Mayfair Theatre
7300 Frankford Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19136
7300 Frankford Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19136
8 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 123 comments
Jack:
Back in the 1950s and ‘60s, which is when I recall the Mayfair Theatre operating at its very best, the concession stand prices weren’t high at all. And I can remember admission being only 50 cents! Don’t ask me how they did it, but somehow they did. And add to this that the crowds were always very well behaved. The much higher prices on everything all came later, along with the unruliness and evident signs of wear and tear.
Which reminds mr, TheaterBuff3, do you recall exactly where you and I saw “Amadeus” together? I remember the movie, but I can’t pinpoint where we saw it. Was it downtown, the Fox perhaps? I know 1984 was a long time ago, but try to think back and see if you can remember.
As for “Spartacus, I never saw it, but it seems I can remember your telling me you saw it at the Mayfair back around 1960 or so.
Theaterbuff loves Amadeus!
Theaterbuff does not aspire to be Mozart. He aspires to be Spartacus!
Hope no one minds if I return to discussing the Mayfair :)
Had a few more random thoughts about the theater.
Until sometime in the 1970s, the candy stand was in the back of the theater on the left. (That is, after you go through the lobby doors, you’d go to your left to get your popcorn and over-priced Junior Mints.) The candy stand was set back in the wall next to the ladies room. (And I must disclose that my memory on this is pretty foggy.)
However, sometime prior to 1980 the candy stand was boarded up and a new free standing candy stand was built immediately opposite of the lobby doors. (Right up against the partition for the seats, in the center between the two aisles.) The old candy stand area was then used as a janitors closet.
The partition at the back of the seats had a glass panel at the top, and I usually stood there ushering. One fun thing I remember was during the run of Friday the 13th. There’s a scene where Jason jumps out of the lake and startles the audience. I usually made a point of standing in the back to watch the audience reaction, which was always amusing.
Uh, yes, and who, pray tell, might you be, TheaterBuff3? Also, I’d be very curious to know who TheaterBuff2 is. So hey, TheaterBuff2 if you’re out there somewhere reading this, please feel free to jump in and add your comments if you wish as well!
Meantime, just to demonstrate some of my wondrous power of super-human insight, it’s not too hard to figure out from that last message posted, going by the time when it was posted, precisely who TheaterBuff3 is. So hello there, Solieri (presuming you saw “Amadeaus” and thus know just what I mean by that)… :)
TheaterBuff sees the Light! Everybody else is stupid!
TheaterBuff leads the way! All other leaders are stupid!
TheaterBuff didn’t slither from his mother’s womb!
Way back when, the majority were like TheaterBuff!
Now, TheaterBuff is the only one!
TheaterBuff knows! Theaterbuff sees! Theaterbuff hears! Theaterbuff speaks! Theaterbuff writes!
What the Mayfair Theatre building in its closed up state today says loud and clear is that this Mayfair community in Northeast Philadelphia today is overwhelmingly dominated by some of this stupidest people ever slither from mothers' wombs, with proof positive of what I’m saying being instantly seeable in the remarks of the last three commentators. But to see what I’m saying, you DO have to be intelligent. And clearly that’s not Howard B. Haas, a man who has charge of Philadelphia’s last movie palace but is at a total loss on how to restore it properly despite all the intelligent advice he has been given in this regard, hdtv267, who is too low I.Q.d to grasp the satire of and appreciate the humor when someone calls a Cold Stone Creamery a Stone Cold Crematory, and finally, Jack Ferry, the one of the three above commentators who totally surprised me. For Jack, you’re one of the three commentators above who at least knew the Mayfair Theatre building back when it was still in opertion as movie theater. However, it’s a shame you never got to experience it back when it was in its prime, that is, back when Northeast Philly residents like me were in the vast majority around here. The years when you worked there was when lowlifes from Kensington began overtaking the Northeast, led by the unintelligent leadership provided by the Mayor Frank Rizzo, Councilwoman Joan Krajewski and others. All told it was a very sad time indeed, as all this territory up here had been so beautiful prior to then. But boy, did those inner city lowlifes flooding up into here overwhelm it and bring it down in a hurry! In brief, I think of that 1980s movie “Gremlins” as the perfect allegory of what it had been like.
