Yeadon Theatre

It appears that the town of Yeadon is going to save the old theater (as of 10-2003). Especially when it was discovered that it was one of the last movie houses designed by John Eberson "the Frank Lloyd Wright of theater design". The movie house was saved in the 11th hour, as wrecking crews were begining- local officials halted the demolition.

Bad News: The theatre still has NO back wall. While the powers to be work out details the theatre is still open to the eliments. This has been a tuff winter. Do they really want to save this theatre?

http://www.robbender.com/photos/philadelphia/buildings/yeadon/index.html

Does anybody know what is happening with this theater?

Only the facade will be saved:
http://cinematreasures.org/news/12300_0_1_0_C/

Oh, that's too bad. The photos look like the place had some real potential, and some very interesting deco/streamline features. I especially LOVE the photos of the curtain being torn away, revealing the colorful deco work- I wonder what else those ugly crtains hid? Silly sixties 'modernizations'. It sounds to me like if the back wall hadn't been comprimised, the preservation might have succeeded- is that right?

Another theatre with the Eberson connection so is worth keeping our eyes on it!

"....local officials halted the demolition"! If anyone has current info on this Art Moderne theater, please post here!

Does any person know who I can contact regarding purchasing this theater? Is it city property? Please advise.

It looks like it is city property. Some contact information in this article:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10806131&BRD=1725&PAG=461&dept_id=45529&rfi=6

It is sad to see this theater go. I grew up in Yeadon. My parents had taken me to see more than one or two moview at the Yeadon Theater. Again, it's too bad to see the way the theater has crumbled.

Photos anyone?

Patsy, you can view photos at http://www.robbender.com/gallery/yeadon

They are recent photo's after the theater began to fall apart.

DeniedX: Thanks for the photos. If this theatre wasn't a wonderful example of art deco at its finest I don't know what it would have been. It is a shame that this theatre was left to deteriorate as the photos show. Every detail of this theatre screamed ART DECO!

Well said Patsy. I agree that it is a shame the way the theater has deteriorated and fallen apart. It is sad for me to see the photos. Especially those on the inside. I have so many memories of my father buying me popcorn, or holding me so I could drink from the water fountain. See, red being my favorite color, I would throw a hissy fit if I couldn't drink from the red water fountain. :)

Also screams ART MODERNE! It really seems strange to me that a decision would be made to save the facade yet destroy the rest!?!

From what I understand, they had begun tearing down the building in the rear. They had the rear wall completely torn down when they halted the demolition. Apparently, there was just too much structual deterioration throughout. Sounds more like an excuse to me. It's sad to see the building go.

Interesting! As I see it, neglect brought about "too much structural deterioration throughout". This theatre in this community should have been completely saved and restored for future generations in loving memory to a great theatre architect, John Eberson!

Well, the only other thing I can tell you is that the town of Yeadon itself has crashed and burned as well. It is nothing like it was while I was growing up there.

DeniedX: Unfortunately, this is the way of many small towns....the downtown areas are dying due to the advent of malls, etc. You have your memories and cherish them always, as do I, since my hometown theatre is gone, too. A nice park is on the site, but it will never replace the theatre and the memories I hold in my mind and heart.

"It sounds to me like if the back wall hadn't been compromised, the preservation might have succeeded- is that right?" I agree with this Brian Wolf post of Nov. 2004. What is the answer to this question that is being asked again in 2005?

I just reviewed the photos again and when I enlarged them I could see the mildew on the theatre seats which was so sad! The art deco design throughout the theatre is most unique and should have warranted being saved by city officials. They won't realize what they had until it's gone forever then it will be...too late!

Agreed Patsy. I will always cherish the memories. And yes, now you can see why it is so sad for anyone to look at those photographs.

Where is Yeadon PA....near Philly?

Yeadon is right outside of Philly.

I thought some of you that might have attended during the 1954-1984 period would remember being greeted in the theater by the owner Rhea Perelman Friedman. It was like being welcomed into her home. Her obituary follows:
---------------------------------

Posted on Mon, Oct. 31, 2005

Rhea P. Friedman, proprietor

By Sally A. Downey
Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer

Rhea Perelman Friedman, 98, the former owner of the Yeadon Theater who treated movie patrons like family, died Wednesday at Arden Court in Warminster.

