Goldman Theatre
30 S. 15th Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19102
30 S. 15th Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19102
8 people
favorited this theater
Opened in 1946 with the world premiere of “Monsieur Beaucaire” starring Bob Hope. Designed by architect David Supowitz, with William H. Lee associate architect, the 1,300-seat Goldman Theatre was designed in late Streamline Moderne style which included a large vertical sign which was flush with the facade and continued above the roofline as a tower, with the name “Goldman” in huge letters. Originally the theatre had a rather small semi-circular marquee, which was later replaced by a larger triangular-shaped one. A screening room for the film industry was located upstairs.
The world premiere of the Civil War drama “Tap Roots” was hosted in July 1948, with the film’s stars attending. The stars and Universal officials stayed at the Ritz Carlton, where visitors received ‘campaign buttons’ like those worn at the national political conventions taking place that summer in Philadelphia. These buttons proclaimed ‘I’m a delegate to the premiere of “Tap Roots” at the Goldman Theatre’.
Actor Peter Lawford appeared in person at the theatre on October 26, 1949 at screenings of the film “The Red Danube”. The world premiere of the film noir “Wicked Woman” was hosted at the Goldman Theatre on January 20, 1954 with a personal appearance by actress Beverly Michaels. Kirk Douglas appeared in person at the Goldman Theatre for the March 15, 1955 world premiere of the western “Man Without a Star”.
A huge deeply curved screen was installed to showcase 70mm road shows starting with Walt Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” (1959), and later including “Porgy and Bess” (1959), “Spartacus” (1960) and “El Cid” (1961), “The Longest Day” (1962), “Funny Girl” (1968) and “Patton” (1970).
Local theatre chain Budco acquired the theatre in 1972. The Goldman ened its life as a single theatre September 3, 1974 with the 10:35 showing of “The Education of Sonny Carlson”, doublebilled with a reissue of “Lady Sings the Blues”. The twinned theatre reopened October 2, 1974 with “The Longest Yard”, a first run, and a reissue of “Cabaret” which had previously showcased in the then single auditorium. The two 600 seat auditoriums, each had a 30 feet wide screen. After closing in the early-1980’s, the theatre was razed in 1984 and replaced by an office building.
Contributed by
Bryan, Howard B Haas
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Recent comments (view all 74 comments)
A friend of mine who also knew Philly suggested that the theater I asked about five comments up was called the Studio. It was a small theater, sort of sandwiched in between the bigger ones. I recall there were lounges (restrooms) down a flight of narrow stairs off the front lobby.
My friend confirmed it showed great, sometimes esoteric (for the times) foreign double bills, Godard, Antonioni, etc.
The World down the street showed first run foreign films.
Penway 14 – If my memory serves me correctly, there was a Sam Goody store on Chestnut Street directly across from the Randolph Theatre. I remember shopping in that Sam Goody while waiting to be able to go in the Randolph to see a presentation of their first Cinerama engagement “Grand Prix.” That would have been back in the late 1960’s, probably 1967. That was the first time I was ever in the Randolph Theatre. However, since their remodeling for Cinerama I saw a number of Cinerama and non Cinerama roadshow presentation films at the Randolph. Hope this helps.
Thank you. I thought I remembered a Philly Goody’s store from the early and later ‘60s and I do also remember the Randolph. I also recall a smaller record store on Chestnut St. somewhere around the Viking, maybe down from Rittenhouse Square.
I just found a CT entry for the Studio on Market St. It had quite a history.
This is a GREAT site and I’m learning (and remembering) a lot. I grew up in Harrisburg but got to know Philadelphia while I was in college.
Interesting photos and history.
A Great theatre and the stories,How about the Dad snoring during “JAWS” folks you can’t make this stuff up.
after leaving the randolph theatre in 71 as assostant mgr I went to the goldman theatre. because we started showing films lke mondo cane,a young booker named mitch goldman(no relation) started booking a lot of older movies for mini film festivals. for example in late ‘71 we had a garbo festival for 1 week featuring films like ninotchka, these were alsovery profitable because they were very inexpensive to rent. I promised howard some information about premiers,but i guess I get pretty sidetracked these days. i try to get back on track tomorrow.-jack swartz former asst. mgr randolph/goldman theatres.
howard-to answert your question about openings with celebrities: the only one that I can recall is the opening of patton with george c. scott in attendace. goldman gave it the full treatment including cleg lights,reminded us of what used to be seen at graumans in hollywood. I was not in attendance but my freind,Alan Kosher was the asst. mgr. of the goldman at that time would have the advantage in information over me.
Thanks, Jack, your comments are very interesting.
Downtown Philadelphia in the 60s had to have been a vibrant moviegoing place…By the time I got there in the mid 70s the Goldman was twinned (and atrociously)…the Studio was showing Deep Throat and the Mark 1 – a great screen in the basement of the Holiday Inn on Market Street was on dollar shows
It also was a great theater-going city in the same era. I saw many Broadway try-outs there. It was sort of the twilight of the great Broadway musicals but I saw some unusual ones. Greatest coup: seeing Sondheim’s ANYONE CAN WHISTLE! At the Forrest, as I recall. I got Lee Remick’s autograph after the performance. I think the legit theaters may have been among the first to go.