The Nu-Way Drive-In Theatre in Hummels Wharf

The Nu-Way Drive In, Hummels Wharf Pa

Located on the east side of 15 north of Selinsgrove

(Where Wal-Mart stands in 2023)

The Theater first opened September 22, 1948, showing The Hurricane.

The Nu-Way was the first open air theater constructed in the area.  According to the Selinsgrove Times Tribune, it was the only one within a 100 mile radius.

And it was the second largest in Pennsylvania, exceeded only by one near Philadelphia.

The Nu-Way occupied 900 square feet.  Cars were parked in a semi-circle on 14 graveled ramps.

"Beginning with the ramp nearest the screen, which accommodates 24 cars, each succeeding ramp is sloped in such a manner that the people in the back seat of the car as well as the occupants of all the cars on succeeding ramps will have a perfect screen visibility."

The last ramp could hold 110 cars, for a total capacity of up to 1,000 cars.

The ramps were equipped with 420 metal uprights, to support the speakers  The uprights resembled parking meters, with small lights like aisle lights in an indoor theater.

The uprights also contained a small red light, which a patron could turn on with the press of a button, to summon an attendant to bring refreshments. Two speakers were on each upright, each with their own volume control.

The Nu-Way screen was approximately 20 percent larger than an average indoor movie screen of the time.  It was on the back of a tall tower 63 & a half feet tall, and 140 feet wide.  The screen was 43 feet high and 0 feet wide, with wings extending out on either side of the center.  It was built solidly enough  to sustain 100 mile an hour winds.

A special white paint was used on the screen, so that neither moonlight nor artificial lights would effect the showing.

A building was constructed in front of the screen tower.  It held two apartments, one to be occupied by the manager [Mr Spigelmeyer] and the other by the operator.

The projection building was 45-60 feet and was built partly below ground surface, so as not to interfere with the visibility of patrons parked in the rear. 

The restrooms, decorated in white and dark blue, were located in the projection building.  During intermission, patrons were welcome to visit the projection building.

The Nu-Way restaurant was also located in the projection building.  Hot dogs, french fries, hamburgers, and coffee were available for sale, along with soft drinks and ice cream.

When the theater opened in 1948, the cost of admission was 50 cents a person plus 10 cents tax.  Children under 12 were admitted free of charge, and car load specials - $1 per a car  - were common.

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52 Patrons In One Car

These 52 people all loaded into ONE Ford Car, for the Car Load Contest

In the 1950s, the Melvin Spigelmeyer, owner of the Nu-Way theater held contests to see just how many people one car could hold. The winner would receive two decorator lamps for their home.

Spigelmeyer said that patrons would stop at the sign and load up a car.  The winning car, in this undated photo, was a ford driven by Louis Williams. The car held fifty two people!!  A DeSota, driven by Northumberland Bus Driver Walter Jows, was the runner up, with 48 people loaded inside.

Spigelmeyer, at one time, owned 5 theaters in Snyder County: The Roxy in Paxtonville, The Keystone in Meiserville, The Star In McClure, And Band Box in Middleburg, in addition to the Nu-Way.

He said the car load contests ended when the police put a stop to them.

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Summer 'Drive-In' Church services were held at the Nu-Way in beginning in 1966,

Services were sponsored by Shamokin Dam Methodist, St Matthews Lutheran of Shamokin, Shreiners and St Paul's Evangelical United Brethren of Hummels Wharf.  Pastors of area churches, organists, and choirs volunteered for the services. The services were intended to "Provide an early Sunday morning worship opportunity for people passing through the area", or for those unable to attend the worship with their own congregation.

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On August 17 1977, the manager of the Nu-Way reported that someone had entered the theater sometime after 11:15pm on Tuesday.  The trespasser had unraveled film onto the floor and stole a white  handled knife. 

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In 1979, The Plaza declined to renew the lease for the theater.

Clair Gaugler, who managed the theater the last 15 years it was in operation, was quoted as saying he did not regret the move."I think I'm giving it up, he said.  The audience changed a lot.  There used to be a time when people would walk into a theater, they'd behave.  Nowadays you get drinking, dope, people stealing speakers..."

Vandelism was a constant problem, as was the near constant theft of speakers.  "They've stolen so many of our speakers that we only have 300 left [of 700] and we repalce some every year."

On September 16 1979, the Nu-Way showed it's last movie.

The theater was demolished on December 16 1979

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Where The Movies Played

An Index Of Old Movie Theaters

In & Around The West Branch Valley

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2024/07/where-movies-played-old-movie-theaters.html

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When the theater opened in 1948, Rts 11 & 15 were simply a by pass for the Old Trail Road.  As the area grew, this strip of highway became known as "The Golden Strip", with businesses on each side of the road.

In 1950, The Comerford movie chain purchased the Nu-Way. They retained ownership until the late 1960s, when they sold to Cinecom, a New York City Firm. When Cinecom went bankrupt in the early 1970s, Sportservice purchased the theater.  They kept it until 1977, when it was purchased by the Plaza Shopping Center, next to the theater grounds.