Anyway, the remarks the three of you made may play well with those with very low I.Q.s, but trust me, guys, nobody with any intelligence would be swayed by them.
And if it wasn’t bad enough converting the classic Mayfair Theatre to a drug store to symbolize just how intelligent the Mayfair community had become, at least in terms of its majority, now we’re really seeing unintelligence coming at NE Philly to the max full throttle with the latest proposal being to convert it to a bank. For seriously folks! This is just so totally laughable! And how is that those of you who support this proposal are not just totally embarrassed by your absolute stupidity? For it just can’t get any dumber than that, can it?
On 1-27-06 at the Ziegfeld page /theaters/12/
Theaterbuff1 wrote “in no instance have I ever requested that merchants, Hollywood, or the City carry the burden themselves.”
But, on 1-17-06 above, he wrote: “Thus I would suggest the city should foot the cost of its full restoration and day-to-day operational expenses….”
Yes! That’s a splendid way of using positive thinking to return the moviehouse to single screen daily operation as a “classy neigbhorhood movie theater” in our great city!
Agreed!
I think we should all gather together and hold hands while singing Kumbaya.
It will be interesting to see you convince the City of Philadelphia to provide “the cost of its full restoration and day-to-day operational expenses”
It would be equally interesting to see pigs fly.
Maybe we can all clap our hands and make it happen?
Since the topic of this page is the Mayfair Theatre, as I understand it, Mr. Haas, you yourself have no viable plan of how it could be restored as a classy neighborhood movie theater now that Eckerds Pharmacy has recently vacated it. But what I fail to understand is how you go from your own lacking of such a plan to being harshly critical of those such as I who look for ways that it possibly could become a classy movie theater once more. You seem to think there’s only one way of doing things, your way, and if those tactics won’t work then that’s the end of the story. Case closed. And if I or anyone else disagrees with you, then you accuse us of being “unrealistic,” “ranting,” and now the newest term you’re tossing about is “libel,” which of late appears to be your third favorite word. And quite frankly I feel that’s about as Taliban-like as it gets!
For I just want to say to you, welcome to America, Mr. Haas, a country where we’re free to do things a bit differently than how they’re done in Afghanistan, Pakistan or whatever other oppressive country you’re apparently so anxious to see Philadelphia emulate. We were a very great city once, and we can be a great city again. And why you object to that goal so much I have nooooooo idea. But I would very much appreciate if you’d focus you energies more constructively — such as restoring Philadelphia’s last standing movie palace, the Boyd Theatre, the right way, as opposed to misinterpreting to others various comments I’ve posted throughout this Cinema Treasures website. Thank you!
I see up to 100 movies a year, and have too many favorites to list. I see them mostly at the classic moviehouses, and somehow I doubt you are ever there.
You are a minority of one in your neighborhood, spouting hot air while whatever happens to your theaters happens without you.
Whatever happens to your theaters, though, is not a “beautiful frame” but as you say “crappy” uses, and often such theaters lose more and more of their original architecture inside and outside, until demolition.
You accomplish nothing except to annoy people who are working- or volunteering- to make this City a better place!
Enough already.
With all due respect, Mr. Haas, the old adage “Look before you leap” apparently means nothing to you, otherwise you’d realize that I’ve done far more than simply take photos of theater exteriors and “rant” on this site as you put it — which appears to be your second favorite word next to “unrealistic.” Your whole approach, meantime, just seems to be one of concurring with whatever the Philadelphia political machine dictates without ever questioning anything. Er, I believe it’s called “opportunism.” Meaning that okay, in your case, using your approach, you get to save the historic Boyd Theatre building from demolition, but then for what purpose? For that’s the way I look at things, and what I mean by “look before you leap.” I see well directed movies exhibited in well-run theaters as a powerful means of raising awareness in people, of opening their eyes to how things could be much better than they currently are; to make them more attuned to how their lives are being greatly shortchanged by the current status quo. And to be sure, Philadelphia could use a healthy dose of that right now. For we are a very very sad city right now just in case you don’t know. And made all the more so when the classic movie theaters we have in our neighborhoods are currently serving as drugstores or fur shops or supermarkets or what have you, and “authority figures” like you putting forth a hail of criticism when people like me try to think out ways they can be brought back to life once more.