Mrs. Friedman operated the Yeadon Theater from 1954 until she sold it in 1984. She furnished the lobby like a living room, with photo displays of her grandchildren, her daughter Janet Lazrow said, and, in motherly fashion, posted signs reminding moviegoers not to forget umbrellas, gloves and eyeglasses.

She served free cookies and coffee to adults and distributed Popsicles to children during Saturday matinees. When customers were stranded at the theater by bad weather, Lazrow said, her mother - who hated to drive - gave them a ride home. During the 30 years Mrs. Friedman operated the theater, admission was never more than a dollar - with discounts for children and senior citizens.

Mrs. Friedman's father, Louis, built the Delaware County cinema in 1937 and also owned two movie houses in Philadelphia. He got into the film business, Lazrow said, after Prohibition forced him to close the tavern he operated in Chester.

Mrs. Friedman grew up in Chester and West Philadelphia. She helped out in the family business until her marriage to Percy Friedman, who took over the Yeadon Theater while her brothers ran the movie theaters in Philadelphia. She stayed home to care for her children.

In 1954, Percy Friedman died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage, leaving Mrs. Friedman with the theater and three young children. She took over the movie theater's operations, and when her daughters were teenagers, they helped in the box office and cleaned up after matinees.

She worked six or seven days a week, her daughter said. In her free time, she enjoyed going to the opera and managed to take a vacation in Hawaii and a safari in Africa. She also made the time to visit her out-of-state grandchildren.

"Family was very important to her," Lazrow said.

In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Friedman is survived by two other daughters, Lynn Weinstein and Eileen Branda; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service was held Friday at Mount Sharon Cemetery in Springfield.
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Contact staff writer Sally A. Downey at 215-854-2913 or sdowney@phillynews.com
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© 2005 Philadelphia Inquirer and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.philly.com

I was at the Yeadon Theatre once in 1975 (lived far away)and I definitely remember Mrs. Friedman. Such a nice encounter. Also the movie was $1.00. Does the neon sign (letters) still exist? I can restore it, etc.

I grew up in Yeadon and would go to the movies on Saturday. Mrs. Friedman was always nice and the place was always clean. Mrs. Friedman keep the place very orderly too,if you acted up it seam as she would be there in a second and shine that flash light on you lol.It is a shame to see what has happend to the Theater.

According to this story today on ABC 6, Action News', the Yeadon was damaged yesterday in what they're calling a "suspicious fire".

You have got to be kidding. Unreal.

On August 27, 2003, I attended the pre-demolition ceremony at the Yeadon, inviting Rob Bender whose photos are above. Working with others, we convinced the town to stop demolition, albeit after the auditorium's back wall was demolished the next day. The current plan mentioned above to save the lobby building including facade didn't include any specific reuse for performing arts center. I have been volunteering as the advocate from the theater community. This is sad news, indeed, for an Art Moderne moviehouse that I grew up attending, and attended in the 1990's.

According to today's Delaware County Daily Times, the fire started in, and was confined to the lobby/vestibule structure. This is the last John Eberson designed theater in the Philadelphia area. Engineers will determine if the building can stay up. This article does not appear on the internet site of the newspaper, but I have a faxed copy.

This story from CBS 3 News says that the fire at the Yeadon Theatre was arson.

Quite sad. I was taken to that theater many times as a child growing up in Yeadon. However, given the decline of the town, it does not suprise me that it was arson.

Not only was it arson, but apparently politically motivated arson at that from the looks of it. Hope they get to the bottom of it soon, and that this theater, the last John Eberson designed theater still in the Philadelphia area -- aside from the Leader on Lancaster Avenue -- can still be saved!

That is unbelievable. I will do my best to watch out for the bottom line on this as well. What a sad state of affairs.

Great article in today ( Feb 1st) edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer concerning the attempt of preservation of the Yeadon after the fire.

