Ellis Theatre

The lobby area of the Ellis Theatre still stands across the street from SEPTA's Frankford Transportation Center. Continental Resturant occupies the bulk of the lobby area.

The auditorium of the Ellis was torn down in early 2003. it is now a parking lot that is used by SEPTA commuters

Does anyone know the history of the ELLIS Theatre circuit for Phila. that operated this theatre. rg

UPDATE: The restrauant and dry cleaners have closed as of July 2005. A State Store stands in what was once part of the lobby.

UPDATE: There is a new business in the what was the Continental Restaurant in the former lobby area of the Ellis Theatre. Don't know what it is yet.

Update on the new business. Kicks USA, an urban footwear store is now in the old restaurant. In the other location were a dry cleaner was before they moved next door, a Subay sandwich shop just opened.

The most memorable moment I had of this theater was going there to see "Woodstock" The movie was rated "R" and my parents wouldn't take me to see it. I was only 15 and you had to be accompanied by an adult at the time if you were under 17. I must have looked old enough because the theater let me in. I sat there and watched it twice! The movie was over 3 hours long.

This theatre opened as the Forum Theatre and should be listed as such. The theatre was operated by Stanley-Warner who closed it in 1952. It reopened in 1955 as the Ellis. I saw many films here in the early 60s while attending college. The theatre was in excellent condition, retaining most of it's original archectectural detail.

Here is a photo, circa 1945. The film being shown is "Love Letters", with Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten. The photo is from the Irvin Glazer theater collection:
http://tinyurl.com/28kfeo

Love Letters was released in August of 1945.

I used to live 4 blocks east of Frankford ave in the early to mid-70's. My mom and I used to walk to frankford ave to the kresgee's two stores down from this theater. I think by that time it was closed up but was still there. I was to young to realize they were showing X rated movies but mom would always pull me away from the place when I stopped to look at it.

does anyone know what was left in the auditorium when the theater closed? Did anyone get to see the inside when it was torn down?

The auditorium was "modernized" for the theatre's re-opening as the Ellis. A B&W photo can be found in ads for the International Seat Company on page 530 of the 1956 Film Daily Year Book, and on page 816 of the 1957 edition.

Anyone know what was left in the auditorium when it was torn down in 2003?

Here is what the inside looked like in the mid 1950's when it reopened as the Ellis. I wonder what was left of this when it was torn down.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25966810@N06/2437018803/