Haddon Twp replacing theatre sidewalk

A few years back the front sidewalk bilco door, which leads to one of the theatre’s basements, began to cave in. The concrete around the door started breaking away and water, dirt, trash and probably rodents were able to get in more easily. Today the township removed the damaged section of the sidewalk and tamped down the dirt in preparation for pouring new concrete later this week.

Westmont Theatre sidewalk

Cleaned up sidewalk ready for new concrete

Day three of the Westmont Marquee

On Friday the construction company removed the roof top on the marquee. Now you can look straight up and see the 2n story windows. More info and photos to follow…

Marquee without the roof

2nd story windows seen through the marquee

Meeting with the Mayor

The NCW meeting last Wednesday went very well. The group met with Paul Lazar from the Gibraltar Construction Corporation. Mr. Lazar presented a cost estimate report that explained what needs to be repaied or replaced in order to restore the Westmont Theatre as a film and performing arts venue.

Tomorrow (Thursday Sept. 17th) seven members from the NCW are meeting with Mayor Teague to discuss the cost estimate. The outcome of that meeting will help to gauge if this restoration process can proceed and if the FOWT (Friends of the Westmont Theatre – an offshot of the NCW) group will form as a non-profit group to support the theatre.

Stay tuned… more “coming attractions” to follow shortly…

Determination of Westmont Theatre Redevelopment

Haddon Township sent the state dept 3 proposals on areas they feel should be in redevelopment zones. The Westmont Theatre, and its adjoining properties, was one of those proposals.

Click on the cover page below to read the application.

An introduction to the Neighbors Celebrating the Westmont group

Neighbors Celebrating the Westmont is an advocacy group comprised of members from the May 6 Committee, a group formed in 2006 to promote the premiere of the documentary film, The Grand Old Lady.

Below is some information about who this group is and what they stand for:

Neighbors Celebrating the Westmont (NCW)—Our Mission

We are advocates who provide support and non-financial assistance for the restoration of the Westmont Theatre and its use as a venue for the performing and film arts.

Neighbors Celebrating the Westmont (NCW)—What we Stand: (Our Stand)

As advocates and supporters, we use numerous forums and means to accomplish our mission of re-establishing The Westmont Theatre as a venue for the performing and film arts. We believe a restored Westmont Theatre will benefit Haddon Township by: 1) Strengthening community image and sense of place including how we are viewed by those outside our community; 2) Supporting economic development by stimulating additional new businesses as well as increasing revenue for our existing local businesses; 3) Increasing property values; 4) Promoting the township with a viable destination as a unique cultural arts center; and 5) Fostering education, development, and appreciation of the arts to people of all ages.

Additional Information about NCW

Recognizing that the Westmont Theatre, the last surviving vaudeville-era theatre left in Camden County, is to be treasured, our group was formed. We believe it should serve as an example of a progressive community fulfilling a duty to restore an important historical resource that can be a major asset to the Township. We formed first as a body of people involved in the documentary “The Grand Old Lady ” beginning in 2006. From this group, a core group of members, which continues to grow, have, and will continue to meet. Our group is not now, nor was ever “tied to,” “working for,” or “in favor” of any specific developer’s proposal, organization, individual or government entity. Our group will meet with people or groups that can assist or provide valuable input into how we can accomplish our mission. However we have, and will continue to always advocate and demonstrate our support to renovate and reuse the theatre only. As proposals are discussed or presented in public forums, we will speak as advocates for the benefits and necessity of restoration of the theatre only–our mission. When we speak or otherwise advocate, it is solely in the interest of our mission, even if we speak at the request of a developer, a government entity, or an individual. We are not a group that is in existence with the goal of becoming a 501 ( c ) 3 for any fund-raising or developer’s purpose.

If anyone is interested in joining this group, its constantly expanding, please use the “contact us” email link in the side bar and we’ll forward your information to the group.

Public Meeting to discuss proposals is set!

On Monday June 23rd at 7PM in the Auditorium at Haddon Township High School, the town commission will hold a public meeting to discuss the proposals.

Each developer will be given 30 minutes to present their proposal to the community.

Click HERE for further details.

Posting by Film Theatre Historian, Allen Hauss

As Posted by Iver Peterson in the NY TImes

In Jersey, Old Theaters Get New Role

LEAD: Victoria Holt Hardy describes the interior of the old Rivoli Theater here as a ruin, and it is. Yet these are exciting times for both theater restorers and regional theater in New Jersey, and she is not letting a little missing plaster, or even a lot of missing seats, stand in her way., Special to the New York

Victoria Holt Hardy describes the interior of the old Rivoli Theater here as a ruin, and it is. Yet these are exciting times for both theater restorers and regional theater in New Jersey, and she is not letting a little missing plaster, or even a lot of missing seats, stand in her way., Special to the New York Times

So the Rivoli gets by with bleachers and make-do stages while Ms. Hardy, director of the William Carlos Williams Center for the Arts, hunts for money to finish restoring it.

In Lakewood, the management of the Ocean County Center for the Arts has repainted one section of the old Strand Theater’s ornate plasterwork, just to give a taste of what, given the money, the finished hall could look like.

In Englewood, the John Harms Center for the Arts warns summer theater players that the air-conditioning equipment in the old Plaza Theater was new in 1949. Rescued From Demolition

These are a few of almost a dozen old movie palaces and vaudeville halls, most of them masterpieces of baroque, gilded opulence, that have been rescued from neglect and demolition by New Jersey arts lovers in the last few years.

They have been turned into the centerpieces of nonprofit arts centers, often backed by city and county governments, that produce their own shows, bring in touring companies, offer space for amateur groups and rent the stage for everything from high school graduations to rock concerts.

Just imagine if the same wonderful revitalization happens to the Westmont Theatre!

For the full story click here

Posting by Film Theatre Historian Allen Hauss

The Landis Theatre in Vineland, New Jersey is getting a “fresh start” thanks to the like-minded community working together to revitalize the theatre.

The same can and SHOULD happen to our beloved Westmont Theatre – there’s no reason why they could succeed and we could fail!

To read more about the success of the Landis Theatre, check out The Daily Journal news article.

Westmont Blog crew is cleaning the Westmont exterior on Saturday

Hello Everyone!

We’ve received some solid support in regards to the debris discussion.

The Westmont Blog Crew is going to remove the debris around the fencing, sweep the sidewalk on Haddon Ave., cleanup the parking lot (as best as we can given the size) and try to remove some of the trash from the rear lot.

If your around on Saturday, please stop by and lend a hand

-as the old adage goes: “Many hands make lite work!”

We’ll be there promptly at 10am and we’ll have limited cleaning supplies with us, so any assitance (trashbags, brooms, gloves, etc..) would really help!

Our video crew will also be there filming the cleanup.  Feel free to share your thoughts on the Westmont for our video podcasts too!

Thanks,

Westmont Theatre Blog Crew