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.
On Tuesday, I enjoyed movies here and counted seats. Auditorium 3 has a lower section consisting of 28 seats over several rows, and 6 more seats in a top row that has room for wheelchairs. the upper section has 8 rows of 13 seats each, and 16 seats on the top row. Total count is 154 seats.
Auditorium 4 has a lower section of 120 seats over several rows, and 10 more seats in a top row that has room for wheelchairs. The upper section has 8 rows of 18 seats each, and 20 seats in the top row. Total count is 294 seats.
Ken Roe’s addition of UK cinemas would is a stellar accomplishment! Thanks to him, to Ross & Patrick, and to many other volunteers for this wonderful website.
JodarMovieFan, 3 D screens are silver, so the Uptown needs a new screen. I would hope it would be curved. I don’t see 3 D but when I see 2 D at the Uptown, would like to have the curved screen.
I saw yesterday “Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows” Uptown wasn’t using its curtain, but does some days. I wish they’d turn house lights down during the trailers. Surround sound in the balcony was excellent.
They are aiming to equip for 3 D for Tron 3 D, but not sure yet. It is a challenge to obtain huge new screen.
Saturday, I watched “Fair Game” Exiting, everybody received comp passes because heat wasn’t working properly. AMC doesn’t light up the auditorium well enough for me to photo with my camera, which is a shame since pretty white & red decor of side walls deserves photographing!
I have a few photos and/or videos of upstairs & downstairs lobby areas and stairway with metalwork. I also have a few photos from 2005. I expect to send those photos & videos to THSA for safekeeping. Today seems to be the last day forever, judging from above comments. I will miss the Tower East!
BW photos are mentioned above. Years ago, I tried to photo auditorium but couldn’t due to lighting. Perhaps somebody could take a 30 second video of the auditorium (before the film starts) with their camera? Just shoot it quickly in the auditorium, without bothering the theater’s staff and capture the pretty colors of the walls & the screen.
Alexander Boyd, who built Philadelphia’s Boyd, is who acquired this theater. When he passed away in 1962, his company continued to own theaters. I don’t know whether he continued to own the Boyd into the 1960s but quite possibly so, in which case ther wasn’t any Sameric Corp. involvement.
In May 1991, I enjoyed “The Russia House” in the largest auditorium, which I noted had about 450 seats. It was a neat, very large, wide screen presenation. And, I saw “Sleeping with the Enemy” in the 200 seat auditorium, where the screen was medium sized.
The owner Live Nation has recently repainted the plywood so it looks better. Friends of the Boyd continue to work so that the Boyd will have a great future! We hope you all of your fans of historic cinemas will also be supportive of our efforts.
Having read the article, I have 2 questions as follows:
(1) would the historic 1920s theater be demolished to build new theater?
(2) Why would it be called Paramount?
News flash! Millions of Muslems already live in the United States along with so many other groups persecuted throughout world history- whether Quakers or Jews or Irish or blacks or native US Indians. Though the US has enemies, most Islamic nations are NOT at war with the United States. In WW2, the US locked up US citizens of Japanese ancestry. That wasn’t right.
Let’s celebrate movie theaters on this site. We don’t relish when movie theaters are converted to anything else- whether sneaker stores or drugstores, but let’s leave the political concerns to other blogs, please.
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.
On Tuesday, I enjoyed movies here and counted seats. Auditorium 3 has a lower section consisting of 28 seats over several rows, and 6 more seats in a top row that has room for wheelchairs. the upper section has 8 rows of 13 seats each, and 16 seats on the top row. Total count is 154 seats.
Auditorium 4 has a lower section of 120 seats over several rows, and 10 more seats in a top row that has room for wheelchairs. The upper section has 8 rows of 18 seats each, and 20 seats in the top row. Total count is 294 seats.
Ken Roe’s addition of UK cinemas would is a stellar accomplishment! Thanks to him, to Ross & Patrick, and to many other volunteers for this wonderful website.
JodarMovieFan, 3 D screens are silver, so the Uptown needs a new screen. I would hope it would be curved. I don’t see 3 D but when I see 2 D at the Uptown, would like to have the curved screen.
I saw yesterday “Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows” Uptown wasn’t using its curtain, but does some days. I wish they’d turn house lights down during the trailers. Surround sound in the balcony was excellent.
They are aiming to equip for 3 D for Tron 3 D, but not sure yet. It is a challenge to obtain huge new screen.
Saturday, I watched “Fair Game” Exiting, everybody received comp passes because heat wasn’t working properly. AMC doesn’t light up the auditorium well enough for me to photo with my camera, which is a shame since pretty white & red decor of side walls deserves photographing!
I have a few photos and/or videos of upstairs & downstairs lobby areas and stairway with metalwork. I also have a few photos from 2005. I expect to send those photos & videos to THSA for safekeeping. Today seems to be the last day forever, judging from above comments. I will miss the Tower East!
City Cinemas or Regal, would be good.
BW photos are mentioned above. Years ago, I tried to photo auditorium but couldn’t due to lighting. Perhaps somebody could take a 30 second video of the auditorium (before the film starts) with their camera? Just shoot it quickly in the auditorium, without bothering the theater’s staff and capture the pretty colors of the walls & the screen.
Ugh! I hope another movie operator takesover. It is a very nice movie house.
Alexander Boyd, who built Philadelphia’s Boyd, is who acquired this theater. When he passed away in 1962, his company continued to own theaters. I don’t know whether he continued to own the Boyd into the 1960s but quite possibly so, in which case ther wasn’t any Sameric Corp. involvement.
Featured on Huffington Post list of 10 beautiful movie theaters in US,
http://cinematreasures.org/news/24968_0_1_0_M/
Let’s mention a Boston area theater! Coolidge Corner is beautiful & is still a daily moviehouse.
/theaters/215/
In May 1991, I enjoyed “The Russia House” in the largest auditorium, which I noted had about 450 seats. It was a neat, very large, wide screen presenation. And, I saw “Sleeping with the Enemy” in the 200 seat auditorium, where the screen was medium sized.
it is their list. Anybody who doesn’t agree with it can feel free to type in their own favorites, right here!
Very pleased that a Philadelphia area cinema, the County (not the “Old County”) in Doylestown, PA is included!
More including interior photos here:
View link
This says restoration is stalled while MGM/UA sale is ongoing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Alamo_(1960_film))
The owner Live Nation has recently repainted the plywood so it looks better. Friends of the Boyd continue to work so that the Boyd will have a great future! We hope you all of your fans of historic cinemas will also be supportive of our efforts.
When was it a Loews house?
Article about conversion to retail. Some features to be restored but for how long? 5 years?
View link
Renderings of proposed replacement building:
View link
September 2, 2010 Canadian Jewish news article & photo of building’s exterior:
View link
I don’t see what’s so special about 2 k digital projection. What’s an XTC screen?
2006 photos by Roloff
exterior View link
lobby View link
Scroll down for photo of auditorium in 2005
View link
Having read the article, I have 2 questions as follows:
(1) would the historic 1920s theater be demolished to build new theater?
(2) Why would it be called Paramount?
News flash! Millions of Muslems already live in the United States along with so many other groups persecuted throughout world history- whether Quakers or Jews or Irish or blacks or native US Indians. Though the US has enemies, most Islamic nations are NOT at war with the United States. In WW2, the US locked up US citizens of Japanese ancestry. That wasn’t right.
Let’s celebrate movie theaters on this site. We don’t relish when movie theaters are converted to anything else- whether sneaker stores or drugstores, but let’s leave the political concerns to other blogs, please.