Ritz at the Bourse
400 Ranstead Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19106
400 Ranstead Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19106
5 people
favorited this theater
One of three Ritz Theaters located in Center City Philadelphia (along with the Ritz East and the Ritz Five). Located adjacent to the food court/shopping mall known as The Bourse, it’s a fine theater that focuses mainly on foreign and independent films.
The Ritz at the Bourse opened September 19,1990, with 1,000 seats, five screens and the films “Metropolitan” on two screens, “White Hunter, Black Heart”, “Jesus of Montreal” and “La Traviata”, Franco Zeffirelli’s 1982 adoptation of the Verdi opera. The theatre was built beneath the 450 car garage of the new Omni Hotel. With chrome railings, Art Deco style sconces, and other streamlined appointments it was called ‘Cunard Modern’ by Ritz Theatre owner Ray Posel. After Posel’s passing, in 2007 his family sold the Center City Philadelphia theatres, including the Ritz at the Bourse, to Landmark Theatres.
Contributed by
Scott Weinberg, Howard B. Haas
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
This photo shows what the Ritz at the Bourse looks like.
This photo depicts going downstairs from outside, to the cinemas:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carmizzle/385240042/
I love to attend this theater in the afternoons. Recently, since in the daytime there are no ticket takers, there has been a problem with homeless people sneeking into this theater.
I don’t know about the times you were there, hdtv267, but I have gone a lot in the afternoon, I have seen on many occasions, homeless people hanging around in the street level lobby, with filhty detressed plastic bags. Homeless individuals, who use the men’s rooms, some leave and some go into the auditoriums. The last straw for me was, on two occasions', disturbed people made noise and muttering sounds all through two french films, I was trying to enjoy. Management gave me a pass, but that is not the point, this is the Ritz, not the old Budco Goldman Theater. I expect more from this chain, so would Ramon Possel, if he were alive. I only go to the Ritz 5, the crumbling original theater, when the film I want to see is not playing in Voorhees. This is a security issue, as well, I paid, they didn’t. There is a blind spot at the Bourse, where the cashier can not see, this is how they get in and this is why they need a ticket taker at all times. I have spoken to management about this, maybe hdtv, it have gotten better since you been there. I plan on seeing “Salt of Life” this weekend, I hope you’re right.
The RitzBourse has been really trying hard of late and I appreciate the effort.
On my recent visits here (12/8/12 and 12/15/12) the program was started by having an employee welcome us and re-inforce the no texting/talking. Sad that it even needs to be mentioned- those whom patronize these ‘sorts of films’ you think would know better.
Unfortunately on the 15th, you really couldn’t hear the announcement since Landmark started a “Landmark radio” which they kept on while this poor bloke tried to speak.
Other than that, I had much better experiences there than last time. Still no sign of hobos looking for chicken though.
Another visit today (2/9/13) and it was another favourable experience. Seeing a good movie helped (John Dies at the End). Once again the greeting from employee.
More Landmark radio. No hobos looking for chicken.
What makes me sad is how well run and behaved at this theatre and a few blocks away on Walnut Street is such a debacle.
U Penn alumni magazine article about seeing a film here http://www.upenn.edu/gazette/0513/elsewhere.html