For instance, Mr. Haas, I notice on your profile page how you don’t list a single movie you like, even though that’s ultimately what movie theaters are all about. By leaving that part of your profile page blank, you come across as a framemaker who doesn’t think very highly of paintings. Meaning, what’s your ultimate goal really? To restore the Boyd Theater in such a way so that the end result will be like an art museum with ornate but empty picture frames hanging on all its gallery walls? For if that’s your goal, well good for you, but it’s certainly not mine. With me it’s all or nothing. I’m not into resuscitating classic theaters in such a way so that the end result will just be this very dead thing. For take a good hard look at the status quo of Philadelphia right now, Howard, Northeast Philly especially. We have losers on the top and winners on the bottom, but with few if any current Northeast Philly residents knowing any the better. And when they ask for better, such as the Mayfair Theatre restored as a classy neighborhood theater they are told, “No, you don’t want that, you want a crappy chain drugstore there instead.” And the best you can do in the face of this is toss around meaningless words like “unrealistic” and “rant.” And all told I’d say that’s a pretty worthless “contribution” on your part, and little to be impressed with.
Of course, the movie experience was superior in a single screen movie house! We are just not going to return to those days.
There were a few downtown movie PALACES that studios tolerated if they didn’t make a profit, but any single screen neighborhood moviehouse, like the Mayfair, had to make a profit or CLOSE.
The Ambler isn’t single screen. There are two “black box” (megaplex style) auditoriums carved within it, and the main, middle auditorium not yet restored or reopen will make a total of three.
The Colonial, which I frequent, is nonprofit and also has live events.
The choice for the Boyd was demolition or reinvention to being a viable theater, just as the choice was for so many nationwide. I’ve spent 4 years leading a group fighting to save it, see it properly restored, and working to include a film series, public tours, and exhibits of its history. Those four years are volunteer, and cost my income, savings, and free time dearly and the correspondent calls ME arrogant! So, far as I know, the extent of his effort is taking a
few photos of the exteriors of theaters, and ranting on this site.
Just to correct Mr. Haas on two specific points here, single-screen theaters, operated in a classy manner, aren’t supposed to make money in and of themselves. Rather, the money made, and that’s needed to keep them in operation is this manner, is made by the businesses around them that are uplifted by those businesses being in close proximity to them — just as is now the case with the Ambler Theatre out in Ambler, Pennsylvania and the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Not to mention a zillon and one other single-screen theaters I can also name. And the second point that needs correcting is Mr. Haas’s mis-belief — when he compares single-screen theaters to typewriters, horses & buggies, etc. — that single-screen theaters are somehow “inferior” to multiplexes and seeing movies on TV. If only he could grasp how insulting to the intellect that mis-belief he holds truly is! For even the most advanced high definition digital televisions of today haven’t even begun to scratch the surface in terms of surpassing the experience of seeing a well-directed movie on a large screen in the context of a well-run single-screen theater! Not to mention that digital technology itself is in position to make the single-screen movie theater experience a thousand times better than when single-screen theaters were in prominance last.
And with regards to the Mayfair Theatre, I have yet to come across one single multiplex theater anywhere that can even begin to hold a candle to how wonderful an experience it used to be when seeing movies shown at the Mayfair Theatre! For seriously, it’s like trying to compare dining at Center City Philadelphia’s Le Bec Fin to eating at a Wendy’s Restaurant! Mr. Haas, in his shear arrogance, keeps insisting that we’re not supposed to notice any difference, rather than we ourselves being able to assert what it is that we prefer. And why is he doing this? Chances are it’s because he himself is incapable of offering anyone anything of high quality and therefore doesn’t want anyone else doing this either, lest we all see him for who he truly is.
I don’t mean that no single screen theater is viable, as there are some I can think of that are making money. But, many neighborhoods can’t support a single screen theater.
