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JULY 1-7, 2021
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Let’s go to the movies: The Roxy Theatre Reopens July 2
By KERI LINDENMUTH The Roxy Theatre in Northampton has long been a local landmark, its brilliant marquee lighting up Main Street for decades, the bright lights welcoming Lehigh Valley families into a place where they can escape reality if only for a few hours. But there was no escaping the reality that March 2020 brought when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the entire nation...including the beloved theatre. For the first time in Richard Wolfe’s 51 years of owning the theatre, the Roxy had to close its doors. While the theatre may have closed for renovations a handful of times, Wolfe says this
through.” Almost immediately after the shutdown, Wolfe got creative, offering unique ways to raise a little bit of funding...and keep the famous marquee alight. Anyone driving past the theatre since the shutdown may have noticed the bright marquee, not announcing the next film, but an anniversary, birthday, or other special occasions. Wolfe said he heard about marquee rentals from others in the industry, but was a little wary at first. “I thought about it and was not sure, but I gave it a try,” he says. “To my amazement, every single day since May 30 [2020], the marquee has been rented.” The marquee remains rented until June 30. Then, it will once again go back to advertising the Roxy’s next film. Wolfe says that marquee has always been the most effective form of advertising for the theatre, so it will be important to start advertising movies again. When Pennsylvania entered the “green” phase, Wolfe had another idea: to open the theatre to small groups to celebrate a birthday or simply get together and watch one of their favorite films. Like the marquee rentals, these private theatre rentals took off. The theatre was being rented six days a week, sometimes with as many as 11 showings for different groups. The rentals were so popular, Wolfe says he is considering keeping afternoons open for private showings. Then there were poster sales. The Roxy has shown thousands of popular films over the years and the storage space in the theatre was filling up fast with posters for classics like "Snow White" and "The Shining." Wolfe began
is the longest it had been closed for business. However, after 15 long months that have left local movie lovers without a place to connect, social distancing mandates have been lifted and the Roxy can finally re-open its doors. The theatre will welcome back guests on Friday, July 2 with a showing of the new Disney film garnering rave reviews, "Cruella." For Wolfe, there was never a question as to whether or not the theatre would reopen after the pandemic. “I was pretty sure that we would reopen,” he says. “It was never my intention not to reopen...I was pretty sure we would make it Continued on page 9
Looking by Back Ed Pany Kohl-a-daal series Part 3
In this third column, we continue the story of Heinrich Kohl, a colonial farmer and veteran of the Revolutionary War. The family farm was located on Indian Trail Road, one mile northwest of Kreidersville. After the war, he returned home to his family to continue to farm with his wife and seven children. Their neighbors called the area where they farmed Kohl-adaal. If you drive up there today, you will find Kohl Road named in honor of Mr. Kohl. Heinrich died March 2, 1827, and Christina died Sept. 24, 1832. Both are buried in the Zion Stone Church cemetery outside of Kreidersville. In later years, the Kohl family name slowly changed to Cole. Many Coles were members of the historic house of worship. The church started in the small village of Howersville, relocating to its present site in 1771. The Kirche membership served German and Lutheran denominations. Most worshippers were local farmers and their families. The cemetery is the final resting place for many Revolutionary War veterans. Each Memorial Day, a program is held at the church and cemetery to honor all veterans. Kohl’s children followed their father and became farmers. Their
fifth child, Adam Sr., was a farmer. His son, Adam Jr., would purchase a farm in Allen Township in 1900 that remains in the family today. The farm is on Stagecoach Road just north of Kreidersville. A very interesting road, a regular schedule of stage coaches passed and stopped at the farm on their daily run. The coach with four sturdy horses started the trip in Easton, following King’s Highway, a rough dirt, gravel road with many ruts. The coach would stop at the farm. Adam’s son Alfred, as a youngster, recalled how the coach would stop so the horses could get a drink of water at the farm. The company paid $1 a month for the water. The riders would get out and relax, say a few words to the family and continue their journey. The Cole children looked forward to the coach’s arrival. For our readers, Stagecoach Road met Cherryville Road near the seminary. An old tree line still Continued on page 6
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