That’s a picture of my car I took before we opened. I was supervising the snack bar opening as the Berlo Vending supervisor at the time, they’re were constant delays with the grading etc., that delayed the opening, and yes it was an Eric theater drive-in.
Looks like the Theatre is now know as Theatre 7000, still operated by icmovement.org. Here are links to videos of the concept and renovation of the theatre. There are some good views of the interior.
I couldn’t tell if they had them from the pictures I saw for sure, but I think they might be gone. I wonder since they have their main office in the building if they would allow someone to go in and take pictures to post on Cinema Treasures.
Looks like balcony is intact but not used and lower auditorium was completely gutted, old seats removed and only 300 new seats placed in front of a stage. There are pictures and grainy video on their facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/innercitymovement/timeline
In 2009, ICMovement acquired a permanent home in a theater, formerly known as the 69th Street Theater, located in Upper Darby, PA. The theater was structurally sound but in need of major repairs due to 30 years of disuse. With the tireless help of over 150 individuals and businesses over a seven-month period, Phase One renovations was completed. In May 2010, the organization was granted a 300-person occupancy permit, which allowed for the doors to be opened to the youth and the community.
With a clear mission of utilizing the facility to significantly impact the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health of under-served youth to the degree that the impact overflows into their families, communities, and city, the theater was renamed The Overflow Theater.
http://www.icmovement.org/about/meet
It opened May 17, 1968 with “The Sand Pebbles”. Operated by Budco Quality Theatres, it was located at Naamans Road in Claymont near Philadelphia Pike. Car capacity was 800, and the theater was the only DI in the area to be equipped with in-car air conditioning, as well as heating. Unfortunately, the AC service was soon discontinued because it was more trouble technically than it was worth! Around 1980, AM radio sound was installed by Budco. Since the theater was bordered on each side by a railroad track (only the one on the right was used), there was a great deal of interference in the sound, and the in-car speakers were re-installed! The train engineers loved to flash the screen and blast the horn as they drove by each night. In 1986, Budco sold out to AMC, who proceeded to close the DI on September 28th, 1987, with the triple feature, “Hell Raisers”, “House II:The Second Story” and “Death Before Dishonor”.
Across from Wilmington Airport. Opened 1951 Closed 1961, Torn Down 1962. The Kerry DI was the last motion picture theater to be built in the Wilmington city limits. It was located at 28th Street and Governor Printz Boulevard, next to the ballpark that had been built for the Wilmington Blue Rocks. The Kerry opened on May 25th, 1951, with King Solomon’s Mines. The lot covered seven acres, and it could hold 526 cars. The theater was doomed when the Blue Rocks folded, and the theater was torn down along with the stadium in 1962. The final attraction was Oceans 11 and Jungle Attack on November 27, 1961.
Originally called Brandywine Drive-In. Opened 1949. The Ellis DI was the first to be opened in the Wilmington DE area. It was originally called the Brandywine Drive-In, and it was located a mile south of the city on the Du Pont Highway (Rt. 13). Opening day was July 13, 1949, with “The Adventures of Robin Hood” as the opening attraction. Projection and sound were RCA Motiograph, and the lot could hold 1,100 cars, plus seating for 250 people on foot. The marquee was 68-foot-tall, one of the largest in the state. It had a burgundy-and-white background in neon with the word “Brandywine” in magenta script, and “Drive-In” in white Egyptian block letters. In February 1955, the theater was sold to the Ellis Theater Company of Philadelphia for $85,000. Ellis proceeded to change more than the theater’s name. The screen was enlarged for Cinemascope (100 feet by 40 feet), the lot was nearly doubled in size, and in-car heaters were installed at this time.
The following item appeared Aug. 12, 1978, in the NEWS of Delaware County.
Relief is less than a month away for those Clifton Heights and Drexel Hill residents who have complained in the past about sexually-explicit films being shown at the Family Drive-In.
On Labor Day, the theatre management will present the last picture show. Soon thereafter, ground will be broken on the drive-in site for a K-Mart department store.
The issuing of a building permit for the $1 million project clears the way for builders to begin work on the new store next month.
Mike, the original concession stand was right behind the projection booth, in the mid 60’s it was torn down and replaced by a new one at the rear of the theater.
The Family was purchased as a package deal, with the Main Line Drive-In and 309 Drive-In by Budco. I managed the theater in the 60s, Berlo Vending ran the concessions for Budco in most of it’s theaters.
