Stadium Theatre

3300 S. Broad Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19145

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veyoung52
veyoung52 on August 31, 2017 at 9:07 pm

mh052 said, “The Stadium Theater was located just across the street from another George A. Hamid enterprise; namely, Aquarama, Theater of the Sea (Philly’s own big-time aquarium showplace), right on South Btroad St.” Someone please explain how both the Stadium Theatre and Aquarama, if they were physically across the street from each other shared the same building address, namely 3300 South Broad Street, during the same time period.

rivest266
rivest266 on October 9, 2016 at 7:12 am

This opened on June 28th, 1967. Its grand opening ad in the photo section.

mh052
mh052 on July 5, 2010 at 1:46 am

That’s very interesting because I recall another theater showing Superman in 70mm for $1 at the same time; Parkwood Theater in the Parkwood Manor Shopping Center (Far Northeast, Phila, Pa.). However, the Parkwood’s newspaper ad made reference to its 70mm presentation (i.e. in the ad itself), and the Stadium’s ad made no reference to it (at least to my recollection). The Parkwood’s marquee also said 70mm. I viewed the film at the Fox in center city in four (4) track Dolby Stereo, presumably in 35mm (film was shot in 35mm Panavision). The Parkwood and Stadium’s showings were probably anamorphic “blow-ups streched to fit 70mm projection.

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on May 21, 2010 at 4:13 pm

They did show Superman in 70mm for a $1.00. If you look on the posting for the Virginia Theater in Atlantic City, Hamid would bring the 70mm equipment from the Virginia to use in the Stadium during the winter months.

ediemer
ediemer on June 21, 2009 at 11:20 pm

I remember seeing this theater while leaving the stadium-it was still full-sized and showing films for $1, and it definitely said “70mm” on the marquee. I think the film was “Superman” at the time and wondered why the place was never advertised.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 5, 2008 at 3:16 pm

Here is a photo of the Cinema South, post-closure:
http://tinyurl.com/yq8ow8

mh052
mh052 on December 20, 2006 at 6:18 pm

The Stadium Theater was still in operation in the late 1970s/early 1980s. In 1979, the theater was still full-sized and showing films @ $1 at all times. Example – “The Champ” (Jon Voight; Ricky Schroeder), and “The China Syndrome” (Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda, and Michael Douglas). In the early 1980s, the theater was closed, twinned, changed management, and renamed as Cinema South (i.e. twin theater). After a short stint as the Cinema South, the theater closed permanently. In both cases, feature presentations were limited to nightly performances only.

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on November 30, 2006 at 10:55 am

This theater was built when they demolished the South Phils drive in to build Veterans stadium. After being in operation a few years it was twinned then just closed.It probibly closed around 1973 when George Hamid closed his theater sin Atlantic City.

hondo59
hondo59 on November 30, 2006 at 9:56 am

Thanks, Lost Memory. I remember seeing it many times but I never saw a film there. It was just a typical 1960s box.

hondo59
hondo59 on November 30, 2006 at 6:25 am

The Stadium Theater, along with Veterans Stadium and Aquarama, are all gone.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on September 16, 2006 at 6:05 pm

Remember Gene Hart, the voice of the Flyers? He was the announcer and de facto GM of the Aquarama in the sixties.

mh052
mh052 on June 5, 2006 at 7:11 pm

The Stadium Theater was located just across the street from another George A. Hamid enterprise; namely, Aquarama, Theater of the Sea (Philly’s own big-time aquarium showplace), right on South Btroad St. It opened in the Summer of 1967 with “Casino Royale” (the other James Bond movie which was released by Columbia Pictures). That same year, a reissue of “Spartacus” was later presented there. The Grand Opening ads heralded that this theater featured symphonic seats and 70mm projection. To the best of my recollection, the ads never mentioned a 70mm presentation, unless the “Spartacus” showing was one which did not specifically advertise it as such. It may have been a 70mm showing. However, I truly doubt it; neighborhood theaters such as the Cheltenham and Orleans took pride in such less-than regular endeavors. Yes, ultimately it was reduced to a two shows, nightly, $1 at all times theater. The older, more ornate theater at Broad and Snyder, known as the Broadway, reigned supreme. I was never at this theater, and my entry is based on my “pretty darn good” memory; this info is accurate to the best of my memories. I’d love to hear from other who regularly attended this theater; it would be enlightening, informative, and very interesting!

mh052
mh052 on June 5, 2006 at 7:11 pm

The Stadium Theater was located just across the street from another George A. Hamid enterprise; namely, Aquarama, Theater of the Sea (Philly’s own big-time aquarium showplace), right on South Btroad St. It opened in the Summer of 1967 with “Casino Royale” (the other James Bond movie which was released by Columbia Pictures). That same year, a reissue of “Spartacus” was later presented there. The Grand Opening ads heralded that this theater featured symphonic seats and 70mm projection. To the best of my recollection, the ads never mentioned a 70mm presentation, unless the “Spartacus” showing was one which did not specifically advertise it as such. It may have been a 70mm showing. However, I truly doubt it; neighborhood theaters such as the Cheltenham and Orleans took pride in such less-than regular endeavors. Yes, ultimately it was reduced to a two shows, nightly, $1 at all times theater. The older, more ornate theater at Broad and Snyder, known as the Broadway, reigned supreme. I was never at this theater, and my entry is based on my “pretty darn good” memory; this info is accurate to the best of my memories. I’d love to hear from other who regularly attended this theater; it would be enlightening, informative, and very interesting!

smut666
smut666 on May 21, 2006 at 3:03 pm

Wow What a great old movie theater, I was only a kid going with my friends to the Stadium Movie Theater right across from the Stadium
where the Phillies played.I saw so many movies there before it became a dollor movie theater. I think later it became an adult theater. It got pretty run down near the end of its time,but I still went all the time.Please any pics email me
Why are we tearing down all the theaters,why don’t they fix them up?