The Airport Drive-In Theatre took flight on October 30, 1957 with “Man of a Thousand Faces” and “War Drums.” The Airport crash landed on December 16, 1969, with a quadruple feature of “Fanny Hill,” “The Wild Angels.” “The Glory Stompers” and “Hell’s Angels on Wheels.”
The Elm Theatre dates back at least to 1920. It was renamed the Airport in 1942. The Airport crash landed on July 9, 1950 with “Crime Doctor’s Diary” and Pat O'Brien appropriately in “Flight Lieutenant.” The building was then offered for sale before being auctioned off in 1952 at end of lease.
Jack Delmar launched the Bell Theatre in 1913. Under new ownership by Marcus Benn, it became the original Benn Theatre in 1917. Benn soon outgrew the diminutive house and purchased land in 1920 at 6316 to 6322 Woodland to build the New Benn Theatre for some $350,000. During the project, the Stanley Circuit bought the venue claiming it as part of its $10 million building spree of theaters in 1923.
The September 1, 1923 opening of the New Benn ended the original Benn Theatre which would eventually became to the Benson Theatre. The Benson appears to have closed August 13, 1967 with “Divorce, American Style.”
Irwin and Leighton launched the Orient Theatre to the 1912 architectural plans of John Irwin Bright. The Stanley Circuit took over the theatre in 1924 later equipping it for sound. Stanley-Warner closed The Orient permanently on October 29, 1950 with “The Duchess of Idaho.” It was one of several theatres listed together as “Former theatres for lease” thereafter.
M.J. Walsh launched the Iris Theatre on December 12, 1910. The first night feature live vaudeville with the Lester Brothers and the Creighton Sisters. Photoplays were also in the first week of shows at the Iris. The Stanley Circuit took on the venue. The theatre installed sound to remain viable.
On April 29, 1953, the Iris installed a silver screen to present 3D films starting with “Bwana Devil.” In 1954, it installed widescreen technology to present CinemaScope films. The Iris closed May 8, 1965 with a double feature of “Bus Riley’s Back in Town” and “Operation SNAFU.”
Pioneering movie house operator Joseph Cohen of the Dazzleland announced the new Allegheny Theatre in September of 1911 to the plans of Magaziner & Potter. The Allegheny opened in 1912 and was acquired by the Stanley Circuit in 1919. In 1929, it added Western Electric sound to remain viable.
The Allegheny Theatre ceased operations following the April 19, 1952 expiry of the second of two 20-year leases with a double feature of “Meet Danny Wilson” and “Treasure of Lost Canyon.” The venue was then listed in the classified ads later in 1952 as “former movie building” for sale.
The Harrowgate Theatre was built in 1920 for Lewin Pizor and Benjamin Dintenfass in Harrowgate Square. Just prior to launch, however, the Stanley Theatre Circuit bought the Harrowgate in January of 1921 for $160,000 (or $200,000, depending on which report) from Dintenfass. At opening the Harrowgate seated 1,133 in a 73' by 150' venue becoming the 35th Stanley operated theater in the city. The Moller organ, alone, cost $25,000. The opening film was “The Mark of Zorro” on January 24, 1921. The opening manager of George Sobel coming over from the Iris Theatre.
The Harrowgate added sound to remain viable. At the 20th Anniversary of the theatre, Stanley Warner updated the Harrowgate and a group of other venues to make them more streamline moderne. The Harrowgate Theatre was closed at the expiry of a 30-year lease on September 30, 1951 with “Apache Drums” and “Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm.” The venue was transformed into the long-running Kensington Roller Rink.
Architect Carl P. Berger created the the plans for the Lafayette Theatre on behalf of operator Michael Stiefel. It was built by B. Katchums and Son and opened late in 1913. The Lafayette sat 1,300 and its arched 20'x80' lobby was still recognizable from the 2914 Kensington Street entry in the 2020s. The auditorium portion is well back from the lobby sitting at the interior of 2919-2927 E Street. The Lafayette was a movie theater for its entire run of less than 17 years. Its halcyon days were when it had a contract with Paramount films. It also had a neighboring confectioner that served as the de facto concession stand.
