Band Box Theatre

There were NO other repertory art houses in Philly during the mid to late 1960s, only my beloved Band Box. What most folks don’t know is that Armat Street in Germantown was named for Thomas Armat, one of the inventors of the motion picture, whose patents were bought out by Thomas Edison. I am not sure that Art Carduner knew this. Art, where art thou? Wherever, thank you.

Art Carduner owned the Bandbox and it was then THE place in Philadelphia to see art, repertory, foreign, silents, and historical cinema during the 1960s. The Bandbox would also play some of the great silent films to live improvised piano accompaniment by Paul Garabedian, a great local musician who would get standing ovations for his performances there. Mr. Carduner would come over to my family’s house for book club meetings held there. And Mr. Garabedian also frequently visited as a family friend. I also remember David Starobin who worked at the Bandbox. David was the brother of Danny Starobin, who calcynic mentions above, and they both played together in a blues band called Sweet Stavin' Chain. I didn’t see the group play at the Bandbox, but did see them perform as the opening act for Buddy Guy at The Electric Factory in the late 1960s.

Today, the Band Box Theatre is home to the Germantown Recovery Community, a facility of NHS Human Services, Inc.

Once, in the late 1960s, when it was an “art-house theater”, I saw Buster Keaton’s “The General”, with live accompaniment.

I loved going to the Bandbox when I was a teen in Philly in the late 1960s. Art Carduner was a culture hero of mine for his programming and the great program notes he wrote. Much of my early movie education took place in this theater – from “Citizen Kane” to “Morgan!” to “Pierrot le Fou.” It was an adventure to get to from the Northeast (via public transportation) but you knew you were going to see something very special!

Thanks Renel-fan for that great description of the Bandbox Theatre

My parents met at the Band Box in 1957 ish. (My mom worked there) They are celebrating 50 years married this weekend. I so wish I could get a photo of this place…if anyone has a lead please post here and THANKS MUCH!

Former Bandbox owner Art Carduner died last Friday at age 88. A colorful Philadelphia Daily News obituary may be found here.

I remember the lounge. They sold cheese, wine, and other drinks and food. Does anyone recall the summer when the Band Box had a Beatles marathon? They showed “A Hard Day’s Night” multiple times over one summer. On a different note, does anyone remember “Hecate’s Circle” Coffee House on Chelten ave.? It would be fun to hear from you!

I saw many films at the Bandbox from the early 60s to its closing as a repertory house in the mid 70s. The downstairs lounge was possibly the first theater cafe in the country. The theater box office was on the left side of the entrance, under the marquee. Upon first entering the theater there was an outer lobby with a floor that sloped gently upward. The candy stand was in this outer lobby.

I remember seeing William Castle’s gimmick film ‘Mr. Sardonicus’ here. That was the film where the audience voted on the outcome of the story. The ticket taker gave you a ballot after tearing your ticket. The ballot had the image of a fist with an extended thumb printed with glow-in-the dark ink. In the outer lobby there was a large standup photo display of William Castle with a hole into a light box attached to the back. You would insert the glow-in-the dark ticket into the light box to charge it up so that at the appropriate point in the film you could vote either ‘thumbs up’ or ‘thumbs down’ for the villain. Of course, there was no real voting. The story had a twist ending that would fit either vote.

Anyway, the doors at the rear of the outer lobby led to the inner lobby. The auditorium was to the right of the inner lobby, so the theater was L-shaped. The auditorium had two aisles, and it was wider that it was deep, allowing for a much larger screen than you might expect in such a small theater. I remember a rather large area in the front without seats. As a repertory theater there was a piano up front that was played for silent movies. Mr. George Garabedian was often the pianist.

The stairway to the downstairs lounge ran along the left side of the inner lobby, beginning at the far end. The lounge was about the same size at the upstairs inner lobby. In an effort to increase income they installed a cafe in the lounge shortly before the theater closed. This was possibly the first cinema cafe. So that patrons did not miss the movie being shown upstairs there was a closed circuit broadcast of the film on a small black & white TV.

The Bandbox was a great place to see movies. Art Carduner programmed a wide selection of great films, new and old. Sometimes the distributors would force him to book a film he didn’t want in order to get a film he did want, and he would often say so in the program. The program guide sent to those on the mailing list was filled with short descriptions, and sometimes long essays, on the films written by Alda Cortese (I think that was her name). I wish I’d saved those old programs.

The lounge was in the basement where the restrooms were located.

I know the Bandbox had an art deco basement lounge. Does anyone remember it? I came across a picture of a lounge for the “Bandbox”. The narrative gives a description that indicates it to be Germantown’s bandbox. But, never discloses its location or city. Looking to confirm that that is the Bandbox’s lounge. If you recall the lounge, email me and I’ll be happy to send it to you for confirmation. My email address is: