Former Philadelphia movie theater chain president died

posted by HowardBHaas on July 28, 2010 at 7:41 am

H. Donald Busch, 74, died July 12. In 1984 he became president of Budco Theatres, Inc. a Philadelphia area movie theater chain, and upon its acquisition in 1987 by AMC, became president of AMC Philadelphia until retiring in the mid 1990s.

When a Pennsylvania state law was passed to ban blind bidding, movie distributors sued the state, Budco Theatres, and Fox Theatres. The U.S. District Court eventually ruled that the state law banning blind bidding was legal. It was a big win for movie theaters, said Adam Koppel, Mr. Busch’s stepson.

By 1987 Budco had 113 movie screens in 42 locations when it was acquired by AMC Entertainment Inc. Mr. Busch was president of AMC Philadelphia until retiring in the mid-1990s. He was past chairman of the National Organization of Theater Owners.

Read the full story in the Philadelphia Inquirer.