The Lafayette did not make the transition to sound and was sold to a drug store operator in 1930. It’s not clear what happened to the Lafayette after 1930. When the building was next transferred in 1951, it was still referred to as “the former Lafayette Theatre.” The lobby portion of the former theatre was part of a car wash operation in the 2020s having had its interior gutted. The E Street auditorium was apparently still used for community events.
Joseph Cohen and A. Morrison retrofitted a retail store for an early theatre in 1907 known as the Dazzleland Amusement Parlor. It expanded encompassing 2940-2946 Frankford as the New Dazzleland Theatre. Cohen solely owned the theatre later which was said to have a start-up cost of $40,000. (In an interview in 1927, Cohen said that he had opened the Dazzleland in 1904 and in a later interview he said that it had opened in 1906.) Sam Hyman took over the Dazzleland in 1921. In 1927, it was advertised as the Cameo Theatre.
The Cameo added sound to remain viable and closed with a double feature of “Stalag 17” and “Shane” on November 8, 1959. At the end there were cries of, “Come back!” Sadly, there was no response.
In 1961, the space was used as a retail location for John’s Bargain Store.
Barnet Rubin built the new Walton Theatre in 1913 at 733-735 East Chelten. Its first advertised showtime was in 1914. John F. McMahon took on the venue in 1917 operating until his death in 1943. McMahon had added sound to the Walton to keep the venue viable. He then performed a streamline modern makeover in March of 1938 to the plans of David Supowitz. In 1954, the theatre added widescreen projection to present CinemaScope films. Operating as a grind house for much of the 1940s to 1960, the theatre saw a drop-off of attendance as the decade of the 1960s began.
The operation changed under new owners to the Walton Art Theatre showing adult films to continue remaining viable as of September 21, 1960 with “Hideout in the Sun.” (The same operators also had the Devon Art and the Spruce Art theaters.) The Walton Art Theatre closed on January 14, 1976 with John Holmes in “Beyond Fulfillment” and Brigette Giursa in “The Devil Made Me Do It.”
Richard Williams reopened the Walton with a combination of documentaries, small indy films, and live stage shows in January of 1979 as the Walton Theatre closing with a live comedy show on August 30, 1980. So, technically, this venue opened and closed as the Walton Theater aka the Walton Art Theatre aka the Art Walton Theatre.
A wind storm ripped the marquee off of the building on November 20, 1989 and much of its front causing the building to be razed in 1989 and 1990.
The Lenox Theatre launched February 9, 1927. It closed permanently on June 7, 1964 with “Captain Newman” and “Eye of Frankenstein.” A salvage sale occurred immediately thereafter as Acme Supermarkets purchased the building and had the theatre razed.
John C. Conner opened the Greenway in 1916. He sold it in 1919 to M. Seltzer who sold it to Eli Resnick in 1921. Stanley Circuit took on the Greenway Theatre in 1930 but Resnick operated the theatre until his death in 1952. It appears that Paul and Samuel Resnick took on the operation and it may have exited after the October 19, 1952 showing of “The Iron Man” and “Double Crossbones.” However, they may have continued operations without advertising. Either way, it became a long-running church that was still operating in the 21st Century.
The Keystone closed permanently after a double feature of “Elephant Walk” and “The Black Glove” supported by fight highlights of the Marciano-Charles boxing match on July 5, 1954. It was used as a house of worship until being auction in 1958. The auction winner had the building razed in 1959.
The Orpheum’s construction was shrouded in legal issues. The construction process had begun in 1910. Nixon-Nirdlinger Circuit acquired this venue as it was being built in February of 1912. Work was halted until November of 1912 to determine ownership issues. J. Fred Zimmerman opened the long-delayed Orpheum with vaudeville on October 6, 1913. Its address was 42-48 West Chelten and the venue was one of the “Big Three” of Germantown’s theaters. The Orpheum would switch to movies and be run by Stanley-Warner.
The Orpheum closed on July 28, 1966 at end of lease with “Modesty Blaise” and “Flight of the Phoenix.” It was razed shortly thereafter.
