SJM_AroundTown_0819FINALreg 3_Dept 7 / 31 / 19 9 : 45 AM Page 2 THE BROADWAY THEATRE OF PITMAN Generations of people in this area can remember visits to the Broadway , which has been in opera - tion since May 1926 when it began with vaudeville acts , and has since hosted live theater productions , movie matinees , musicians , come - dians and more . The theater was built in a French Revival motif , with ornate touches like the crystal chan - deliers in the lobby and house , gold and red wall stencils and gold leaf accents . Its original Kimball theater pipe organ also remains and is played before every performance . Peter Slack became the theater’s latest owner in 2006 when he pur - chased it at auction for $ 323,000 . Slack then invested a reported $ 1 million into renovations and repairs to the theater , restoring it to its orig - inal glory . The Broadway’s continued activity in Pitman’s downtown has been credited for the town’s eco - nomic vitality and ability to attract businesses . OF NOTE : The Broadway has hosted some big names in entertainment , including Abbott & Costello , Bob Hope , Bing Crosby , Jerry Lee Lewis and George Carlin , to name a few . WEBER’S FAMOUS ROOT BEER The original Weber’s was started in Tulsa , Oklahoma , in 1933 and it is believed its founder was the creator of the American hamburger , placing a grilled beef patty on a bun , served alongside his own “ Superior Root Beer . ” As cars became more attain - able to own , drive - ins began pop - ping up across the country for fami - lies who would venture out for those long Sunday rides . At one point , there were 67 Weber’s locations nationwide , including the one in Pennsauken , which opened in 1951 and is now thought to be only one of three left operating . Other South Jersey locations included Brooklawn and Stratford , which is set to re - open this summer . The Weber’s sign is an iconic symbol on Route 38 , with its tell - tale orange spinners sig - naling drivers to stop in for their homemade root beer , burgers , shakes and fries , all served carside . OF NOTE : The menu has remained unchanged since the ’ 50s except for the owner’s addition of a tuna hoagie and veggie burger . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 16 issue 5 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 69