Live Nation is selling their theaters that presents legit shows, because they want to be a Rock N Roll CONCERT company. That’s why they chose a name like “Live Nation” in the first place. Recently, they sold their ownership interests in the former movie palaces in Chicago’s Loop, because those are legit theaters.
I seem to recall a listing in 1992 when I first visited Spain, that it was then open. Later in the 1990’s, I visited the store but wasn’t photographing. It does have a wonderful exterior.
I’d like to second inclusion on this list of San Francisco’s Metro as an intact theater that can be saved, and important for all the reasons stated at that theater’s page.
I’d like to start an endangered theater list for SPAIN with two grand movie palaces on the Gran Via in Madrid, both of which have been proposed for retail use instead:
When I saw a movie a decade ago, it was an awesome single screen with 2 balcony theater, with 1750 seats. The other 2 screens were present, but not carved from the main auditorium.
Thanks, Lost Memory. I was gathering other photos when you added that one.
I’ve been in the gorgeous Grand Lobby, but can’t quickly locate any photos on the Internet. Many photos of the beautiful exterior are on flickr.
Brucec is correct, but let me clarify regarding particular theaters. Nederlander isn’t in Philadelphia. Shubert owns the Forrest Theatre on Walnut Street. The former Shubert is the Merriam Theatre, now owned by University of the Arts. Each of those is too small for large scale musicals as he says. The Kimmel Center isn’t a venue at all for Touring Broadway shows. The Academy of Music is, as he says.
The Friends of the Boyd, Inc., a nonprofit organization, www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org are most appreciative of this listing!
Please visit our website for more information.
Most cities in the US have saved, restored, and reopened, at least one downtown movie palace. Philadelphia hasn’t yet, and has one last opportunity as the Boyd is the sole survivor downtown. Yet, Boyd owner Live Nation has placed the closed theater for sale, and might be willing to sell it to a developer who like the last one might seek a demolition permit.
Here’s a brief description of the Boyd’s importance:
Built in 1928, the Boyd Theatre is the last surviving motion picture palace of downtown Philadelphia. Acclaimed as an “art-deco masterpiece†(Inga Saffron, Philadelphia Inquirer architecture critic, May 7, 2002, page B1) and as a “suburb example†of the exuberant Art Deco style of the late 1920’s (Dr. David Brownlee, University of Pennsylvania chair of Department of the History of the Art, testimony before Philadelphia Historical Commission, April 2, 1987), the Boyd was “one of the world’s first Art Deco theaters†(Dennis D. Kinerk & Dennis W. Wilhelm, “Popcorn Palaces, the Art Deco Movie Theatre Paintings of Davis Coneâ€, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 2001, page 21).
The Boyd was designed by the firm of Hoffman and Henon, Philadelphia’s premiere theater architects, responsible for 100 theaters in the area. The Boyd’s exterior included a towering vertical sign that advertised the theater a mile away, a retail arcade, a ticket booth, and a huge etched glass window with Art Deco motifs. The Boyd has one of Philadelphia’s grandest Art Deco lobbies, lined with etched glass mirrors. The foyer has dazzling colorful mirrors two stories high, marble fountains, elaborate plasterwork, and suites of restroom lounges. Equipped with an orchestra pit and a pipe organ, the auditorium had 2450 seats and perfect sightlines. The Opening Day program dedicated the Boyd to the theme of “The triumph of the modern woman†seen in the Proscenium Mural by famed artist Alfred Tulk of the Rambusch Company, and by metal silhouettes of women from around the world, including the modern American.
Movie palaces including the Boyd were places where the ordinary man could enjoy entertainment in a regal environment. On opening in 1928, for a mere 35 cents, an ordinary Joe could enjoy Walt Disney’s debut of Mickey Mouse in “Steamboat Willie†and Paramount’s first talking picture, “Interference.â€
The Boyd drew patrons from throughout the Philadelphia area for films such as “Gone with the Wind,†70 mm epics such as “Ben Hur†and “Doctor Zhivago†and blockbuster movies like “Star Wars.†Midcentury, the public traveled to the Boyd from a hundred miles away as the Boyd was the only local theater equipped to show Cinerama films. For decades, films began their local runs exclusively at the Boyd. Stars often appeared on opening nights such as Grace Kelly for “High Noon†in 1950. Hollywood style premieres were public spectacles, including the 1993 premiere of “Philadelphia†with Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington appearing.
Thanks, Woody for that beautiful lobby photo! All too often, exterior photos of theaters are numerous, but no interiors. I like the E-Walk’s lobby. I haven’t tried to photo it, but it deserves photos publicly placed such as linked to this site.
Maybe you’ve got closeups of that ceiling or statues?
And, nobody sues? Like I wrote above, I’d love to see these devices banned. People survived for decades without cell phones ringing or text messaging during the movie.
