309 Twin Drive-In
1210 Bethlehem Pike,
Montgomeryville,
PA
18936
1210 Bethlehem Pike,
Montgomeryville,
PA
18936
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According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the 309 Drive-In actually has 2 screens since 1981 as the 309 Twin Drive-In.
It opened as the Starlite Drive-In as early as 1949, it became the 309 Drive-In in 1950. It became a twin in 1981, renaming as the 309 Twin Drive-In (apparently there are many alternate names from this theater throughout the years, such as the Route 309 Drive-In, the Budco 309 Drive-In, the Budco 309 Twin Drive-In, and the Budco Bucks County 309 Twin Drive-In). The 309 Twin’s last year in operation is 1986, closing its gates for the final time.
The Whole Foods Market (where the 309 Drive-In screen was) has since been replaced by Aldi
raymondgordonsears: My grandfather was EVP of Budco. His name was Pat Beck. Based on some of the comments of your’s that I have read, it sounds like you may have potentially had some contact with him. I would appreciate it if you sent me an email to discuss. I never met him, but would like to learn some more about the man I am named after! Thanks!
Raymond, rg i’d like to get a hold of you, interested in the history of the
Budco chain of theaters. Tried your aol address and was blocked.
My email is
This drive-in was located at what is now the Gwynedd Crossing Shopping Center. The screen was where Whole Foods Market stands. Approx. address is 1210 Bethlehem Pike now in North Wales.
The only Goldman Theatres that I know were Goldman Theatres, outside of Center City, were Bryn Mawr, Orleans and Andorra. Other than the 309, the Plymouth and the drive-ins (which are not Goldman’s, but Budco, and the Hatboro, which was acquired by Budco in 1973) Who owned The Anthony Wayne, The City Line Center, The Doylestown Barn, The Doylestown County, The College, The Community, The Ellisburg Circle, The Esquire, The Exton, The Gateway, The Springfield Cinema, The Surburban, and The Ritz in Oaklyn, NJ?
mikera: Budco Theaters was from Doylestown, Pa. Budco did not really own theaters, it managed, booked and operated theaters. Many of the theaters were independently owned. Budco owned several small groups of theaters. One was Schlanger theaters which operated the Plymouth cinema, Norris theater, Ridge Pike D-I, Valley Forge D-I. The Ply., Ridge and V.F. were owned by the Sabaloski family from Norristown ( which and one time operated 5 theaters in Norristown). Budco Theaters bought the Goldman chain to get a foot hold in center city.
The name Budco is a part nickname BUDDY. If you have any questions about the early days of Budco let me know. Will try to help you. Most of the theaters under the Budco banner were D-I’s. When D-I’s were king. We had some great times and some great promos with WIBG radio. Hope this helps.
Budco and Goldman started out as different companies. Budco bought the Goldman theaters sometime in the ‘70s.
More history & photos at this link:
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/pat309t
MikeRa, The 309 Cinema at the front entranceof the drive-in (entrance drive, box office and main office). They WERE NOT OPENED BY GOLDMAN. The drive-in was built by the Smith family and run by Budco. Budco built the 309 Cinema. I opened this theatre as a single screen house. It was twinned and then went (9). Budco was the largest chain to RUN D-I’s in the tri-state area.