Esquire Theater
5717 North Broad Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19107
5717 North Broad Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19107
1 person
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The Grange Theater opened on Christmas Day, 1934 with 1,000 seats. It was located on North Broad Street, just north of Olney Avenue at Grange Street. It was the second address from the corner, with Esquire Drugs occupying the corner space just next to the marquee. It showed 2nd run movies.
In 1951, the Grange Theater was sold and renamed Esquire Theater. It closed in the mid to late-1970’s. The theater reopened briefly in 1981 by Rusty A. Miller, who also reopened the Benn Theater on Woodward Avenue and the 69th Street Theater in Upper Darby.
Since closing it has had several incarnations as retail stores including a clothing store. Since 2009 it has been a fast food restaurant.
Contributed by
jeff hurvitz, Howard B. Haas
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Recent comments (view all 17 comments)
LM, I see what you mean, it is pickiung up the 19 and not the rest of the address. I have noticed that with a couple other theatres that has multiple hyphinated numbers.
Chuck….Google maps has a problem with some hyphenated addresses. The problem with this particular address is, it’s not supposed to be a hyphenated address. The numbers above are actually an address range for the building. This building occupies 5717 and 5719. The address should be either 5717 or 5719. It’s not necessary to use both numbers.
Thanks for the info LM, there were a couple new theatres with the range in the address and I just used the first part. They seem to map okay that way. I try mapping before I submit the theatre.
The function should be changed to restaurant, which it is, arguably, even if it serves bad fried chicken.
There are a number of theaters listed on here with address ranges similar to this one. I would be more concerned about fixing the address than worrying about changing the function to some greasy chicken emporium.
From Boxoffice magazine, January 1948:
PHILADELPHIA – Meyer B. Strouse, manager of the Grange Theater, died suddenly early Monday at the age of 70. Strouse, who was associated with many other Stanley Warner theaters here during his career, was active in a number of civic organizations.
During the 1950’s & early 1960’s the manager of this theatre was LOU WAKSHUL who went on to be manager of the Goldman Theatres all new ORLEANS THEATRE on Cottman Ave in NE PHILA
Strong memories of the Esquire. I would take my mom there to try to distract her from her grief after my dad’s passing. Saw “Man for All Seasons”, “Bonnie & Clyde”, “Z”…among others. Worked at the White Tower across the street and danced at Wagner’s Ballroom with the Geator with the Heater.
Unfortunately, google street map can’t be changed though it locates the Esquire in Center City.
The theater reopend briefly in 1981 by Rusty A Miller who also reopened the Benn on Woodland Ave and the 69th St in Upper Darby. All were short lived. Update information above to show this information.