Westmont Theatre

Hello.

My name is Brent. I’m a senior film student at Rowan Univeristy and I’ve lived down the street from the Westmont Theater all my life.

I throwing around the idea of shooting a documentary on the Westmont Theater and am wondering as to the support and or historical assistance I might recieve should I take on this task?

I would also appreciate the names of those within the township who I need to speak to in order to get this project off the ground. If you know the individuals at TownHall, would you please share this information with me?

TC i can’t seem to find out anything about the Eric Westmont. In fact in driving by recently i noticed they did finally remove the marquee that was out by the road side. The lot is still empty in between the CVS and the Dollar store where the theatre once stood I just find it odd that they tore down a new building like that!

TC, I,m workin on it. The Eric (Westmont) had a very short life span. This was built as a brand new theartre and maybe fifteen yrs (tops)later torn down. The Coronet (Audubon)became CAPA’S a costume outlet. It was real popular around Halloween. I just drove by the sight and it has been torn down and now an Ekerd Drugs resides on the sight.

TC, his name was Eugene “Uggie” Orowitz Collingswood High class of 54'. No biggie! Just thought you oughtta know. Anyway, growing up in Collingswood the Westmont was probably considered our “local” theater since the Collingswood had allready been closed for a couple years when we moved over from Philly in the summer of 69'. The Westmont reminded me some of The Logan Theater, Broad St N. Philly, in size especially. I remember the Westmont having i guess was a stage below the screen. Is that what that was and did they remove it when they put up the “great wall”? I can remember seeing first run fims at the Westmont in the early to late 70’s. Allthough one movie in particuler which probably had the longest line i can remember, especially for the 70’s, was THE EXORCIST. I can remember riding by looking out the window of my parents car one Friday night and even the theater itself looked scarey. I ended up seeing that particuler movie over at the Coronet in Audubon i think like a year or so later. What a flick that was when you were a kid! I think everybody i ever spoke to who saw that movie back then had a story about lights flickering when they went home that night.
Tora,Tora,Tora was probably the last decent movie i remember seeing at the Westmont. After that it was The Heretic with who else Linda Blair. One thing that stood out about that movie were the “young men” from Camden who were insistent upon trying to talk to Linda Blair during the movie. Actually, they were telling Her and each other what they would like to do to Her during the movie and it did'nt have to do with “saving her soul”. Now,who saw THE RISE AND FALL OF EDIE AMIN at the Westmont? I thought during that movie i should take a page out of the “young men” from Camdens book and just hollar out to the screen “HEY EDIE, WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I WAS HERE WATCHING THE HERATIC”?
The House on Haunted Hill was the last movie i remember seeing at the Westmont. Looking back,I feel when the Eric went up over next to the Acme the Westmont’s days seemed numbered as far as a cinema theater BUT look which one’s still standing!
I guess Westmont itself just was'nt big enough for two movie theater’s and did'nt the Eric have or go to two screens? Anybody?
Dirty Mary Crazy Larry, The Trial of Billy Jack, Smokey and the Bandit,Cheech and Chong’s Up in Smoke and the Eric was up in smoke that night. The Kentucky Fried Movie to name a few.
They tore the Eric down and did'nt even rebuild or use the lot for parking. Anbody know what was up with that?
I did however, like when the high school kids from Haddon Township would from time to time climb up the Marquee of the Eric which is still there sitting on Cuthburt Road and change the spelling of some of the title’s like the “Beer Hunter” and “Who Rammed Rodger Rabbit”.
No doubt The Westmont will be heading in the right direction soon. When or if the politico’s of Haddon Twp ever “GET IT TOGETHER” or when the people of Haddon Twp throw them the hell out I’m sure this prodject will move along just fine.

Another one:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/80826149RnlZxM

Designer; William Wrifford
Builder; Handel Rovner

The redelopment plans look like the best thing to happen to this theatre in years. The owner of the Trocadero Theatre (a gorgeous 130 year old vaudeville house in Philadelphia) is heading up the redevelopment group. The building is still owned by the township at this point.

There is nothing left inside of the original movie house. With some serious redesign and the removal of a hideous drop ceiling and a huge sheetrock wall spliting the main room there will be a nice stage with a decent capacity for all kinds of events. The current word on the street is it will be focused on Live Music, like the Trocadero. Although I imagine it will also has a weekly movie night like the Trocadero. Seating should but around 600 when the balcony is opened up.

I had one of my kids (3 years old) bithday parties there in 2001. It had been turned into a local performing arts theater. One of the theaters was used as the party room and the other was the stage area. They did Anisi and the Moss covered rock.

The theater was not in such great shape but you could sense the history of the place. I can remember seeing at least one movie there as a kid in the late 1980’s. I think the theater is closed now. What a shame, it had a real old wold charm.