Actually the theatre was demolished and currently an Office Depot is on the spot, it’s at the end of the Old Sproul Shopping Center. Genuardi’s is located in another shopping center further down Baltimore Pike.
Hopefully this works, but while this series is underway, the theater was going to be auctioned on July 13 by TD Bank, but got a reprieve. Details in this article View link
The Darby Theater and the Parker Theater were two different theaters located about a block apart, The Darby was destroyed by fire and the Wendy theater was built on it’s site. The Parker Theater building was used as part of Delco Catering and Billiards until it was demolished between 2000-2004 to make way for the Walgreens which now occupies the site. I believe the Parker closed in the 50’s.
Here’s a You Tube link, with some video from inside. Kenny Vance(of Jay & the Americans & the Planotones) at the Brooklyn Paramount with Charlie Thomas of the Drifters who had appeared there at the Rock & Roll Shows.
Actually The Parker was located where the Walgreens stands today, after the theater closed part or all of the building was used as the Delco Catering Halls
Nice synopsis of Tower history in the Philadelphia Daily News takes you through a great memory trip from 1927 until it’s use today as a top concert venue. Here’s the link View link
Two Thousand Attend Ceremonies at Collingdale Playhouse
More than 2000 people crowded the Villa Theatre, Collingdale, at the opening
ceremonies which were held last night. The theatre which cost approximately $500,000,
is the most modern theatre in the string of pleasure houses that the Bonn-Stanley
Theatre Company have in Delaware county.
Many prominent men of the county took part on the opening exercises.
The spacious aisles of the theatre were crowded and every available space of standing room was put to use to accommodate the theatre goers.
The bugle and drum corps of the Murray Stuart Post of the American Legion opened the
program when they, with a troop of Boy Scouts, marched down the center aisle of the
theatre and placed two American flags on the stage.
Charles Straub, organist played the “Star Spangled Banner” while the troops were
marching to the stage. Lee Harvey, manager of the new theatre introduced the speakers of the evening.
W. Howard Kirkpatrick, burgess of Collingdale, made a speech of acceptance,
of the theatre “on behalf of the borough. He also spoke of the beauty architecture and
accommodations of the now pleasure home.
District Attorney William J. MacCarter, Jr. dealt with the modern features of the new theatre and congratulated the borough on their acquisition.
Marcus Benn, who is associated with the Stanley Company, described the theatre from the first day of the starting of the building until the present. He outlined the course of
events during the erection and the features that the new theatre offers the public.
The theatre is constructed in the French modernistic style of the Sixteenth century, the first of its kind. There are three spacious aisles with ample exits. The floors are heavily
carpeted and the walls are decorated with the finest drapery.
A marble stairway leads from the orchestra floor to the second floor. Retiring rooms for the ladies and men and a lounging room are in the front of the second floor.
2100 Patrons thrilled by beauty of “The Parker” at Gala Opening
Darby’s palatial million dollar playhouse, the Parker Theatre, located, at Chester Pike and Parker Ave (Today Known as MacDade Blvd) was formally dedicated with colorful ceremony last night in the presence of an audience of more than two thousand persons.
There was some delay in the raising of the curtain, due, the management announced, to the fact one of the officials from Harrisburg was late in arriving to make his final inspection of the building. However the delay was soon forgotten, for when the official had completed his task, the curtain arose upon one of the greatest shows that Darby had ever witnessed. Moses Goodwin, a representative of the theatre ownership, was master of ceremonies.
An impressive tableau, opened the ceremonies of the evening, with a hoary haired “Father Time”, pronouncing the words of dedication from his throne. Then followed stirring music by the drum and bugle corps of the Albert Clinton Wunderlich Post, No. 65, American Legion, of Lansdowne, followed by the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” by the glee club of Darby High School, and Miss Lillian Lewis, a high school Junior, taking the part of the “Goddess of Liberty.”
Following the tableau, Burgess Thomas M. Eastwood, of Darby, made a brief address, congratulating the management, and expressing pleasure at being able to witness, the consummation of a fine contribution to the life of the community.
District Attorney William J. MacCarter, Jr., followed Burgess Eastwood. He said:
“I congratulate the people of Darby who were instrumental in procuring Equity Theatres, Inc. to locate in their midst, bringing to the community the greatest thing Darby ever possessed, with the possible exception of the Darby Ram.
