Bandbox Theatre

Architect was Charles S. Parker.

The Bandbox Theatre opened in 1930 and at the time seating was listed as 499.

This location is an EMPTY building. Asher candies owned the building, but well over a year ago moved the warehouse. At one time this was a neat little theatre. rg

I have a 6/2/1943 movie listing this as a William Goldman Theatre: Band Box, playing "Happy Go Lucky". The sister theatres that also were listed as "William Goldman Theatres" were: Terminal Theatre, 56th Street Theatre.

First theatre in the Germantown section of Philly to run CinemaScope ("The Robe" Dec 1953). Very interesting masking arrangement. "Barn doors" were attached to the side walls. When changing from scope to flat, an usher had to run to each wall, unfasten the hinged "barn doors" and close each one individually on the screen.

The Bandbox Theatre was a small theatre located at 20 E. Armat Street, just off of Germantown Avenue, near Germantown & Chelten. It was built in 1930 and bucked the trend for the large, opulent theatres. This was probably because it was built during the depression years. The seat capacity is not clear to me. I've found where it was said to have 499 seats when it opened, while in a theatre directory, it is shown to have 220 seats. Maybe seats were removed over the years. Unlike most of Germantown's theatres, this was not before my time. But, it was one I was never in, a regret of mine. I had the opportunity, but didn't take it. My fondness for old theatres came about later, after the Bandbox closed. From recollections of others, the general consensus was that it was a neat little theatre. From recollections of another, it had a art-deco styled interior and had a separate basement lounge. During my time, the Bandbox was showing artsy, independent films. It closed in the mid 1970s and has been used as warehouse storage ever since. The Bandbox outlasted all of Germantown's theatres, with the exception of the Walton Theatre. The Bandbox also outlasted all of the Mt. Airy theatres and closed roughly the same time as the Hill Theatre, which was owned by the same people.

Anybody know of an old picture of the Bandbox?

I wish. Last time I was in the area - maybe 10 yrs ago - the marquee was still standing. The building of course was being used for other purposes. DennisMcG is correct in that there was a separate basement lounge. I can only assume that pre-Scope, there was a narrow proscenium which was covered up in late 1953 with a screen/masking configuration to show scope and flat films. My only question is that, according to the advs in the then papers, the scope films were advertised with "stereophonic sound" (4-track mag), though I truly don't remember seeing (or hearing) surround loudspeakers, or hearing anything other than mono behind the screen. Might be faulty memory. Dennis, can you help?

I know the Bandbox had an art deco basement lounge. Does anyone remember it? I came across a picture of a lounge for the "Bandbox". The narrative gives a description that indicates it to be Germantown's bandbox. But, never discloses its location or city. Looking to confirm that that is the Bandbox's lounge. If you recall the lounge, email me and I'll be happy to send it to you for confirmation. My email address is:

DMGrltr@aol.com

In the 1940s and early 50s, my parents would take us to Germantown for dinner and a movie. After dinner, we would generally go to one of the 4 theaters in the vicinity of Germantown Ave. and Chelten Ave. -- the Orpheum, on Chelten Ave.; the Colonial and the Vernon, on Germantown Ave.; and the Bandbox, on a little side street off of Germantown Ave. The Bandbox was definitely the smallest of the 4. Unfortunately, I don't recall the lounge.

The lounge was in the basement where the restrooms were located.

Does anyone have any information on the lounge-pictures, literature? My grandmother was a singer in the 40s and an older relative mentioned "The Bandbox" as the place where my grandfather first saw her on stage. They both passed many years ago but I'm desperate to find any information I can on her performance(s) around Philly. Her stage name was Constance June. Any information would be helpful. Thank you.

I saw many films at the Bandbox from the early 60s to its closing as a repertory house in the mid 70s. The downstairs lounge was possibly the first theater cafe in the country. The theater box office was on the left side of the entrance, under the marquee. Upon first entering the theater there was an outer lobby with a floor that sloped gently upward. The candy stand was in this outer lobby.

I remember seeing William Castle's gimmick film 'Mr. Sardonicus' here. That was the film where the audience voted on the outcome of the story. The ticket taker gave you a ballot after tearing your ticket. The ballot had the image of a fist with an extended thumb printed with glow-in-the dark ink. In the outer lobby there was a large standup photo display of William Castle with a hole into a light box attached to the back. You would insert the glow-in-the dark ticket into the light box to charge it up so that at the appropriate point in the film you could vote either 'thumbs up' or 'thumbs down' for the villain. Of course, there was no real voting. The story had a twist ending that would fit either vote.

Anyway, the doors at the rear of the outer lobby led to the inner lobby. The auditorium was to the right of the inner lobby, so the theater was L-shaped. The auditorium had two aisles, and it was wider that it was deep, allowing for a much larger screen than you might expect in such a small theater. I remember a rather large area in the front without seats. As a repertory theater there was a piano up front that was played for silent movies. Mr. George Garabedian was often the pianist.

The stairway to the downstairs lounge ran along the left side of the inner lobby, beginning at the far end. The lounge was about the same size at the upstairs inner lobby. In an effort to increase income they installed a cafe in the lounge shortly before the theater closed. This was possibly the first cinema cafe. So that patrons did not miss the movie being shown upstairs there was a closed circuit broadcast of the film on a small black & white TV.

The Bandbox was a great place to see movies. Art Carduner programmed a wide selection of great films, new and old. Sometimes the distributors would force him to book a film he didn't want in order to get a film he did want, and he would often say so in the program. The program guide sent to those on the mailing list was filled with short descriptions, and sometimes long essays, on the films written by Alda Cortese (I think that was her name). I wish I'd saved those old programs.

Great work Renel-fan. Thanks for all you input.

I remember the lounge. They sold cheese, wine, and other drinks and food. Does anyone recall the summer when the Band Box had a Beatles marathon? They showed "A Hard Day's Night" multiple times over one summer. On a different note, does anyone remember "Hecate's Circle" Coffee House on Chelten ave.? It would be fun to hear from you!