Broad Theater celebrates 100th anniversary – thereporteronline

SOUDERTON — Vests, hats and bowties for men; headbands, strings of pearls and women’s dresses.

These were some of the fashion moments as patrons recreated 1920s clothing while listening to music from the era, watching silent movies and gathering to share memories at the Broad Theatre’s 100th anniversary celebration July 30.

Ed Clemens lived nearby in the 1960s.

“We could go to the movies,” he said.

Deb Crown recalled coming to the theater as a teenager in the 1960s.

“I grew up in this area, so I came to the Broad Theater many, many times. It was a big deal on Friday night,” she said. “Everyone came to the Broad Theater.”

Fast forward to 2004. Charlie and Deb Crown went to the Broad Theater to see a movie, and when they bought tickets, they were told that unless enough tickets were sold, the movie wouldn’t be shown that night.

“They didn’t sell the tickets and that’s why they gave us the check,” Deb Crown said. “We had a rain notice on the bulletin board and then the theater closed.”

Flash forward to 2020 again and Charlie Crown and Kyle Hoff have reopened the movie theater.

When Charlie said she and Kyle were thinking about buying a theater, her initial response was, “Oh, you’re crazy. Don’t do that, said Deb.

“But he did it, and now it’s wonderful,” she said, “and the community is so invested in the theater that it’s great, it’s fun.”

“They’ve created a great place here,” Clemens said.

Clemens, who retired after owning a welding business, and Charlie Crown said they put a lot of work into restoring the theater’s original 1922 neon sign, which Crown installed above the inside of the front door the morning of the 100th anniversary celebration. .

Although both are red neon, there are changes in the restored sign.

“It’s LED neon,” said Charlie Crown.

When the Broad opened on July 21, 1922, the first film was Cecil D’Mille’s Fool’s Paradise.

The possibility of re-screening this film was considered but rejected for two reasons, said Charlie Crown.

“It’s not in digital format,” he said, “and it’s also a terrible movie.”

However, other silent films were screened as part of the anniversary celebrations.

A certificate commemorating the anniversary was presented by the office of state Rep. Steve Malagari, D-53rd Dist.

Attendees were invited to share their memories of Shiroky in writing or on video.

“It’s so cool that you people come out to support the theater,” Charlie Crown said. He and Hoff want it “to be a place where the community can come together, have fun and continue to make memories,” he said.