After Jack Rosenthal of Equity Theatres had been introduced and had extended words of greeting, the show began. There were two Vitaphone units, one of them George M. Cohan’s “The Home Towners”, Parker News Events., and a series of stage presentations.
The Dobsky Troupe of acrobats made the collective hair of the audience stand on end.
There was Earl Faber, that good fellow of the “hail fellow very well met type” who did his best to make everybody feel at home and succeeded. He was ably aided by Margie McIntyre, Dick Rich and his syncopated revelers brought some more merriment to the
evening. On the screen beside the feature picture there was a clever skit all about night clubs and night courts getting mixed up in a new kind of “legal cocktail,” while news events completed the bill.
The modern artist dipped his brush lavishly into his richest and most exotic hues when he set about creating the cinematic, home that compares favorably with many of the larger
Temples of pastime in the Quaker City. All of the designs, so well loved by the up-to-date theatre maker, are to he found in the newest addition to the long list of amusement
homes owned and operated by the combination of Warner Brothers and Equity Theatres, Inc.
Rich wood panelings give a note of elegance and sit off the otherwise bizarre mode of decoration. A generous allotment of gold leaf sets off rich designs that border the paneling at the ceiling and base of the theater, while giant chandeliers also in the “flapper mode” of artistry, give forth a rainbow of light to soften and brighten the general color scheme of gold and rose carried out in the house.
It might have been “old home night†at the theater judging by the number of families that turned out to fill the 2100 seats, all on first floor of the theatre. Indeed, many of Darby's
Most prominent citizens were on the program of the evening or were invited guests to see the performance and hear the talking feature picture of the program.
That’s a picture of my car I took before we opened. I was supervising the snack bar opening as the Berlo Vending supervisor at the time, they’re were constant delays with the grading etc., that delayed the opening, and yes it was an Eric theater drive-in.
95 uses some of the drive-in property, Bullens Lane which is where the drive-in intersection with Chester Pike was, goes under 95 in that area now.
This is not the Airport Drive-In, this is where the 61st Drive-In was located in Philadelphia.
Looks like the Theatre is now know as Theatre 7000, still operated by icmovement.org. Here are links to videos of the concept and renovation of the theatre. There are some good views of the interior.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emtz7lzqfbc&index=27&list=PL5orFzm46ydR6wFPWf2kFqps1dEymJE1R
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD4mSZeBi5I&index=28&list=PL5orFzm46ydR6wFPWf2kFqps1dEymJE1R
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRoscyewCiI&index=29&list=PL5orFzm46ydR6wFPWf2kFqps1dEymJE1R
I couldn’t tell if they had them from the pictures I saw for sure, but I think they might be gone. I wonder since they have their main office in the building if they would allow someone to go in and take pictures to post on Cinema Treasures.
Looks like balcony is intact but not used and lower auditorium was completely gutted, old seats removed and only 300 new seats placed in front of a stage. There are pictures and grainy video on their facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/innercitymovement/timeline
In 2009, ICMovement acquired a permanent home in a theater, formerly known as the 69th Street Theater, located in Upper Darby, PA. The theater was structurally sound but in need of major repairs due to 30 years of disuse. With the tireless help of over 150 individuals and businesses over a seven-month period, Phase One renovations was completed. In May 2010, the organization was granted a 300-person occupancy permit, which allowed for the doors to be opened to the youth and the community.
With a clear mission of utilizing the facility to significantly impact the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health of under-served youth to the degree that the impact overflows into their families, communities, and city, the theater was renamed The Overflow Theater. http://www.icmovement.org/about/meet
It opened May 17, 1968 with “The Sand Pebbles”. Operated by Budco Quality Theatres, it was located at Naamans Road in Claymont near Philadelphia Pike. Car capacity was 800, and the theater was the only DI in the area to be equipped with in-car air conditioning, as well as heating. Unfortunately, the AC service was soon discontinued because it was more trouble technically than it was worth! Around 1980, AM radio sound was installed by Budco. Since the theater was bordered on each side by a railroad track (only the one on the right was used), there was a great deal of interference in the sound, and the in-car speakers were re-installed! The train engineers loved to flash the screen and blast the horn as they drove by each night. In 1986, Budco sold out to AMC, who proceeded to close the DI on September 28th, 1987, with the triple feature, “Hell Raisers”, “House II:The Second Story” and “Death Before Dishonor”.