Greg Wax who was behind the restoration of the Baderwood (in Jenkintown,PA) and the Narberth is getting on board with this.

Quotes from "our own" HowardBHaas are found in this article too. Nice to see his name in print and also offer logical well thought out comments from someone who is well dedicated to the preservation of these old theatres.

Here is the link to the article via philly.com

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/13759690.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

Thanks! The Yeadon theater was one I attended often for decades, seeing many movies like "The Sting" which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and many blockbusters ranging from James Bond films to the disaster flicks. I recall Mrs. Friedman and how she furnished the lobby areas with antique furniture. The house was always full of people!
I continued attending movies in the 1990's at the Yeadon, because I love the ambience of a historic single screen theater. The Milgram family of theater operators had taken over. The best movie I saw there in the 1990's was "Malcolm X" for which Denzel Washington deserved an Academy Award, but didn't get it. Never has an actor been more convincing in a biographical role.

Throughout the United States, there are vacant lots on main streets where movie houses used to be, and they stay vacant for decades. The Yeadon theater is in the middle of Yeadon's main street, and they should consider carefully all the possibilities, including that of Greg Wax reopening the theater as a state of the art moviehouse. He has various ways of doing so, some without any funding from government.

Towns in our Philadelphia area that have kept or reopened historic movie theaters have seen restaurants, stores, and nightlife blossom! Examples include Phoenixville (the Colonial), Ambler, Wayne (the Anthony Wayne), Narberth, Bryn Mawr, Jenkintown (the Hiway), and Bala Cynywd, but there are more.

Towns that have seen their theaters close include Ardmore which let its historic moviehouse be gutted for a health club. Now the town leaders are very upset and debating a redevelopment plan most people seem to hate. If only they had kept a theater open!

The volunteers that I have led to save Center City Philadelphia's last movie palace, the Boyd (www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org) have seen that with the theater's reopening announcement, many nearby restaurants have already opened- even before the theater! And, they've told us they opened there for the expected theater crowds. And, the street that the Boyd is on, Chestnut Street, had been dead at night. Theaters have a great effect, if they are reopened and are in the right locations to attract an audience with good programs. And, Greg Wax has shown he knows how to do so in his other theaters, no suprise, he's a third generation movie operator!

There's too much in this article to summarize without loss.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16045624&BRD=1725&PAG=461&dept_id=45529&rfi=8

News of Delaware County 2-1-06

Fate is in the balance
By John Haigis, CORRESPONDENT
02/01/2006
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Officials and historians are eagerly awaiting an engineer's report on the Yeadon Theatre.


YEADON - The fate of the historic Yeadon Theatre hangs in the balance as officials and preservationists wait for a structural engineer's report following a fire that damaged the theater Jan. 8.

Advertisement

Built in 1937, the theater was designed by famed theater architect John Eberson in a style known as "Art Moderne," a successor to the more flamboyant Art Deco, and characterized by a sleek, streamlined appearance. "Even though Eberson is best known for his 'atmospheric' theatre designs," said theatre historian Howard Haas, 'Art Moderne' represents a second phase of his work, and this is a rare example of that style."


The theater, which in its heyday had 1,000 seats, was purchased by Yeadon Borough after the theater closed in 2001. The borough had planned to demolish the building, but in 2003, the demolition was halted after part of a rear wall had been removed, and Borough and County officials, along with preservationists and local residents, worked on a plan to preserve the facade and lobby area and develop a community use for the remainder of the property. The Borough engaged Westfield Architects and Preservation Consultants of Haddon Heights, New Jersey to help with the preservation plan. "I walked through [the theatre] after the fire and was heartbroken when I saw the interior damage," Margaret Westfield said. "I can't really discuss the building's prospects because I'm still working on my report and waiting for the structural engineer's assessment."


