Coronet Theatre
King's Highway & White Horse Pike,
Audubon,
NJ
08106
King's Highway & White Horse Pike,
Audubon,
NJ
08106
1 person
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This opened as Century on October 10th, 1921
Century theatre in Audubon opening Thu, Oct 6, 1921 – 4 · Courier-Post (Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America) · Newspapers.com
April 10th, 1968 grand opening ad as Coronet in photo section.
And now the drug store property has been vacant for a couple years. Good job, Audubon!
I remember in the 1950’s going to the Century on a Saturday for .25 cents. Admission got you a feature film, usually John Wayne, and 25 cartoons. It was an adventure trying to sneak in through the side door and purchasing candy from Bulks Pharmacy next door and getting it past the Manager who lived on Princeton Road.
I loved this theatre. My aunt and uncle lived practically across the street from the Century. I recall in 1952 visiting them and watching the traveling lights on the theatre’s marquee advertising a Martin & Lewis feature. I saw “Tonka” starring Sal Mineo ar this theatre. They played many Disney films here as well as many of the campy AIP features of the late 50s. Coming attractions with “Tonka” included the “Brain from Planet Aros”. They also had “How to Make A Monster”, Teenage Caveman" and “The Spider” at
this theatre among many other teenage fav AIP
features. It was a fun theatre and well maintained
(at least in the late 50s).
Everytime I pass the now empty Eckerd, I shake my head. I remember when Tina Turner, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, and Rick Springfield played the Century in the early 80s.
I can’t tell you how many times my mother and I drove by this theater on the way to Philly. This would be circa 1968 to 1977, so I believe the theater was still showing movies at that time. Here is one the of the Arcadia photos as discussed above:
http://tinyurl.com/2p2ju5
Just goes to show the pea-brained mentality of the idiots we elect to represent us as a so-called government. These poor excuses for human beings allowed the building to be torn down to build an Eckards drug store. ( Keep in mind now there was already a CVS right across the street !!! ) The Eckards lasted less then a year before they abandond the site. So now instead of having a piece of American history they have a white elephany of a building that no one wants or needs. GREAT JOB CIY OFFICALS !!!! Hope you morons are never in charge of my city….
You might want to try to contact Mr. Allen F. Hauss, who has just authored “South Jersey Theatres” (Arkadia Press). I left more information on him and his book at the Warner/Warren (Atlantic City) site yesterday on here. Unfortunately, I dont have all my notes in front of me. But check the Warner/Warren site…I think I may have put more accurate info on there. Mr. Hauss, as i believe, is an acquaintance of the people who had started to renovate/reopen the Harwan, and may be involved with the Broadway in Pitman. Let us know, please.
the worst bit of all this is that the eckerd is now empty,and has been for over a year. AND NOW WALGREENS IS SET TO DESTROY THE HARWAN!!!!IT IS NEARLY FINAL.
i’m hoping to start some kind of campaign so it does not got the way of the Century….please email me if you can help! there is a mt. ephraim borough meeting august 3, if you can’t attend that contact me for a letter that you can send to the town officials, walgreens, courier, cc historical society (i’m still looking into that one?!) and other people who might be able to help it. surfenkitten @ yahoo.com THANK YOU
Still listed as part of Milgrim Theatres, Inc. in the 1985 International Motion Picture Almanac.
Early 1960s postcard:
View link
Listed as part of Milgrim Theatres, Inc. in the 1970 FDY & 1976 International Motion Picture Almanac.
Two photos can be found in Arcadia Publishing’s book “Audubon”. On page 20, the theater is credited as being the “New Century Theater”. The marquee shows “Love Never Dies” as the feature. Many movies have this title so I won’t attempt to date the photo.
On page 91 is a photo from the mid 1960s.
Eckerd Drugs is now closed, and this building is now empty.
A Moller organ, opus 5086, was installed in the Century Theater in 1928.
1974, EARTHQUAKE ,in “surround sound” no less. Anybody remember seeing that one? I remember as we were walking in to the theatre the steps to the balconey were taped off with not just one BUT two usher’s standing guard to make sure nobody accidently, i’m assuming, happend to stumble upon or got to close to the “surround sound” which was situated up in the balconey. Two big amplifier’s that roared this loud, basey-like static during the actual earthquake seen and the aftershock seen.
The most memorable movie however had to be none other than THE EXORCIST. A group of us were in the ninth grade when we went to see it. If there’s one movie everybody remember’s seeing and where they saw it no doubt,that’s the one!
After that it was Capa’s. Everything from drum stick’s to an O.J.Simpson mask. Capa’s did however,get you in the spirit of halloween.
I drive by the sight of the former Century/Coronet from time to time. Eckerd Drug’s now reside’s on the property. I don’t think anyone who travel’s the WhiteHorse Pike will ever forget that big white building along with that huge marquee….
My grandparent lived down the street on the Pike, and the marquee was amazing. I’d never seen one wrap around the theatre like that.
But that was when it was Capa’s. Never went inside, but it was a beautiful building.
My heart was broken to return to New Jersey and see that the Century was gone, replaced by Eckerds. Many, many a happy Saturday was spent there in the 50’s
Down with Eckerd Drugs! They bought “The Century” and knocked it down. I was so sad when I saw it being demolished. It was too beautiful (at least on the exterior) for it to be destroyed…why don’t more people see the value of such places? Many of them have incredible historic value if nothing else.
The Century Theatre seated 1578 people as of the mid 50’s.