711 Beach Drive
Cape May,
NJ
08204
www.beachtheatre.org
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BEACH THEATRE
From the opening day
of the Beach Theatre on Thursday,
June 29th 1950, it has been an
integral part of Cape May's artistic
community. Designed by the famous
theatre architect William H. Lee and
built by one of Cape May county's
most prominent businessmen, Mr.
William Hunt, this theatre would
combine the imagination of both
men's visions. The architect
deliberately designed a structure to
retain the qualities of old Cape May
while launching her into the future
- combining the concept of a movie
theatre to be built within a larger
mall-like complex in order to ensure
it's fiscal success. Taken from
excerpts from an early movie
industry periodical in 1950, I
quote- “The architect blended his
design of slender colonial like
columns, lace-like balustrade and
colonial lanterns to blend with the
general mid-Victorian architecture
of the resort. Natural wood paneling
with exhibits of contemporary artist
with an adjacent TV lounge were
special features of the foyer”
("Exhibitor” magazine 9/20/50).
The late architect
W.H. Lee is one of the country's
most prominent theatre architects.
Born in 1884 Mr. Lee died in 1971,
having studied architecture at the
University of Pennsylvania, he later
apprenticed with Furness & Evans in
1910, opening his own firm 2 years
later. He subsequently established
his reputation in his South St.
Philadelphia office, designing over
40 classic movie theaters in the
country; of which 9 remain open
today. The Beach Theatre was one of
his last projects of his career and
the only one remaining in Cape May
County.
BEACH THEATRE
FOUNDATION
The Beach Theatre
Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit
501(c)(3) designated corporation.
It’s mission is to save the historic
Beach Theatre in Cape May, New
Jersey and operate the theatre to
enrich the entertainment, cultural
and educational values of Cape May
and southern New Jersey. The Beach
Theatre was first opened in 1950 as
an 860 movie theatre by Hunt’s
Theatres, Inc. |
