Boyd Theatre
1908-18 Chestnut Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19103
1908-18 Chestnut Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19103
44 people
favorited this theater
Showing 376 - 400 of 514 comments
Ah, Tim was referring to the Cascade theater in Redding, Calif,
/theaters/670/
The Friends of the Boyd are very excited about the dazzling, multicolored, and multi-patterned original Art Deco paint that has been discovered in every “public” space of the Boyd and look forward to its return! From the Exterior to the Ticket & Grand Lobbies, from the Foyer and its upstairs and lower levels, and including the Auditorium and right into each individual restroom lounge, the entire Boyd was, and should again be, a gloriously ornate showplace!
Mr. Haas,
You seem to be the most influential person on this board. I would be happy to share the decorative side of the theatre with you. I am most comfortable with Church decoration, but will take on a theatre when business is slow :)
Tim, I’m not sure you are aware that you are writing on a very public website. It is NOT a private website that belongs to Friends of the Boyd. It is a very public website. We know the Boyd owner has changed recently from Clear Channel to Live Nation, but I seriously doubt you wish to place any discussion of the financing of this project in the public realm. Thanks again for the compliments to the Boyd!
Sorry Howard I was unclear, there is only one in Redding. It’s a cow-town. I believe that it is a Warner.It was a few years ago..so many projects… I can give you a few juicy tidbits on that one if you would like them.
From my understanding, ClearChannel is in a state of flux. They have sunk quite a bit of money into this project, but are unsure of where it is headed. Now, you didn’t hear any of this from me….but you may want to try a co-operative ownership of your space. Try to involve public radio and public television in your cause. They have many shows which could be broadcast from your new space. In Redding they are going to do that as well as show all of the films that were originally shown there as first runs. Clearchannel seems to have undergone a shake-up. If I were in the used theatre business…I may try to come up with a few good suggestions for joint ownership…thats just me though, and what do I know.
To clarify, Mr. Luzak is referring in the above post regarding films to a project in Redding, Calif (which one?), not the Boyd. Friends of the Boyd DO plan for a film series at the Boyd.
I have to keep submitting my posts, as I am unsure of my spelling etc. Bear with me.
I can tell you with some fair inside info that there are no plans for films in the future. I am as saddened by this as you all are. I tried to put a bug in someones ear today about this, but I think it fell short. I am referring to the Redding,CA. project here… That project was funded largely by NPR. They wanted to make it a mixed-use space. Like the Boyd it was at the tail-end of the vaudeville era. You have the same 12' backstage as they have, as well as the filled-in orchestra pit(that curved area in front of the stage). In they’re case they re-instated the pit and are working on expanding the stage.
Hi, Tim. The most recent repainting was of the Grand Lobby, the Foyer adjoining the auditorium (all that green & like) and a litte bit of the auditorium, especially lower part of Proscenium Arch, in 1993, for the world premiere of the movie Philadelphia. Tom Hanks arrived and remarked “Oh, wow, a real movie palace!”
We know Rambusch did some repainting 1945-46 because it is on their index card. We know there was a considerable remodel for 1953 when Cinerama was installed. There was some touch up in 1971 when the Boyd changed hands. The non-original “arch” murals in the auditorium appear to be mid-1930’s, and correspond with much else repainting in the Auditorium. That makes sense, becaue the original “air conditioning” was “ice chilling” and in early Depression summers, even that probably wasn’t used, since the Boyd was closed. And, heat was by coal, as original paint was peeling due to lack of A/C, it was probably also getting dirty.
Visit our website (www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org) and scroll all the way to the bottom for an email address for us, or find one at How to Help link at same. Would be glad to further discuss.
And, THANKS for the compliments to this wonderful Art Deco movie palace that the prior owner obtained a permit to demolish before our citizen activists said “NO.”
Please forgiive all of the above typo’s… there is no scroll function on the comments box. I seem to enjoy leaving the ‘c’ out of scheme.
Enough of my yakkin'…I will be done with the decorative sample by the middle of next month. It will be a 20' section of the ceiling which will also incorporate the wall down to the floor. This is at the house right side of the auditorium near the procenium (stage left). This is an area which has the greatest amount of decoration, and should give a very good idea of the overall color scheme for the building.
It is a wonderful project. You all are in very good hands. Rest assured that we will be entirely faithful to the original. It will be EXACTCTLY the same as when it was first painted.
