Boyd Theatre

Tommorrow (12/25/2005) will mark the 77th Anniversary of the opening of the Boyd Theatre by The Stanley Company of America.

How well an historic theater’s restoration is going I consider to be an important measure of the political clmate of where this important historic theater restoration is taking place. For all told, there is no higher art form than a well-produced motion picture exhibited in a well-run theater, as was the case when I saw the Philadelphia premiere of “Ben Hur” at this theater – the Boyd – back in 1959. For the theater in this or that community says it all really. If it’s packed to brim with patrons – as was the case with the Boyd back in 1959 – it means that the economic climate is especially good combined with the atmosphere of a strong sense of togetherness, or a wanting for togetherness, among all those attending the theater. And all of it seems were very much unified as one people back when the Boyd was packed to the brim back in 1959. And maybe it’s just me, but I far prefer that than all of us going off our separate ways while the highest art form there is is in ruins…

Hdtv267, the old “SamEric” circular marquee has been gone since at least the beginning of May. I posted a picture here. This picture was taken in May of this year.

The main (orchestra) floor did not sit 1349 in recent years no matter what the fire sign or literature says. I have a count & a chart, but will tell you it sat more like 800. I know that from seeing movies there, and doing inventory of ALL features in the theater during the 3 years since it has been closed.
Seating was likely about 1500 in 1928, greatly reduced for Cinerama in 1953, and maybe added in 1971 when Cinerama screen removed. Now, I’m not saying you couldn’t have put in temp chairs to reach that total, though I don’t think that was ever done. All the chairs on main level are gone now. New chairs with same design as originals will return, and the seating capacity will greatly increase.

The Sameric 2 and 3 Theatres opened on July 16, 1982. The Sameric 4 Theatre opened on June 12, 1985. According to what I have in my records theatres 2 and 3 each had 450 seats. And theatre 4 had 225 seats. I believe I would have gotten this information from Variety back then. At one time, Variety listed each theatre in the cities it covered. Of course, back then, movies did not open in 3,000 theatres at one time! When “Fiddler on the Roof” reopened the Boyd Theatre as the Sameric Theatre, the balcony was in use. Our reserved seat tickets for a Saturday night performance were in the balcony. However, most times when we attended other 70mm presentation films at the Sameric – “Star Wars”, “Indy’s Films,” we were seated on the main floor. I know at one of those films, two of us went up to the balcony to see what it was like prior to the film starting. We were asked to leave by some theatre staff that were sitting there drinking beer. That was one of the last times we ever drove from Lancaster to see a film there. Of course, 70mm films eventually become a thing of the past.

For those interested in Cinerama, “true” Cinerama, requiring 3 projectors, played at the Boyd from 1953 and into early 1960’s with breaks for other films including Ben Hur. The Randolph played “one strip” Cinerama, not with 3 projectors, really more like 70 MM as far as I understand. The Boyd was the only true Cinerama venue in our region. Because it would require a huge curved screen in front of the Proscenium Arch, and 3 separate projection booths on the orchestra floor, real Cinerama is unlikely to ever return to the Boyd. I’m not saying that’s good, merely reality.

Clear Channel has pulled out of the entertainment theater business. I know they are not going to book broadway shows anymore. Wonder what will happen to the theater now?

During the 80’s the Sameric used the balcony for the big pictures ( the Star Wars, Raiders type movie. Weekend it was opened. They once showed 2001 (70mm 6track stereo version and I went on a Saturday afternoon and the orchestra section was closed. You had to sit in the balcony. It was a great presentation.

By chance I stayed in a hotel down the street from the Boyd last month. I hope efforts to restore this building are successful. I understand that it is the last standing movie palace in Philly, and it looks like the interior is fabulous.

I believe the Sameric Theatres Corp. opened the addition that housed auditoriums #2 and #3 in late 1982 or early 1983.

When ROCKY III opened in 1982, it was still called “Sameric Theatre” When Return Of the Jedi opened in May 1983, it was now called “Sameric 3 Theatre”.

By the time ROCKY IV opened in 1985, it was “Sameric 4 Theatre”, with the original RKO Stanley Warner’s Boyd Theatre, now called “Sameric 4 Auditorium #1” still intact.

Here is a link to a recent picture of the REG United Artists Sameric 4 Theatre: RKO Stanley Warner Boyd Theatre / REG United Artists Sameric 4 Theatre

Also interested in getting a photo of the Fern Rock Theater in Olney.

Clear Channel has announced plans to spin off its live-entertainment division. Will this affect plans for the Boyd in any way?