The Ogontz Theatre opened February 4, 1927 with “The Auctioneer” and an organ program. It was a one million dollar theatre and was purchased by Stanley just two weeks after it had opened. It forced the hand of another It would transition the Ogontz to sound to stay relevant. Stanley-Warner closed here after showtimes on March 29, 1952 with “Room for One More” and “Invitation.”
The Ogontz rebranded as a religious movie house known as “Philadelphia’s Reel Pulpit” in 1954 as the final film screenings. Charles Teller formed Cor-Tel Production and took on the Ogontz Theatre. Under their watch, it became a live venue starting with plays as the Ogontz Playhouse in 1958 and then moving to rock ‘n’ roll shows in 1961 returning to the Ogontz Theatre.
The venue was built in 1909 as the Mannheim Theatre. At the ten-year leasing expiry, it got a refresh and was briefly called the New Mannheim Theatre in 1919. Fifteen years later, it was renamed the New Lyric Theatre in 1934.
On May 3, 1971, the New Lyric went with a policy of foreign pornographic films and the final films were played just weeks later apparently closing May 16, 1971 permanently. The New Lyric’s operator pleaded guilty to presenting obscene films in October of 1971. The building was offered for sale in 1971 but became a haven for narcotics abusers and vandals. After the New Lyric closed, it was destroyed by a three-alarm fire on January 25, 1972 after vandals were trying to strip the facility of its copper tubing.
The Bromley closed at the end of a 20-year leasing period permanently on March 30, 1955 with Jimmy Stewart in “The Far Country.” It was used for live events and dancing thereafter.
After a refresh in 1920, the Allan Theatre reopened on September 26, 1920 at 1209-1211 East Chelten. It was soon listed as the Allen Theatre. In 1922, was additionally used as a house of worship. Max Felt took on the venue in 1933. The theatre discontinued advertising films on March 11, 1944 with “Crime School” and “She’s For Me.”
The Band Box Theatre launched with art and foreign films on February 3, 1930 for the Motion Picture Guild Circuit. The German film, “Die Meistersinger” launched the venue. It was the MPG’s sister location to the downtown Little Theatre. The diminutive Band Box opened with just 202 seats. In 1935, William Goldman had the venue refreshed to the plans of Fleisher & Stephens. The Band Box closed with David Chiang in “Triple Irons” and Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor in “Hit!” The theater was part of a sheriff’s auction in 1979 and did not ever play another film.
The Market Street Theatre began as a conversion of an existing retail store vacated by Riegel Dry Goods Store. The new theatre space was designed by William Steele & Sons. It had a lengthy pass through arcade to get to the auditorium. The property was owned by Albania Whartenby and leased to the Motion Picture Company of America. By the time the venue opened in December of 1912. A neighboring Horn and Hardhart Automat was built and opened soon thereafter.
In 1919, the venue became the 333 Market Street Theatre for Stanley Theatres Circuit. That portfolio of theatre became Stanley Warner Circuit which, in 1935, shortened the venue’s moniker to the 333 Market Theatre. Warner closed as that name by Stanley Warner Theatre Circuit at the end of a leasing period on May 30, 1951 with Fred Astaire in “Royal Wedding.” The 333 Market Theatre was torn down to make way for a new parking structure that launched on November 11, 1951.
The Wissahickon Theatre dates back to the nickelodeon era according to one of its final operators. It appears to have opened in 1913 potentially on a 20-year lease. It is definitely mentioned in 1920 and being refreshed 1933 likely on a new 10-year lease. The theatre closed in 1943.
This venue became the became the Abbey Playhouse on October 9, 1952 switching to foreign and repertory films with Richard Todd in “Flesh and Blood.” That policy by Louis Cohn failed early in 1953 closing at the end of lease on February 26, 1953 with “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” - apparently the last film played at the location.
The building was auctioned off in July of 1953. It remained the Abbey Playhouse as a live theater from June of 1955 to March of 1961. On September 21, 1961, it became the Cricket Playhouse continuing with live fare. A year later it became the Towne Playhouse continuing with live fare. That would continue to November of 1981.
The Lehigh Theatre closed September 22, 1957 with “Bambi” and “The adventures of Robin Hood.”
