Update… They are planning to build storefronts and low to mid-low income housing on this huge site. The Mart finally closed and will also be reduced to dust… Pennsauken has demolished alot of history in their town, starting with the leveling of the old Walt Whitman Theater back in the 80’s. They have no concept of historical value or memories… It’s sad
I drive by the westmont all the time wishing that I was rich enough to by it and make it a Performing Arts facility/Movie Theater. I have always dreamed of having a theater rich in history that had ALOT of character as well, and that venue would be perfect. The continuous troubles of the local government has proven that they are complete tools!!!!
A few years back a friend of mine wrote a few letters to Dreamworks Studios, addressed to Steven Speilberg regarding the fate of the old Westmont. He stated that he would like to gain control of the theater and restore it making it a Community Theater venue/ school. Knowing Speilberg’s history with the theater he was hoping Speilberg woulkd show some interest in saving it. The Westmont Mayor’s office received a few calls from Dreamworks but they never followed them up… They ignored calls from Steven Speilberg!!!! TOOLS!!!!
I lived down the street from it… very sad, I grew up in Pennsauke and I know for sure that Pennsauken is not a fan of Historical sites. It’s sad b/c there is alot of history there and they neglect it.
Hi my name is Travis and I was an Employee of UA Pennsauken/Moorestown from 1992 to 1998. That theater was and is a part of me. You had to work(live) there to really appreciate it. I started working there when they did a mass hiring to fill the building with like 30 more employees. They just about to open the new 11 Plex layout. Me and about 15 of my friends from Pennsauken High School were hired for that Summer. Many of us lived there, working long hours on weekends, basically living most of our memorable years in that place. Everything in the stories above is true… the layout was awful, lobby was small and we always had to wait til Theater 6 ended before we could go to the stockroom that was located under 6’s screen. I have so many memories there, too many to mention but when us UA people get together we could talk about stories for hours. I was an Usher from 1992 til 1995, then I was transfered/promoted to Floor Supervisor at the Moorestown Plex. In 1997 I was promoted to Assistant Manager of Pennsauken 11… I was a Manager/Projectionist till Late 1998 when I was fired. By late 1997 the theater started showing signs that it was imploding in the higher ranks. The District offices were moved to the Booth area of the building to keep a close eye. Manager’s were brought in to “crack the whip” on the employees in stead of maintaining the building and it’s finances. Make the employees miserable that was our New Manager’s mission statement. We went at it many time until finally it went to the point where he could get rid of me… I always compare it to the scenes in Howard Stern’s Private Parts between Howard and Pig-vomit… The manager was like Howard, pushing the buttons of everyone in the building and the employees either took it or became enraged like pig-vomit did and then he snapped… Well that was me. So I was asked to leave, which was fine b/c I was able to finish college and move on.
By the time Regal got that building it was on it’s was out, it was a lame duck. I admit the building had it’s faults and uglyness but it was home for a long time… When I drove passed that building I saw: Usher Olympics, Mart Pretzels for breatk, Polyester Tuxedos, Gummy Bear Wars, Late Night Screenings, Trailer Marathons, Employee Parties, Softball Championships, Building films, Dropping Films, Premiere of DTS, Jurassic Park, Painting the Jurassic Park Logo on the front window, New Jersey Drive and Poetic Justice Riots, Theater 5 sellouts, Simultanious Theater 5/6&7 sellouts :o, Boyz to Men being cornered in our lobby and being forced to sing, Calling the Cops on Brandy, Selling Milk Duds to The Big Show(b4 he was the Big Show) Chuck Norris in our lobby, Armed Security, Calling the cops almost every Friday & Saturday Night, meeting my wife there when we were both 17 year old employees, make outs in the ice room and stock room, Sling Blade, Batman Returns, Projection Booth Ghost, POSTERS, etc.
I loved this place and a part of me died when they tore it down, it was like losing an old friend I just want to throw these names down b/c they were part of the heart of that place…
Anthony Monzo, Lana Poulos, Molly, Jim Schmincke, Marie Robinson, Marie Fusco, Eric Dorsett, Frank Iannuzzi, Wayne Agnew, Frank the Projectionist, Ron DeFeo, Brad Weatherby, Bill Hawthorn, Pete Gotthold, B.J. Johnson, Warner Twins, Pete Andretta, Bob Finnigan, Brian Baurele, Dave Robey, Tim Kenny.
