This theatre was also known as the BELL. Capacity was 499 seats. The name change was Sept.23,1936. It was a last run house and closed in the late 60’s and was converted to a TV store.
The Erlen Theatre was on Cheltenham Ave. The ceiling in this theatre was dark with mini lights. When the movie was running it looked like the sky with stars. When the theatre closed it sat for a long time then became a church and was torn down several years ago.
FERN ROCK Theatre 6017 N. 5th St. Cap. 1289 opened 07-09-1928
A completely equipped stage and wurlitzer organ. In the early 70’s the Eric chain bought and twined the theatre showing second run films. The Eric chain was owned by the Sam Shapiro and partners. The chain was named after his grandson. I may have a photo of this theatre.
UPDATE: Just passed this theatre today. Activity outside. Looks like someone may have bought this theatre and plans to something with it.Three gentlemen going over the ext. of the building mainly the front. Will keep you posted.
Tha Hatboro theatre was opened on Jan. 27, 1938 by the Hatboro Amusement Co. Its opening attraction was Universal News, short subject, cartoon, a novelty hit and the feature attraction “45 fathers” with Jane Withers and Walter Brennan. It was air conditioned and had modern streamline chairs built for this theatre.
Alex 1: Several of the old single screen theatres in Montco have been done over (2 or 3 screens). In Bucks co. everything is gone. Most small town theatres are gone. Just a couple are around either
operated by non=profit orig. or mom and pop. The mom & pop operation have little or no money so these theatres are falling apart. A little theatre in Souderton is showing its age and lack of repairs. One theatre that was mom & pop was the 1812 in sellersville. It was clean, well kept, great picture and NOT a bad seat in the house. The owner retired and sold the house. It is not a reel theatre anymore. I’m not really up to date on N.J. I did read about the troubles with the Pitman theatre in Pitman, N.J. (it has a web site) Talk to you later ray
Alex 1: The Boyd in center city. If they can save this theatre it would be the only orig. movie house in c.c. You really can’t count the Prince. When Ted Turner restored several of his classic films they never played phila. because he couldn’t find a theatre in c.c. This is very SAD for Phila. The only other theatre is the Uptown on N.Broad St. but the area is not very good. ALL the other theatres ARE GONE!
This theatre was built in 1929, screen size was 27' x 60'. Stars like Judy Garland, Matin & Lewis, Danny Kaye performed live. The theatre closed April 16, 1958. A sad day for Phila.
The Logan: Cap. 1894 (orchestra 1124, boxes 40, mezzanine 303, bal. 427). Theatre opened 1-31-1924 The orig. policy was stage and screen shows changing twice weekly. Road show pictures played here after leaving center city. I saw some great films in this theatre. Good memories.
The AMBLER group have done a great job on this theatre. This was once a Budco theatre. Well Budco operated it for the owner. It closed after AMC bought Budco. A minister who had operated the old Chelten theatre (800 seats) in Phila.showing religious films moved his operations to the Ambler. When he died the building was put up for sale. When all construction is completed it will have 3 screens.
2 of the screens are up and running. The third is in the front half of the orig. aud. with the stage. IT WILL BE GREAT
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?
After AMC pulled out and closed the theatre it sat dark for awhile.
It re opened for a short time but closed again. The two aud. were shortened to build apts. where the stage and screen were located. The theatre is now run by a non profit group which also operates the Ambler theatre in Ambler, Pa. At one time both theatres were operated by Budco theaters.
The Landis was one of many theatres operated by the Budco cir.
Budco operated mostly drive-ins in PA, DE, and NJ. It was the largest operator of D-I’s in the whole area. A GREAT company to work for.
The Logan is EMPTY again. The last church that was in it moved out when they built a new church. I remember this theatre well. As a kid I would visit it often. The Broad and the Rockland were in walking range. Late last year (2003)I was in the theatre and what a shock.
The roof is bad it leaks. The Aud. is a mess. It’s sad to see this once nice movie house in this condition. A sale sign was up but this year it’s gone. If someone bought it good luck.
The Uptown theatre is closed. A redelvoplement group was going to rehaab it, but it never happened. They were going to make it a second ave. of the arts. The outside of the theatre is starting to show its age.
The theatre closed Nov. 1985. It was a brick building with one story stores
This theatre was also known as the BELL. Capacity was 499 seats. The name change was Sept.23,1936. It was a last run house and closed in the late 60’s and was converted to a TV store.
