AMC 309 Cinema 9

This theatre was built by Budco theatres not Goldman theatres. It was located on the south west corner of Rt 309 and Rt 63. It covered the area that was the drive-in entrance, box office and the D-I office. The stores in the shopping center sit where the field, snack bar, projection booth and the screen were. The cinema was made a mess when the additional sreen were added. rg

How was the 309 Cinema made a mess when the additional screens were added?

rg, the 309 Cinema was built by William Goldman Theatres Co. When it opened in May 1968, the 309 Drive In, also owned by William Goldman Theatres, was still an active drive-in. The 309 Twin Drive-In was closed somewhere around 1984-85 by Budco Theatres Co. (William Goldman Theatres was renamed Budco Theatres in 1972/73 by their new owner.) The first movie to play at the 309 cinema was "The Graduate"

The 309 was twinned in 1973/74, and became the 309 Cinema 3 in 1980, and then the 309 Cinema 4 in 1982/83

In 1986, the 309 was knon as "Budco 309 Cinema 4 Theatres" AMC Theatres added 5 screens between 1986 and 1989. AMC most likely split the screen that was added in 1982/83 to make 5 screens, while building the 4 screens to the north of the 4/5 screens that were built between 1968 and 1982/83.

The 5th screen was an annex. I don't think the third screen added in 1980 was split.

MikeRa, The 309 complex was NOT built or operated by Goldman Theatres. The D-I was built by the Smith family which owned several other D-I's. Budco operated this D-I. I know because I managed it. The 309 Cinema was BUILT by Budco NOT Goldman Theatres. I opened this theatre. rg

I do apoligize. Does anyone know the exact dates the Budco 309 Drive-In and the Budco 309 Cinema Theatre opened? I know the 309 Cinema was sometime in 1968.

Does anyone know if there are any pictures of the 309 Cinema that shows what it looked like when Budco Theatres first opened it in 1968?

MikeRa, I have not seen any pictures of the orig. 309 cinema. Someone did take pictures opening night from our office but I cannot remember who. The builder was from the Doylestown area but I don't think he's around anymore. rg

Is this the last year for it? I heard it may close.

ATTN: RG ...( or anyone knowledgable about Budco Theatres)

May I ask you a few questions about Budco Theatres?

I am doing research on blind bidding in the motion picture industry. Twenty four states passed anti-blind bidding laws which forbid the blind bidding of films; Pennsylvania passed the stictest law in 1980. I am investigating whether exhibitors which operated in states which passed these laws stayed in business longer than those which operated in blind bidding states.

RG (or anyone knowledgable about Budco Theatres) please e-mail me at danwed1999@yahoo.com as your knowledge would help my research efforts.

Until recently, it was almost time for the final curtain for the AMC 309 Cinema; however, the lease for the AMC 309 Cinema in Spring House Pennsylvania that was set to expire on 10/31/06 for the building to be converted into a warehouse for the QVC Home Shopping Network, has been renewed breathing new life into this nostalgic theater for at least another 3 years. Scheduled renovations include new seats with flip up arm rests for auditoriums 3 and 6, DTS sound systems for 4 additional auditoriums and electronic marquees for the box office. The AMC 309 Cinema is like a 1969 Volkswagon Beetle. If you keep doing minor work to maintain it, it will last forever.

Best Fossil
If a youngster ever asks what it was like to go to the movies in the '80s, pack them into the car and trot out to AMC's Rt. 309 Cinema 9. Built atop a folded drive-in sometime in the '60s, the 309 is a boxy multiplex—without stadium seating—whose decor looks to have been untouched since The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear flickered.

from Philadelphia Weekly:

http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=13454

http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=qswvkd8vjjb3&style=o&lvl=2&scene=1744592
A view of the 309 Cinema 9

http://maps.live.com/?v=2&cid=C54A0A7A528AA139!101
Correct one

2007 Photo of sign:
http://www.futurenostalgia.org/archive.php/191/309_Theatre_Sign

Haven't been there since "The Rock" in 1996 when the first twenty minutes of the feature was projected two-perforations out-of-frame, and, presumably, I was the only sighted person in the auditorium as nobody made the slightest fuss. Finally, I got up and informed an usher of the problem. He looked at me as if I had just landed from another planet, mumbled something unintelligble and walked away. About ten minutes later, the problem was corrected.

When exactly did this become an AMC?

The 309 Cinema 9, along with the long gone Orleans 8, Andorra 8, Barn 5, Springfield Twin, , City Line Twin, and Millside 4, as well as Midtown Twin (Prince Music Theatre), Olde City Twin (Ritz East Twin) and Anthony Wayne Twin (Clearview's Anthony Wayne 5) became AMC Theatres when AMC bought Budco Theatres in 1988.

I think that acquisition was in 1986 and two years later United Artists Circuit bought Sameric Corp, the last remaining large Philadelphia based chain for mainstream exhibition.

I think you are right. I had my dates mixed up.

From the pictures I've seen of the current 309 Cinema 9, it look like the 1980 addition was to the left of the original Budco 309 Cinema Theatre building. The 1982/83 addition was to the right of the building, but I could be wrong about which side was added first.

The final addition that turned this theatre from a 4-plex to a 9-plex has the one back screen and two front screens built next to the left of the 1980 addition, and the other 2 front screens across from the 1982/83 addition.

It's also unique that the 309 cinema still has the "Cinema" in cursive, just like it's former sister theatres Plymouth Cinema and Ellisburg Circle Cinema.