With 259 seats, this was the first of several theaters that the Becker Brothers would open in the East Passyunk-Pennsport neighborhoods of South Philadelphia. The Becker’s obtained their fame through the circus and carnivals.
Today, the marquee is gone and plywood covers much of the facade. Most of its doors and windows have been bricked up and and its current use, except for haphazard storage, is vague at best!
A discrepancy exists on what the seating capacity was for the Strand. PAB says the theater seated 1,679 while Cinema Treasures says 1,641. This could have resulted during the 1916 alterations. If anyone has an answer, please share, and thanks!
This Strand Theatre, on the corner of Germantown Avenue and W. Venango Street was designed by Philadelphia architect Carl P. Berger, AIA (1873-1947) and opened in 1914 — not 1917. Alterations were made to the theater in 1916 by William H. Hoffman ( ? -1925) of the Philadelphia architectural firm of Hoffman & Co. It was redecorated in 1924. The Strand Theatre was demolished in 1971 after a devasting fire. The site is now a PPA Municipal Parking Lot and a location for Enterprise CarShare.
The Drumpy Theater should be listed as demolished. Except for Temple’s Carnell Hall on the N.E. Corner of Broad & Montgomery, this entire corner has been redeveloped.
In 1953, Harry Sley, president of the Sley System, a parking lot operator, aquired the Aldine Theatre with plans to convert it into a parking garage. After neighborhood opposition, plans were changed and well known theater architect William Harold Lee, AIA (1884-1974) was hired to remodel the theater. It reopened as the Viking Theatre in 1954. (The Viking closed in 1963 and remained shuttered until 1967 when it reopened as the Cinema 19).
The Castor Theatre opened in 1936 and was designed in the Streamline Moderne/Art Deco Style by Thalheimer & Weitz, (Clarence Stern Thalheimer, AIA (1898-1984) & David Daniel Weitz, BS, AIA (1895-1976)), an architectural and engineering firm in Philadelphia. Thalheimer & Weitz also designed the Devon Theatre (c.1946) in Mayfair and Suburban Station (c.1930) in Center City. The theater was constructed by the Golder Construction Co. and included two adjoining retail stores, one on each side. The theater closed in 1989. Today, the marquee remains and reads: CASTOR 99c & UP GROCERY STORE. The adjoining stores (6629 & 6633 Castor Ave.) are now part of the grocery store.
The theater was demolished and the site is now home to a K Donut/Cedar Laundromat. Cinema Treasures lists it as closed in the overview. That should be changed to demolished.
… I would say — around 1960 — mostly — can’t say for sure — I think — wasn’t open very long — little theatre — not far from — think it was on the other side — would say somewhere like… A lot of vague information! I think it would be nice if information was verified before it is posted!
Sorry Howard, but PAB comments that the GCC Walnut Mall 1-2-3 had a seating capacity of 400 each.
Does anyone know who the architect of this theaer was and in what style it was designed? Also, was the opening year 1975? If anyone can answer, please share. Thanks!
Who was the Mosholu Theatre’s architect and in what style was the theater designed? Also, when was the name changed to the Bainbridge Theatre and when did it close? Thanks!
Thanks Movieguy for a full 16-year history of the movies that were shown at the Barclay Square Twin! Now we’re all set for Jeopardy if the opportunity ever presents itself.
Walt Price says the Alden Theater was demolished in the 1980’s. That covers an entire decade. Does anyone know the exact year? Also, who was the architect of the Alden Theater? Please share, and thanks!
With 259 seats, this was the first of several theaters that the Becker Brothers would open in the East Passyunk-Pennsport neighborhoods of South Philadelphia. The Becker’s obtained their fame through the circus and carnivals.
Today, the marquee is gone and plywood covers much of the facade. Most of its doors and windows have been bricked up and and its current use, except for haphazard storage, is vague at best!
A discrepancy exists on what the seating capacity was for the Strand. PAB says the theater seated 1,679 while Cinema Treasures says 1,641. This could have resulted during the 1916 alterations. If anyone has an answer, please share, and thanks!