Hello all, my name is Tim Luzak. I am the lead artist for mr. John Canning of Canning studios of Cheshire Ct. I specialize in the decorative restoration of historic buildings. I am happy to say that I am currently at work on your beloved theatre.
I arrived at the theatre this morning at 7 am. sharp. I had heard, from a few of my co-workers, that this was a beautiful job.I was unprepared for the true grandeur that this theatre had in store for me. I didn’t realize that it was a movie palace!!! This place is SPECTACULAR!!! Honestly, it just blew my mind. I was all over the site, from the stage house, through the old dressing rooms, up to the projection booth….just everywhere. Unbelieveable.
You all have a true treasure here. This decorative sheme is fantastic. There are so many layers of color that you just don’t see in very many palaces. I can’t tell you in strong enough terms what you have here! I’ve worked on a lot of other theatres…The New Amsterdam, The Fox in Stockton CA. the Pantageus (sp?) and a beautiful one in Redding Ca…..but nothing compares to this one!! This is something else all together. WOW! Every square inch of this place is decorated!!!I got online to research the date of the “refresh”. I still havent found any info as to when that was done. Can anyone help me out on that account? There is so much happenning under that ‘new'layer of paint.Justgorgeouse
I can’t wait for the opening either and am delighted that this palace has been saved! Philadelphia seems to have had so many wonderful theaters, many of the best and biggest now gone..I picked up a copy of Irvin Glazers' “Philadelphia Theaters” (paperback) at the Philadelpia Museum of Art…It’s a fantastic book filled with
photos and info of the city’s glorious theater architectural history up to and including the enormous MASTBAUM which resembled Boston’s present day WANG CENTER but was 1,000 seats bigger at 4,800.
This New York City area movie fan (Weehawken NJ actually) is eagerly looking forward to seeing a big screen epic at the Boyd in 2007, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. And I’ll bet many of us will be traveling a lot further than 90 miles. Thanks, Friends of the Boyd!
Anybody who wants to help Friends of the Boyd with our mission for the Boyd Theatre can visit www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org
To answer recently asked frequent questions, the Boyd will likely reopen in 2007. What used to be 3 small auditoriums next door has been gutted to become a big space for retail or restaurant, still owned by the former owner of the Boyd, the Goldenberg Group.
The Boyd Theatre is owned by Live Nation, the spinoff company from Clear Channel. Friends of the Boyd are helping in any way we can.
Just to clear up any misunderstandings and to reset the focus on what’s supposed to be most important of all – restoring Philadelphia’s classic theaters in the best possible way – at no point have I ever libeled anyone. “Libel” is the spreading of false statements, and though there’s not one instance anywhere on this site where I have done that, there have been a number of occasions where the above correspondant has with regards to me and comments I’ve posted, and I respectfully request that he refrain from doing this further. And a formal apology on his part wouldn’t hurt either.
For let it be noted that I do credit the above correspondant for having saved the Boyd from demolition, and I have nothing but the highest praises of him for that. But not to the degree that he should have a full monopoly on how it should be restored from here on. That should be up to consensus, given how the Boyd is Philadelphia’s last movie palace to speak of.
I miss John Wanamaker’s, too, and wish the huge department stores were still here, too!
There’s lots of reasons why studios don’t relese most movies with downtown exclusives or roadshows anymore. If studios did so release in major cities throughout the US, then surely, the Boyd would be in contention. But, they don’t.
We are working hard to return film, including 70 MM, to the Boyd.
There’s many reasons why film attendence is down now, but one might be that this year’s films don’t exactly equal Ben Hur, Doctor Zhivago, or Lawrence of Arabia!
Of course, it is true that many chain theaters have lousy environments. I prefer single screen theaters, but will note that the two biggest auditoriums of the Bridge are good venues, certainly compared with other multiplexes of our area.
This website discusses the pending classic series at the Ziegfeld in New York. 35 MM, but they are films that belong on the large screen. I hope people attend, to encourage more there.
