Today’s Philadelphia Inquirer article states that Ray Murray and Clair Brown began offering a repertory film program at the Tower in the summer of 1981. A few months later they converted the Theater of Living Arts on South St in Phila. to a repertory movie house.
Today’s Philadelphia Inquirer article states that Ray Murray and Claire Brown converted this theater intoa a repertory movie house a few months after offering a repertory film program at Upper Darby’s Tower Theatre in the summe of 1981.
Interview in today’s Phila. Inquirer with Juliet Goodfriend, who states current plan is to add 2 new screens on parking lot space, and refurbish existing auditoriums.
Many buildings from Philadelphia’s Film Row survives. Film Row was on or near Vine Street east of City Hall. I testified on behalf of the successful nomination for city legal protection for the historic exterior of the former Warner Brothers film exchange building, now Big Brothers Big Sisters building at 230 North 13th St.
Overseas, in London, England, there are also many wonderful buildings surviving from their Film Row, a few of which are still used for that purpose. They are on Golden Square, Wardour Street, and Soho Square.
Less than 8 years.
Friends of the Boyd, our all volunteer organization, has been fundraising for years, and for the last 2 years have been retaining an overnight security company to protect the Boyd and keep OUT intruders.
Many historic Philadelphia buildings were closed for years before being wonderfully restored & reopened. Many movie palaces nationwide were closed for far longer before being restored & reopened.
Better, more optimistic thoughts & wishe, Al!
Howard B. Haas, (volunteer) President, Friends of the Boyd, Inc.
Don, you got the vibe right. But didn’t your “new” governor as mayor of Oakland revive the Fox there? He knows the value of reopening closed movie palace. And, there are other projects proceeding such as the Loews Kings in Brooklyn, with much government help.
That said, kindly send pizza-empire millionaires to visit Philadelphia. We will would like to meet with them.
I believe I read above that this theater was gutted in the last few years? so it would not be returning. The Palace isn’t the only surviving Road Show theater, since Radio City and the Broadway /theaters/2250/
I’m not sure if there are others…
Arthouse cinemas are not the place for 3 D, so this one goofed, but mainstream movie theaters may continue with 3 D. It excites some movie goers, and that’s good.
from an article about the renovation View link
The first component will be a large new theater of 264 seats with a very, very large 50 foot amphitheater screen. This should enhance the thrill of any good movie. The second component will be a new screening room which will seat 71.
On Wednesday, I saw “Black Swan” in the historic main # 1 auditorium. The curtain moved a bit afterwards in regard to slides, but did not open before the picture or close afterwards. Staff confirmed the curtain is used sometimes. Sound was great, with surround sound from side walls & back very loud. I had to guess which movie was in auditorium 1 because the website & answerimg machine announcement do not identify which movie is in which auditorium, and the offices were closed over the holidays. If staff is reading this, please identify which movie is in which theater on the website (even if there’s a caveat that last minute the movie might change)! Visiting from Philadelphia, my time was worth it only
if the movie that I wanted to see was in the historic auditorium. Enjoying a movie in the historic auditorium was a real treat.
oops. that’s Claire Brown.
Today’s Philadelphia Inquirer article states that Ray Murray and Clair Brown began offering a repertory film program at the Tower in the summer of 1981. A few months later they converted the Theater of Living Arts on South St in Phila. to a repertory movie house.
Today’s Philadelphia Inquirer article states that Ray Murray and Claire Brown converted this theater intoa a repertory movie house a few months after offering a repertory film program at Upper Darby’s Tower Theatre in the summe of 1981.
Here’s link to yesterday’s article:
View link
Interview in today’s Phila. Inquirer with Juliet Goodfriend, who states current plan is to add 2 new screens on parking lot space, and refurbish existing auditoriums.
Photos of original decor un-veiled, BUT now being gutted
View link
Many buildings from Philadelphia’s Film Row survives. Film Row was on or near Vine Street east of City Hall. I testified on behalf of the successful nomination for city legal protection for the historic exterior of the former Warner Brothers film exchange building, now Big Brothers Big Sisters building at 230 North 13th St.
Overseas, in London, England, there are also many wonderful buildings surviving from their Film Row, a few of which are still used for that purpose. They are on Golden Square, Wardour Street, and Soho Square.
Did the Devon (in its current form) close?
I’m confused about the references to putting “Drexel” on the marquee. Was the theater renamed?
video of a recent performance of the organ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXTzDvhYwX4
For a surcharge to the ticket, AMC is going to deliver a slightly larger screen & better sound??
Less than 8 years.
Friends of the Boyd, our all volunteer organization, has been fundraising for years, and for the last 2 years have been retaining an overnight security company to protect the Boyd and keep OUT intruders.
Many historic Philadelphia buildings were closed for years before being wonderfully restored & reopened. Many movie palaces nationwide were closed for far longer before being restored & reopened.
Better, more optimistic thoughts & wishe, Al!
Howard B. Haas, (volunteer) President, Friends of the Boyd, Inc.
Don, you got the vibe right. But didn’t your “new” governor as mayor of Oakland revive the Fox there? He knows the value of reopening closed movie palace. And, there are other projects proceeding such as the Loews Kings in Brooklyn, with much government help.
That said, kindly send pizza-empire millionaires to visit Philadelphia. We will would like to meet with them.
I’m not an expert on Detroit, but some of these marked Open here
View link
As to the 1980s assertion, movie palaces nationwide are restored & reopened regularly.
In the Philadelphia area, the following nonprofit, historic theaters have Oscar parties!
Ambler
/theaters/3953/
Bryn Mawr
/theaters/8434/
Colonial in Phoenixville
/theaters/3769/
Hiway in Jenkintown
/theaters/5234/
I believe I read above that this theater was gutted in the last few years? so it would not be returning. The Palace isn’t the only surviving Road Show theater, since Radio City and the Broadway
/theaters/2250/
I’m not sure if there are others…
Arthouse cinemas are not the place for 3 D, so this one goofed, but mainstream movie theaters may continue with 3 D. It excites some movie goers, and that’s good.
Thanks, William, and thanks to Ken Roe for the great new Introduction for this theater!
See the Introduction re how long some Cinerama films ran.
William- 2001 ran 80 weeks here? 103 weeks includes the Beverly Hills, too?
William, if you can please specify the years when Cleoapatra and Spartacus were shown, then we may include that information in the Introduction.
Our Introduction already included that information.
from an article about the renovation
View link
The first component will be a large new theater of 264 seats with a very, very large 50 foot amphitheater screen. This should enhance the thrill of any good movie. The second component will be a new screening room which will seat 71.
Jan 3, 2011 article & Youtube video of its reopening
View link
Photo of auditorium facing beautiful curtain:
View link
Justin, do you mean a Forever 21 store?
On Wednesday, I saw “Black Swan” in the historic main # 1 auditorium. The curtain moved a bit afterwards in regard to slides, but did not open before the picture or close afterwards. Staff confirmed the curtain is used sometimes. Sound was great, with surround sound from side walls & back very loud. I had to guess which movie was in auditorium 1 because the website & answerimg machine announcement do not identify which movie is in which auditorium, and the offices were closed over the holidays. If staff is reading this, please identify which movie is in which theater on the website (even if there’s a caveat that last minute the movie might change)! Visiting from Philadelphia, my time was worth it only
if the movie that I wanted to see was in the historic auditorium. Enjoying a movie in the historic auditorium was a real treat.