I saw many of those films and agree they were good. The few that I named above were the ones that I enjoyed the absolutely best. My point was simply there are new films, mainstream and arthouse, that are worthy for adults to see.
Jeff, I’m not really trying to be rude, but you said all new movies are nothing but “crap” and the moviegoing experience is so bad you prefer not to attend and there’s no movies for adults.
If others followed your example, there would be no movies theaters left open for daily movies including many historic movie theaters that are still open!
Bill at least recognizes “3 or 4 really good movies per year”
2003 photo of exterior showing the movie “Chicago” on the marquee:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/asten/100939251/
2006 photo showing plywood on closed movie house:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drzito/253421828/
Live Nation is selling their theaters that presents legit shows, because they want to be a Rock N Roll CONCERT company. That’s why they chose a name like “Live Nation” in the first place. Recently, they sold their ownership interests in the former movie palaces in Chicago’s Loop, because those are legit theaters.
Photos of the exterior of the closed movie theater:
View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kailos/1343517126/
Especially since it could get gutted, I’d hope there are photos somewhere of the ornate interior!
AUDITORIUM PHOTOS of one of the best Art Deco moviehouses still showing movies daily in the US.
2007 photo of Auditorium facing curtained screen:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizclink/652030053/
2005: View link
View link
2004 http://www.flickr.com/photos/sushiesque/69898488/
2006 orchestra rear: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris3198/180191498/
2006 shows some side decoration: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris3198/180191466/
I meant to write “De Nada” to Lost Memory, but it was lost.
Exterior Photos:
View link
View link
View link
View link
View link
View link
View link
View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanneorla/465464748/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/comcinco/447224355/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yeyopepe/60782243/
Lit up at night:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarrask/1428241482/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/manu244/557300784/
View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raiworld/302945841/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitus/85319291/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronsel/17963599/
Lost Memory,
AUDITORIUM PHOTOS:
2007 auditorium showing both balconies, so this wonderful movie palace is currently intact:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/inthesity/1815054879/
2007 side wall & screen: http://www.flickr.com/photos/inthesity/1815899658/
Movie screen & ceiling- isn’t this magnificient? View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/comcinco/450249503/
probably main floor of auditorium: http://www.flickr.com/photos/comcinco/450249949/
More photos of exterior,
2007: View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nazaret/609266421/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jofrias/1888321903/
View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanneorla/465469801/
Close up of exterior decoration:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jofrias/1888322831/
2006 photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/petezin/153160483/
View link
2005: View link
2005: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flipao/61532764/
2004: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghgomezl/293802728/
view from above: View link
Lost Memory, your photo is indeed that of the Capitol.
PHOTOS!
2006 exterior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/olrik_1/84333430/
2006 exterior: http://www.flickr.com/photos/asturtom/312675305/
2005 close up of decor at top: http://www.flickr.com/photos/urokhard/4110302/
2007 close up of entry: http://www.flickr.com/photos/atxus/1560722981/
View link
2006 close up of entry: http://www.flickr.com/photos/notunlike/292928903/
2007 Box Office (ticket booth) View link
View link
2002 exterior: http://www.flickr.com/photos/niltoncpp/141036259/
2007 FOYER leading to auditorium:
View link
2007 stairway: View link
2005 main AUDITORIUM:
View link
2006 main auditorium:
View link
View link
2007 main auditorium:
View link
View link
house lights off but lighting on balcony sides:
View link
2007 balcony seats? View link
2007 facing balcony: http://www.flickr.com/photos/photocapy/399191641/
I seem to recall a listing in 1992 when I first visited Spain, that it was then open. Later in the 1990’s, I visited the store but wasn’t photographing. It does have a wonderful exterior.
I’d like to second inclusion on this list of San Francisco’s Metro as an intact theater that can be saved, and important for all the reasons stated at that theater’s page.
And,the building shown in that large photo next to it (opposite direction than the Dunkin Donuts shop) is the Palacio de la Musica.
I’d like to start an endangered theater list for SPAIN with two grand movie palaces on the Gran Via in Madrid, both of which have been proposed for retail use instead:
Palacio de la Musica
/theaters/18029/
Cine Avenida (which I added to this website so I could make this comment):
/theaters/22125/
Yes, that photo looks like this theater, never mind translations.
here’s some photos of wonderful exterior & even one of the gloriously ornate auditorium.
2007 photo of Facade:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sinforosa/1535999422/
2006 photo of Facade:
View link
View link
2006 photo of Marquee closeup:
View link
2007 marquee: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hitkaiser/384288058/
2007 photo of Exterior showing front & auditorium side:
View link
2007 photo of Auditorium, orchestra, facing curtained screen with side view, too:
View link
Bruce Willis at 2006 premiere of animated “Over the Edge"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/odadafne/155072735/
When I saw a movie a decade ago, it was an awesome single screen with 2 balcony theater, with 1750 seats. The other 2 screens were present, but not carved from the main auditorium.
