Westmont Theater - Westmont, NJ
N 39° 54.745 W 075° 03.228
18S E 495401 N 4418037
The Westmont Theatre opened at 49 Haddon Avenue on Labor Day (September 5, 1927), with a seating capacity of 1800 during the waning of the Vaudeville era (It had a stage size was 40' x 35') and silent films.
Waymark Code: WM4GJX
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 08/22/2008
Views: 92
It is such a shame to see this building in a state of increasing dilapidation. There is so much history here and hopefully it will open again, soon. I remember being in the inside when I was little. It was very impressive. The interior was decorated in silk fabrics of gold and "old rose." The original grand marquee was made for the theatre by The Philadelphia Sign Company. (description comes from the below listed website)
The Westmont Theater opened in 1927 and began showing silent films. Back then every Sunday a 120-piece orchestra would perform along with the film playing on the screen. The theater closed during World War II, but reopened in 1949 when it was renovated into a 1,200-seat first-run movie house. But ironically, the movie icon who was destined for greatness because he saw a movie at the Westmont Theater might actually be the cause of the theater's demise. Because with the birth of the "Summer Blockbuster" thanks to a movie called "Jaws" the movie industry and movie theaters began to change. Theaters expanded from just 1 to 2 screens to massive complexes that could hold anywhere between 12 to 24 movie screens. As the times changed The Westmont Theater however did not, and in 1986 the curtain fell and the doors closed on this New Jersey landmark.
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According to the Courier-News, "Steven Spielberg, who lived in Haddonfield when his father worked at RCA in Camden, credits seeing "The Greatest Show on Earth' at the Westmont in 1952 at age five as what inspired him to become a director."
The Westmont closed in 1979 and reopened as a twin later that year.
It was later purchased by Raymond Posel, who owned/owns a number of theaters in the Philly area. Unfortunately, this Posel house only lasted until 1986.
The theater was bought by the township in 2000 for $250,000.
Today, the theater seats only 300 -- the balcony, hidden by a false ceiling, is used to store costumes.
The February 27, 2008 Courier-Post reported that Haddon Township is looking for a new developer to reopen the Westmont Theatre. There is also concern about the marquee, which may be removed.
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