Goldman Theatre
30 S. 15th Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19102
30 S. 15th Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19102
9 people
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It also was a great theater-going city in the same era. I saw many Broadway try-outs there. It was sort of the twilight of the great Broadway musicals but I saw some unusual ones. Greatest coup: seeing Sondheim’s ANYONE CAN WHISTLE! At the Forrest, as I recall. I got Lee Remick’s autograph after the performance. I think the legit theaters may have been among the first to go.
Downtown Philadelphia in the 60s had to have been a vibrant moviegoing place…By the time I got there in the mid 70s the Goldman was twinned (and atrociously)…the Studio was showing Deep Throat and the Mark 1 – a great screen in the basement of the Holiday Inn on Market Street was on dollar shows
Thanks, Jack, your comments are very interesting.
howard-to answert your question about openings with celebrities: the only one that I can recall is the opening of patton with george c. scott in attendace. goldman gave it the full treatment including cleg lights,reminded us of what used to be seen at graumans in hollywood. I was not in attendance but my freind,Alan Kosher was the asst. mgr. of the goldman at that time would have the advantage in information over me.
after leaving the randolph theatre in 71 as assostant mgr I went to the goldman theatre. because we started showing films lke mondo cane,a young booker named mitch goldman(no relation) started booking a lot of older movies for mini film festivals. for example in late ‘71 we had a garbo festival for 1 week featuring films like ninotchka, these were alsovery profitable because they were very inexpensive to rent. I promised howard some information about premiers,but i guess I get pretty sidetracked these days. i try to get back on track tomorrow.-jack swartz former asst. mgr randolph/goldman theatres.
A Great theatre and the stories,How about the Dad snoring during “JAWS” folks you can’t make this stuff up.
Interesting photos and history.
Thank you. I thought I remembered a Philly Goody’s store from the early and later ‘60s and I do also remember the Randolph. I also recall a smaller record store on Chestnut St. somewhere around the Viking, maybe down from Rittenhouse Square.
I just found a CT entry for the Studio on Market St. It had quite a history.
This is a GREAT site and I’m learning (and remembering) a lot. I grew up in Harrisburg but got to know Philadelphia while I was in college.
Penway 14 – If my memory serves me correctly, there was a Sam Goody store on Chestnut Street directly across from the Randolph Theatre. I remember shopping in that Sam Goody while waiting to be able to go in the Randolph to see a presentation of their first Cinerama engagement “Grand Prix.” That would have been back in the late 1960’s, probably 1967. That was the first time I was ever in the Randolph Theatre. However, since their remodeling for Cinerama I saw a number of Cinerama and non Cinerama roadshow presentation films at the Randolph. Hope this helps.
A friend of mine who also knew Philly suggested that the theater I asked about five comments up was called the Studio. It was a small theater, sort of sandwiched in between the bigger ones. I recall there were lounges (restrooms) down a flight of narrow stairs off the front lobby.
My friend confirmed it showed great, sometimes esoteric (for the times) foreign double bills, Godard, Antonioni, etc.
The World down the street showed first run foreign films.
Vince Young’s research also included that “Casino Royale” and “Cool Hand Luke” were shown 1967 at the Goldman.
Vnce Young informs me that “Dirty Dozen” opened 7/13/67 at the Goldman and “Bonnie and Clyde” was also shown that year there.
Interesting. I first saw RAINTREE at Loew’s Regent in Harrisburg in 1957 while I was still in high school. I loved the film, well, really loved John Green’s score at any rate, and would have seen it again in Philly while I was in college, probably the early ‘60s.
It just so happens I’m reviewing Box Office magazine and August 10, 1957 it says “Raintree Country” was to open with reserved seating at the Randolph Theatre. As you say, later you saw a re-issue at the Viking.
Thanks. I did see a photo of the Boyd and there seemed to be a theater called the Aldine down the street from it. That’s where I remember the Viking was.
I also remember sneaking in from West Chester U one evening to see a re-issue of RAINTREE COUNTY at the Viking. It seemed like a new theater then and had a good wide screen. Apparently it was a competent renovation.
There was also a sort of grubby, 42nd St.-type theater on Market St. that showed second run double bills? I forget the name of that. I think I saw THE PUMPKIN EATER and other foreign films there.
The Viking is listed under its last name, Sam’s Place One & Two:
/theaters/3358/
The Viking is listed under Cinema 19 and also the Aldine, I believe.
Also: does anyone remember the Viking up the street from the Boyd?
Was there a Sam Goody’s record store across from or near the Goldman?
Here is a January 1948 photo from the Irvin Glazer theater collection:
http://tinyurl.com/yj56to6
Here’s some tidbits from the 1952 to 1953 of Goldman history:
1952 Box Office: showing film noir “Clash by Night”
1 Aug 1953 Box Office: Goldman Theatre installing 3 D
29 Aug 1953 Box office: “The War of the Worlds” at Goldman
14 Nov 1953 Box Office: Jack Palance star of “Flight to Tangier†was in town to help promotion, which will open locally at the Goldman
MORE from 1951. The 26 May 1951 Box Office reported two different tidbits. The Goldman Theatre displayed a General Sherman tank for the premiere of “Go for Broke!†And, Esther Williams kicked off Armed Forces Day with a ceremony on May 18th on the Goldman stage
Here are some Goldman highlights from 1951.
17 Feb 1951 Box Office reported that actor Van Heflin was in Philadelphia to promote “Tomahawk” then in its 3rd week at the Goldman Theatre.
24 March 1951 Box Office reported that Anthony Dexter, the lead of “Valentino” was to appear on Saturday 24 March at the Goldman, which is where the film opened. 31 March 1951 Box Office reported that both Patricia Medina & Anthony Dexter of “Valentino” cast appeared at the Goldman
25 Aug 1951 Box Office reported that the film noir “His Kind of Woman” opened at the Goldman Theatre with personal appearances by its stars Robert Mitchum, Vincent Price, Marjorie Reynolds and Tim Holt
The Goldman was better with “Funny Girl” and 70mm on the marquee.
This 1980 photo is how I remember the Goldman.
http://tinyurl.com/c9okrd