The Oldest Operating Movie Theater In The Country Is Right Here In Pennsylvania
By Beth Price-Williams|Updated on May 03, 2024(Originally published January 06, 2017)
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Growing up in Southwestern Pennsylvania – and less than an hour from Indiana – naturally meant becoming a fan of Jimmy Stewart. There’s just something so enchanting about the golden age of film and those old movie stars – Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and Gary Cooper. A visit to Newtown Theatre, the oldest theatre in Pennsylvania, offers a glimpse of yesteryear, complete with freshly popped popcorn and old black-and-white movies (from time to time).
Nestled in the Bucks County town of Newtown, the Newtown Theatre, then Newtown Hall, first opened in 1831 with a dual purpose: To serve as a town hall for community gatherings and as a congregation site for traveling priests.
Within a few decades, however, Newtown Hall transitioned into an entertainment center where townspeople would attend magic shows, concerts, plays, dances, and other social events.
Then, in 1906, Newtown residents gathered for the first movie showing, marking a poignant moment in town history: Newtown Hall, soon to be Newtown Theatre, began its journey to becoming one of America's oldest continuously operating movie theaters.
After purchasing your tickets, enter the auditorium through the grand theater doors. The theater shows movies and hosts plays, concerts, and other productions.
During its 100-year history, Newtown Theatre has evolved quite a bit. In 2021, it underwent renovations that included, among others, the addition of new vintage seats and a wheelchair lift.
The historic movie theater hosts events throughout the year, including the Black & White Dinner, a fundraising event. Guests bring their own picnic dinner, dress in white and black, and watch a black and white film from Hollywood's Golden Era.
The Newtown Theatre welcomes community members and other theater-goers to become one of its members. Members enjoy such benefits as discounted movie tickets and exclusive members-only events.
Have you been to Newtown Theatre in Pennsylvania? What did you think? Let us know in the comments! While you’re in town, slip on a pair of comfy hiking shoes, and follow the Tyler State Park Trail, a wildflower trail in Newtown, Pennsylvania.
