Roxy Theater
2023 Sansom Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19103
2023 Sansom Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19103
3 people
favorited this theater
The Roxy Theater opened in 1975 as a single screen seating 120 and programs Art House/Independent movies. A second screen has now been added.
In 1984, Ray Murray and Claire Brown took over the Roxy Theater, offering new releases.
In 1994, theatre owner Max Raab filed an antitrust suit against Miramax Films, alleging the studio allowed only Center City Philadelphia’s Ritz theatres to show first run movies. In October, 1994, the Roxy Theater closed. Two nearby movie theatres also closed in 1994 – the Eric Rittenhouse 3, which was demolished and Sam’s Place I & II, which became a CVS Pharmacy.
Bernard Nearey purchased the theatre in October, 1996 so moviegoers would have more another choice. On February 7, 1997, the Roxy Theater was reopened with “Secrets and Lies” and “Hype”. The Roxy Theater shows arthouse, classics, and mainstream films.
In October, 2012, the landlord terminated Nearey’s lease as of November. The Philadelphia Film Society signed a 16-year lease, promising more art films, new screen and seats, surround sound and digital projection in addition to 35mm projection. Perhaps in the long term, a liquor licence and additional screening rooms on the upper floors are future hopes.
Contributed by
Lost Memory, Howard B. Haas
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Recent comments (view all 22 comments)
Here’s a link to a 2006 interview with Roxy operator Bernard Nearey: http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/arts-and-culture/the_candyman-38421379.html
I wonder will the Roxy will still be opened this time next year. The Ritz theaters have gone digital. The Roxy is important to the block, it helps the eateries in the area.
Well ALps Disney Warner Universal and another studio have signed a deal with Kodak to process 35mm films through 2015. This may save some of the smaller theaters like this one.
This article reports it closed but owner of building will himself reopen it with different format & redone http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/entertainment/movies/Roxy-.html
November is the closing day. I love this this theatre and will miss it. But how long can you deal with a leaky ceiling and musty smell. I believe this space will go retail. The rents on that block will rise, but a cinema was the perfect fit.
Anyone have the contact on this landlord ?
Great news about the Roxy. It’s going to be the new home of the Philadelphia Film Society. One of the screens will be digital and the other remaining 35mm so they’ll be able to show the classics. It will be seen in the model of The Film Forum in NYC.
Here’s the article from Philly.com
http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20121009_Roxy_Theater_set_to_reopen_as_new_home_of_Philadelphia_Film_Society.html
I always said it should model the Film Forum, hooray!!!!
December 21, 2012 Washington Post article about the closure of Takoma Park video store owned by Annie and Barry Solan states the two met in 1975 at the State which Barry described as a “raggedy old vaudeville theater.” The article states that in 1979, Barry became a co-owner of the State where he screened films such as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Our Hitler” an 8 hour movie. After they married in 1981, he bought other theaters including Philadelphia’s Roxy before entering the video business.
Saw workers inside the Roxy the other day,in the near future, I am planning to donate money to the new owners, PFC, they should sell Roxy T-Shirts as an incentive.