AMC 309 Cinema 9
1210 Bethlehem Pike, Routes 309 and 63,
North Wales,
PA
19454
1210 Bethlehem Pike, Routes 309 and 63,
North Wales,
PA
19454
5 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 35 of 35 comments
ATTN: RG …( or anyone knowledgable about Budco Theatres)
May I ask you a few questions about Budco Theatres?
I am doing research on blind bidding in the motion picture industry. Twenty four states passed anti-blind bidding laws which forbid the blind bidding of films; Pennsylvania passed the stictest law in 1980. I am investigating whether exhibitors which operated in states which passed these laws stayed in business longer than those which operated in blind bidding states.
RG (or anyone knowledgable about Budco Theatres) please e-mail me at as your knowledge would help my research efforts.
Is this the last year for it? I heard it may close.
MikeRa, I have not seen any pictures of the orig. 309 cinema. Someone did take pictures opening night from our office but I cannot remember who. The builder was from the Doylestown area but I don’t think he’s around anymore. rg
Does anyone know if there are any pictures of the 309 Cinema that shows what it looked like when Budco Theatres first opened it in 1968?
I do apoligize. Does anyone know the exact dates the Budco 309 Drive-In and the Budco 309 Cinema Theatre opened? I know the 309 Cinema was sometime in 1968.
MikeRa, The 309 complex was NOT built or operated by Goldman Theatres. The D-I was built by the Smith family which owned several other D-I’s. Budco operated this D-I. I know because I managed it. The 309 Cinema was BUILT by Budco NOT Goldman Theatres. I opened this theatre. rg
The 5th screen was an annex. I don’t think the third screen added in 1980 was split.
rg, the 309 Cinema was built by William Goldman Theatres Co. When it opened in May 1968, the 309 Drive In, also owned by William Goldman Theatres, was still an active drive-in. The 309 Twin Drive-In was closed somewhere around 1984-85 by Budco Theatres Co. (William Goldman Theatres was renamed Budco Theatres in 1972/73 by their new owner.) The first movie to play at the 309 cinema was “The Graduate”
The 309 was twinned in 1973/74, and became the 309 Cinema 3 in 1980, and then the 309 Cinema 4 in 1982/83
In 1986, the 309 was knon as “Budco 309 Cinema 4 Theatres” AMC Theatres added 5 screens between 1986 and 1989. AMC most likely split the screen that was added in 1982/83 to make 5 screens, while building the 4 screens to the north of the 4/5 screens that were built between 1968 and 1982/83.
How was the 309 Cinema made a mess when the additional screens were added?
This theatre was built by Budco theatres not Goldman theatres. It was located on the south west corner of Rt 309 and Rt 63. It covered the area that was the drive-in entrance, box office and the D-I office. The stores in the shopping center sit where the field, snack bar, projection booth and the screen were. The cinema was made a mess when the additional sreen were added. rg