I confirm that the Castor was at Castor and Fanshawe, and the Tyson was at Castor and Tyson. I think I may have seen one movie at the Castor. Was it the tiniest movie theater in the world? You’d get a stiff neck having to look up at the screen in this tiny auditorium.
A tiny hole-in-the-wall theater. It had no lobby to speak of. You practically walked right into the theater which was separated from the street only by a curtain in a doorway. I remember seeing the original “The Thing” here.
My earliest movie-memory is going to see a re-run of Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” that my mother took me to on a Tuesday. When we came out of the theater it was dark—unusual since we hardly ever went anywhere during the week, and especially after dark. This was in the late 1940s. I still recall the long, narrowish lobby (yellow lights?).
Yes, I remember watching “Cinerama” at The Boyd for the first time. What an experience when that screen opened up from the little postage stamp of Lowell Thomas announcing, “This is Cinerama!” And then taking that amazing roller coaster ride for the first time. I also remember seeing “La Dolce Vita” at The Boyd.
One of the great “downtown” first-run houses of Philadelphia. I remember seeing lots and lots of movies here, especially “Some Like it Hot” and “Flower Drum Song.” I believe I also saw a re-run of the original “King Kong” here sometime in the late 50s.
A truly breathtaking theater! I recall seeing “Forbidden Planet” there when I was a kid. I think I sat in one of the small alcoves along the side. I cried when I heard they were tearing it down.
One of the greatest first-run movie theaters in the country. I went there often when I lived in Philadelphia (1940s-1960s). It was truly a beautiful theater.
Maybe I have The Circle and The Roosevelt mixed up, but I thought The Roosevelt was the one that had the Spanish-like porticoes around the walls of the theater.
I recall the inside of the theater had little fake porticos all around the sides, making it look like there were small loges or balconies. I saw “Gone with the Wind” here on a re-run sometime in the 50s.
One of the places I used to go to every Halloween. As a kid growing up in the K&A area of Philadelphia in the late 40s, I would go there to see “Frankenstein” or “Dracula”—usually “Frankenstein” every Halloween. I remember the theater had a balcony, and the frong of the theater was right on the street, the doors were all mirrored, as I recall.
This was one of the theaters of my youth. I lived on Willard Street, and spent Saturdays and Sundays at matinees at the Midway. I can recall a nickle admission which then was raised to ten cents. This is back in the 50s. I also haunted the Iris Theater around the corner. The inside of the Midway was special, though. The walls were decorated with art nouveau painted or etched figures behind long wall sconces that were dimmed dramatically at the beginning of each show. I used to get a real thrill out of that as a kid. I can’t recall a balcony, but I thought the theater was on two levels. Perhaps the upper level only housed restrooms? I recall seeing many a great Hollywood musical here, as well as “Julius Caesar” with Brando, and “Blackboard Jundlge” with Poitier.
I didn’t know about the Kimball organ in this theater. I just remember the last two or three rows of the theater had cushioned high back chairs, unlike the customary movie theater seats. We used to like to go there and curl up in them and watch the movies. Ushers periodically came around to tell us to get our feet off the seats.
Yes, I think if you look up the theatre history on this site, you will see that the Benner closed sometime around then. I think I only went to the Orleans a couple of times. It opened around the time that I was leaving home and moving out of Philadelphia. I don’t know what the GCC Northeast is.
I confirm that the Castor was at Castor and Fanshawe, and the Tyson was at Castor and Tyson. I think I may have seen one movie at the Castor. Was it the tiniest movie theater in the world? You’d get a stiff neck having to look up at the screen in this tiny auditorium.
A tiny hole-in-the-wall theater. It had no lobby to speak of. You practically walked right into the theater which was separated from the street only by a curtain in a doorway. I remember seeing the original “The Thing” here.
My earliest movie-memory is going to see a re-run of Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” that my mother took me to on a Tuesday. When we came out of the theater it was dark—unusual since we hardly ever went anywhere during the week, and especially after dark. This was in the late 1940s. I still recall the long, narrowish lobby (yellow lights?).
I went here a many times as a kid and into my late teens, and remember seeing “Dr. No” on a sneak preview with “Mondo Cane”!
Yes, I remember watching “Cinerama” at The Boyd for the first time. What an experience when that screen opened up from the little postage stamp of Lowell Thomas announcing, “This is Cinerama!” And then taking that amazing roller coaster ride for the first time. I also remember seeing “La Dolce Vita” at The Boyd.
One of the great “downtown” first-run houses of Philadelphia. I remember seeing lots and lots of movies here, especially “Some Like it Hot” and “Flower Drum Song.” I believe I also saw a re-run of the original “King Kong” here sometime in the late 50s.
A truly breathtaking theater! I recall seeing “Forbidden Planet” there when I was a kid. I think I sat in one of the small alcoves along the side. I cried when I heard they were tearing it down.
One of the greatest first-run movie theaters in the country. I went there often when I lived in Philadelphia (1940s-1960s). It was truly a beautiful theater.
Maybe I have The Circle and The Roosevelt mixed up, but I thought The Roosevelt was the one that had the Spanish-like porticoes around the walls of the theater.
I recall the inside of the theater had little fake porticos all around the sides, making it look like there were small loges or balconies. I saw “Gone with the Wind” here on a re-run sometime in the 50s.
One of the places I used to go to every Halloween. As a kid growing up in the K&A area of Philadelphia in the late 40s, I would go there to see “Frankenstein” or “Dracula”—usually “Frankenstein” every Halloween. I remember the theater had a balcony, and the frong of the theater was right on the street, the doors were all mirrored, as I recall.
This was one of the theaters of my youth. I lived on Willard Street, and spent Saturdays and Sundays at matinees at the Midway. I can recall a nickle admission which then was raised to ten cents. This is back in the 50s. I also haunted the Iris Theater around the corner. The inside of the Midway was special, though. The walls were decorated with art nouveau painted or etched figures behind long wall sconces that were dimmed dramatically at the beginning of each show. I used to get a real thrill out of that as a kid. I can’t recall a balcony, but I thought the theater was on two levels. Perhaps the upper level only housed restrooms? I recall seeing many a great Hollywood musical here, as well as “Julius Caesar” with Brando, and “Blackboard Jundlge” with Poitier.
I didn’t know about the Kimball organ in this theater. I just remember the last two or three rows of the theater had cushioned high back chairs, unlike the customary movie theater seats. We used to like to go there and curl up in them and watch the movies. Ushers periodically came around to tell us to get our feet off the seats.
Yes, I think if you look up the theatre history on this site, you will see that the Benner closed sometime around then. I think I only went to the Orleans a couple of times. It opened around the time that I was leaving home and moving out of Philadelphia. I don’t know what the GCC Northeast is.