7-23-26 Philadelphia Inquirer article about Audubon’s new history museum includes the following:
New Century Theater, founded in 1921, is no longer standing. The theater, renamed the Coronet in the ‘60s, was demolished in 2003. The space is currently being developed by a car wash company.
But the historical society managed to acquire many keepsakes to remember the theater’s past. They have a seat someone rescued before the building got knocked down, a part of the wall, bricks, faint blueprints, and a movie reel Jakubowski said he found on eBay. A 1931 vaudeville contract is propped against the seat.
Craig E. Burgess, 81, remembers when he could see a movie, a newsreel, a serial, and get candy, all for 10 cents at New Century Theater. When he found out the Audubon staple was going to be torn down, Burgess, who lived in the same house in Audubon for 73 years before moving to Collingswood, didn’t let the theater die without a last trip.
“I stood in front of the door and said, ‘You don’t get in here until I get in to get some photos and get some video. If you won’t do that for me, then I will stay here, and you’ll have to push me over into the rubble,’” Burgess said. “And they believed me. I got in.”
I attended “Faust” and wrote that paragraph above along with much of the rest in the Intro. Faust shown was 1 hr, 45 min. long. We weren’t told which exact version, so I don’t know.
https://mainlinetoday.com/life-style/anthony-wayne-theater/
I’m puzzled by the recollection of a stairway & balcony, since the 7-1-28 The Exhibitor article indicates all 1600 seats were on the main floor.
3-17-25 Philadelphia Inquirer, in print, obit of Ruth Perlmutter, 96, states that “In 1975, she cofounded with Stuart Samuels, the Walnut Street Theatre Film/Video program.” Samuels was my film history professor at Univ of Penn 1980-81.
Jack, Lawrence of Arabia was actually not made for a curved screen, and is not Cinerama. 2001 was made for a curved screen. Just because the theater can’t keep the name does not mean they can’t show the films in Cinerama.
There is no firm indication that features movies are in the plans of the Uptown’s new tenants, despite the assertion of a possible huge screen. I might be more some sort of “immersive experience”
Prominently featured, exterior & interior including the balcony/circle and stage in new 3 part TV series “Nolly” In 2011, I had the pleasure of visiting this fantastic, restored Art Deco movie palace, when I visited Manchester for a few days. I saw an awesome, local, live production of “My Fair Lady” The website today has a list of regular films: classic, new, and a film festival, and specifies that people can get discounts via a film membership. The Plaza Stockport is an incredible gem, honoring its heritage and community in every which way!
(1) Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the movie “Cabrini” locally financed, had a recent red carpet premiere attended by the film’s directors & several lead actors. The movie opens nationwide this week, including here. I will post my photo of the poster in the theater.
https://www.inquirer.com/business/cabrini-movie-j-eustace-wolfington-20240229.html
(2) I had never stepped into the IMAX, but last year, saw “Oppenheimer” in 70mm IMAX here & wrote about it https://www.in70mm.com/presents/1970_imax/2023_oppenheimer/review/index.htm Last week, I saw in 70mm IMAX here both the “Tenet” reissue and on Thursday, opening day, “Dune Part 2” and enjoyed all these 70mm IMAX screenings
My understanding is that orchestra seating of the Village East was turned into additional screens. The Village East is palatial and ornate, but I don’t mind the use of the term for the Paris. Look around at the plexes! Netflix programs everything from premieres and special events, from 35mm and 70mm, at the Paris. The theater is very special, yet would have been lost had it not been for Netflix.
2 top notch, experienced projectionists projected almost 4 miles of film each time, including using a platter, of Oppenheimer, in regular 70mm (not IMAX) daily, starting July 21, last day Sept 21. A total of 224 shows.
4 shows Friday thru Sunday, 3 shows the other days.
First 6 weeks the times were 8:45 AM, 12:45 PM, 4:45 PM, 8:45 PM. And 12:30 PM 4:30 PM. 8:30 PM. Final 3 weeks were 9:30 AM, 1:15 PM, 5:00 PM 8:45 PM. And Noon, 4:00 PM 8:00 PM.
Some days Mark Joseph Pusillo was the projectionist. Other days Rich Rettino.
Oppenheimer has been showing in 70mm in auditorium 15, with about 290 seats and a nice large screen that appears to be about 35 feet wide. For those interested, auditorium 5 sits about 485 and has a huge screen that appears to be 60 feet wide.
7-23-26 Philadelphia Inquirer article about Audubon’s new history museum includes the following:
New Century Theater, founded in 1921, is no longer standing. The theater, renamed the Coronet in the ‘60s, was demolished in 2003. The space is currently being developed by a car wash company.
But the historical society managed to acquire many keepsakes to remember the theater’s past. They have a seat someone rescued before the building got knocked down, a part of the wall, bricks, faint blueprints, and a movie reel Jakubowski said he found on eBay. A 1931 vaudeville contract is propped against the seat.