I know I mentioned it in an earlier post to this thread, but I would like nothing more than see the Boyd Theatre operated as the first class first run roadshow house that Stanley Warner operated. It would be thrilling to once again walk out the walkway from the balcony mezzanine to the balcony seating sections and see the lights shining on the red curtain covering that curved screen. To once again sit down and see the lights dim as the overature to “Ben Hur”, “Doctor Zhivago,” “Lawrence of Arabia,” etc, etc. begins. I would love to travel from Lancaster as in years past. Spend the day in Wanamakers, have a nice dinner at one of the center city restaurants and then take in an evening performance at the Boyd. The last time I was in Center City to see a movie was at the “Sameric” to see the last Indiana Jones adventure. Since the days of 70mm presentations has past, there is no need to travel into Center City because I can see the same presentations at our local multiplexes, unfortunately. Last year my wife and I did make a trip into Center City for the Flower show. While there we checked out the Lord and Taylor store – what a disapointment! I think there are many film fans who would still travel any distance to see a 70mm film presentation in a true movie theatre. However, is that enough to support the theatre 365 days a year? Unfortunately, I do not think so. What got me started traveling to C.C. to the movies. My parents taking us there to see the Cinerama films and other 70mm roadshow presentations at the Boyd – Stanley – Goldman – Randolph -
Midtown and even the Cinema 19! At least some time in the future we will still be able to walk into the Boyd and see a stage show. Instead of walking past a parking lot where the Boyd was, the CVS where the Sam’s place was, and the many office buildings where most of the other palaces were. There could be a lot worse things than a live theatre Boyd. I seriously doubt whether films – especially the wide screen 70mm presentations – will ever again be shown at the Boyd. I hope I am proven wrong. But that is my feeling. Well, I have rattled on long enough. I do think if the Boyd Motion Picture Palace was promoted correctly, it could or might work. Back in the roaring days of the 50’s and 60’s they advertised the roadshow engagements in even the Lancaster papers. I know many people who traveled the Route 30 into C.C! And anyone my wife and I took to the Boyd or Sameric (ugh what a name), was more than willing to make the trip again! I am sure that is at least part of the reason why movie attendance is down now. Give the audience the proper films and the proper surroundings and presentations they will attend!
Anybody doubting the libel can review Holme theater Philadelphia postings on this site, where Mr. Buff goes so far as to say that Northeast Philly is run by “America’s Taliban” and goes on and on about every politician, civic leader, and others, in the area.
He also asserts the politicians “scared” Disney from 8th and Market. That site was and is owned by the same developer who when he owned the Boyd obtained a demolition permit for the movie palace, but not to place blame where it doesn’t blame, Disney wasn’t scared away by politicians. The company tried “Disneyquest” elsewhere, it didn’t work, they discontinued interest in trying it in Philadelphia.
Your “involvement” , Mr. “Buff” is to libel people including city and church leaders, but not to show up at meetings. NO business expert, planner, or anybody agrees with your “theories” Go away, already, plague our house no longer.
On the other hand, this “rant” he just posted on January 20 at the following link should help to clarify things more:
/theaters/8257/
Labor costs have risen so high that studios can’t afford to film a movie with Ben Hur quality anymore! But, even if the could, one difference is that there were no megaplexes back then! MOST people on this site prefer movie palaces, but we aren’t most people in America. Most people in America visit megaplexes, and once they find one they like, return again and again.
As to filling the Boyd daily, United Artists Circuit didn’t expect huge crowds Monday to Thursday. In the glory days of movie palaces, from before TV, and also during Cinerama in the Boyd’s case, they were filled seven days a week, and scheduled movies from early in morning to late at night. TV killed many downtown moviehouses, and 90% of neighborhood moviehouses. What TV didn’t kill was killed over time by the mass move to the burbs and the development of multiplexes and megaplexes.
There’s no effort to prevent the Boyd from being a success! The new owner operator is investing more than $30 milion to revitalize the movie palace!
I’ve never met the above correspondent at one of our film fundraisers so far, and we’ve had six at International House (which is single screen, though not a daily moviehouse). And, I didn’t meet him at any of the many tours of the Boyd that I led, to show people what it looked like, and discuss the plans. Nor was he in our Saturday afternoon Vigil protests in 2002 EVERY Saturday from May to the end of the year, to protest the then owner’s plans to demolish. Numerous of our volunteers have generously donated their time to assist to ensure that the Boyd will be a tremendous asset to Philadelphia! Where’s he been?
