Looking back movies have been in Doylestown a long time. It all began in 1907 when Hellyer's Movie House opened on South Main Street in the back of what is now County Linen. In 1909 Hellyer's moved across the street to Lenape Hall where it operated until 1925 when the Strand Theatre, Doylestown's first "real" movie theater, was built. Then in 1938 the Strand was replaced by the "state-of-the-art" County Theater, which rose up in its place. The County was a fine product of late art-deco style and, more importantly, it was air-conditioned.
The 40s, 50s, and 60s were golden years for the County Theater. As an important town center and gathering place, it worked its Hollywood magic. But by the 70s, the usual suspects (TV, shopping centers, and multiplexes) were beginning to take their toll and the theater was in a slow downward spiral. In the early 80s, the theater even lost its air-conditioning! The neon letters on the marquee tower went dim one by one. Then in 1990 the theater closed for six months. After reopening, it closed again in 1992, this time for nine months.
