New Westmont article in The Retrospect

In this week’s edition of The Retrospect, there’s a story on the front page that talks about the recent work on the marquee and sidewalks, as well as a possible future path for theatre restoration. To read the article click on the image below.

NCW meeting this week

The Neighbors Celebrating the Westmont (NCW) is meeting this Thursday to discuss the next steps in their process of forming a non-profit group (Friends of the Westmont Theatre) to be the financial arm for the theater’s restoration and, if restored, would oversee the day-to-day operations and theatre programming.

This meeting was originally set for the Rorher Library, but the libraries meeting rooms are booked. So the meeting will now taking place at a private residency in Haddon Township. If you’re interested in attending this meeting, please email the group and you’ll be given the address for the meeting, which is at 7pm this Thursday.

Photos from historic registry meeting

A member of the NCW took some photographs at yesterday’s meeting. They weren’t premitted to take pictures inside the meeting room, but we have a few images that we can share with you.

Westmont receives historic registry

The Westmont Theatre was approved for the state’s historic registry!!!

More information on this to follow…

Event at Camden County College

Last night’s event at Camden County College went well. NCW members Allen Hauss, Nancy Leggoe and Brent Donaway attended and had a table setup with NCW/Westmont info. Over the course of an hour they handed out  several copies of the awareness flyer, the Westmont postcard and The Grand Old Lady commemorative book. The NCW awareness video was screened to students, professors, administrators and visiting journalists/film critics throughout the event.

They spoke with several people who remember going to the Westmont to see movies when they were younger. The Exorcist, which had its South Jersey premiere at the Westmont, was a topic of conversation for a few people. They remember all the commotion about that film and how people had to taken out on stretches/wheelchairs to the EMT trucks because they got ill/fainted while watching the film.

 

 Below is a picture of Allen and Nancy and the NCW table before the event began.

 

NCW meeting recap and Facebook

The NCW had an excellent turnout at last week’s meeting and three new people joined the group. The next meeting has not been set yet, but check back regularly for meeting announcements.

In an effort to spread awareness of the NCW and the Westmont, the group has created a Facebook account.  They’ve been up only a week  now and already have over 100 members. If you’re into social networking and love the Westmont, we strongly encourage you to take a look at the group’s site. You can see Westmont pictures, watch videos, read comments and share your favorite Westmont memories.

We’ve added the facebook link to our sidebar menu, so feel free to check it out!

2009 and the Westmont Theatre…

We hope everyone had a wondeful holiday season!

The status of the Westmont Theatre is still uncertain. There hasn’t been any public notices or articles in any of the local papers for some time now. In fact, to our knowledge, the demolition of the house next to the theatre during Thanksgiving week wasn’t even in the papers.  So…, its anyone’s guess right now on how the Westmont will fair in 2009.

If anyone has any information regarding the litigation or the status of possible redevelopment, please reach out to us or to the NCW – we can both be reached by using the “Contact Us” email link, located in the column bar to the right.

TD Bank in Haddon Township has Westmont Theatre mural

Hi Everyone,

TD Bank on the corner of Haddon and Crystal Lake Ave. (across from Brewers Towne Tavern) has a giant Westmont Theatre mural on its wall. The mural is located just around the corner from the ‘Penny Arcade’ coin center.

The image used to create the mural is the legendary 1927 Charlie Chaplin photograph, which was donated to TD Bank by the NCW (Neighbors Celebrating the Westmont).

Be sure to stop by and take a look. And while you’re there, you can grab a free copy of the mural in a take-home poster size – courtesy of TD Bank.

More demolition next to the Westmont

As some may have seen, a demolition company over the holiday break torn down the house that sits next to and slightly behind the Westmont Theatre. This property, in addition to another house and a roofing company building (they were torn down in 2007) are all owned by the WDG – Wesmont Development Group, more prescisely Joanna Pang. Now there is one large, empty field to the right of the Westmont Theatre.

We haven’t heard any reports on the WDG and town litigation, but it does make one wonder if an agreement has been reached and if this new demolition is a tail-tell sign of things to come. If so…, hopefully its a positive sign but only time will tell.

 

NCW mentioned in Haddon Herald

The Neighbors Celebrating the Westmont is being showcased in this week’s edition of the Haddon Herald.

To read the article, click on the image below.