William Lee was the architect for the original Anthony Wayne Theatre as well as many other movie palaces of the early days of cinema. I was the architect for Budco Theatres when this theatre was twinned. This was not a glory project. When Clearview took over the operation, I was offered the opportunity to create multiple screens in this facility in order to make it a viable commercial enterprise. The solution resulted in a five screen facility, none of which are in the basement. With full approval from Clearview, the finest craftsmen available were hired to restore the original detail in the entrance and lobby although much of the detail from the original auditorium was lost.
Mitchel Abramowitz, FARA
The first addition was on the left. Subsequent splitting of the two auditoria made it into a 4plex. The last addition, resulting in 9 screens, was done, prior to the purchase by AMC, by a group of hotshot movie mogul wannabees who hired a major theatre architect from Boston, rather than the local architect who designed all Budco’s facilities, who proceded to screw up the patron circulation.
Refer back to my comment of Dec 2007. The construction of the original Barn Cinema was started on Rte 611 at the location of the Rte 202 bypass. Construction stopped when the site was taken by the state. The theatre was then built at the location just below Edison Rd on the site purchased from Porter and Yaeger who owned the furniture store at the corner of Almshouse Road. The Silo was added shortly thereafter to the right of the original building. The building to the left was built adding two more screens. Lastly, the original auditorium was split creating the Barn 5.
I have photographs of the various stages of expansion. If anyone wants them, please contact me at .
My name is Mitchel Abramowitz. I was the architect for the original Barn Cinema as well as for many others for Budco Theatres. Those included the original 309 Cinema, Cinema I, Springfield, Del. Co. Cinema 141 in Prices Corner, Del. twin theatres in Plymouth Meeting, Tampa, FL, North Palm Beach, FL, several in New Jersey. The Barn was built by John Kapusta. It was originally built as a single screen. A second screen was added which was called the Silo. Subsequent additions and alterations resulted in a five screen complex. With the advent of stadium seating, all the old theatres were closed and except for the 309 Cinema, many were demolished.
William Lee was the architect for the original Anthony Wayne Theatre as well as many other movie palaces of the early days of cinema. I was the architect for Budco Theatres when this theatre was twinned. This was not a glory project. When Clearview took over the operation, I was offered the opportunity to create multiple screens in this facility in order to make it a viable commercial enterprise. The solution resulted in a five screen facility, none of which are in the basement. With full approval from Clearview, the finest craftsmen available were hired to restore the original detail in the entrance and lobby although much of the detail from the original auditorium was lost. Mitchel Abramowitz, FARA
The first addition was on the left. Subsequent splitting of the two auditoria made it into a 4plex. The last addition, resulting in 9 screens, was done, prior to the purchase by AMC, by a group of hotshot movie mogul wannabees who hired a major theatre architect from Boston, rather than the local architect who designed all Budco’s facilities, who proceded to screw up the patron circulation.
Refer back to my comment of Dec 2007. The construction of the original Barn Cinema was started on Rte 611 at the location of the Rte 202 bypass. Construction stopped when the site was taken by the state. The theatre was then built at the location just below Edison Rd on the site purchased from Porter and Yaeger who owned the furniture store at the corner of Almshouse Road. The Silo was added shortly thereafter to the right of the original building. The building to the left was built adding two more screens. Lastly, the original auditorium was split creating the Barn 5. I have photographs of the various stages of expansion. If anyone wants them, please contact me at .
My name is Mitchel Abramowitz. I was the architect for the original Barn Cinema as well as for many others for Budco Theatres. Those included the original 309 Cinema, Cinema I, Springfield, Del. Co. Cinema 141 in Prices Corner, Del. twin theatres in Plymouth Meeting, Tampa, FL, North Palm Beach, FL, several in New Jersey. The Barn was built by John Kapusta. It was originally built as a single screen. A second screen was added which was called the Silo. Subsequent additions and alterations resulted in a five screen complex. With the advent of stadium seating, all the old theatres were closed and except for the 309 Cinema, many were demolished.