Yeadon Theatre
541 Church Lane,
Yeadon,
PA
19050
541 Church Lane,
Yeadon,
PA
19050
5 people
favorited this theater
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I am for saving theaters as much as the next person but with the theater missing the back for the last 3 years (causing the deteriation to move faster) and now the fire I think it is a lost cause. Before the fire I would say keep it, but since the fire the things that make it special have been lost.
Since the theater is so gone perhaps it would be best to just let the theater go.
TO THE FOLKS OF YEADON PA…………SAVE THIS THEATRE!
It would be an absolute shame to lose this Eberson art deco theatre to the wrecking ball and the citizens of Yeadon, PA need to get organized and stop this from happening….NOW!
The word “Advertisement” above was leftover from an Internet ad. The article above is a news article.
There’s too much in this article to summarize without loss.
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News of Delaware County 2-1-06
Fate is in the balance
By John Haigis, CORRESPONDENT
02/01/2006
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Officials and historians are eagerly awaiting an engineer’s report on the Yeadon Theatre.
YEADON – The fate of the historic Yeadon Theatre hangs in the balance as officials and preservationists wait for a structural engineer’s report following a fire that damaged the theater Jan. 8.
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Built in 1937, the theater was designed by famed theater architect John Eberson in a style known as “Art Moderne,” a successor to the more flamboyant Art Deco, and characterized by a sleek, streamlined appearance. “Even though Eberson is best known for his ‘atmospheric’ theatre designs,” said theatre historian Howard Haas, ‘Art Moderne’ represents a second phase of his work, and this is a rare example of that style."
The theater, which in its heyday had 1,000 seats, was purchased by Yeadon Borough after the theater closed in 2001. The borough had planned to demolish the building, but in 2003, the demolition was halted after part of a rear wall had been removed, and Borough and County officials, along with preservationists and local residents, worked on a plan to preserve the facade and lobby area and develop a community use for the remainder of the property. The Borough engaged Westfield Architects and Preservation Consultants of Haddon Heights, New Jersey to help with the preservation plan. “I walked through [the theatre] after the fire and was heartbroken when I saw the interior damage,” Margaret Westfield said. “I can’t really discuss the building’s prospects because I’m still working on my report and waiting for the structural engineer’s assessment.”
In addition to having been a prominent feature of the Yeadon streetscape for nearly 70 years, the theatre’s association with Eberson, its designer, helps to make the structure significant. Born in Romania, Eberson came to America in 1901 and established himself as one of the nation’s top theatre architects. Many of his theatres were ‘atmospheric’ consisting of grand interiors creating the illusion of a country village or Moorish palace with painted ceilings and small electric lights that mimicked stars. His designs were very popular with theater-goers of the 20’s and 30’s and his fame was such that for a period of time he was engaged by Joseph Strauss as a design consultant on the Art Deco inspired Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Howard Haas indicated that he had been told unofficially that the building is structurally sound, but Borough Manager Anthony Carey said, “Council is in the process of making a decision and we need information from the engineer.” One local theatre operator, Greg Wax, who operates the Narberth Theatre and the Baederwood Theatre in Jenkintown, said he would like to look into the possibility of establishing a 3 or 4 screen theatre with stadium seating on the site.~ “Theatres can help revitalization efforts”, he said, “and give people a reason to go to the business district.” He believes there is a need for a theatre to show upscale films in the area, and hopes to have discussions with County and Borough Officials. Yeadon Council President Vivian Ford said, “We are in the process of making a decision. Our consultant tells us the theatre has lost most of its historic finishes and fixtures. Because of mold and other problems, the cost to remediate will be significant.” Ford said the theatre is expected to be discussed at a special session of Council on Thursday, February 2 at 6:30 in Council Chambers, and indicated she has a large stack of e-mails from people who would like to see a theatre at that location. “We need to make the property work for us,” she said,“ and are eager to come to some resolution.”
©News of Delaware County 2006
Thanks! The Yeadon theater was one I attended often for decades, seeing many movies like “The Sting” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and many blockbusters ranging from James Bond films to the disaster flicks. I recall Mrs. Friedman and how she furnished the lobby areas with antique furniture. The house was always full of people!
I continued attending movies in the 1990’s at the Yeadon, because I love the ambience of a historic single screen theater. The Milgram family of theater operators had taken over. The best movie I saw there in the 1990’s was “Malcolm X” for which Denzel Washington deserved an Academy Award, but didn’t get it. Never has an actor been more convincing in a biographical role.
Throughout the United States, there are vacant lots on main streets where movie houses used to be, and they stay vacant for decades. The Yeadon theater is in the middle of Yeadon’s main street, and they should consider carefully all the possibilities, including that of Greg Wax reopening the theater as a state of the art moviehouse. He has various ways of doing so, some without any funding from government.
Towns in our Philadelphia area that have kept or reopened historic movie theaters have seen restaurants, stores, and nightlife blossom! Examples include Phoenixville (the Colonial), Ambler, Wayne (the Anthony Wayne), Narberth, Bryn Mawr, Jenkintown (the Hiway), and Bala Cynywd, but there are more.
Towns that have seen their theaters close include Ardmore which let its historic moviehouse be gutted for a health club. Now the town leaders are very upset and debating a redevelopment plan most people seem to hate. If only they had kept a theater open!
The volunteers that I have led to save Center City Philadelphia’s last movie palace, the Boyd (www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org) have seen that with the theater’s reopening announcement, many nearby restaurants have already opened- even before the theater! And, they’ve told us they opened there for the expected theater crowds. And, the street that the Boyd is on, Chestnut Street, had been dead at night. Theaters have a great effect, if they are reopened and are in the right locations to attract an audience with good programs. And, Greg Wax has shown he knows how to do so in his other theaters, no suprise, he’s a third generation movie operator!
