Souderton’s Broad Theater is ready for its close-up, Mr. DeMille.
More than a century after opening its doors to rave reviews and huge audiences during the silent film and vaudeville era of cinema on July 21, 1922, The Broad Theater in Souderton invites the public to celebrate its Centennial on Saturday, July 30, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. with – what else? – a free 1920s-themed 100th Anniversary party, according to Bob Keeler of The Independent.
The feature presentations will be Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin short films, according to co-owner Kyle Hoff. There will be big band music and guests are encouraged to dress up in 1920s attire for the jubilee. Hors d’oeuvres will start at 7 p.m., per the report, and Broad Street Pizza is catering the event. Free Will Brewing will have a cash bar.
The Broad Theater has come a long way from its 700-seat single-screen roots, now boasting three screens and 320 total seats inside the renovated West Broad Street movie theater, including a lobby with ample seating — which comes in handy during its trivia nights — and a bar area serving beer and other libations from Free Will Brewing.
The community can also rent the theater and book tickets for showtimes through a mobile app.
The theater’s box office is a mixture of new movies, pop culture cult classics, arthouse pieces, and classic films at any given time, and that satisfies many age groups. This week’s lineup, for instance, is “Where the Crawdads Sing,” “Thor: Love and Thunder” and “Minions: The Rise of Gru.” On deck are “Purple Rain,” “T2: Terminator 2,” “Elvis,” “Bullet Train,” “GoodFellas,” “Sweet Charity,” and “Don’t Worry Darling.”
On its 30-cent-admission opening night, according to a July 21, 1922 advertisement, it showed Cecil B. DeMille’s “Fool’s Paradise” and “Between the Acts” with Larry Semon.
The Broad Theater was designed and built by Souderton architect Jerome S. Landes. It was renovated in the 1940s, according to the website Cinema Treasures. It closed in 2004. New owners began renovations in May 2018 and reopened in November 2020.
Landes would go on and design and build the one-screen, 350-seat Grand Theater in East Greenville in 1924.
Read more about the event here.
Register for the free event here.
Check out movies, showtimes and more here.
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