Efforts to restore the historic grandeur of the Anthony Wayne Theater in Wayne are on track, thanks to the work of Todd Scott of Radnor and his nonprofit, the Anthony Wayne Theater Organization.
The theater has been closed since 2020, but Scott, founder of Platoon Fitness, has had a vision for nearly a decade of bringing back the movie theater’s opulent style, writes Ben Silver for Main Line Today.
The 59-year-old approached theater owner Stephen Bajas in 2022 about restoring the theater. Eight months ago, he agreed.
Since then, the nonprofit, with strong community support, has done a lot of work to the theater’s interior, but a lot more needs to be done.
Scott toured different movie palaces for inspiration, including Chicago’s Music Box Theater, and Westerly, Rhode Island’s United Theatre.
He wants a boutique experience at the Anthony Wayne Theater, not just art house films, but not repeated showings of Minecraft, either.
Scott envisions elevated food at the concession stand, real butter for the popcorn, cocktails, and a speakeasy downstairs.
“My vision would be more of an encompassing experience where you walk in and you feel relief. You feel like it’s a sanctuary, but also very entertaining,” he explains.
Read more about people’s memories of the Anthony Wayne Theater in Main Line Today.
