Milgram Theatre

This cinema showplace had 3 names, with Stanton Theatre lasting the longest, but as Milgrim Theatre was the most recent name, it is so listed here on Cinema Treasures.

Originally opened as the Stanley Theatre on April 25, 1914 with the movie “The Sea Wolf”. The theatre was named after Stanley Mastbaum, president of The Stanley Company, and was the flagship of the theatre chain. The facade was in white terra cotta. The auditorium was decorated with designs in plaster such as cupids. The theatre had a 3 Manual / 28 Rank, classical Austin organ. A symphony orchestra was organized in 1915 to accompany the silent films.

As the Stanley Company built a larger movie theatre at 19th and Market Street, to be their new ‘Stanley’ flagship, on November 15, 1920, this one was renamed the Stanton Theatre. Only the last three letters on the signs had to be changed.

The auditorium was rather steep, so in 1955, as the ads boasted, ‘Philadelphia’s Only Theatre Escalator’ was added for access to the balconies. At that time, remodeling also included a new front, new marquee, expanded lobby, and larger screen.

As a downtown movie palace, first run movies were exclusively shown here before anywhere else in the Philadelphia region. Action films were frequently featured. Popular horror films were showcased at both the Stanley Theatre and the Stanton Theatre, with the Stanton Theatre getting the ‘B’ horror films. George Raft appeared in person at the opening of “Loan Shark” in May 1952. The world premiere of “The Fighter” was hosted May 29, 1952 with star Richard Conte appearing in person at the theatre. Bob Matthias and fellow athlete Jesse Owens appeared in person on the stage in 1954 for the local premiere of the movie “The Bob Matthias Story”. “Rumble on the Docks” was shown in 1957 with star, South Philadelphia native, James Darren appearing in person at the Stanton Theatre. In the summer of 1957, Sal Mineo appeared in person for the opening of “The Young Don’t Cry”. Frankie Avalon, Dick Clark and other stars of the movie musical “Jamboree” appeared in person on the stage in November 1957 for the movie’s world premiere. “In the Heat of the Night” was shown in 1967.

In 1968, the RKO Stanley Warner Co. sold the Stanton Theatre to Milgram Theatres, owners of the neighboring Fox Theatre. The Stanton Theatre was renamed Milgram Theatre.

In May, 1980, the Milgram Theatre closed. The square block (Market to Chestnut, 16th to 17th) that used to house the Milgrim Theatre, the Fox Theatre, the Stage Door Theatre, the Studio Theatre, the Regency Twin Theatre and the Duke and Duchess Theatre, is now occupied by the 1600 Market Street office building (PNC Bank Center) and Liberty Place.

Recent comments (view all 31 comments)

Michael R. Rambo Jr. on May 15, 2008 at 2:34 am

I believe The Stanton Theatre had 3 different marquees. The firs was from 1914 to the 1930’s. The second was from at least 1935 to around 1959, when the final marquee was nstalled. this would be the marquee style that was also used by this theatre’s sister theatre, The Boyd Theatre.

When this theatre became The Milgram Theatre, they modernized everything on the front of this theatre except for the marquee, with the exception of putting the “Milgram” name where the “Stanton” name used to be, not like what Sameric Theatres did, covering the “Boyd” name with metal and placing the “Sameric” name right through the Boyd name. you can still see the holes in the Boyd name from where the bolts were from the “Sameric” name.

misterjoel on October 24, 2008 at 10:35 pm

Here’s a photo of the “Martin Luther” film appearing at the Stanton in 1953: View link

finkysteet on February 26, 2009 at 8:57 pm

What’s fascinating is that even the least-ornate theaters of yesteryear top the sleek thingamabobs of today. Man, what I’d give to see an old marquee again.

HowardBHaas on March 1, 2009 at 2:31 pm

FILM NOIRS at Stanton!

Google search exactly
Boxoffice January 31, 1948
punch in page 31 for photo of Stanton façade decorated by manager Elmer Pickard for movie “T-Men” on marquee

February 14, 1948 lists “Out of the Past” as the movie being shown.

October 22, 1949 page 56 has photo of Gail Storm, star, visit to Philadelphia in advance of picture “Abandoned” at Stanton

January 27, 1951 page 47 reported that Philip Shawn who plays the lead of “The Sun Sets at Dawn” was in town to help beat the drums for the opening at the Stanton Saturday (27)
February 10, 1951 reported that ushers wore prison outfits at Stanton during “The Sun Sets at Dawn”

dennisczimmerman on April 19, 2009 at 11:16 am

Renewing my link.

HowardBHaas on May 4, 2009 at 1:51 pm

Another film noir event! 8 Aug 1954 Box Office reported that film noir “Pushover” star Kim Novak appeared in Stanton lobby 18 Aug to promote the film, handing out autographs & photos

HowardBHaas on May 6, 2009 at 6:47 am

Here’s some more Stanton history from Box Office:

18 April 1942 Box Office ad stated that “Ghost of Frankenstein” broke 8 year record for opening week business at Stanton

27 Oct 1951 Box Office: star Barbara Payton was due here Oct 27 to appear on Stanton stage to promote the film (Civil war drama) “Drums in the Deep South”

22 Dec 1951 Box Office: local parade to promote the showing of the movie “Fort Defiance”

lostmemory on June 11, 2009 at 8:39 am

The year given for this photo showing the Fox and the Milgram is 1968 although IMDB gives the year of release for the movie “Riot” as 1969.

kencmcintyre on June 21, 2009 at 3:43 pm

Here is a November 1959 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/nlscbr

lostmemory on July 30, 2009 at 7:37 pm

Here is a 1974 ad for “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”.