Lane Theatre

Philadelphia, PA

Broad Street & 67th Avenue

, Philadelphia, PA, United States

(map)

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Art Moderne

Function:	Church
Seats:	607
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	David Supowitz
Firm:	Unknown

Opened in 1938, the Lane, located at Broad Street and 67th Avenue, was designed by David Supowitz in Art Moderne style. It could seat 607. After the Lane closed as a movie theater in 1975, it became home to a church.

Contributed by Bryan

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This was Philadelphia's hom for art films. In it's later years it showed porno films. One of the last films to plat there was a double feature, Deep Throat and The Devil In Miss Jones.
The information above is incorrect. When the theater closed it became a Datson/Nissan car dealer not a church.

posted by Mikeoaklandpark on Mar 1, 2005 at 5:08am

Was an RKO Stanley Warner theater up to the early '70s, then an independent before the closing. If memory serves Philadelphia Magazine ran a long article--maybe even a cover story--about the difficulties the Lane's last operators faced trying (ultimately unsuccessfully) to keep it open.

posted by RickB on Mar 1, 2005 at 6:13am

Opening day movie listed for this theater is a Busby Berkeley musical/comedy called Garden of the Moon with Pat O'Brien. I think the address should be North Broad St.

posted by Lost Memory on Mar 1, 2005 at 6:44am

Here is a small & dark photo (don't expand w/o subscription):

http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/6759

posted by TC on Mar 2, 2005 at 5:31am

Thanks TC. That brings back lots of memories

posted by Mikeoaklandpark on Mar 2, 2005 at 5:50am

The theatre is now a church and day care center. When they installed the cinemascope screen the stage was lost. The new screen had to go in front of the stage. They would use a slide projector with different colors to lite the screen before the show because of no curtain. rg

posted by rg on Mar 11, 2005 at 5:31am

Many long, long runs here including the premiere engagement of "David and Lisa," and the French suspense classic "Diabolique."

posted by veyoung on Feb 9, 2006 at 6:28am

This theatre was mentioned on a DVD of the Dick Cavett Show. Lots of theatres were named in the golden age of theatres.

posted by shoeshoe14 on Jul 9, 2007 at 4:23pm

Box Office November 12, 1938 describes opening festivities for this new Warner Bros theater last Wednesday: A four and a half mile run from North Broad Street's Uptown Theatre, a parade of military & school bands of Oak Lane preceded speeches, and speeches including that of Mayor S. Davis Wilson.

posted by HowardBHaas on Feb 16, 2009 at 12:08pm

Played an eclectic mix on films in the 60"s. "A Funny thing Happened on the Way To Forum" played there first run, I believe the only location in the city.
Also Joanna very quirky mod sex comedy directed by Michael Sarne who got Myra Breckenridge
based on Joanna's success.

posted by CinemaNut on May 20, 2009 at 2:05pm

Here is a larger version of the photo posted on 3/2/05:
http://tinyurl.com/rbe8cr

posted by ken mc on Aug 15, 2009 at 6:56am

That's from the Irviin Glazer collection.

posted by Lost Memory on Aug 15, 2009 at 8:12am

Here is an April 1975 photo from Temple U:
http://tinyurl.com/ylkc5bo

posted by ken mc on Jan 20, 2010 at 10:42pm

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