Cheltenham Theatre
2385 Cheltenham Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19150
2385 Cheltenham Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19150
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When the Cheltenham Theatre first opened in 1961, it was owned by RKO-Stanley-Warner Theatres. It was closed by RKO and taken over by the now vanished Budco Theatre circuit which twinned the theatre.
Budco Theatres was sold to AMC in 1987 and the large multiplex circuit decided to close the theatre for good that same year.
A newer eight-screen multiplex bearing the Cheltenham name and operated by United Artists Theatres was located in the mall and outside of the mall, until it closed in 2008. The old Cheltenham Theatre is, however, long gone.
Contributed by
Ronnie Colbert
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
The Cheltenham Theatre opened about 1961. It was
really a classy place. They did an excellent job
of presenting films. They almost certainly had
70mm capability (I don’t know for sure as I was
a pre-teen at the time and didn’t follow technical
things).
The theatre was part of the Cheltenham Shopping
Center but it was more-or-less stand-alone (not
part of the main mall).
I enjoyed “Spartacus”, “The Great Escape”, a re-
released “South Pacific” and “Mary Poppins” there.
Come to think of it, the Cheltenham must have been
stiff competition for Glenside’s Keswick Theatre,
only about 3 miles away and also operated at the
time by Stanley-Warner.
Even though I never went to this theater, I grew up in the burbs of Phila and was a big movie buff even as a kid. The one thing I do remember is they had the exclusive reserved seat engagement in the 60’s of the Steve McQueen movie, The Sand Pebbles. It was interesting that it didn’t play center city. I also remember the Lane theater in Cherry Lane. They showed mostly art fims.Itlater became a porno theater. The last I was up that way which was in the 80, it was a Datsun car dealer
The original Cheltenham was one of a series of theatres that Stanley Warner opened that were to be capable of 70mm Cinerama projection. This was not done here. There was one interesting booking in the 60’s. Paramount booked a reserved-seat roadshow engagement of “Becket” there with a 70mm print, the 1st time I know of that a film played roadshow that far away from the center-city area. At the conclusion of that run, the 70mm print was moved to the Boyd downtown presenting the same size image as the “Cinerama 70” presentations without saying as much. The Cheltenham also distinguised itself by having its multitude of surround speakers not on the side walls but in the ceiling. Many interesting “fly-over” effects during the 4-track run of “Longest Day”.
This past Friday, the former REG (United Artists) Cheltenham Square 8 Theatre reopened as the Movies At Cheltenham Square 8 Theatre. What I want to know is: when did REG decide to close this theatre?
Looking at some old Inquirer articles, the closing was in December 1987. In March 1988, the Inquirer reported that the Cheltenham Twin and a PSFS bank had been demolished to make way for a new seven-screen theater.
Yes, the theater was equipped with Norelco 35/70mm projectors. The projectionist took such good care of them, they looked brand-new right to the end. But the Norelco is a exceptionally heavy projector, so they never removed them but bulldozed them with eveything else when the theater was torn down.
The Cheltenham Theater was a great place to see movies before it was twinned. The projection and sound were excellent, and I remember it having one of the largest screens in Philadelphia. After 2001 A Space Odyssey ended its Cinerama engagement at the Randolph I believe it moved to a 70mm six track sound showing at the Cheltenham because it was the best sound and screen in the city.
ya know 1987 was a year that closed alot of theaters in PA.. quess cause of all the AMCS that were taking over.
Boxoffice article on this theatre with lots of pictures. Issue of February 12, 1962:
View link
The opening date for this theater remains in question. I have found dates that range from 1954 to 1964. I watched ‘40 Pounds of Trouble’ at the theater on December 31, 1962. It was the opening day of this movie and was advertised as the Grand Opening of the theater. I entered the auditorium via the far left aisle and took an aisle seat about half way down. I remember the left arm rest being loose. The film was not a smash hit and possible helped to lead the film studios not to release films the week after Christmas. (Yes, December 31st. I was 16 and had no life.)