Pearl Theatre at Avenue North

Philadelphia, PA

1600 North Broad Street

, Philadelphia, PA 19121 United States

(map)

215.763.7700

Status:	Open
Screens:	Multiplex (7 Screen)
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Movies (First Run)
Seats:	1488
Chain:	Independent

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Unknown

The Pearl Theatre opened December 5, 2006, at the campus of Temple University, next to the Cecil B. Moore stop of the Broad Street subway.

The Pearl was named after the former Pearl Theatre on Ridge Avenue, and in memory of entertainer Pearl Bailey. Several eateries and retail shops also opened in the new Avenue North retail and housing complex that the Pearl is part of. In 2002, a new 14-screen Magic Johnson megaplex was planned at this site, but that plan fell through.

A huge electronic billboard outside lists the movies playing. From the ground floor box office, patrons use stairs or escalators to go upstairs to the second floor. A concession stand leads to a hallway which has slanted ceilings and columns. The hallway's original decor was gray, including the patterned carpet, but on January 5, 2008, the hallway was repainted orange to give it a brighter, more festive look. The auditoriums enter from the hallway.

Each auditorium is stadium seated with luxury high back rocker seats of gray fabric and cupholders on the armrests. The side walls have black circular sconces on the black fabric on the upper section towards the ceiling, and red fabric on the lower section. All auditoriums have digital surround sound.

Theatre's 1, 2, 3, and 6 have 187 seats each. Theatre's 4 and 5 have 260 seats each. Theatre 7 has 220 seats.

Related Websites

The Pearl Theatre at Avenue North (Official)

Contributed by Howard B. Haas

YOUR COMMENTS

The slanted ceilings are also found into the Men's restroom. The sink is a long communal trough like metal shelf, with spigots.

Before the Saturday afternoon matinee began, there were no slides (fine with me) but also no music. Four or five movie previews preceded the movie. Thankfully, there were no commercials in the pre-show.

posted by HowardBHaas on Dec 17, 2006 at 1:37pm

Many thanks to Mr. Haas for creating a new Cinema Treasures page specific to the all new Pearl Theatre, North Philadelphia's first in approximately 40 years, and named in honor of the former Pearl Theatre which was located on Ridge Avenue (http://cinematreasures.org/theater/9485_0_2_0_C/)

Given its choice location alongside a major Philadelphia thoroughfare, and near to Temple University as well as several major Philadelphia residential neighborhoods, it is expected that this all new Philadelphia theater will fare especially well in the weeks and months and years ahead.

posted by TheaterBuff1 on Dec 19, 2006 at 5:58pm

I visited the new Pearl Theater last night and realize it's less than a block away from the home of Siegmund Lubin, the pioneering filmmaker who made films in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Lubin, who was an optician and master of lenses, became an important rival of Thomas Edison. The home at 15th and Oxford was recently renovated and now has apartments for Temple University students. According to Joseph Eckhardt's book, the Lubin home was also used as a set and studio for some of Lubin studio films.
The neighborhood is also the current home of filmmaker Lou Massiah, who won a MacArthur "genius" award for his work. Massiah started the Scribe Center in West Philadelphia and also makes documentary films. So, I guess the Oxford Street location of the new Pearl has quite a movie pedigree.

posted by CinemaHistorian on Dec 23, 2006 at 9:51am

The billboard outside of the Pearl Theater looks like something that should be in an airport or a bus station. The red luminated board is difficult to read and looks cluttered.

posted by robwar1 on Dec 28, 2006 at 3:50am

This great review by Inga Saffron about the all new Pearl Theatre @ Avenue North appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer for Friday, January 5, 2007:

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/16386709.htm

posted by TheaterBuff1 on Jan 5, 2007 at 7:07pm

I saw another movie today. Film projection and digital surround sound are excellent. There was no pre-show.

posted by HowardBHaas on Sep 23, 2007 at 1:57pm

Last Saturday afternoon, I saw "American Gangster"
There was no preshow, no slides, no trailers (often up to 10 at AMC theaters). The movie was the first presentation on the screen! I thought starting with the movie itself was elegant. The Pearl also employed the usual perfect film projection and surround sound. American Gangster is a very good movie. I didn't realize until the closing wording that it is a true story (which I confirmed online). After all the credits, there's another scene.

posted by HowardBHaas on Nov 7, 2007 at 6:00am

The wife and I took in a movie at The Pearl this evening. It wasn't our first trip there, nor will it be our last. It's comfy, the sound is great, but the ghosts of Nixon, Goldman, Locust, Arcadia, Midtown, Fox, Milgram, Regency, Boyd, Duke and Duchess continue to follow me around. And I agree with robwar1 on the LED billboards outside: yecch!

My only real gripe with The Pearl is that you really can't see JACK upon entering the auditorium prior to the film's start. Why is this? Why are the lights dimmed so low that we're stumbling? Must I become my own usher and bring my own flashlight? EnLIGHTen me!

posted by ntrmission on Feb 26, 2009 at 8:03pm

I enjoyed the movie I saw this past weekend. Thankfully, still no stupid preshow commercials/ads, etc.

Tonight, there was a sneak preview of "Transformers" sequel, filmed in Philadelphia:
http://www.kyw1060.com/Phila--Moviegoers-Get-Sneak-Peek-at-Transformers-F/4661552

posted by HowardBHaas on Jun 23, 2009 at 8:06pm

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