The Newtown Theatre is one of America’s oldest continuously operating theaters.
Joseph and Susan Archambault deeded Lot 18 of Newtown Common to establish a “free and independent anti-sectarian house of worship and free burying ground,“ creating the Free Church in April 1831, but officially became the Newtown Hall by the 1840s. The Newtown Hall hosting town meetings and lectures with statutory permissions granted in both 1842 and 1853. Despite being rebuilt in 1883, it was known as one of the showbiz houses in the suburbs of Philadelphia, running a mix of minstrel shows, medicine shows, circuses, dances, and Swarthmore Chautauqua performances, including a very notable event where Frederick Douglass appeared in-person on February 4, 1864, which the event drew massive crowds at the Newtown Hall.
Throughout the 1880s and 1900s, it had major upgrades such as a gallery in 1887, electric lighting in 1894, and a fire escape in 1904. Concerts, theatre, and educational events were also added around the time as well, including their own orchestra named after the town established in 1884.
Movies began screening at the Newtown in 1906 when it first film was screened there. However, after remodeling in 1936, two years later comes a court decree which officially authorized films and theatrical performances while preserving its religious and burial purposes in 1938. In 1972, projectionist Amos Farruggio rented the hall from the Community Welfare Council, who had been operating the theater since 1953, spruced it up and kept the theater alive until his death. His wife was able to take it over until her death in 2005.
You should also take a look at this site that features the entire list of theaters across the DC Metro with 70mm installations throughout the years:
https://www.in70mm.com/country/usa/d/dc/index.htm
Opened in 1968, closed in 2015 because of bankruptcy, sat abandoned for five years, reopened in May 2020 as a popular moviegoer experience during the pandemic.
I looked at Google Earth, and holy crap the layout is ugly as hell. The second screen that was recently added was located VERY DAMN CLOSE to a large garage, and there are no traces AT ALL in the view, making the exact number of the car capacity harder. Judging by the layout of the land, I’m just going to guess around 50 cars when it first opened. In my opinion, this has to be one of the ugliest looking drive-ins I’ve ever seen.
The Somerset Theatre opened its doors on December 31, 1937 with Warner Baxter in “Vogues Of 1938” along with a few unnamed shorts. It was once operated by Odeon Theatres Canada and finally Cineplex Odeon. It was closed on October 20, 2000 with “Gladiator”.
A 1984 aerial view shows that the foundations of the concession building and much of the faded traces are still visible. All of these vanished by the early-1990s.
The Jerry Lewis Cinema opened its doors as a 350-seat single-screener on February 3, 1972 with Arthur Hill in “The Andromeda Strain” and a special kiddie matinee of Jerry Lewis in “The Big Mouth”. In July of that same year, it was renamed the Sarno Plaza Cinema when Florida West Amusements acquired the theater. It became the Sarno Plaza Twin when it was twinned on June 17, 1977, and expanded to six screens on August 6, 1993, renaming it the Sarno 6 Cinemas. It was closed on May 21, 2000.
A 1993 aerial view shows the screen was still standing, with everything still intact. The only thing different is that there’s a building at the northwest corner of the traces. I’m very sure this may’ve closed in the late-1980s or the very early-1990s.
The Newtown Theatre is one of America’s oldest continuously operating theaters.
Joseph and Susan Archambault deeded Lot 18 of Newtown Common to establish a “free and independent anti-sectarian house of worship and free burying ground,“ creating the Free Church in April 1831, but officially became the Newtown Hall by the 1840s. The Newtown Hall hosting town meetings and lectures with statutory permissions granted in both 1842 and 1853. Despite being rebuilt in 1883, it was known as one of the showbiz houses in the suburbs of Philadelphia, running a mix of minstrel shows, medicine shows, circuses, dances, and Swarthmore Chautauqua performances, including a very notable event where Frederick Douglass appeared in-person on February 4, 1864, which the event drew massive crowds at the Newtown Hall.
Throughout the 1880s and 1900s, it had major upgrades such as a gallery in 1887, electric lighting in 1894, and a fire escape in 1904. Concerts, theatre, and educational events were also added around the time as well, including their own orchestra named after the town established in 1884.
Movies began screening at the Newtown in 1906 when it first film was screened there. However, after remodeling in 1936, two years later comes a court decree which officially authorized films and theatrical performances while preserving its religious and burial purposes in 1938. In 1972, projectionist Amos Farruggio rented the hall from the Community Welfare Council, who had been operating the theater since 1953, spruced it up and kept the theater alive until his death. His wife was able to take it over until her death in 2005.
You should also take a look at this site that features the entire list of theaters across the DC Metro with 70mm installations throughout the years: https://www.in70mm.com/country/usa/d/dc/index.htm
The description should’ve said that this was the last Loews/Loews Cineplex theater ever opened.
Opened in 1968, closed in 2015 because of bankruptcy, sat abandoned for five years, reopened in May 2020 as a popular moviegoer experience during the pandemic.
Closed on October 31, 2024, currently vacant.
Opened in June 1968.
Edited from my February 9, 2025 (3:33 PM) comment:
Correction: This opened on May 22, 1968, not 1969.
Opened on June 27, 1969 with Steve McQueen in “Bullitt”.
Still operating in the mid-1980s, but the screen was most likely removed by 1988.
Twinned on October 23, 1981.
I looked at Google Earth, and holy crap the layout is ugly as hell. The second screen that was recently added was located VERY DAMN CLOSE to a large garage, and there are no traces AT ALL in the view, making the exact number of the car capacity harder. Judging by the layout of the land, I’m just going to guess around 50 cars when it first opened. In my opinion, this has to be one of the ugliest looking drive-ins I’ve ever seen.
The Somerset Theatre opened its doors on December 31, 1937 with Warner Baxter in “Vogues Of 1938” along with a few unnamed shorts. It was once operated by Odeon Theatres Canada and finally Cineplex Odeon. It was closed on October 20, 2000 with “Gladiator”.
Taken over by Neighborhood Theatres in June 1969.
Very unique to see Kodak sponsoring the opening!
Definitely closed after the 1955 season. It also appears that the screen was immediately removed after closure.
Still operating in the early-1980s, but the screen was gone by 1984.
Gone by 1984.
Still open in 1956, but was already gone by 1962. The screen remained standing for a time after closure.
A 1984 aerial view shows that the foundations of the concession building and much of the faded traces are still visible. All of these vanished by the early-1990s.
Closed on September 4, 1995, last operated by Cobb Theatres.
The Jerry Lewis Cinema opened its doors as a 350-seat single-screener on February 3, 1972 with Arthur Hill in “The Andromeda Strain” and a special kiddie matinee of Jerry Lewis in “The Big Mouth”. In July of that same year, it was renamed the Sarno Plaza Cinema when Florida West Amusements acquired the theater. It became the Sarno Plaza Twin when it was twinned on June 17, 1977, and expanded to six screens on August 6, 1993, renaming it the Sarno 6 Cinemas. It was closed on May 21, 2000.
Closed on January 5, 1974.
Definitely short-lived. That year’s aerial view shows that the screen is gone.
Gone by 1981.
A 1993 aerial view shows the screen was still standing, with everything still intact. The only thing different is that there’s a building at the northwest corner of the traces. I’m very sure this may’ve closed in the late-1980s or the very early-1990s.