In addition to having been a prominent feature of the Yeadon streetscape for nearly 70 years, the theatre's association with Eberson, its designer, helps to make the structure significant. Born in Romania, Eberson came to America in 1901 and established himself as one of the nation's top theatre architects. Many of his theatres were 'atmospheric' consisting of grand interiors creating the illusion of a country village or Moorish palace with painted ceilings and small electric lights that mimicked stars. His designs were very popular with theater-goers of the 20's and 30's and his fame was such that for a period of time he was engaged by Joseph Strauss as a design consultant on the Art Deco inspired Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.


Howard Haas indicated that he had been told unofficially that the building is structurally sound, but Borough Manager Anthony Carey said, "Council is in the process of making a decision and we need information from the engineer." One local theatre operator, Greg Wax, who operates the Narberth Theatre and the Baederwood Theatre in Jenkintown, said he would like to look into the possibility of establishing a 3 or 4 screen theatre with stadium seating on the site.~ "Theatres can help revitalization efforts", he said, "and give people a reason to go to the business district." He believes there is a need for a theatre to show upscale films in the area, and hopes to have discussions with County and Borough Officials. Yeadon Council President Vivian Ford said, "We are in the process of making a decision. Our consultant tells us the theatre has lost most of its historic finishes and fixtures. Because of mold and other problems, the cost to remediate will be significant." Ford said the theatre is expected to be discussed at a special session of Council on Thursday, February 2 at 6:30 in Council Chambers, and indicated she has a large stack of e-mails from people who would like to see a theatre at that location. "We need to make the property work for us," she said," and are eager to come to some resolution."


©News of Delaware County 2006

The word "Advertisement" above was leftover from an Internet ad. The article above is a news article.

It would be an absolute shame to lose this Eberson art deco theatre to the wrecking ball and the citizens of Yeadon, PA need to get organized and stop this from happening....NOW!

TO THE FOLKS OF YEADON PA............SAVE THIS THEATRE!

I am for saving theaters as much as the next person but with the theater missing the back for the last 3 years (causing the deteriation to move faster) and now the fire I think it is a lost cause. Before the fire I would say keep it, but since the fire the things that make it special have been lost.

Since the theater is so gone perhaps it would be best to just let the theater go.

The front of the theater is equally special. The interior's primary decoration consists of paint, bands of Art Deco colors, that would have needed to be repainted anyway. The theater can still be saved.

Howard: "The theater can still be saved!" Sweet words to my eyes and ears! BUT if it can't, the very special art deco artifacts such as the pink sink need to be saved or sold, BUT certainly not thrown away!

Was that sink pink? I remember it being red as a child.

DeniedX: In the CT photos that have been posted the sink sure looks pink to me, but perhaps at one time it was red.

See today's Cinema Treasures news. House will be demolished.

veyoung: I just posted my personal thoughts concerning this sad theatre news out of Yeadon PA on the CT news link and I hope many fellow CT members do the same! And maybe a letter to the Mayor of Yeadon telling him how us CT members feel about his town's decision wouldn't be a bad idea either.

On September 20, 2006 the demolitation of the Yeadon Theatre will be complete. Once my favorite movie house and one of the last neighborhood theatres. It's a sad day in Yeadon, PA.

The sad thing is that people do not care until its to late. It seems soon as the word gets out about a theatre closing or being torn down, then everyone wants to get on the bandwagon and SAVE it. By then its TO LATE> Look at Phila. and all the theatres that are gone. Some small, some large but G O N E! Theatres that could NEVER be replaced today. I'm so happy I took pictures of a lot of the houses before it was to late. rg

This theatre is an EBERSON and should never have been considered a demolition project. The Town of Butler PA lost their Eberson and now it, too, is gone forever!

I would love to see a photo of this theatre and what it looked like in its heyday!

Just viewed the 4/14/04 photos and the Yeadon was most definitely an art deco EBERSON! It is a shame that someone in the community with deep pockets couldn't have stepped up the plate and saved this theatre as has been done in other small towns. Or a civic minded group of business people or an arts council or someone!