The Airport Drive-In Theatre took flight on October 30, 1957 with “Man of a Thousand Faces” and “War Drums.” The Airport crash landed on December 16, 1969, with a quadruple feature of “Fanny Hill,” “The Wild Angels.” “The Glory Stompers” and “Hell’s Angels on Wheels.”
The Elm Theatre dates back at least to 1920. It was renamed the Airport in 1942. The Airport crash landed on July 9, 1950 with “Crime Doctor’s Diary” and Pat O'Brien appropriately in “Flight Lieutenant.” The building was then offered for sale before being auctioned off in 1952 at end of lease.
Jack Delmar launched the Bell Theatre in 1913. Under new ownership by Marcus Benn, it became the original Benn Theatre in 1917. Benn soon outgrew the diminutive house and purchased land in 1920 at 6316 to 6322 Woodland to build the New Benn Theatre for some $350,000. During the project, the Stanley Circuit bought the venue claiming it as part of its $10 million building spree of theaters in 1923.
The September 1, 1923 opening of the New Benn ended the original Benn Theatre which would eventually became to the Benson Theatre. The Benson appears to have closed August 13, 1967 with “Divorce, American Style.”
The Lindy Theatre closed permanently on August 28, 1952 with “Ivory Hunter” and “Outlaw Women”
Irwin and Leighton launched the Orient Theatre to the 1912 architectural plans of John Irwin Bright. The Stanley Circuit took over the theatre in 1924 later equipping it for sound. Stanley-Warner closed The Orient permanently on October 29, 1950 with “The Duchess of Idaho.” It was one of several theatres listed together as “Former theatres for lease” thereafter.
M.J. Walsh launched the Iris Theatre on December 12, 1910. The first night feature live vaudeville with the Lester Brothers and the Creighton Sisters. Photoplays were also in the first week of shows at the Iris. The Stanley Circuit took on the venue. The theatre installed sound to remain viable.
On April 29, 1953, the Iris installed a silver screen to present 3D films starting with “Bwana Devil.” In 1954, it installed widescreen technology to present CinemaScope films. The Iris closed May 8, 1965 with a double feature of “Bus Riley’s Back in Town” and “Operation SNAFU.”
Pioneering movie house operator Joseph Cohen of the Dazzleland announced the new Allegheny Theatre in September of 1911 to the plans of Magaziner & Potter. The Allegheny opened in 1912 and was acquired by the Stanley Circuit in 1919. In 1929, it added Western Electric sound to remain viable.
The Allegheny Theatre ceased operations following the April 19, 1952 expiry of the second of two 20-year leases with a double feature of “Meet Danny Wilson” and “Treasure of Lost Canyon.” The venue was then listed in the classified ads later in 1952 as “former movie building” for sale.
The Harrowgate Theatre was built in 1920 for Lewin Pizor and Benjamin Dintenfass in Harrowgate Square. Just prior to launch, however, the Stanley Theatre Circuit bought the Harrowgate in January of 1921 for $160,000 (or $200,000, depending on which report) from Dintenfass. At opening the Harrowgate seated 1,133 in a 73' by 150' venue becoming the 35th Stanley operated theater in the city. The Moller organ, alone, cost $25,000. The opening film was “The Mark of Zorro” on January 24, 1921. The opening manager of George Sobel coming over from the Iris Theatre.
The Harrowgate added sound to remain viable. At the 20th Anniversary of the theatre, Stanley Warner updated the Harrowgate and a group of other venues to make them more streamline moderne. The Harrowgate Theatre was closed at the expiry of a 30-year lease on September 30, 1951 with “Apache Drums” and “Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm.” The venue was transformed into the long-running Kensington Roller Rink.
Architect Carl P. Berger created the the plans for the Lafayette Theatre on behalf of operator Michael Stiefel. It was built by B. Katchums and Son and opened late in 1913. The Lafayette sat 1,300 and its arched 20'x80' lobby was still recognizable from the 2914 Kensington Street entry in the 2020s. The auditorium portion is well back from the lobby sitting at the interior of 2919-2927 E Street. The Lafayette was a movie theater for its entire run of less than 17 years. Its halcyon days were when it had a contract with Paramount films. It also had a neighboring confectioner that served as the de facto concession stand.