Across from Wilmington Airport. Opened 1951 Closed 1961, Torn Down 1962. The Kerry DI was the last motion picture theater to be built in the Wilmington city limits. It was located at 28th Street and Governor Printz Boulevard, next to the ballpark that had been built for the Wilmington Blue Rocks. The Kerry opened on May 25th, 1951, with King Solomon’s Mines. The lot covered seven acres, and it could hold 526 cars. The theater was doomed when the Blue Rocks folded, and the theater was torn down along with the stadium in 1962. The final attraction was Oceans 11 and Jungle Attack on November 27, 1961.
Originally called Brandywine Drive-In. Opened 1949. The Ellis DI was the first to be opened in the Wilmington DE area. It was originally called the Brandywine Drive-In, and it was located a mile south of the city on the Du Pont Highway (Rt. 13). Opening day was July 13, 1949, with “The Adventures of Robin Hood” as the opening attraction. Projection and sound were RCA Motiograph, and the lot could hold 1,100 cars, plus seating for 250 people on foot. The marquee was 68-foot-tall, one of the largest in the state. It had a burgundy-and-white background in neon with the word “Brandywine” in magenta script, and “Drive-In” in white Egyptian block letters. In February 1955, the theater was sold to the Ellis Theater Company of Philadelphia for $85,000. Ellis proceeded to change more than the theater’s name. The screen was enlarged for Cinemascope (100 feet by 40 feet), the lot was nearly doubled in size, and in-car heaters were installed at this time.
The following item appeared Aug. 12, 1978, in the NEWS of Delaware County.
Relief is less than a month away for those Clifton Heights and Drexel Hill residents who have complained in the past about sexually-explicit films being shown at the Family Drive-In.
On Labor Day, the theatre management will present the last picture show. Soon thereafter, ground will be broken on the drive-in site for a K-Mart department store.
The issuing of a building permit for the $1 million project clears the way for builders to begin work on the new store next month.
Mike, the original concession stand was right behind the projection booth, in the mid 60’s it was torn down and replaced by a new one at the rear of the theater.
The Family was purchased as a package deal, with the Main Line Drive-In and 309 Drive-In by Budco. I managed the theater in the 60s, Berlo Vending ran the concessions for Budco in most of it’s theaters.
Building is currently a Modells Sporting Goods, I also uploaded a picture taken in 1966
Actually the theatre was demolished and currently an Office Depot is on the spot, it’s at the end of the Old Sproul Shopping Center. Genuardi’s is located in another shopping center further down Baltimore Pike.
Hopefully this works, but while this series is underway, the theater was going to be auctioned on July 13 by TD Bank, but got a reprieve. Details in this article View link
The Darby Theater and the Parker Theater were two different theaters located about a block apart, The Darby was destroyed by fire and the Wendy theater was built on it’s site. The Parker Theater building was used as part of Delco Catering and Billiards until it was demolished between 2000-2004 to make way for the Walgreens which now occupies the site. I believe the Parker closed in the 50’s.
Here’s some pictures of the Wendy Theater the day after it was destroyed by fire in 1959.
http://tinyurl.com/bsl3ev
http://tinyurl.com/cptk9t
http://tinyurl.com/b6m975
.
Here’s a picture of the Darby Theater in 1923
http://tinyurl.com/cnfwl5
.
Found a picture of the Parker Theater in 1942 here.
http://tinyurl.com/djxtjs
Here’s a You Tube link, with some video from inside. Kenny Vance(of Jay & the Americans & the Planotones) at the Brooklyn Paramount with Charlie Thomas of the Drifters who had appeared there at the Rock & Roll Shows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nie864gsHfw
Actually The Parker was located where the Walgreens stands today, after the theater closed part or all of the building was used as the Delco Catering Halls
Nice synopsis of Tower history in the Philadelphia Daily News takes you through a great memory trip from 1927 until it’s use today as a top concert venue. Here’s the link
View link
News clipping
Chester Times, Chester, PA
October 09, 1928
VILLA THEATRE IS OPENED TO PUBLIC
Two Thousand Attend Ceremonies at Collingdale Playhouse
More than 2000 people crowded the Villa Theatre, Collingdale, at the opening
ceremonies which were held last night. The theatre which cost approximately $500,000,
is the most modern theatre in the string of pleasure houses that the Bonn-Stanley
Theatre Company have in Delaware county.
Many prominent men of the county took part on the opening exercises.
The spacious aisles of the theatre were crowded and every available space of standing room was put to use to accommodate the theatre goers.