A John Eberson designed theater seeing the wrecking ball?! That is outlandishly surreal that I don't even know how to begin the fathom that! Earlier tonight I caught the second half of Ric Burn's "Andy Warhol," a PBS American Experience TV documentary, and when focusing on his assassination attempt in 1968 -- which happened right before Bobby Kennedy was assassinated for -- when Andy Warhol was rushed to the hospital, the doctors and surgeons were ready to write him off for dead, when some of Warhol's followers pleaded, "No, no, you don't understand! This is Andy Warhol, a world famous artist!" (Or something to that effect.) With that a specialist surgeon was rushed in, and though Warhol was declared clinically dead, the surgeon cut open his chest and actually manually massaged his heart till it started pumping again.

And you feel, what's different between 1968 and now? For if a human being with all its complexities can be brought back from being clinically dead, then why the hell can't an historic theater -- especially one designed by John Eberson, who even designed theaters as faraway as far off Australia -- be stopped from facing the wrecking ball for chrissakes?! Was it because those who comprised the human race in 1968 were a much higher race of people than any of us of today are? Did that race all suddenly die off when Bobby Kennedy did? For I think this theater's demolition should come as a major wake up call for everybody! For as I see it, America's Taliban just struck again.

Here is a February 2006 article. Too little, too late.
http://tinyurl.com/y95oaj

Yeadon Theater photos shortly after the fire was extinguished.

I am Rhea Friedman's granddaughter, and I am trying to collect some information about her life, and her achievements at the Yeadon Theater.

I'm hoping some of you will be willing to share your memories of my grandmother or your time at the Yeadon Theater with me. I am particularly interested in the quirky stuff that made her theater so wonderful - her policy of not segregating blacks and whites, her afternoons for kids with contests (and no adult males allowed), her distribution of coffee and cookies when people stood outside in the cold.. Anything and everything would be appreciated.

Thanks.

You can

I was under the impression that the Yeadon was demolished-- any info?? I see it is listed still as "closed"...
If it wasn't demolished has anything been removed for preservation??I need to take a ride to Yeadon and see for myself what is there....

It is most certainly demolished. All that remains is a neatly groomed square of land, ready for redevelopment. However, a little closer inspection of the gravel unveiled several chunks of ceramic facade material which will now make their way to the Theatre Historical Society's archive in Elmhurst. IL. Not sure if any effort was made by the local preservation groups to save any major ornamental details. From the photos listed here, it looks to have been a really nice house. Such a shame for the people of Yeadon.

Very sad to read and see that this theatre has been destroyed and that it had a fire. And yes, such a shame for the people of Yeadon to have lost this special art deco theatre! So nice to read that several chunks of ceramic facade material will make their way to the THS archive in Elmhurst, IL.

Look closely at this photo of the site of the demolished Yeadon. Note the building to the right of the photo, the Yeadon FIRE DEPARTMENT!
http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh219/KarenTHS/?action=view¤t=Yeadon.jpg

A happy discovery among the rubble - bits of the Yeadon facade:
http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh219/KarenTHS/?action=view¤t=Yeadon3.jpg

From the ages 10 thru 13, I cannot count the number of Saturdays I spent at the Yeadon Theatre. Even later on, Rhea kept a lot of the old features, including a nickel soda machine. I went there once in the 70s and 2 inebriated young men were sitting a few rows in front of us and being loud and inappropriate. In the middle of the movie, they stopped the film, turned up the lights and Rhea came down the aisle with 2 Yeadon policemen and escorted the 2 rowdy's out of the theatre. We all applauded and then settled back down to watch the rest of the movie. She was a gem. I lived in Lansdowne Park and we used to climb over the gate of Holy Cross Cemetary to cut through to the other gate for a short cut to the theatre. The last movie I saw there was "Superman" and the place was packed. Sweet memories.

Thanks for posting the photos. I spent a few times in the Yeadon Fire Hall for little league sports banquets. Anyway, it is so sad to see that the theater is gone. My father took me to my first movie in that theater while growing up there. My father has since passed away, so it is even more saddening to see the theater gone. Mira, that's great that you remember Rhea. I myself don't remember her, but I have heard amazing things about how she ran that theater.

1983 photo of the Yeardon Theatre. This was a beautiful thetre to lose to a fire.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c38%2c3%2c-1&ProductID=29659