GCC Northeast 4

TheaterBluff1: It seems that every comment you post has to have a political spin. Boring! Let’s get back to movie theaters and let’s skip your personal views on politics!

I managed the Northeast Cinema 4 from the early 1980’s into the 90’s with Fontana, Frank Casino, Rafferty, and Fred Buffum. I also first met my wife there. I also opened and managed the new 4 Orleans Theaters opened behind the old Orleans Theater wich was co-managed by Wayne Agnew. I additionally managed the Baderwood in Jenkintown for the last year it was owned by General Cinema and also co-managed the Andorra theater in Roxborough. I have since worked for a credit union for a few years and now work for a city utility for the last 28 years. There was no job to compare with my time working at the movie theaters, so many good people, so many good times. A special thanks to the core of the Northeast employee crew, Edna Knowls the long-time box office girl who worked there for years, Marty Marizzio the weekday afternoon usher, and Florence(Flo) the Monday through Friday afternoon candy girl. Projectionist Marty King, Fred Asterito, and Russ Ward. And noone will forget the long-time maintenance man Joe Zuck who worked for the theater up until the very end. I sat in the parking lot after the building had been burned out and I admit I cried, the memories, the joys, the relationships, thanks for remembering.

Here’s a video about the “Butterfly design” cinemas built by General Cinema.

Reading hearing this was one of GCC’s top money making location. Corrct???

The Northeast Shopping Center (aka Korvette Shopping Center, for a period) opened in October of 1959 theatre-less and anchored by E.J. Korvette’s Department Store. In 1964, an announced expansion brought both a public library a Philadelphia’s first twin-screen movie theater in 1964/65. The concept was to have a road show title on one screen and a continuously-running feature on the other. It opened as Cinema I & II on Christmas Day 1965 with Edna Knowles as the cashier and “Do Not Disturb” with Doris Day and “Pinocchio in Outer Space” starring Pinocchio.

The theatre hosted German films as a recurring series, became the General Cinema Northeast I, II, III (1973), and the GCC Northeast 4 (1976) all with Knowles as cashier. Korvette’s departed in 1980. A new Tower Records store came in and did some tie-ups with the theater. The GCC Northeast 4 closed on May 31, 1999 at the end of its leasing period. And yes, Edna Knowles made it all the way from opening in 1965 to its closing date of May 31, 1999. The business was so slow, however, that she had to work concessions as the theatre didn’t sell almost any tickets on weekdays so the box office was closed around 1997.

The last “feature” on the marquee by long-time employee Joe “Zuck” Zuckschwerdt - in charge of the GCC attractor for some 25 years - read, “Goodnight, Edna. Thanks for 35 Great Years.”