The Lafayette did not make the transition to sound and was sold to a drug store operator in 1930. It’s not clear what happened to the Lafayette after 1930. When the building was next transferred in 1951, it was still referred to as “the former Lafayette Theatre.” The lobby portion of the former theatre was part of a car wash operation in the 2020s having had its interior gutted. The E Street auditorium was apparently still used for community events.
Joseph Cohen and A. Morrison retrofitted a retail store for an early theatre in 1907 known as the Dazzleland Amusement Parlor. It expanded encompassing 2940-2946 Frankford as the New Dazzleland Theatre. Cohen solely owned the theatre later which was said to have a start-up cost of $40,000. (In an interview in 1927, Cohen said that he had opened the Dazzleland in 1904 and in a later interview he said that it had opened in 1906.) Sam Hyman took over the Dazzleland in 1921. In 1927, it was advertised as the Cameo Theatre.
The Cameo added sound to remain viable and closed with a double feature of “Stalag 17” and “Shane” on November 8, 1959. At the end there were cries of, “Come back!” Sadly, there was no response.
In 1961, the space was used as a retail location for John’s Bargain Store.
Barnet Rubin built the new Walton Theatre in 1913 at 733-735 East Chelten. Its first advertised showtime was in 1914. John F. McMahon took on the venue in 1917 operating until his death in 1943. McMahon had added sound to the Walton to keep the venue viable. He then performed a streamline modern makeover in March of 1938 to the plans of David Supowitz. In 1954, the theatre added widescreen projection to present CinemaScope films. Operating as a grind house for much of the 1940s to 1960, the theatre saw a drop-off of attendance as the decade of the 1960s began.
The operation changed under new owners to the Walton Art Theatre showing adult films to continue remaining viable as of September 21, 1960 with “Hideout in the Sun.” (The same operators also had the Devon Art and the Spruce Art theaters.) The Walton Art Theatre closed on January 14, 1976 with John Holmes in “Beyond Fulfillment” and Brigette Giursa in “The Devil Made Me Do It.”
Richard Williams reopened the Walton with a combination of documentaries, small indy films, and live stage shows in January of 1979 as the Walton Theatre closing with a live comedy show on August 30, 1980. So, technically, this venue opened and closed as the Walton Theater aka the Walton Art Theatre aka the Art Walton Theatre.
A wind storm ripped the marquee off of the building on November 20, 1989 and much of its front causing the building to be razed in 1989 and 1990.
The Lenox Theatre launched February 9, 1927. It closed permanently on June 7, 1964 with “Captain Newman” and “Eye of Frankenstein.” A salvage sale occurred immediately thereafter as Acme Supermarkets purchased the building and had the theatre razed.
John C. Conner opened the Greenway in 1916. He sold it in 1919 to M. Seltzer who sold it to Eli Resnick in 1921. Stanley Circuit took on the Greenway Theatre in 1930 but Resnick operated the theatre until his death in 1952. It appears that Paul and Samuel Resnick took on the operation and it may have exited after the October 19, 1952 showing of “The Iron Man” and “Double Crossbones.” However, they may have continued operations without advertising. Either way, it became a long-running church that was still operating in the 21st Century.
The Keystone closed permanently after a double feature of “Elephant Walk” and “The Black Glove” supported by fight highlights of the Marciano-Charles boxing match on July 5, 1954. It was used as a house of worship until being auction in 1958. The auction winner had the building razed in 1959.
The Admiral Theatre closed permanently on February 21, 1962 with Paul Newman in “The Hustler” and Jerry Lewis in “The Errand Boy.”
The Orpheum’s construction was shrouded in legal issues. The construction process had begun in 1910. Nixon-Nirdlinger Circuit acquired this venue as it was being built in February of 1912. Work was halted until November of 1912 to determine ownership issues. J. Fred Zimmerman opened the long-delayed Orpheum with vaudeville on October 6, 1913. Its address was 42-48 West Chelten and the venue was one of the “Big Three” of Germantown’s theaters. The Orpheum would switch to movies and be run by Stanley-Warner.
The Orpheum closed on July 28, 1966 at end of lease with “Modesty Blaise” and “Flight of the Phoenix.” It was razed shortly thereafter.
