Here’s Friday’s Hidden City Philadelphia blog article about how current plans are on hold:
http://hiddencityphila.org/2011/09/wynne-theater-plans-on-hold/
Howard Haas shares yesterday’s Hidden City Philadelphia update about the Boyd Theatre
http://hiddencityphila.org/2011/09/resurrecting-the-boyd-efforts-continue-to-restore-philadelphia%E2%80%99s-only-remaining-movie-palace/
The article is also linked to the new Facebook page of Friends of the Boyd. Please click “share” at the link to spread the word about Philadelphia’s last premiere movie palace!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Friends-of-the-Boyd/167965703267987
I visited yesterday. The foyer hall leading to the auditoriums have pretty sconces and Art Deco doors to the auditoriums. Two auditoriums each have 56, 86, 100 seats, and 180 seats. Accompanying the digital projection was surround sound. The 86 seat auditorium that I was in, watching a movie, had a screen that appeared about 25 to 30 feet wide and with large, beautiful Art Deco sconces. When visiting one of the largest auditoriums, I was told the screen size there is 52 feet wide x 27 feet high. In addition to mainstream films, there is a classic series including The Godfather and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Weekend evening movies sell out. The midafternoon movie cost $8.50.
One paragraph from today’s Inquirer story:
A remnant of an era when Broad Street was the downtown for much of Gloucester County, the Green Block includes a second-floor opera house that later became a 1,100-seat movie theater called the Rialto. The last picture show was in 1955, and Fashion Bug, the most recent store to inhabit the ground floor, closed in 2000.
Visit our new Facebook page & click “like” to show your support to ensure the Boyd is restored & reopened! We’ve added many wonderful photos in the photo galleries & at comments.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-the-Boyd/167965703267987
My Introduction states who manufactured the terra cotta. Don’t know if manufacturer installed it. Here’s a clip from YouTube that shows some an ornate plaster detail in entry or lobby:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9p445v91Nk
Mr. Abramowitz: welcome to the site! I had heard about your work on many of our area’s theaters. Was the auditorium’s original decor gutted when creating the 5 auditoriums? Was it all lost or some hidden? I’ve not seen a photo of the auditorium before it was twinned. Did you do the twinning, too? Do you have photos or can describe the original auditorium?
A restored 70mm print of “El Cid” was shown in 1993 at the Avalon Theatre in Washington, D.C. If that’s when you went to college…..then perhaps that’s the theater you saw it at?
Friends of the Boyd, www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org
can’t tell you that Philadelphia’s Boyd will reopen next year, but we do welcome you to visit & “like” our brand new Facebook site!
I wish to clarify that the “HowardB” above is NOT me. That appears to be a person who may have previously lived in NE Philly (having reviewed his prior comments).
Here’s Friday’s Hidden City Philadelphia blog article about how current plans are on hold: http://hiddencityphila.org/2011/09/wynne-theater-plans-on-hold/
Howard Haas shares yesterday’s Hidden City Philadelphia update about the Boyd Theatre http://hiddencityphila.org/2011/09/resurrecting-the-boyd-efforts-continue-to-restore-philadelphia%E2%80%99s-only-remaining-movie-palace/
The article is also linked to the new Facebook page of Friends of the Boyd. Please click “share” at the link to spread the word about Philadelphia’s last premiere movie palace! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Friends-of-the-Boyd/167965703267987
Great. Please keep on sharing!
I visited yesterday. The foyer hall leading to the auditoriums have pretty sconces and Art Deco doors to the auditoriums. Two auditoriums each have 56, 86, 100 seats, and 180 seats. Accompanying the digital projection was surround sound. The 86 seat auditorium that I was in, watching a movie, had a screen that appeared about 25 to 30 feet wide and with large, beautiful Art Deco sconces. When visiting one of the largest auditoriums, I was told the screen size there is 52 feet wide x 27 feet high. In addition to mainstream films, there is a classic series including The Godfather and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Weekend evening movies sell out. The midafternoon movie cost $8.50.
One paragraph from today’s Inquirer story: A remnant of an era when Broad Street was the downtown for much of Gloucester County, the Green Block includes a second-floor opera house that later became a 1,100-seat movie theater called the Rialto. The last picture show was in 1955, and Fashion Bug, the most recent store to inhabit the ground floor, closed in 2000.
I found it: Pittsburgh, and have emailed that site to inform them of the error.
Corrected link, yes, but that site is mistaken. 954 Liberty Ave isn’t the Aldine. Some other Aldine.
Is it just me or does Bruce’s link not work?
Los Angeles will remember him fondly for having saved & restored these magnificient downtown movie palaces. R.I.P.
We linked this truly wonderful article at our new Facebook page to help save Philadelphia’s last movie palace, the Boyd. Please “like” us!
Visit our new Facebook page & click “like” to show your support to ensure the Boyd is restored & reopened! We’ve added many wonderful photos in the photo galleries & at comments. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-the-Boyd/167965703267987
My Introduction states who manufactured the terra cotta. Don’t know if manufacturer installed it. Here’s a clip from YouTube that shows some an ornate plaster detail in entry or lobby:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9p445v91Nk
Mr. Abramowitz: welcome to the site! I had heard about your work on many of our area’s theaters. Was the auditorium’s original decor gutted when creating the 5 auditoriums? Was it all lost or some hidden? I’ve not seen a photo of the auditorium before it was twinned. Did you do the twinning, too? Do you have photos or can describe the original auditorium?
This year, the Bala has 3D digital projection.
A restored 70mm print of “El Cid” was shown in 1993 at the Avalon Theatre in Washington, D.C. If that’s when you went to college…..then perhaps that’s the theater you saw it at?
Groundbreaking August 11, 2011 for the Warner Hotel http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/08/11/groundbreaking-for-new-hotel-in-west-chester/
Theater’s lobby building to be lobby for 76 room hotel http://www.thewarnerhotel.com/
Mural of the theater: http://douglashistory.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=122&Itemid=166
Here’s a report about the Movie Tavern in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Ross, I love the caption you gave this story “McDonald’s Hopes to Fry the Detroit Theater”
Friends of the Boyd, www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org can’t tell you that Philadelphia’s Boyd will reopen next year, but we do welcome you to visit & “like” our brand new Facebook site!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-the-Boyd/167965703267987
Threatened with demolition: http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/8353118.Plans_to_demolish_Astoria_in_Brighton/
I’ve visited both theaters & was still amazed by the gorgeous photos.
It was the restored Belasco that the royals visited: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/William-and-Kate-Visit-LA-125244584.html
There’s footage inside the auditorium from the “Sweeney Todd” premere in 2008 at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VHsh6PGd14
Here’s a link to a 2006 interview with Roxy operator Bernard Nearey: http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/arts-and-culture/the_candyman-38421379.html
I wish to clarify that the “HowardB” above is NOT me. That appears to be a person who may have previously lived in NE Philly (having reviewed his prior comments).