“Unrealistic rant”? Folks, when we’re talking about the last movie palace still standing in a major U.S. city, and in a superb location within that major U.S. city at that, it would require far more effort to prevent in from being a success than to simply allow it to be succesful, and naturally so at that! During the period when Mr. Haas was a customer of it regularly, it was not being run properly at all, hence why customers, other than Mr. Haas apparently, were avoiding it like the plague. Just to give a good for instance, given how the Boyd can be described as an event theater rather than a typical neighborhood one, it would be totally out of sync with what it’s truly meant to be by trying to fill its 2,350 seats every single day of the week. But that’s exactly what its last operator tried to do: To apply a neighborhood movie theater formula to a movie palace. And of course this strategy failed. To borrow Mr. Haas’s favorite word, it was totally UNREALISTIC! But let it be noted that the Boyd Theatre fared extremely well when it was run in accordance with how it was meant to be. Back when it had been the Boyd, Ben Hur did extremely well there, and it’s a shame Mr. Haas apparently wasn’t around to witness that back when it occured. If he had, no doubt he’d see things a whole lot differently in how it needs to be restored. And all he’s telling us now is that it can never go back to being the Sameric again. And that I fully agree with, no arguments whatsoever. But its returning to how it was back when it had been the Boyd is something else entirely, while to this Mr. Haas remains fiercely determinedly blind. I saw Ben Hur at that theater back when it was being run properly, as did many of the rest of you, and like the rest of you, I, too, can remember that theater operating beautifully at that time. In brief, it worked. And not in the context of some fantasy or pipedream, but in ACTUALITY. Yet this Mr. Haas insists we should have no memories of, as apparently it complicates Mr. Haas’s ambition to whittle the Boyd down to far less than it’s meant to be.
There is nothing I’d like better than to see the Boyd as a daily moviehouse again, but it isn’t possible! I was a customer until it closed, but too few were for the last couple decades! You just can’t keep a movie palace built for about 2400 open daily as a single screen in the US except Los Angeles. It has been my honor to lead a group to save the Boyd from demolition, and to assist the current owner who is pouring money to restore and revitalize the Boyd. Its survival, like that of hundreds elsewhere in the US, depends on live events. The Friends of the Boyd are working to ensure film (classics, festivals, premieres) can return as well. Now perhaps the above correspondent can return to haunting the pages of various closed theaters in NE Philly with the same unrealistic rant.
Now that I’ve reviewed all the facts with regard to the Boyd, I see no excuse whatsoever why it cannot become a topnotch movie palace again, especially given the fact that it’s the last movie palace still standing in the heart of what continues to be a major U.S. city. Some might point out that it has 2,350 seats to fill if it’s to be successful, while I say, “Is that all?”
For not only is the population of Philadelphia today well over a million people, but add to this that Philadelphia’s surrounding suburbs are all heavily populated now, unlike how it was when the Boyd Theatre last was in its heyday. And let me point out that many many Philadelphia suburbanites would love to come into Philadelphia far more often than they do now, if, in fact, they still come here at all, if only there were very good reasons to. And the fully restored Boyd Theatre could become one very good reason to. But right now instead of their getting that when they come here instead they are told the Boyd Theatre can never hope to be a glorious movie palace again. And that, I ask, is supposed to make those who reside in Philadelphia’s suburbs want to come here?!
As a single-screen movie palace in the heavily trafficked portion of a major U.S. city, the Boyd Theatre most certainly can work, but it sure as heck can’t if those currently in charge of it say, “No can do,” and let that total lie override the actual reality.
For this is not a matter of practical considerations preventing the Boyd Theatre from ever becoming a world-class movie palace again. Rather, it’s a matter of shear shortsightedness and lack of will. In fact, more effort is currently being poured into preventing it from ever becoming a world-class movie palace again than any to try to resuscitate it. For the theater itself is all waiting to breathe new life once more and to have new life breathed into it. There’s absolutely nothing lacking in the theater in that regard. But to be sure, there’s a great deal lacking in those who are currently holding it hostage. With them it’s all “no can do” this and “no can do” that. And prove them wrong and all they do is get mad rather than learning a thing or two. And those of us who know better are supposed to be impressed by this!? We’re not impressed.
Here is a 1947 photo:
View link
12-25-1928 marked the 77th Anniversary of the opening of the Boyd Theatre by ALEXANDER R. BOYD. He sold the theater soon afterwards to the Warner Bros, who were also buying the Stanley Theater, and so it became a Stanley Warner theater. Boyd left Stanley Warner, where he was pivotal, to open his own movie palace and chain of theaters. Evenutally, in 1934, he had a chain, though not including the Boyd on Chestnut Street. Why did he sell the Boyd? Maybe with Warner Bros. moving in, he was afraid he couldn’t get “product” (the Warner and Paramount films he was booking in the Stanley theaters), maybe he ran out of money, or maybe Warner Bros. paid him enough he was happy with the profit.
Visit www.FriendsOfTheBoyd for more fascinating history.