The Grand, despite its state of such disrepair, opened on July 29th, 2005, almost exactly 11 months after the purchase by its new owners. Primarily, we are a second-run movie theater featuring current and selected historical films as they are available. All film will be presented in dts® Digital Surround – very uncommon for small-town, independent theaters! Part of The Grand’s history was an early 1970’s concert by Ted Nugent. We plan on having select artists to complement our main offering of current films. We have enlarged the stage and saved the old vaudeville-era dressing rooms. We anticipate having local talent utilize The Grand’s facilities. We have painstakingly researched The Grand as well as the neo-classical design that inspired the builders and owners of The Grand in 1924. The charm and ambiance of old theaters are usually not the film that is showing – rather the building itself. We are striving to transport our guests back to the 1920s/30s/40s when going to the movies was a true experience. The Grand is the original name of the theater when it opened on October 4, 1924. It was called The Grand until the Fall of 1966 when new managers took over. In 1966, The Grand was showing its age and was a bit “rough around the edges” leading to it having a reputation that it was “aged”. The new name, The Valley Theater, highlighted the new and modern look that the renovations gave the theater. For the similar reasons, we decided that since we are restoring the theater to its original look, The Grand would be best. We are dedicated to keeping The Grand a local icon and the centerpiece of the Upper Perkiomen Valley. Therefore, we are taking great pride in having our admission price over 50% off the cost of going to a big-box megaplex…so much history…so nicer…so economical…so close to home!! Please remember that the primary way theaters make profit to pay the bills is through concession sales. Most, and sometimes all, of the ticket sales go directly to the movie distributor such as Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, etc. However, since we want to be THE place to see movies, you will notice our food and soda prices are priced well below the huge megaplexes. When The Grand first opened it had what was called a “second lobby” upstairs, which was used mostly for smoking (now prohibited) and socializing. We are putting that area back into The Grand and it will be available on a reservation basis as “VIP Seating” for up to 12 people for events such as anniversaries, birthdays, etc. The cost is higher than regular admission. Yes, we have a rental program with a special emphasis on children's birthday parties. It is our hope that the birthday child may take an interest in old theaters by hitting the button to start the film! Please email us for more information: mail@TheGrandTheater.org Yes and yes, as the movie studios make the product available to us. Please remember, the studios own the rights to all films and they have the final say if they want it shown anymore on the big screen or not. All equipment, including seating, was removed and disposed of prior to Grand-Valley Holdings, LP buying the building. Since the seats were removed before we bought it and the fact that low-rise seats are no longer made in the “loveseat” configuration (only stadium seating), we are limited to providing loveseats in the balcony area only (isn’t that where they should be?)! The organ project is currently under way. Please check back for updates. www.GlobeInn.net www.RoxyTheaterNorthampton.com www.CinemaTreasures.org MiniatureSchnauzer.ca/photogallery.htm |