Amble On Down to The Ambler Theater – Ambler PA

2017 Update:

Happy to report that the Ambler is going strong and is even more beautiful than we remembered! The entire town has blossomed, offering a number of places to eat, drink and shop, so plan on spending some extra time in town before your show. 

Original 2009 post:

We're lucky here in Eastern Pennsylvania that we've still got a handful of historic movie theaters in our downtowns. I know other folks aren't able to amble down to Main Street to see a movie, so I try to support these vintage movie theaters when I can.

One that I dig but don't visit often enough is the Ambler Theater,  in Ambler PA.
Opened in 1928, the Ambler Theater has a Spanish Colonial style facade and a gorgeous 30 foot vertical sign that lights up the quaint main thoroughfare of Ambler. (I will note for purists that the sign is not the original-which was demolished in the late '60's- but rather an exact replica installed in 2005.)

I won't get into the stories of the Ambler's past,  but you probably know the story by now- theater going affected by TV, changing tastes,  theater in peril, closed, and now re-opened. What I will let you know that The Ambler is now a non-profit theater showing a variety of independent, art, and foreign films.

(I was thrilled to be able to see Breakfast at Tiffany's on the big screen at the Ambler, and Retro Roadhusband and I have enjoyed some classic cartoons from the collection of local  film preservationist Lou DiCrescenzo, who shares his collection of rare and vintage films with the Ambler Theater.)

There are still some architectural details preserved in the lobby, so take a moment to appreciate them before you head in to your show.

Current theatergoing trends in seating and multi-screening have not bypassed the Ambler,  which now has 2 "black box" auditoriums with stadium seating in addition to the grand front auditorium which was re-opened in 2007.

Seating 275+  people, the main auditorium features a 30 foot wide movie screen,decorative organ lofts that flank either side of the auditorium, and faux painted beams in the ceiling, made of plaster but meant to look like wood.

In this day and age of blockbusters and megaplexes I applaud the volunteers and non-profit folks who saw that that the Ambler was worth saving and hope it continues to warm downtown Ambler with it's golden glow for years to come.