Thanks, Lost Memory. I was gathering other photos when you added that one.
I’ve been in the gorgeous Grand Lobby, but can’t quickly locate any photos on the Internet. Many photos of the beautiful exterior are on flickr.
Facade 2006-07
View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delucagabi/204208578/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kailos/1334772213/
2005: View link
Lights on marquee underside:
View link
Lit at night:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delucagabi/204208578/
View link
View link
Light Fixture, 2006
View link
Brucec is correct, but let me clarify regarding particular theaters. Nederlander isn’t in Philadelphia. Shubert owns the Forrest Theatre on Walnut Street. The former Shubert is the Merriam Theatre, now owned by University of the Arts. Each of those is too small for large scale musicals as he says. The Kimmel Center isn’t a venue at all for Touring Broadway shows. The Academy of Music is, as he says.
The Friends of the Boyd, Inc., a nonprofit organization, www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org are most appreciative of this listing!
Please visit our website for more information.
Most cities in the US have saved, restored, and reopened, at least one downtown movie palace. Philadelphia hasn’t yet, and has one last opportunity as the Boyd is the sole survivor downtown. Yet, Boyd owner Live Nation has placed the closed theater for sale, and might be willing to sell it to a developer who like the last one might seek a demolition permit.
Here’s a brief description of the Boyd’s importance:
Built in 1928, the Boyd Theatre is the last surviving motion picture palace of downtown Philadelphia. Acclaimed as an “art-deco masterpiece†(Inga Saffron, Philadelphia Inquirer architecture critic, May 7, 2002, page B1) and as a “suburb example†of the exuberant Art Deco style of the late 1920’s (Dr. David Brownlee, University of Pennsylvania chair of Department of the History of the Art, testimony before Philadelphia Historical Commission, April 2, 1987), the Boyd was “one of the world’s first Art Deco theaters†(Dennis D. Kinerk & Dennis W. Wilhelm, “Popcorn Palaces, the Art Deco Movie Theatre Paintings of Davis Coneâ€, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 2001, page 21).
The Boyd was designed by the firm of Hoffman and Henon, Philadelphia’s premiere theater architects, responsible for 100 theaters in the area. The Boyd’s exterior included a towering vertical sign that advertised the theater a mile away, a retail arcade, a ticket booth, and a huge etched glass window with Art Deco motifs. The Boyd has one of Philadelphia’s grandest Art Deco lobbies, lined with etched glass mirrors. The foyer has dazzling colorful mirrors two stories high, marble fountains, elaborate plasterwork, and suites of restroom lounges. Equipped with an orchestra pit and a pipe organ, the auditorium had 2450 seats and perfect sightlines. The Opening Day program dedicated the Boyd to the theme of “The triumph of the modern woman†seen in the Proscenium Mural by famed artist Alfred Tulk of the Rambusch Company, and by metal silhouettes of women from around the world, including the modern American.
Movie palaces including the Boyd were places where the ordinary man could enjoy entertainment in a regal environment. On opening in 1928, for a mere 35 cents, an ordinary Joe could enjoy Walt Disney’s debut of Mickey Mouse in “Steamboat Willie†and Paramount’s first talking picture, “Interference.â€
The Boyd drew patrons from throughout the Philadelphia area for films such as “Gone with the Wind,†70 mm epics such as “Ben Hur†and “Doctor Zhivago†and blockbuster movies like “Star Wars.†Midcentury, the public traveled to the Boyd from a hundred miles away as the Boyd was the only local theater equipped to show Cinerama films. For decades, films began their local runs exclusively at the Boyd. Stars often appeared on opening nights such as Grace Kelly for “High Noon†in 1950. Hollywood style premieres were public spectacles, including the 1993 premiere of “Philadelphia†with Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington appearing.
Oh, I just looked, Woody, at your exterior photo, and that photo is a real beauty, too.
Thanks, Woody for that beautiful lobby photo! All too often, exterior photos of theaters are numerous, but no interiors. I like the E-Walk’s lobby. I haven’t tried to photo it, but it deserves photos publicly placed such as linked to this site.
Maybe you’ve got closeups of that ceiling or statues?
Justin, “robots and alien lifeforms”? just how many times did you go to see Blade Runner,the Final Cut?
And, nobody sues? Like I wrote above, I’d love to see these devices banned. People survived for decades without cell phones ringing or text messaging during the movie.
I saw many of those films and agree they were good. The few that I named above were the ones that I enjoyed the absolutely best. My point was simply there are new films, mainstream and arthouse, that are worthy for adults to see.
Jeff, I’m not really trying to be rude, but you said all new movies are nothing but “crap” and the moviegoing experience is so bad you prefer not to attend and there’s no movies for adults.
If others followed your example, there would be no movies theaters left open for daily movies including many historic movie theaters that are still open!
Bill at least recognizes “3 or 4 really good movies per year”