Update… They are planning to build storefronts and low to mid-low income housing on this huge site. The Mart finally closed and will also be reduced to dust… Pennsauken has demolished alot of history in their town, starting with the leveling of the old Walt Whitman Theater back in the 80’s. They have no concept of historical value or memories… It’s sad
Travis
I drive by the westmont all the time wishing that I was rich enough to by it and make it a Performing Arts facility/Movie Theater. I have always dreamed of having a theater rich in history that had ALOT of character as well, and that venue would be perfect. The continuous troubles of the local government has proven that they are complete tools!!!!
A few years back a friend of mine wrote a few letters to Dreamworks Studios, addressed to Steven Speilberg regarding the fate of the old Westmont. He stated that he would like to gain control of the theater and restore it making it a Community Theater venue/ school. Knowing Speilberg’s history with the theater he was hoping Speilberg woulkd show some interest in saving it. The Westmont Mayor’s office received a few calls from Dreamworks but they never followed them up… They ignored calls from Steven Speilberg!!!! TOOLS!!!!
Travis
I lived down the street from it… very sad, I grew up in Pennsauke and I know for sure that Pennsauken is not a fan of Historical sites. It’s sad b/c there is alot of history there and they neglect it.
Travis
Hi my name is Travis and I was an Employee of UA Pennsauken/Moorestown from 1992 to 1998. That theater was and is a part of me. You had to work(live) there to really appreciate it. I started working there when they did a mass hiring to fill the building with like 30 more employees. They just about to open the new 11 Plex layout. Me and about 15 of my friends from Pennsauken High School were hired for that Summer. Many of us lived there, working long hours on weekends, basically living most of our memorable years in that place. Everything in the stories above is true… the layout was awful, lobby was small and we always had to wait til Theater 6 ended before we could go to the stockroom that was located under 6’s screen. I have so many memories there, too many to mention but when us UA people get together we could talk about stories for hours. I was an Usher from 1992 til 1995, then I was transfered/promoted to Floor Supervisor at the Moorestown Plex. In 1997 I was promoted to Assistant Manager of Pennsauken 11… I was a Manager/Projectionist till Late 1998 when I was fired. By late 1997 the theater started showing signs that it was imploding in the higher ranks. The District offices were moved to the Booth area of the building to keep a close eye. Manager’s were brought in to “crack the whip” on the employees in stead of maintaining the building and it’s finances. Make the employees miserable that was our New Manager’s mission statement. We went at it many time until finally it went to the point where he could get rid of me… I always compare it to the scenes in Howard Stern’s Private Parts between Howard and Pig-vomit… The manager was like Howard, pushing the buttons of everyone in the building and the employees either took it or became enraged like pig-vomit did and then he snapped… Well that was me. So I was asked to leave, which was fine b/c I was able to finish college and move on.
By the time Regal got that building it was on it’s was out, it was a lame duck. I admit the building had it’s faults and uglyness but it was home for a long time… When I drove passed that building I saw: Usher Olympics, Mart Pretzels for breatk, Polyester Tuxedos, Gummy Bear Wars, Late Night Screenings, Trailer Marathons, Employee Parties, Softball Championships, Building films, Dropping Films, Premiere of DTS, Jurassic Park, Painting the Jurassic Park Logo on the front window, New Jersey Drive and Poetic Justice Riots, Theater 5 sellouts, Simultanious Theater 5/6&7 sellouts :o, Boyz to Men being cornered in our lobby and being forced to sing, Calling the Cops on Brandy, Selling Milk Duds to The Big Show(b4 he was the Big Show) Chuck Norris in our lobby, Armed Security, Calling the cops almost every Friday & Saturday Night, meeting my wife there when we were both 17 year old employees, make outs in the ice room and stock room, Sling Blade, Batman Returns, Projection Booth Ghost, POSTERS, etc.
I loved this place and a part of me died when they tore it down, it was like losing an old friend I just want to throw these names down b/c they were part of the heart of that place…
Anthony Monzo, Lana Poulos, Molly, Jim Schmincke, Marie Robinson, Marie Fusco, Eric Dorsett, Frank Iannuzzi, Wayne Agnew, Frank the Projectionist, Ron DeFeo, Brad Weatherby, Bill Hawthorn, Pete Gotthold, B.J. Johnson, Warner Twins, Pete Andretta, Bob Finnigan, Brian Baurele, Dave Robey, Tim Kenny.
John I will be contacting you sir.
Travis Fowler