There seems to be a discrepancy on the number of seats that the Benner Theatre had. On the heading, it states 450 seats while under the photo George Quirk states that the theatre opened in early-1942 with 700 seats, all on a single floor. Does anyone know for sure?
The answer to Howard’s question is yes, the Devon Theater for the Performing Arts is closed. As for the marquee confusion – MARQUEE SPONSORED BY DREXEL UNIVERSIY – appears on the bottom right corner of each of the three faces of the marquee. This is in recognition of Drexel’s financial contribution for the new marquee. DEVON remains the name of the theater! Also, the last time I looked, the marquee also reads AVAILABLE. If anyone has further information on the future of the Devon, please share, and thanks!
Opened in 1968, the 309 Cinema, a single-screen, first run theatre was built adjacent to and on the same site as the 309 Twin Drive-In (now demolished) by Budco Theatres Inc. The theatre was twinned in the mid 1970’s and several additions and renovations to the original building, and poor planning, during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s has resulted in the hodgepodge that exists today. The cinema was rebranded the AMC 309 Cinema 9 when the Budco Theatres chain was acquired by AMC Cinemas (now AMC Theatres) at the end of 1986. Renovations to the lobby were made in the early 1990’s. And since it is a cinema, a marquee would be nice!
All of the old movie palaces had grand staircases that led to second-floor lounges. Many were furnished and carpeted. Smoking was confined to these areas and the presentation could often be viewed from this vantage point. If you have never experienced one of these venues, you definitely need to get out more!
That “new-car smell” seems to have worn off. Tips on Foursquare indicate that they “call it the Barn for a reason” … the aroma is a mixture of a locker room and the NYC subway … bring a clothespin … and “why does this place smell like a urinal???” What the heck is happening here Regal? Is this your “one of a kind movie experience”?
The absence of a marquee does make this theatre very mysterious! Never seen a cinema without a marquee! Except for the United Artists, this building doesn’t offer a clue to what is inside. Even the ticket booth could be mistaken for an ATM from a distance. Does anyone know who the architect is? Must be part of the new generation.
Except for the United Artists, this building doesn’t offer a clue to what is inside. Never seen a cinema without a marquee. Even the box office could be mistaken for an ATM from a distance. Yes, this is mysterious!
The Orleans was a prefabbed monstrosity. The Fox (2,423 seats), Stanley (2,916 seats), Boyd (2,450 seats), Oxford, 1,964 seats), Erlanger (1,890 seats), Uptown (2,040 seats) are only a few of Philadelphia’s grand movie palaces of the past. Comparing the Orleans is contemptible! Any quality Orleans might have possessed was destroyed when Budco split it in two. And adding four screens to the back of a grocery store never seemed to fit. There are great memories associated with the Orleans but certainly not for the building itself. Rest in peace you pile of rubble.
The Oxford Theatre was built for the presentation of motion pictures and live stage shows, (vaudeville). For this reason, the Oxford Theatre’s original screen was a fly screen. This type of screen is designed to be raised, (or fly), into the stage loft, an area above the proscenium arch. With the end of live stage shows years earlier, Budco Quality Theatres, Inc., operator of the Oxford, replaced this fly screen with a permanent screen and support structure during the early 1960’s. A new sound system was placed directly behind the screen. Of course this rendered the stage unuseable for any other purpose. The new screen was white and glass beaded with hundreds of small, evenly spaced holes to allow air to and from the speakers.
Gerald – I guess we can forget this link. It still doesn’t work and it doesn’t look like Boxoffice nagazine is going to fix it. That’s too bad but thank’s anyway!
The telephone exchange for Oxford Theatre was definitely PIlgrim 5. PIlgrim and FIdelity were the telephone exchanges in Burholme, Fox Chase and Lawndale. PIoneer was also a Philadelphia telephone exchange but was not in the Burholme area. I beleive PIoneer belonged to the Mafair area.
Is there a photo of the façade before the gray stucco was added? Please share.
There seems to be a discrepancy on the number of seats that the Benner Theatre had. On the heading, it states 450 seats while under the photo George Quirk states that the theatre opened in early-1942 with 700 seats, all on a single floor. Does anyone know for sure?