Craig E. Burgess, 81, remembers when he could see a movie, a newsreel, a serial, and get candy, all for 10 cents at New Century Theater. When he found out the Audubon staple was going to be torn down, Burgess, who lived in the same house in Audubon for 73 years before moving to Collingswood, didn’t let the theater die without a last trip.
“I stood in front of the door and said, ‘You don’t get in here until I get in to get some photos and get some video. If you won’t do that for me, then I will stay here, and you’ll have to push me over into the rubble,’” Burgess said. “And they believed me. I got in.”
flat aspect ratio for movie Hamnet
I attended “Faust” and wrote that paragraph above along with much of the rest in the Intro. Faust shown was 1 hr, 45 min. long. We weren’t told which exact version, so I don’t know.
https://mainlinetoday.com/life-style/anthony-wayne-theater/ I’m puzzled by the recollection of a stairway & balcony, since the 7-1-28 The Exhibitor article indicates all 1600 seats were on the main floor.
What are the current uses?
My friend Jay Schwartz visited May 27, 2025, the retail store but could see no traces of the original beautiful Art Deco interior.
Today is last day of ABC TV show “Good Morning America” as they are moving “downtown.” What happens to this space now?
The small auditoriums on the sides didn’t impact the original screen in the middle, which from seeing a film there, I estimated at about 40 feet wide.
Yesterday email announced that the Redstone Theater has recently been upgraded to have a state-of-the-art new, 63-channel Dolby Atmos speaker system!
The photo also shows the Market Street Frankford “El” elevated subway line.
3-17-25 Philadelphia Inquirer, in print, obit of Ruth Perlmutter, 96, states that “In 1975, she cofounded with Stuart Samuels, the Walnut Street Theatre Film/Video program.” Samuels was my film history professor at Univ of Penn 1980-81.
Jack, Lawrence of Arabia was actually not made for a curved screen, and is not Cinerama. 2001 was made for a curved screen. Just because the theater can’t keep the name does not mean they can’t show the films in Cinerama.
Visit the official website of the theater.
Jan 17 red carpet premiere, Jan 18 & 19 public screenings of “Delco: The Movie” here.
There is no firm indication that features movies are in the plans of the Uptown’s new tenants, despite the assertion of a possible huge screen. I might be more some sort of “immersive experience”
Hello,
The larger auditorium to the right.
Prominently featured, exterior & interior including the balcony/circle and stage in new 3 part TV series “Nolly” In 2011, I had the pleasure of visiting this fantastic, restored Art Deco movie palace, when I visited Manchester for a few days. I saw an awesome, local, live production of “My Fair Lady” The website today has a list of regular films: classic, new, and a film festival, and specifies that people can get discounts via a film membership. The Plaza Stockport is an incredible gem, honoring its heritage and community in every which way!
(1) Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the movie “Cabrini” locally financed, had a recent red carpet premiere attended by the film’s directors & several lead actors. The movie opens nationwide this week, including here. I will post my photo of the poster in the theater. https://www.inquirer.com/business/cabrini-movie-j-eustace-wolfington-20240229.html (2) I had never stepped into the IMAX, but last year, saw “Oppenheimer” in 70mm IMAX here & wrote about it https://www.in70mm.com/presents/1970_imax/2023_oppenheimer/review/index.htm Last week, I saw in 70mm IMAX here both the “Tenet” reissue and on Thursday, opening day, “Dune Part 2” and enjoyed all these 70mm IMAX screenings
My understanding is that orchestra seating of the Village East was turned into additional screens. The Village East is palatial and ornate, but I don’t mind the use of the term for the Paris. Look around at the plexes! Netflix programs everything from premieres and special events, from 35mm and 70mm, at the Paris. The theater is very special, yet would have been lost had it not been for Netflix.
Reading Cinemas owns Angelika. Essentially, same operator.
A new page won’t be created, as the theater reopens December 14 with Wonka. The theater here will be renamed and the Intro adjusted.
2 top notch, experienced projectionists projected almost 4 miles of film each time, including using a platter, of Oppenheimer, in regular 70mm (not IMAX) daily, starting July 21, last day Sept 21. A total of 224 shows. 4 shows Friday thru Sunday, 3 shows the other days. First 6 weeks the times were 8:45 AM, 12:45 PM, 4:45 PM, 8:45 PM. And 12:30 PM 4:30 PM. 8:30 PM. Final 3 weeks were 9:30 AM, 1:15 PM, 5:00 PM 8:45 PM. And Noon, 4:00 PM 8:00 PM. Some days Mark Joseph Pusillo was the projectionist. Other days Rich Rettino.
Considering the above comment, was this theater previously permanently equiped with Dolby Atmos surround? Is it really equiped now?
Oppenheimer has been showing in 70mm in auditorium 15, with about 290 seats and a nice large screen that appears to be about 35 feet wide. For those interested, auditorium 5 sits about 485 and has a huge screen that appears to be 60 feet wide.