Old Movies by The Sea
4005 Pacific Avenue,
Wildwood,
NJ
08260
4005 Pacific Avenue,
Wildwood,
NJ
08260
2 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Old Movies by The Sea (Official)
Additional Info
Functions: Movies
Previous Names: Sea Theater
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Jul 17, 2012 — Theater for sale in Wildwood
- Aug 30, 2010 — Historic Sea Theater features "The Pendant"
- Oct 15, 2009 — The historic Sea Theater hosts a Halloween triple feature
The Sea Theatre opened in 1915 as a nickelodeon, but apparently closed by 1920, the Sea Theatre became a hardware store. In 1925 it became a music store. By the early to mid-1960’s it had become a baby store which closed in the 1980’s and the building became vacant. It was purchased in 1998 by the Penkalskyj family and reopened in 2003 as a 68-seat movie house.
As reported in the July 23, 2012 Philadelphia Inquirer, in 2012, the theatre did not reopen and has been placed for sale with an asking price in the mid-$200, 000. The Inquirer also reported that in reopening the theatre, the new owner found the sloped concrete floor and the original red wallpaper, and he installed a 1940’s Super Simplex projector and a platter in the original projection room.
It was purchased by new owners and reopened on December 8, 2022 as Old Movies by The Sea with 40-seats. At the rear of the theatre is an outdoor space which has 35-seats and an 85" T.V. screen.
Contributed by
Lost Memory, Howard B. Haas
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
We are glad to see this theatre listed here. We’ve attended severaltimes, its worth the drive from 30 mi. north…we’ve seen 1st run as well as cult films in this intimate setting…you can park literally right outside and walk in…the owner is always personable and a lover of film. Its open all year now. The shame is the locals, especially the movers & shakers of the new Wildwood, don’t support it. (Who said they had TASTE?).
I just met Taras (Ted) Saturday night at the State Theatre in Boyertown Pa. where I work. He told me he is using a platter system and is open seasonal at this time. The web address is www.seatheater.net but is not completed yet. Ted traveled approx 3 hours to visit our theatre and other single screens in the area. After exchanging stories and info I can say he is very personable as mentioned above.
May have been a nickelodeon at one time.
Images of America: South Jersey Movie Houses, page 65
I met Ted at the Delsea Drive-in in August, 2004. He was there to watch a show under the stars while sitting on the hood of his vintage car. He came into the booth and introduced himself. What a great person! He truly loves theatres and isn’t all about money. We talked for well over an hour about his, mom& pop, Sea Theatre in Wildwood. I’ve been past it but it was closed for the season. It would be worth the trip for anyone just to meet Ted!
ted and his wife have been nothing but supportive this summer the theater is amazing fully restored to its early glory and is one of the most enjoyable spots to see a movie down the shore
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From the mid 1950’s, my wife’s family lived in a charming seaside town called Pacifica, just 15 miles south of San Francisco. The local cinema was called the “Seaview” which was cleverly decorated in an underwater theme and colors.
She said there were door prizes and plate nights, etc., and it was just total fun, especially for the Saturday morning kids shows!
Later it was twinned, then came the greedy multiplexes, the place went down with increasing costs and that was the end of the Seaview Cinema…lock, stock and barrel, as they say!
Cool looking little theatre.
It is now closed and is for sale http://www.seatheater.net/
Ted has sold the SEA Theatre in 2020.