Sellersville Theater
24 W. Temple Avenue,
Sellersville,
PA
18960
24 W. Temple Avenue,
Sellersville,
PA
18960
1 person
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Related Websites
Sellersville Theater (Official)
Additional Info
Functions: Live Music Venue, Performing Arts
Previous Names: Selvil Theater, Sellersville Cinema, Cinema 1894
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
215.257.5808
Nearby Theaters
The Selvil Theater was opened on June 2, 1950 with Red Skelton in “The Yellow Cab Man”. On February 16, 1970 it was destroyed by a fire which began at the stage end and brought the auditorium roof down. It was rebuilt and reopened as the 384-seat Cinema 1894 on August 16, 1972 with Michael Jayston in “Nicholas and Alexandra”. It was independently operated. It was closed in May 2001 with Brendan Fraser in “The Mummy Returns”.
It now operates as a performing arts centre and live music venue.
Contributed by
William Quigley
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
The theater was put up for auction in November 1976:
AUCTION
MOVIE THEATER K/A CINEMA 1894
SEATS 384
FOR: ROBERT & JOAN IANNETTA
24 W. Temple Avenue
Sellersville, Pa.
FRI., NOV. 19,1976 2:00 P.M.
REAL ESTATE – MOVIE THEATER
An Old Landmark, Completely rebuilt in 1972, Cement Block Construction, 36 x 132, Seats 384 in pushback seats, 15 x 31 Technikote XR 171 Gain Screen, 2 Simplex 35 Projectors, 2 Christie Xenon Console Systems, Simplex 35 Optical bound System, All in Like New Condition. Lg. Lobby, 2 Lavatories, ticket office, 2nd flr. office & partial basement, 3 phase elec.– 1,000 Amps, W.A. Heat Oil Fired, Air Conditioned by York, fully carpeted, in operation showing A GOOD NET INCOME. Situated on a Corner Lot 56.50 x 160, ample parking in the area.
Inspection – Fri., Nov. 12th, 2-4 P.M. or by appt. & day of sale after 1 P.M. Sale Subject to Confirmation Terms -10% down day of sale; settlement within 60 days. SANFORD A. ALDERFER, INC, Real Estate Brokers And Auctioneers Harleysville, Pa.
Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine in November 1970:
The owner of the Selvil Theater in Sellersville, Herman Haines of Philadelphia, hopes to sell the showhouse to someone who would like to break into the exhibition business. The Selvil was damaged by fire last February. The nearest theaters are four miles away in Quakertown and Souderton.
I’ve been to a few concerts at this theater, and you can tell it started life as a movie theater, and I beleive they still sometimes (infrequently) show movies. The people who manage/own the Sellersville Theater 1894 also manage/own the Washington House Restaurant next door to it.
Here’s a short “tour” of the theater from the official website of the Sellersville Theater 1894:
http://www.st94.com/about/takeatour/index.aspx
Here is an article about the former cinema’s success as a live music venue.
Opened as Cinema 1894 on August 16th, 1972.
Found on Newspapers.com
The Selvil Theatre opened its doors on June 2, 1950 with Red Skelton in “The Yellow Cab Man” (unknown if extras added). Unfortunately it was destroyed by a stage end fire on February 16, 1970, exactly 20 minutes after “Oliver!” concluded, which caused its roof to collapse. The original theater itself was destroyed with the exception of its walls.
The Cinema 1894 was built on the site of the old Selvil Theatre, opening on August 16, 1972 with “Nicholas And Alexandria”, featuring 384 seats and red and gold interior decorations. The Cinema 1894 was originally owned by the husband-and-wife team of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ianetta of Quakertown, and the “1894” was named after a cornerstone found in the debris inscribing the date 1894. The Cinema 1894 closed as a movie theater in May 2001 with the last film being “The Mummy Returns”.
Here is the official Facebook page for Sellersville Theater. Not sure why it’s status is still Closed. They are running the film “It’s A Wonderful Life” this Christmas in addition to it’s live entertainment.
https://www.facebook.com/SellersvilleTheater
Status must say open and playing movies.
What I mean is that the Cinema 1894 closed as a first-run house in May 2001 before it reopened as the Sellersville Theater showing performing arts, classic movies, and a live music venue.