The bugle and drum corps of the Murray Stuart Post of the American Legion opened the
program when they, with a troop of Boy Scouts, marched down the center aisle of the
theatre and placed two American flags on the stage.
Charles Straub, organist played the “Star Spangled Banner” while the troops were
marching to the stage. Lee Harvey, manager of the new theatre introduced the speakers of the evening.
W. Howard Kirkpatrick, burgess of Collingdale, made a speech of acceptance,
of the theatre “on behalf of the borough. He also spoke of the beauty architecture and
accommodations of the now pleasure home.
District Attorney William J. MacCarter, Jr. dealt with the modern features of the new theatre and congratulated the borough on their acquisition.
Marcus Benn, who is associated with the Stanley Company, described the theatre from the first day of the starting of the building until the present. He outlined the course of
events during the erection and the features that the new theatre offers the public.
The theatre is constructed in the French modernistic style of the Sixteenth century, the first of its kind. There are three spacious aisles with ample exits. The floors are heavily
carpeted and the walls are decorated with the finest drapery.
A marble stairway leads from the orchestra floor to the second floor. Retiring rooms for the ladies and men and a lounging room are in the front of the second floor.
Found this clipping of the Parker Opening Night
Chester Times, Chester, Pa
February 13, 1929
FINE THEATRE OPENS AT DARBY
2100 Patrons thrilled by beauty of “The Parker” at Gala Opening
Darby’s palatial million dollar playhouse, the Parker Theatre, located, at Chester Pike and Parker Ave (Today Known as MacDade Blvd) was formally dedicated with colorful ceremony last night in the presence of an audience of more than two thousand persons.
There was some delay in the raising of the curtain, due, the management announced, to the fact one of the officials from Harrisburg was late in arriving to make his final inspection of the building. However the delay was soon forgotten, for when the official had completed his task, the curtain arose upon one of the greatest shows that Darby had ever witnessed. Moses Goodwin, a representative of the theatre ownership, was master of ceremonies.
An impressive tableau, opened the ceremonies of the evening, with a hoary haired “Father Time”, pronouncing the words of dedication from his throne. Then followed stirring music by the drum and bugle corps of the Albert Clinton Wunderlich Post, No. 65, American Legion, of Lansdowne, followed by the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” by the glee club of Darby High School, and Miss Lillian Lewis, a high school Junior, taking the part of the “Goddess of Liberty.”
Following the tableau, Burgess Thomas M. Eastwood, of Darby, made a brief address, congratulating the management, and expressing pleasure at being able to witness, the consummation of a fine contribution to the life of the community.
District Attorney William J. MacCarter, Jr., followed Burgess Eastwood. He said:
“I congratulate the people of Darby who were instrumental in procuring Equity Theatres, Inc. to locate in their midst, bringing to the community the greatest thing Darby ever possessed, with the possible exception of the Darby Ram.
After Jack Rosenthal of Equity Theatres had been introduced and had extended words of greeting, the show began. There were two Vitaphone units, one of them George M. Cohan’s “The Home Towners”, Parker News Events., and a series of stage presentations.
The Dobsky Troupe of acrobats made the collective hair of the audience stand on end.
There was Earl Faber, that good fellow of the “hail fellow very well met type” who did his best to make everybody feel at home and succeeded. He was ably aided by Margie McIntyre, Dick Rich and his syncopated revelers brought some more merriment to the
evening. On the screen beside the feature picture there was a clever skit all about night clubs and night courts getting mixed up in a new kind of “legal cocktail,” while news events completed the bill.
The modern artist dipped his brush lavishly into his richest and most exotic hues when he set about creating the cinematic, home that compares favorably with many of the larger
Temples of pastime in the Quaker City. All of the designs, so well loved by the up-to-date theatre maker, are to he found in the newest addition to the long list of amusement
homes owned and operated by the combination of Warner Brothers and Equity Theatres, Inc.
Rich wood panelings give a note of elegance and sit off the otherwise bizarre mode of decoration. A generous allotment of gold leaf sets off rich designs that border the paneling at the ceiling and base of the theater, while giant chandeliers also in the “flapper mode” of artistry, give forth a rainbow of light to soften and brighten the general color scheme of gold and rose carried out in the house.
It might have been “old home night†at the theater judging by the number of families that turned out to fill the 2100 seats, all on first floor of the theatre. Indeed, many of Darby's
Most prominent citizens were on the program of the evening or were invited guests to see the performance and hear the talking feature picture of the program.