The answer to Howard’s question is yes, the Devon Theater for the Performing Arts is closed. As for the marquee confusion – MARQUEE SPONSORED BY DREXEL UNIVERSIY – appears on the bottom right corner of each of the three faces of the marquee. This is in recognition of Drexel’s financial contribution for the new marquee. DEVON remains the name of the theater! Also, the last time I looked, the marquee also reads AVAILABLE. If anyone has further information on the future of the Devon, please share, and thanks!
Here we go again! Cinema Treasures is a site about movie theatres, not “Friday the 13th” and/or slasher flicks and body parts. Stay on-topic!
A CLARIFICATION:
Opened in 1968, the 309 Cinema, a single-screen, first run theatre was built adjacent to and on the same site as the 309 Twin Drive-In (now demolished) by Budco Theatres Inc. The theatre was twinned in the mid 1970’s and several additions and renovations to the original building, and poor planning, during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s has resulted in the hodgepodge that exists today. The cinema was rebranded the AMC 309 Cinema 9 when the Budco Theatres chain was acquired by AMC Cinemas (now AMC Theatres) at the end of 1986. Renovations to the lobby were made in the early 1990’s. And since it is a cinema, a marquee would be nice!
All of the old movie palaces had grand staircases that led to second-floor lounges. Many were furnished and carpeted. Smoking was confined to these areas and the presentation could often be viewed from this vantage point. If you have never experienced one of these venues, you definitely need to get out more!
Still waiting for that seat count. Does anyone know? Also, does anyone know who the architect was and when the Regal Barn Plaza 14 opened.
That “new-car smell” seems to have worn off. Tips on Foursquare indicate that they “call it the Barn for a reason” … the aroma is a mixture of a locker room and the NYC subway … bring a clothespin … and “why does this place smell like a urinal???” What the heck is happening here Regal? Is this your “one of a kind movie experience”?
The absence of a marquee does make this theatre very mysterious! Never seen a cinema without a marquee! Except for the United Artists, this building doesn’t offer a clue to what is inside. Even the ticket booth could be mistaken for an ATM from a distance. Does anyone know who the architect is? Must be part of the new generation.
Except for the United Artists, this building doesn’t offer a clue to what is inside. Never seen a cinema without a marquee. Even the box office could be mistaken for an ATM from a distance. Yes, this is mysterious!
As a child, I remember going to the Lincoln with my parents. Later with my friends for a $1.00 a carload. (The ‘Blue Light’ cabins were next door).
The Orleans was a prefabbed monstrosity. The Fox (2,423 seats), Stanley (2,916 seats), Boyd (2,450 seats), Oxford, 1,964 seats), Erlanger (1,890 seats), Uptown (2,040 seats) are only a few of Philadelphia’s grand movie palaces of the past. Comparing the Orleans is contemptible! Any quality Orleans might have possessed was destroyed when Budco split it in two. And adding four screens to the back of a grocery store never seemed to fit. There are great memories associated with the Orleans but certainly not for the building itself. Rest in peace you pile of rubble.
The Oxford Theatre was built for the presentation of motion pictures and live stage shows, (vaudeville). For this reason, the Oxford Theatre’s original screen was a fly screen. This type of screen is designed to be raised, (or fly), into the stage loft, an area above the proscenium arch. With the end of live stage shows years earlier, Budco Quality Theatres, Inc., operator of the Oxford, replaced this fly screen with a permanent screen and support structure during the early 1960’s. A new sound system was placed directly behind the screen. Of course this rendered the stage unuseable for any other purpose. The new screen was white and glass beaded with hundreds of small, evenly spaced holes to allow air to and from the speakers.
Gerald – I guess we can forget this link. It still doesn’t work and it doesn’t look like Boxoffice nagazine is going to fix it. That’s too bad but thank’s anyway!
The telephone exchange for Oxford Theatre was definitely PIlgrim 5. PIlgrim and FIdelity were the telephone exchanges in Burholme, Fox Chase and Lawndale. PIoneer was also a Philadelphia telephone exchange but was not in the Burholme area. I beleive PIoneer belonged to the Mafair area.