The Ogontz Theatre opened February 4, 1927 with “The Auctioneer” and an organ program. It was a one million dollar theatre and was purchased by Stanley just two weeks after it had opened. It forced the hand of another It would transition the Ogontz to sound to stay relevant. Stanley-Warner closed here after showtimes on March 29, 1952 with “Room for One More” and “Invitation.”
The Ogontz rebranded as a religious movie house known as “Philadelphia’s Reel Pulpit” in 1954 as the final film screenings. Charles Teller formed Cor-Tel Production and took on the Ogontz Theatre. Under their watch, it became a live venue starting with plays as the Ogontz Playhouse in 1958 and then moving to rock ‘n’ roll shows in 1961 returning to the Ogontz Theatre.
The venue was built in 1909 as the Mannheim Theatre. At the ten-year leasing expiry, it got a refresh and was briefly called the New Mannheim Theatre in 1919. Fifteen years later, it was renamed the New Lyric Theatre in 1934.
On May 3, 1971, the New Lyric went with a policy of foreign pornographic films and the final films were played just weeks later apparently closing May 16, 1971 permanently. The New Lyric’s operator pleaded guilty to presenting obscene films in October of 1971. The building was offered for sale in 1971 but became a haven for narcotics abusers and vandals. After the New Lyric closed, it was destroyed by a three-alarm fire on January 25, 1972 after vandals were trying to strip the facility of its copper tubing.
The Bromley closed at the end of a 20-year leasing period permanently on March 30, 1955 with Jimmy Stewart in “The Far Country.” It was used for live events and dancing thereafter.
After a refresh in 1920, the Allan Theatre reopened on September 26, 1920 at 1209-1211 East Chelten. It was soon listed as the Allen Theatre. In 1922, was additionally used as a house of worship. Max Felt took on the venue in 1933. The theatre discontinued advertising films on March 11, 1944 with “Crime School” and “She’s For Me.”
The Band Box Theatre launched with art and foreign films on February 3, 1930 for the Motion Picture Guild Circuit. The German film, “Die Meistersinger” launched the venue. It was the MPG’s sister location to the downtown Little Theatre. The diminutive Band Box opened with just 202 seats. In 1935, William Goldman had the venue refreshed to the plans of Fleisher & Stephens. The Band Box closed with David Chiang in “Triple Irons” and Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor in “Hit!” The theater was part of a sheriff’s auction in 1979 and did not ever play another film.
The Market Street Theatre began as a conversion of an existing retail store vacated by Riegel Dry Goods Store. The new theatre space was designed by William Steele & Sons. It had a lengthy pass through arcade to get to the auditorium. The property was owned by Albania Whartenby and leased to the Motion Picture Company of America. By the time the venue opened in December of 1912. A neighboring Horn and Hardhart Automat was built and opened soon thereafter.
In 1919, the venue became the 333 Market Street Theatre for Stanley Theatres Circuit. That portfolio of theatre became Stanley Warner Circuit which, in 1935, shortened the venue’s moniker to the 333 Market Theatre. Warner closed as that name by Stanley Warner Theatre Circuit at the end of a leasing period on May 30, 1951 with Fred Astaire in “Royal Wedding.” The 333 Market Theatre was torn down to make way for a new parking structure that launched on November 11, 1951.
The Boro closed December 26, 1949 with “Mother is a Freshman” and “Thunder in the Pines.”
The Wissahickon Theatre dates back to the nickelodeon era according to one of its final operators. It appears to have opened in 1913 potentially on a 20-year lease. It is definitely mentioned in 1920 and being refreshed 1933 likely on a new 10-year lease. The theatre closed in 1943.
This venue became the became the Abbey Playhouse on October 9, 1952 switching to foreign and repertory films with Richard Todd in “Flesh and Blood.” That policy by Louis Cohn failed early in 1953 closing at the end of lease on February 26, 1953 with “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” - apparently the last film played at the location.
The building was auctioned off in July of 1953. It remained the Abbey Playhouse as a live theater from June of 1955 to March of 1961. On September 21, 1961, it became the Cricket Playhouse continuing with live fare. A year later it became the Towne Playhouse continuing with live fare. That would continue to November of 1981.