The County Theater – A Downtown Deco Delight in Doylestown PA

2021: The County is EXPANDING! See all about it here: https://www.countytheater.org/expansion/

2017 Update! GOOD NEWS: Much like Mod Betty's beloved Colonial Theatre, the County has been able to purchase the building adjacent to the theater, enabling them to expand their lobby space as well as add another auditorium.

We've also learned that in addition to the independent, art and classic movies they show on their 2 screens, they also share productions from London's National Theatre Live and Royal Opera House in Digital HD as part of their Lively Arts programming.

Also, while their current lobby space may be diminutive, they do pack quite a snack punch there, offering some of the best coffee in Doylestown, fresh baked goodies and imported candies in addition to your treasured sno-caps and M&Ms.

So hooray for historic downtown theaters! They're few and far between, so visit every one you can! 

Our post from 2009:

Opened in 1938, renovated in 1998, Doylestown's County Theater is an art deco gem of a movie theater, as you can see below:

Located smackdab in the middle of bustling downtown Doylestown Pennsylvania, the theater specializes in independent, art, and foreign films. In addition to their regular programming they also offer a variety of special events ranging from Saturday Kid's Matinees to classic Hollywood films.They also share programming with the just as picturesque Ambler, Hiway and Garden Theaters,  giving you more of an opportunity to see some cool films you might miss.

I remember the first time I saw The County, driving from The Michener Museum back to Delaware. It was such a striking vision with the yellow and blue facade, huge neon sign and rounded art deco windows, that it put Doylestown on my mental map of places to return to. This past weekend we were able to revisit the town on an unseasonably warm November day, and examine The County up close.

I could quibble about the fact that The County is not a single screen theater, but I will instead be glad that this glorious facade hasn't been torn down, and that people in the Bucks County area have a historic downtown movie palace to view films that would never fly at the megaplexes.