Harwan Theatre

7 N. Black Horse Pike,
Mount Ephraim, NJ 08059

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Showing 51 - 58 of 58 comments

Fable
Fable on March 31, 2005 at 5:21 am

Called nearly a year ago, and left word, along with a phonenumber, expressing a willingness to help out in anyway. Never heard back. Hope you guys find the people to open up, in any case.

Fable
Fable on August 4, 2004 at 4:04 pm

I think this is marvelous news. My wife and I moved to New Jersey 6 years ago, and we constantly joke about the utter lack of architectural taste in a state which it appears people are always traveling out of. ;) White Horse Pike and Black Horse Pike come in for our most scathing attacks.

But when I found the Harwan one day about a year ago, we pulled over and just stared. It’s a magnificent example of creative art deco, and (in our opinion) should be on the National Registry of Historic Buildings, if it isn’t already. We’ve occasionally passed by since then, and until we found this website, were simply waiting for it to be torn down. I’m glad the opposite is happening, and that it will be revived—though running a classic movie theater in the middle of nowhere, is going to be a difficult job, at best. I hope you secure state grant monies for this project. Keep as well away from films that can be found elsewhere; show films that are likely to draw large audiences while remaining true to the notion of what a “classic” is. Hopefully, you have a large-sized screen, not one of the mutant dwarf screens that proliferate in today’s movie theaters. That size may well prove one of your biggest draws, since you can tell people repeatedly that they’ll be looking at the picture the way it was meant to be shown.

I know a (little) bit whereof I speak, because I led a program of classic films up in Fargo many years ago, and more recently was a member of a board that chose classic films in Peoria. (Not exactly a beautiful town, either.) Good luck, regardless.

65novawagon
65novawagon on May 2, 2004 at 1:22 pm

The HARWAN theater is scheduled to re-open shortly. It was set for june 19th but that date doesn’t seem very possible right now due to the recent break in of some kids. They sliced our screen, dumped all our donated paint. The theater will be running now as a nonprofit so we are literally working to get it open with nothing right now. We are still shooting to open sometime in June with the official grand-opening events in the begining of September.
The Harwan will house classic films, children’s programs, theater productions, bands, and yes midnight matinees of ROCKY HORROR.
Some corrections: over 500 seats in theater, ran now by the Peoples Love of the Arts.
The theater is becoming quite pleasing to the eye inside I must say. Dave And Jade I’m sorry I have never had the pleasure of meeting you but i’d love to talk.
Anyone interested in more info. on the theater, how you can help, or to be put on the mailing list for upcoming events please contact us at

HappyGoLucky
HappyGoLucky on April 17, 2004 at 10:13 pm

I wrote up this document on the Harwan theatre. I live in Mount Ephraim, and I used to LOVE going to the theatre every week to the see the latest movie that was out. They were supposed to remodel it, but it just closed. I don’t have any pictures, but if someone could help me out? How far away will the the grand re-opening be Dave Amodei??

ssmaldor
ssmaldor on April 9, 2004 at 10:18 pm

I, too, love the Harwan…I live about 5 minutes away and used to go there a lot when I was a kid! It’s a great old theater and should definitely be put to good use. Excellent idea with the film classics series. If you need any help with the restoration process, feel free to put the word out. I know I for one would love to give some time back to a place where I was so often entertained!!
Can’t wait to see it re-open!

FeverDog
FeverDog on April 9, 2004 at 10:58 am

Are they gonna resume midnight shows of “Rocky Horror”? I went every weekend for two years. I even got to run a letter of the “message” (I thought I was so cool).

dave86a
dave86a on March 19, 2004 at 9:15 pm

The Harwan is indeed being RESTORED and REMODLED as we speak!. In not to short a time it will be re-opening with celebrity entertainers, a classic film series, and both traveling and original stage productions. The inside may have been an eyesore before but it isn’t anymore. Since I’m helping a bit with the project I’ll let you know when the grand-reopening will be.

AWallace
AWallace on February 19, 2004 at 12:15 am

I noticed this theater on my bus ride to Philly (400 bus, Transit of NJ), it goes right past the theater! The carved Indian-style elephants on either corner are amazing!

I see there is no pic, I will try to get one taken and submit it here. I live about 20 mins from this theater, I TOO would like to see it restored to its former glory!