This Strand Theatre, on the corner of Germantown Avenue and W. Venango Street was designed by Philadelphia architect Carl P. Berger, AIA (1873-1947) and opened in 1914 — not 1917. Alterations were made to the theater in 1916 by William H. Hoffman ( ? -1925) of the Philadelphia architectural firm of Hoffman & Co. It was redecorated in 1924. The Strand Theatre was demolished in 1971 after a devasting fire. The site is now a PPA Municipal Parking Lot and a location for Enterprise CarShare.
Yeh, Yeh! So much for the condiments Steve. Where are the hamburgers and hot dogs?
Charmaine — Why is the Dunbar Theatre posted on the Lincoln Theatre site? There is a Dunbar Theatre site!
The Drumpy Theater should be listed as demolished. Except for Temple’s Carnell Hall on the N.E. Corner of Broad & Montgomery, this entire corner has been redeveloped.
Does anyone know what corner it was on at least? Any other info? Anything at all? I guess not!
In 1953, Harry Sley, president of the Sley System, a parking lot operator, aquired the Aldine Theatre with plans to convert it into a parking garage. After neighborhood opposition, plans were changed and well known theater architect William Harold Lee, AIA (1884-1974) was hired to remodel the theater. It reopened as the Viking Theatre in 1954. (The Viking closed in 1963 and remained shuttered until 1967 when it reopened as the Cinema 19).
The street level of the theater was Above the center window and above BOYDS, the facade still proclaims 1812-1814 CHESTNUT ST. ARCADE.
The Castor Theatre opened in 1936 and was designed in the Streamline Moderne/Art Deco Style by Thalheimer & Weitz, (Clarence Stern Thalheimer, AIA (1898-1984) & David Daniel Weitz, BS, AIA (1895-1976)), an architectural and engineering firm in Philadelphia. Thalheimer & Weitz also designed the Devon Theatre (c.1946) in Mayfair and Suburban Station (c.1930) in Center City. The theater was constructed by the Golder Construction Co. and included two adjoining retail stores, one on each side. The theater closed in 1989. Today, the marquee remains and reads: CASTOR 99c & UP GROCERY STORE. The adjoining stores (6629 & 6633 Castor Ave.) are now part of the grocery store.
The Benner Theatre (6054-56 Castor Ave.) had 600 seats vs. Castor’s 446.
The theater was demolished and the site is now home to a K Donut/Cedar Laundromat. Cinema Treasures lists it as closed in the overview. That should be changed to demolished.
… I would say — around 1960 — mostly — can’t say for sure — I think — wasn’t open very long — little theatre — not far from — think it was on the other side — would say somewhere like… A lot of vague information! I think it would be nice if information was verified before it is posted!
Sorry Howard, but PAB comments that the GCC Walnut Mall 1-2-3 had a seating capacity of 400 each.
Does anyone know who the architect of this theaer was and in what style it was designed? Also, was the opening year 1975? If anyone can answer, please share. Thanks!
In what style was this theater designed? Where is the marquee?
Who was the Mosholu Theatre’s architect and in what style was the theater designed? Also, when was the name changed to the Bainbridge Theatre and when did it close? Thanks!
Another abundance of information. Doesn’t anyone have information for the Park Theatre? Pathetic!
Thanks Movieguy for a full 16-year history of the movies that were shown at the Barclay Square Twin! Now we’re all set for Jeopardy if the opportunity ever presents itself.
Thank’s to RJR for sharing! I don’t know why Walt placed the demolition of the Alden in the 1980’s.
Walt Price says the Alden Theater was demolished in the 1980’s. That covers an entire decade. Does anyone know the exact year? Also, who was the architect of the Alden Theater? Please share, and thanks!
What does this photo have to do with The Alden Theater?
But this beat gos on and on. I guess we’re going see the whole record collection? Hint. Only handle records by the edges to prevent finger prints.
And yet another 45!
More 45’s? Get real!