In a small town in Northampton County with a population under 3,000 — roughly two hours from Center City — a newly renovated cinema is attracting large audiences with a dynamic lineup of films that matches the offerings of many city-based repertory theaters.
The Wind Gap theater, known as The Gap Theatre, initially opened its doors in 1949. It functioned as a first-run cinema for a while before shutting down in January 2020, just prior to the pandemic. It was brought back to life in March and now screens a wide range of older movies, including well-regarded classics, genre films, and rare titles, six days a week, with over 50 films each month. This schedule also features many double and triple screenings.
For the month of September only, the Gap has plannedGrease, a martial arts triple feature, andThe Rocky Horror Picture Show, among others.
As stated by Michael Drumbore, who runs the single-screen cinema with his wife, Kaitlyn, the beginning of the revival dates back roughly two years.
Drumbore and Harry Guerro, the South Jersey-based founder of Exhumed Films, were heading to Pittsburgh. Each of them had previously been employed at theMahoning Drive-in Theater, which, like the Gap, is owned by Joseph Farruggio. Their discussion shifted to whether there were any theaters where Guerro could potentially schedule films on a regular basis.
Drumbore, residing close to Wind Gap, brought up the Gap, which had been closed for three years by that time. In the end, they chose to rent the theater and restart its operations.
“So we invested two years in renovating and bringing the theater back to as close to its original state as possible,” Drumbore stated.
He mentioned that this involved a significant amount of cleaning, along with repairing the projection room, which had turned into, as he put it, “a shadow of its former self.” It was also essential to lay new electrical wiring and set up a 35 mm projector. Most of the movies shown in the theater are still on 35 mm film.
“This was an excellent opportunity to have and manage our own space, where we can schedule any content we desire, every day, throughout the entire month and year,” Guerromentioned in a recent brief documentary, uploaded to YouTube by MONDOdocs.
After two years and “multiple delays,” the Gap Theatre reopened on March 7, featuring a double bill ofRaiders of the Lost ArkandIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,followed by a late-night screening of David Lynch’s Philadelphia-inspired Eraserhead.
“We consistently attract a great audience for David Lynch,” Kaitlyn Drumbore stated, mentioning that they had presentedTwin Peaks: Fire Walk with Meon Aug. 9.
Farruggio is the building’s owner, while the Drumbores manage the theater’s daily operations. Michael takes care of most of the projection duties, and Kaitlyn is in charge of the front area and manages the majority of the social media activities. Guerro is the business owner and is responsible for booking the films, which are primarily obtained from Exhumed Films.
Within the past five months since its opening, the theater has already gathered a dedicated set of frequent visitors.
“I’d say most of our audience comes from the greater Lehigh Valley region,” said Michael Drumbore. “A significant number of people are coming from Philadelphia and New Jersey to attend.” This isn’t unexpected, considering that film lovers from the Philadelphia area have historically made the journey to this place.Mahoning Drive-Inapproximately 30 miles west of the Gap
Kaitlyn Drumbore referenced a recent performance of SLC Punk as a notably unforgettable instance, while her husband chose the night they showcased an exceptionally rare big-screen presentation of the 1974 French horror filmLorna the Exorcist,which was presented as a midnight film in late March.
In March, they organized a showing of the Taiwanese filmGoodbye, Dragon Inn, set in an old movie theater that somewhat mirrors the Gap. Once a month, the venue organizes a series of showings and subsequent conversations called Spectral Cinema, organized by curators Dan Santelli and Adrianna Gober.
“What Harry, Michael, and Kaitlyn have accomplished goes beyond introducing New York City-style repertory programming to a non-urban area; it has also breathed new life into a small-town theater — providing it with a renewed purpose when it could have easily remained empty, eventually being sold to developers looking to convert it into a parking lot or something similarly unremarkable,” said Santelli, who previously worked atArdmore’s Viva Videoand now programs at theColonial Theatre in Phoenixville.
In doing so, they have provided a public service with unique cultural significance. This is in addition to the Gap’s main goal: showcasing a diverse selection of films to the Lehigh Valley as they were intended to be experienced — on a large screen … I can’t think of a more impactful gesture of film appreciation.
Michael Drumbore has appreciated “getting to meet more of the local film enthusiasts, discovering that there’s a spot right in their neighborhood now that features only vintage programming, classic films, obscure titles, ranging from art house to grind house.”
It’s been great to create our own community here,” Kaitlyn Drumbore remarked. “Because that’s something that’s extremely necessary for everyone right now.
The Gap Theatre
📍 47 S. Broadway, Wind Gap, Pa. 18091, 🌐thegaptheatre.com
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