The City has no money to invest, not even in the Boyd, because over the last half a century rocket scientists like you bled it to death by imposing high taxes. Even if the City had money, would you have it invest in typewriters, horses and carriages, and phonographs? Single screen theaters aren’t viable anymore in most places, including most of Philadelphia.
My strong feeling firmly remains that it should become a classy neighborhood theater once more. For without its serving this vital role, there is really no “there” there when we speak of Mayfair as it is today.
However, it would be a huge mistake to try to running it as a business unto itself. For rather than a revenue generator, it should be seen as a “revenue generation enhancer” with regard to all the other businesses around it. And because I do believe it would go a long way in boosting the profitability of all the other businesses around it, all of which pay business taxes, the new revenues the city would realize from this would be tremendous.
Thus I would suggest the city should foot the cost of its full restoration and day-to-day operational expenses rather than any private benefactors or corporate sponsors assuming this cost. Why? Because the city, through its business tax collection, would be in position to make its money back and then some. And only the city is in that position.
And from the city’s perspective, because of its unique position, the Mayfair Theatre would not be a charity, but an investment. And I would say an excellent one at that. For to be sure, it would both rescue and resuscitate Mayfair at the same time. And what shy of that, with regard to the Mayfair Theatre building’s future fate, could achieve that?
Jack’s photos of the marquee in 1984 look great. Today’s movie theaters don’t look so good in comparision. My guess is original marquee sign’s letters are in a “storage facility” but one called a dump, unless anyone has a specific reason to think they were stored away somewhere.
One thing I feel totally certain of is that with the right political leadership here in Northeast Philadelphia that building could become a classy neighborhood theater once more. Or, for that matter, if there were no politicians here in Northeast Philly at all. For I can’t even begin to imagine being the owner of that building and not want to make it a theater again.
Jack, when you worked there towards the end and there were nights when 10 seats or less were filled and hundreds empty, can you remember specific movie titles from that period? For I can remember the transitional phase Northeast Philly was going through at that time. The senior citizens and retirees living around were like kings, and it was very tough going for anyone not in that category. And add to that, what were the movie releases like around that time? For all told it seems it was a terrible time to try to keep a movie theater going at that location at that particular point in time. The seniors and retirees seemingly had no special want or need for it, while those not in that category who did pretty were much discounted as “unimportant” — politically most certainly. And making it into a drugstore was obviously in response to the high senior citizen population at that time.
But that demographic has shifted considerably now, hence why Eckerds timed itself to close when it did. And right now what’s to become of the Mayfair Theatre building next is an absolute mystery. The great thing to do would be to push to make it a movie theater once more now that Eckerds has departed, but greatness is very much an orphan right now. For contrary to what hdtv267 thinks, it’s not money that’s lacking in this instance, it’s greatness itself. A major and sudden political shift right now could change that equation. Or, if it can’t be that, then a sudden waking up among the everyday people themselves. And right now in Mayfair’s case neither is happening.
Hmm. I don’t know. They owned it when I was there in the early 80’s, and still own it today. According to city property records, there was a deed to them in 1977 for $476,600.00. I always thought they got their theaters (about a dozen, I think) from their parents, but that was probably just my assumption. So, I don’t know if they’re related to the Fox in Fox & Soblosky, but it’s possible.
So then it’s now officially closed, now that it’s Friday the 13th as it were?
Also, when you mentioned the Fox brothers as being its owners, Jack, is that the same Fox as in Fox & Soblosky credited in the documentary, “It Happened in Mayfair 1937”? Or no relation?
I was in the Eckert two weeks ago and they were starting the clearance sale.
To Jack Ferry:
If you update your profile to include your e-mail address, or visit my profile page to get my e-mail address, I have 7 photos I took of the Mayfair Theatre building back on November 3rd of last year that I’d be more than happy to share with you to share with others. By rights, I should head down to Mayfair to get some more photos of it, and next time I get a chance to I will. These ones I have, meantime, just show various shots of it from the outside.
Meantime, have you or anyone else heard anything new regarding the latest on what hdtv267 claimed about Eckerds vacating it sometime this month? Or was it just a baseless rumor?