WIND GAP, Pa. — A one-screen retro movie house made a triumphant return to the magic of cinema Friday night with a double showing of action-packed adventure masterpieces.
Shuttered since 2020, The Gap Theatre held a grand reopening with a double feature of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom."
New owners Harry and Jaime Guerro have invested plenty of time and energy into breathing new life into the 75-year-old location.
And based on the response from the crowd on Friday, it appears the hard work paid off.
With a relit marquee and plenty of people streaming into the theater, Harry Guerro happily served as a ticket-checker to a bevy of enthused fans.
They spanned from fresh-faced young'uns to those who could remember first seeing everyone's favorite archaeologist in the theater when "Raiders" first premiered.
Reviving the theatre
Guerro, co-owner of Philadelphia’s Exhumed Films, has leased the property from owner Joseph Farruggio, and will run the operation with Michael and Kaitlyn Drumbore.
"It's a shame to see stuff like this go at a waste and be turned into a hardware store or drugstore or something like that."Harry Guerro, The Gap Theatre
According to Guerro, Farruggio owned the property since 1981.
Guerro discovered the hidden gem while working alongside The Mahoning Drive-In near Lehighton, Carbon County, which he helped with programming in its first season of rebirth in 2014.
“Through the Mahoning, I found out about Joe, the owner here, and that's how I found out about this theater lying dormant,” Guerro said.
“And you know, like everything else, it's a shame to see stuff like this go at a waste and be turned into a hardware store or drugstore or something like that.
"So I said, ‘Let's try to get in there and see if we can reopen this place, doing the 35-millimeter stuff, the old stuff that we love.’”
After Guerro and his crew invested two years of work in the place, it was ready for its big debut.
Outside of some basic upkeep, such as installing a heating and air-conditioning system and getting the electricity going again, Guerro focused on many cosmetic elements of the property, including the marquee.
But Guerro aimed to maintain the aesthetic for which the theater was known years ago, including wood paneling, the 1980s-era paint colors, the simple, classic concession stand, and, of course, the 35mm projector.
While there will be plenty of classic films, genre staples and more, Guerro said he hopes to expand the location’s offerings to live shows.
For now, he said he’s happy to bring a small independent theater back for a soft opening month, with a grand premiere set for April.
As for why he went with the first two films in the beloved adventuring archaeologist series, Guerro said they were some of the first films to truly capture his attention.
“I remember seeing 'Raiders' as a little kid, and it made me sit on the edge of my seat — it stood out among everything else," he said.
"I was like, ‘This is really a movie!’ So I thought it was the perfect movie to start with."
'An incredible achievement'
Friday’s showing drew a diverse crowd, including Lauren Horn and her boys Ryder and Jacob.
The young mom and her sons were thrilled to get the opportunity to see a classic hero on the big screen, she said.
“We were just excited that it opened back up," Horn said. "I used to come here when I was younger, so I wanted to bring them.
She said her son Ryder "did come when he was younger, but it's Jacob's first time here tonight, and it's Indiana Jones, which is even more exciting, because we're all big fans.”
Sitting inside the theater well before showtime, Mike Kenny said he was thrilled to see Guerro open up the spot again to exhibit 35mm films.
“It’s a pretty incredible achievement, so we’re here to support that,” Kenny said.
“To have just such an eclectic mix of different genres playing, it's so rare, and special to see it on 35 millimeter, it just doesn't get done like that.
"Now, everything's digital, and it's kind of flat and kind of dead in a way. So, you know, there's so much richness and texture in seeing film, it's just really special to see it, especially in a communal environment like this.”
And, of course, a cursory scan of the crowd revealed at least a few people who came in costume, or, at the very least, wearing Jones’s classic signature fedora.
'You need places like this'
Things got a bit eerier at the midnight show with the David Lynch classic "Eraserhead."
Saturday’s slate includes a reshowing of the aforementioned Indiana Jones pictures starting at 2 p.m., with a John Carpenter triple-feature set to start at 7:30 p.m. with "Escape from New York," "Assault on Precinct 13," and "Dark Star."
Those with a soft spot for action-oriented crime should swing by on Sunday for a triple-feature of Lee Van Cleef films, starting at 2 p.m. with "The Hard Way," followed by "The Squeeze" and "Escape from Death Row."
Starting at 7:30 p.m., there will be more Van Cleef for the fans, with features of "Death Rides a Horse" and "The Grand Duel."
“I mean, if you don't have stuff like this, then the films are going to be forgotten."Harry Guerro, The Gap Theatre
Future showings will include a mix of cult sci-fi, horror, exploitation and plenty more, but film buffs can also get a look at special showcases for beloved directors from horror and action fanatic John Carpenter to French New Wave pioneer Jean-Luc Godard.
Fans of newer content also will see some special features in the future, Guerro said.
It’s all in an effort, he said, to provide the public with a bit of history, a touch of nostalgic fun, and an appreciation for the art of cinema, and the independent theaters that keep it alive.
“I mean, if you don't have stuff like this, then the films are going to be forgotten," Guerro said. "You need places like this where you can show these movies and places where people come to experience these films.
"If you don't have these places, you know, people become unaware of it. It's history. We want to show a little bit of everything, but we need people to come out and support these shows if they want to see more of them.”
Film buffs can take a look at coming features on The Gap Theatre website, where they also can buy tickets for shows.