The Erlen Theatre was on Cheltenham Ave. The ceiling in this theatre was dark with mini lights. When the movie was running it looked like the sky with stars. When the theatre closed it sat for a long time then became a church and was torn down several years ago.
FERN ROCK Theatre 6017 N. 5th St. Cap. 1289 opened 07-09-1928
A completely equipped stage and wurlitzer organ. In the early 70’s the Eric chain bought and twined the theatre showing second run films. The Eric chain was owned by the Sam Shapiro and partners. The chain was named after his grandson. I may have a photo of this theatre.
UPDATE: Just passed this theatre today. Activity outside. Looks like someone may have bought this theatre and plans to something with it.Three gentlemen going over the ext. of the building mainly the front. Will keep you posted.
Tha Hatboro theatre was opened on Jan. 27, 1938 by the Hatboro Amusement Co. Its opening attraction was Universal News, short subject, cartoon, a novelty hit and the feature attraction “45 fathers” with Jane Withers and Walter Brennan. It was air conditioned and had modern streamline chairs built for this theatre.
NO new activity at the theatre in several weeks. For a short time a dumpster was in the parking lot but its gone.
UPDATE: Just passed the theatre today and thoe old CHAS III name is gone. I guess there getting ready to put up the HIWAY name.
Alex 1: Several of the old single screen theatres in Montco have been done over (2 or 3 screens). In Bucks co. everything is gone. Most small town theatres are gone. Just a couple are around either
operated by non=profit orig. or mom and pop. The mom & pop operation have little or no money so these theatres are falling apart. A little theatre in Souderton is showing its age and lack of repairs. One theatre that was mom & pop was the 1812 in sellersville. It was clean, well kept, great picture and NOT a bad seat in the house. The owner retired and sold the house. It is not a reel theatre anymore. I’m not really up to date on N.J. I did read about the troubles with the Pitman theatre in Pitman, N.J. (it has a web site) Talk to you later ray
Alex 1: The Boyd in center city. If they can save this theatre it would be the only orig. movie house in c.c. You really can’t count the Prince. When Ted Turner restored several of his classic films they never played phila. because he couldn’t find a theatre in c.c. This is very SAD for Phila. The only other theatre is the Uptown on N.Broad St. but the area is not very good. ALL the other theatres ARE GONE!
This theatre was built in 1929, screen size was 27' x 60'. Stars like Judy Garland, Matin & Lewis, Danny Kaye performed live. The theatre closed April 16, 1958. A sad day for Phila.
The Logan: Cap. 1894 (orchestra 1124, boxes 40, mezzanine 303, bal. 427). Theatre opened 1-31-1924 The orig. policy was stage and screen shows changing twice weekly. Road show pictures played here after leaving center city. I saw some great films in this theatre. Good memories.
The AMBLER group have done a great job on this theatre. This was once a Budco theatre. Well Budco operated it for the owner. It closed after AMC bought Budco. A minister who had operated the old Chelten theatre (800 seats) in Phila.showing religious films moved his operations to the Ambler. When he died the building was put up for sale. When all construction is completed it will have 3 screens.
2 of the screens are up and running. The third is in the front half of the orig. aud. with the stage. IT WILL BE GREAT
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?
After AMC pulled out and closed the theatre it sat dark for awhile.
It re opened for a short time but closed again. The two aud. were shortened to build apts. where the stage and screen were located. The theatre is now run by a non profit group which also operates the Ambler theatre in Ambler, Pa. At one time both theatres were operated by Budco theaters.
The Landis was one of many theatres operated by the Budco cir.
Budco operated mostly drive-ins in PA, DE, and NJ. It was the largest operator of D-I’s in the whole area. A GREAT company to work for.
The Logan is EMPTY again. The last church that was in it moved out when they built a new church. I remember this theatre well. As a kid I would visit it often. The Broad and the Rockland were in walking range. Late last year (2003)I was in the theatre and what a shock.
The roof is bad it leaks. The Aud. is a mess. It’s sad to see this once nice movie house in this condition. A sale sign was up but this year it’s gone. If someone bought it good luck.
The Uptown theatre is closed. A redelvoplement group was going to rehaab it, but it never happened. They were going to make it a second ave. of the arts. The outside of the theatre is starting to show its age.