not shown a film in nearly a month. Its windows are empty, usually filled with posters for upcoming flicks.

All this spells the end for the long-time theatre, according to its owners, who cite personal reasons for closing the community’s only movie house.

Read more at WNEP.

Theaters in this post

Comments (6)

Patsy
Patsy on September 23, 2009 at 6:49 pm

There are many comments on the Watsontown Cinema Treasures link about the closing of this theatre in a time when many other theatres in many other communities are moving forward with renovations, etc. I sincerely hope that someone steps up and purchases this theatre as it truly is a cinema gem for the community of Watsontown PA.

muviebuf
muviebuf on September 23, 2009 at 11:16 pm

Sadly Wattsontown was done in by the multiplex mania which has swept so many other areas of our country. With the opening of three nearby competing complexes totaling 34 screens in the past couple of years, single screen Wattsontown (which is not in an area for art or inde product) was effectively doomed. I was there this summer when the Watson played Disney’s “UP” on national break and the place was empty.

Typically after such a theatre such as Wattsontown closes the local community moans how much it misses their beloved theatre but where were these people when the theatre was operating?

muviebuf
muviebuf on September 23, 2009 at 11:16 pm

Sadly Wattsontown was done in by the multiplex mania which has swept so many other areas of our country. With the opening of three nearby competing complexes totaling 34 screens in the past couple of years, single screen Wattsontown (which is not in an area for art or inde product) was effectively doomed. I was there this summer when the Watson played Disney’s “UP” on national break and the place was empty.

Typically after such a theatre such as Wattsontown closes the local community moans how much it misses their beloved theatre but where were these people when the theatre was operating?

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on September 24, 2009 at 12:05 am

Here’s an additional article about the closing:
View link

avidwatcher
avidwatcher on September 28, 2009 at 2:40 pm

I live only 20 minutes from this theater and have heard about this place ever since they decided to sell it awhile ago, although I have never seen it. I had been wanting to open up a movie house for years to play old classic movies like those of “Gone With the Wind,” “Oklahoma,” “Singing in the Rain” and even some from the 80s and 90s. I always thought there would be an audience who would love to see these old films again up on the big screen. I have always loved the cinema much more than seeing a movie at home. And I have always loved watching classic movies. I have thought about maybe having it open only on the weekends and maybe even rent it out for movie parties or special events. Just some thoughts of mine that came to me after hearing about the closing. Does anyone believe there would be such an audience for these films? I would love to know.

How do I contact the owners to discuss these ideas?

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on September 28, 2009 at 8:28 pm

A possibility might be to contact the Watsontown Area Business Association. 210 Main Street. Watsontown, PA 17777. Phone: 570-538-1000

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