Franklin Mills 14

Does anyone have anything to substantiate the currently circulating rumor that Franklin Mills Mall is going to be shutting down in full soon, and that Donald Trump is eyeing the site for the possibility of building one of his largescale casino complexes there?

I liked it better when it was the stand-alone theater right next to the mall. Either way, it's a passable 'plex, although I gotta wonder if AMC needs this one and the Woodhaven, especially when they're so darn close to each other.

The state of Pa won't let and casino be built of the Franklin Mills site, since Philadelphia Park will have a casino site only a mile away.

That's what I assumed, too, Mike. But with this current state of PA government we have (2006), if the Donald says he's open to building one of his big casinos at the Franklin Mills site, why do I get a sense that the existing regulations can get changed in a Staten Island minute? I could just see it now; they'd say technically Philadelphia Park is a racino not a casino, giving Trump the full green light to plow ahead if he so wishes and decides he does like that site. But other than you I haven't heard anything to the rumor since, so I don't know. But if by chance you hear anything let us all know. Thanks!

12-21-1997 Philadelphia Inquirer article stated that on 12-19-97 the GCC Franklin Mills theater "moved" to the mall, with THX, digital sound, stadium seats (the 1st in Philadelphia, love seats, for total of 3636 seats.

How far is Franklin Mills from downtown?

It is rather far from downtown. There are more convenient movie theaters to get to from downtown. If on the other hand, you'd like a shopping expedition at Franklin Mills, it is perfectly doable.

Two photos of the exterior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrambojr/153393987/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrambojr/145428630/

The June 1999 Philadelphia Magazine rated this theater (then a GCC) a 3.8 on a 1 to 5 scale. The highest possible rating was achieved for Seating, and very high ratings for Screen & Sound and Cleanliness. Comment was "Big hair and big attitudes, but not the worst place to see a movie in the Northeast"

By Northeast, the magazine means in Northeast Philadelphia.

Any idea where the Plaza Theater was in NE Philadelphia? I can't find it on CT, but I think I'm looking under the wrong name. Any help would be great.
http://tinyurl.com/6ytpqh

You don't mean "was" but is, while meantime here's the CT link for it: http://cinematreasures.org/theater/17221_0_2_0_C/

If you're planning to go there, when you get to Roosevelt Boulevard and Grant Avenue veer west on Grant, Grant Plaza Shopping Center will immediately appear on your right, and you'll see the United Artists Grant Plaza Cinema 9 to the far other side of it across its large parking area. Be forewarned there's no marquee, so if you want to know what's showing you'll have to check the newspaper listings. It isn't cheap, but at least it's tidily maintained, unlike how it was with the AMC Orleans.

Hmmm, just came back from visiting that link you provided -- which by rights I should've done first before posting -- and have no knowledge of any theater of old in Northeast Philadelphia called the Plaza, in the Franklin Mills area or otherwise. So now you've got me curious, too! I grew up here in NE Philly, but never remember ever seeing any movie listings for a Plaza theater other than the link I gave you. So if you find out anything please let me know as well. Thanks!

Since its a site for the ministry that now occupies the former GCC Franklin Mills, I'd take a stab in the dark and say that its just a generic movie theatre photo that they put on the website.

A google image search results in this....
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://marriott.homeandabroad.com/s/siteImages/46/78725_GaAtl_PLazaThtr_DennisWhitefield_L_FL_RF.jpg&imgrefurl=http://marriott.homeandabroad.com/c/46/Site/78725_Plaza_Theatre_visit.html&h=231&w=185&sz=35&hl=en&start=145&tbnid=271LXx3AvoQypM:&tbnh=108&tbnw=86&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dplaza%2Btheatre%26start%3D144%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

OK, thanks.

Ken MC, with HDTV267's help, it appears we've just solved the mystery of the phantom Northeast Philadelphia theater of old called the "Plaza." The photo that ministry uses at its website isn't located in Northeast Philadelphia at all but rather is at 1049 Ponce De Leon Avenue NE, in Atlanta, Georgia. The CT webpage for it is http://cinematreasures.org/theater/4226/
And from what I can determine, it's still in operation and appears to be doing well and still has that great marquee.

Meantime, it should be clarified the Northeast Philly theater the ministry took over isn't the AMC Franklin Mills 14 that remains in fullscale operation today but is the former GCC Franklin Mills 10 that had been on the mall's outskirts.