Erlen Theatre

This was the best place to go Saturday or Sunday with my friends anywhere from 4-10 of us to walk from a block beyond Upsal and Gilbert to this wonderful theatre in the early 70’s. The area was changing yes and more Black folks did migrate into WOL & Mt. Airy and thank God the Films reflected it!!!!!! Coffy, The Mack, Shaft, Willie Dynamite, CornBread Earl & Me, Five On The Black Hand Side, The Warriors, Cooley High, Sparkle, Claudine, Wattstax, Enter The Dragon,Fist of Fury, Chinese Connection, Fist Of Double K, Triple Irons, Five Fingers Of Death, The Exorcist, Mark of the Devil (complete with the stomach distress bag)-This building will always have a place in my heart-the staff were always friendly and polite, the matinees were the best on weekends, you’d see two sometimes a bonus short film third film for one price and of course the legendary… “ALL NITE MOVIES” in the 80’s- and the sound system was incredible-those seats would rumble and the floor would vibrate from that bass! Erlen, you were a very gracious lady in you heyday and still quite a dazzler in my time and I want to say although you are no longer here in the physical, I love and miss you and thank you for so many great times for me and my bunch from Gilbert, Thouron & Rugby Streets.

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