That is unbelievable. I will do my best to watch out for the bottom line on this as well. What a sad state of affairs.
Not only was it arson, but apparently politically motivated arson at that from the looks of it. Hope they get to the bottom of it soon, and that this theater, the last John Eberson designed theater still in the Philadelphia area — aside from the Leader on Lancaster Avenue — can still be saved!
Quite sad. I was taken to that theater many times as a child growing up in Yeadon. However, given the decline of the town, it does not suprise me that it was arson.
According to today’s Delaware County Daily Times, the fire started in, and was confined to the lobby/vestibule structure. This is the last John Eberson designed theater in the Philadelphia area. Engineers will determine if the building can stay up. This article does not appear on the internet site of the newspaper, but I have a faxed copy.
On August 27, 2003, I attended the pre-demolition ceremony at the Yeadon, inviting Rob Bender whose photos are above. Working with others, we convinced the town to stop demolition, albeit after the auditorium’s back wall was demolished the next day. The current plan mentioned above to save the lobby building including facade didn’t include any specific reuse for performing arts center. I have been volunteering as the advocate from the theater community. This is sad news, indeed, for an Art Moderne moviehouse that I grew up attending, and attended in the 1990’s.
You have got to be kidding. Unreal.
I grew up in Yeadon and would go to the movies on Saturday. Mrs. Friedman was always nice and the place was always clean. Mrs. Friedman keep the place very orderly too,if you acted up it seam as she would be there in a second and shine that flash light on you lol.It is a shame to see what has happend to the Theater.
I was at the Yeadon Theatre once in 1975 (lived far away)and I definitely remember Mrs. Friedman. Such a nice encounter. Also the movie was $1.00. Does the neon sign (letters) still exist? I can restore it, etc.
I thought some of you that might have attended during the 1954-1984 period would remember being greeted in the theater by the owner Rhea Perelman Friedman. It was like being welcomed into her home. Her obituary follows:
Posted on Mon, Oct. 31, 2005
Rhea P. Friedman, proprietor
By Sally A. Downey
Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer
Rhea Perelman Friedman, 98, the former owner of the Yeadon Theater who treated movie patrons like family, died Wednesday at Arden Court in Warminster.
Mrs. Friedman operated the Yeadon Theater from 1954 until she sold it in 1984. She furnished the lobby like a living room, with photo displays of her grandchildren, her daughter Janet Lazrow said, and, in motherly fashion, posted signs reminding moviegoers not to forget umbrellas, gloves and eyeglasses.
She served free cookies and coffee to adults and distributed Popsicles to children during Saturday matinees. When customers were stranded at the theater by bad weather, Lazrow said, her mother – who hated to drive – gave them a ride home. During the 30 years Mrs. Friedman operated the theater, admission was never more than a dollar – with discounts for children and senior citizens.
Mrs. Friedman’s father, Louis, built the Delaware County cinema in 1937 and also owned two movie houses in Philadelphia. He got into the film business, Lazrow said, after Prohibition forced him to close the tavern he operated in Chester.
Mrs. Friedman grew up in Chester and West Philadelphia. She helped out in the family business until her marriage to Percy Friedman, who took over the Yeadon Theater while her brothers ran the movie theaters in Philadelphia. She stayed home to care for her children.
In 1954, Percy Friedman died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage, leaving Mrs. Friedman with the theater and three young children. She took over the movie theater’s operations, and when her daughters were teenagers, they helped in the box office and cleaned up after matinees.
She worked six or seven days a week, her daughter said. In her free time, she enjoyed going to the opera and managed to take a vacation in Hawaii and a safari in Africa. She also made the time to visit her out-of-state grandchildren.
“Family was very important to her,” Lazrow said.
In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Friedman is survived by two other daughters, Lynn Weinstein and Eileen Branda; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
A graveside service was held Friday at Mount Sharon Cemetery in Springfield.
Contact staff writer Sally A. Downey at 215-854-2913 or
© 2005 Philadelphia Inquirer and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
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Yeadon is right outside of Philly.
Where is Yeadon PA….near Philly?
Agreed Patsy. I will always cherish the memories. And yes, now you can see why it is so sad for anyone to look at those photographs.
I just reviewed the photos again and when I enlarged them I could see the mildew on the theatre seats which was so sad! The art deco design throughout the theatre is most unique and should have warranted being saved by city officials. They won’t realize what they had until it’s gone forever then it will be…too late!
“It sounds to me like if the back wall hadn’t been compromised, the preservation might have succeeded- is that right?” I agree with this Brian Wolf post of Nov. 2004. What is the answer to this question that is being asked again in 2005?
DeniedX: Unfortunately, this is the way of many small towns….the downtown areas are dying due to the advent of malls, etc. You have your memories and cherish them always, as do I, since my hometown theatre is gone, too. A nice park is on the site, but it will never replace the theatre and the memories I hold in my mind and heart.
Well, the only other thing I can tell you is that the town of Yeadon itself has crashed and burned as well. It is nothing like it was while I was growing up there.
Interesting! As I see it, neglect brought about “too much structural deterioration throughout”. This theatre in this community should have been completely saved and restored for future generations in loving memory to a great theatre architect, John Eberson!
From what I understand, they had begun tearing down the building in the rear. They had the rear wall completely torn down when they halted the demolition. Apparently, there was just too much structual deterioration throughout. Sounds more like an excuse to me. It’s sad to see the building go.
Also screams ART MODERNE! It really seems strange to me that a decision would be made to save the facade yet destroy the rest!?!