Holme Theatre
8049 Frankford Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19136
8049 Frankford Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19136
1 person
favorited this theater
The Holme Theatre, designed by William H. Lee in 1929, was an Art Deco style movie house that could seat well over 1300. The theater stood on Frankford Avenue near Rhawn Street. In its last few years (1946-51) it was called the Pennypack Theatre (after nearby Pennypack Park).
Contributed by
Bryan
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 56 comments)
Right now much of Holmesburg’s future fate hangs on Independence Pointe and its getting developed the right way. And that right way could be one of two things — either its returning to be a riverside shipping terminal (which is what it was last) or developed with housing and other things in such a way so that the end result isn’t a Katrina/Love Canal disaster combined. And likewise the Holme Theatre building’s future fate hangs on how Independence Pointe gets developed. And with Independence Pointe’s future fate on hold for now, so, too, is the Holme Theatre building’s, which is why the Holme Theatre building is being allowed to serve as a mini mall for now. And the upcoming election between Schwartz and Bhakta (November 2006) has a great deal to do with things as well. Schwartz (who’s the incumbant) fully supports the current plan for Independence Pointe, which will end up being a Katrina/Love Canal disaster when all is said and done, whereby Bhakta is a candidate of real substance and vision. Bhakta actually thinks.
Here are two interesting views from the Philadelphia Architects & Buildings site. The first is an architectural rendering. Note the different spelling. The second is a 1941 photo from the Irvin Glazer collection:
http://tinyurl.com/2ubcn5
http://tinyurl.com/33hksc
Tin Pan Alley with Alice Faye and Betty Grable was released in November of 1940.
Thanks for providing the two links, Ken MC, while I’d be curious to know if that was the spelling used on the actual marquee. With my only memories being of when it was all boarded up back in the late ‘50s, I don’t recall the name “Pennypack” being alternatively spelled that way. [but of course I wouldn’t, since it was before I’d learned to read yet.] Meantime, to date I have yet to uncover any photo showing it after it went from being the Holme. Local businessman/Holmesburg native Rudy Definis published a book of historic Holmesburg which went on sale in December 2007, but even there it shows the theater only when it was the Holme. I’d love to see how it looked during the post-WWII optimism phase and with the new name given.
One of the stores that now makes up what was the Holme Theatre was the scene of a crime on April 29, 2008.
View link
The armed robbery took place in the Dollar Tree store and the robber is still on the loose.
Yes, that’s so typical of how it is around there now. It’s the current state of the Philadelphia economy, what more can I say?
Glad to see so much interest in my favorite movie theatre. However, in the comments I’ve seen the name is spelled incorrectly. The marquee said PENYPAK – not Pennypack.
I believe it first closed as a movie house in 1951, the reopened April of 1954 with “20,000 Leagues Under the See” as its first feature. I think it closed for good in 1959.
I have fond memories of the Saturday afternoon shows – especially the comedy races. Each kid got a ticket numbered one thru 10 and if your number was the winner of the race, you got a prize.
Also had some good times as a young teenager at Herby’s Auction which I believe was the first business enterprise after the movie house closed.
J. G. Caughie
Former Holmesburg resident
Compare this view to the photos of the facade in January 2006:
http://tinyurl.com/nywfjx
Another Google map photo?
the function here, should be retail.