Nineteen years ago, when this movie house was built by the Freistak family of New Cumberland, neighborhood theaters were few and far between. Since then, however, they have become more abundant with the West Shore Theater being a prime example of state of the art cinema. Like 90% of all theaters in this modern day, West Shore is air conditioned for the ultimate treat.

While 10 year old movie enthusiast, Frederick Bollen was at home playing checkers, he was dreaming of Saturday when he could put an end to his boredom, hop into his dad’s Chevy and head to the theater with his family. There’s no need to sit at home and watch Howdy Doody on television when for just $.50 a matinee ticket, a family can spend an afternoon at this New Cumberland hot spot. For under $5.00, a family of four can spend a summer afternoon in air conditioned comfort snacking on popcorn and drinking pop.

A movie date in the evening hours would cost a gentleman $2.00 for two tickets, saving a financially savvy man enough money for a malted milk shake and fries at the Smoky Pig Barbeque across the bridge in Harrisburg.

This five hundred seat theater has hosted many films and their stars since it first opened its doors in 1939. Playing now is the Academy Award Winner from 1957, which was awarded earlier this year, Bridge On the River Kwai, starring William Holden, and Alec Guinness. Coming soon on the big screen is Gigi, starring Leslie Caron and Maurice Chevalier, both Oscar hopefuls for this year.

The movie industry of the 1950s has become increasingly progressive, with production costs at an all time high in recent years. Movie studios are paying nearly six figures per contract for top stars with the hopes of snagging big names such as Paul Newman, Spencer Tracy, Shirley MacLaine and Susan Hayward. Of course, Hollywood greats such as these regularly bring fans flooding to local theaters, such as the West Shore Theater.

Who knows what the future holds for filmmakers and theater owners? There has been recent talk of new locations where there are two or three movie screens in one building. A customer standing in line outside New Cumberland’s prime theater spoke up when asked about this new multi-screen concept, “It will never work. Why would someone have the need to see all those movies? The public would never support it.”

If all the movie studios are still in business thirty years from now, after paying all the Hollywood greats so much money in 1958, the box office at the West Shore Theater will be open for business and tickets for a matinee will be $2.00, with Friday and Saturday nights charging $3.00. A small popcorn will still be under a dollar and a 32 ounce soda a mere $1.50. Thirty years later, in 1998, the West Shore Theater will still be the best bargain around for an entertaining escape. And, by the way Fred Bollen will be trading in his checkers for the keys to the front door of this great New Cumberland tradition.