The Philadelphia Historical Commission granted preliminary approval of the iPic proposal; full commission approval due March 14th. My recommendation for all on this board: ignore what will be the hue and cry of the few and celebrate the fact that at least some part of the history of the Boyd (the façade) will live on. That said, fire your slings and arrows all who live the dream that this relic could be saved with pipe dreams and false promises…
I don’t know what is more irresponsible: the picture of the Boyd in all of it’s glory (why not run a “before and after” picture to let people know what an eyseore the facade has become) or the “11th hour” offer which will result in nothing being done to the facility for another 12 years. The one-sided nature of the coverage of this issue on this site is nothing short of shameful. The thousands of residents of center city (and I am one of them) who need a new movie theater built now are being held hostage by a small group of people with an agenda no rational business person can agree to. I hope the commission looks out for the “needs of the many will outweigh the needs of the one.”
To all on this site: in the spirit of the request to keep things civil, let me just say this: There is no one on the planet that would like to see this site saved, renovated and revitalized. That said—and as I have said over and over again—IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. Where is the money going to come from? Where are the people who will buy tickets? Philadelphia CANNOT support another performing arts venue and WILL NOT support another film venue (the PFS can’t even get the Roxy up and running!).
As I mentioned in my last post, the problem I have with the discussion on this site is that it is one-sided. Where is Sharon Pinkenson’s impassioned letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer supporting the new plan for the Boyd? As someone who has successfully run the Greater Philadelphia Film Commission (and unsuccessfully tried to get a rep cinema off the ground at the significantly smaller Prince), she is someone who understands the two key words Show + Business: there cannot be a show without business.
The irony here is that, if I met with Howard and the other friends of the boyd they would find that we have more in commmon than it may appear from my posts. I love old movie theaters and have traveled the country to see watch movies in the ones that remain open. That said, I am a business person and a realist and from my vantage point, the i-Pic plan offers the best possible solution to a sad situation: the ability to show my child the facade to what was once a palace where I saw many great movies.
Howard: Will you create a link to Sharon Pinkenson thoughtful and impassioned plea for approval of the iPic transformation of the Boyd? Or will you—and this site—continue a single-minded, closed-minded path toward denying a future for the venue and for the economic vitality of Chestnut Street and Center City Philadelphia?
Howard: Will you create a link to Sharon Pinkenson impassioned plea for approval of the iPic transformation of the Boyd? Or will you—and this site—continue a single-minded, closed-minded path toward denying a future for the venue and for the economic vitality of Chestnut Street and Center City Philadelphia?
Saw “Carrie” in new RPX screen last night. Very disappointed: Uncomfortable “leather” seats jammed too close together and no top/bottom masking for wide screen presentation, which is/was way more distracting than the lack of masking for IMAX presentations (i.e. “Gravity”, which was outstanding in IMAX 3-D at this location). And I did not see any speakers in the ceiling which means they did not install Dolby Atmos, which seems very short-sighted given the upcoming holiday films released in Atmos. Has anyone else been disappointed by RPX presentations in the past, especially given the surcharge added by Regal?
Yet again another presumptive, offensive (“This can only go foward…” Really, says who?) and anti-business screed from the Haas and his “friends” who have allowed naive, sentimental and anti-business rhetoric to get in the way of an irrevocable truth: The. Boyd. Is. Not. Coming. Back.
And before the “preservationists” flame me (or worse, as Haas is wont to do, delete me) I would like nothing more than the former Sameric to turn into a East Coast version of the IMAX Chinese Theater. But guess what: this is never going to happen. If Clear Channel could not do it, who is going to provide Howard with the 41 million (according to iPic) to renovate the theater? Comcast?
That said, what everyone should consider is allowing iPic to move forward and bring movies to Chestnut Street once again. Otherwise, 11 years will pass, the building will be a boarded-up eyesore (with a Gap Outlet, no less), joining the empty lot at 19th and Walnut (interesting that no one talks about the “preservationist” debacle that nixed a high-end theater proposal from Posel) as a stark reminder that Philadelphia, save for the Ritz (Landmark) Chain (which is also in decline and in the case of the Ritz Five, at risk for demolition) is one of the least desirable cities in the US for exhibition.
Great news today from the Philadelphia Inquirer regarding the Boyd Theater. iPic operates great theaters—the Boca Raton location is a gem—and IF it happens this will go a long way to revitalizing the Chestnut Street corridor. That said, get ready for the inevitable whining and teeth nashing from “preservationists” (including one leading hypocrite with an oversize presence on this website) out of touch with both the future value of this venue and the exhibition business. Downtown Philadelphia is woefully underscreened and the existing screens (Riverview, Pearl and The Bridge) are nothing to get excited about and/or downright abominations.
This theater — and the Anthony Wayne in Wayne — are NOT part of the Bow Tie Cinemas chain. They are now part of “Reel Cinemas.” Anyone know when or why this happened? Does anyone know anything about Reel Cinemas?
This theater — and the Bala in Bala Cynwyd — are NOT part of the Bow Tie Cinemas chain. They are now part of “Reel Cinemas.” Anyone know when or why this happened? Does anyone know anything about Reel Cinemas?
theater 5 is definitely NOT the Mark I; that theater was narrower and had a distinct slope to the screen. Theater 5 could be any single screen (pre-twin) Eric: Tri-State Mall, Concordville, etc.
The only thing I noticed about the “Concordville” pix is that they must have raised the parking lot: in the 4-plex shot the stairs have vanished. Maybe due to changes mandated for handicap access?
For the Concordville: if memory serves, the Eric sign was lowered when they added to the complex to go to 4-screens. They also added a flat sign to the front of the complex, as you can see in the Cinema Tour pages.
Howard: You are correct about Pilgram Gardens… who could forget the exit doors BELOW the screen. Saw Damnation Alley in Sound 360 here (a failed attempt at recreating sensurround). The theater also had 70MM capability (Starman, Raiders, among others) and, for its time, was a well run house.
Bill: How was the presentation. HowardBHaas made a comment on the Ziegfeld page that there was no sound for the surrond array. Was that your experience?
Anyone else see “The Master” at the Ziegfeld and notice the “no surround sound” issue (see Howard Haas post)? I would be nothing short of stunned to here that the surrounds were off and the presentation was anything less than perfect.
To add to Al and Ed’s comments: I agree with the hatchet-job nature of the Post column; a little more research would have gone a long way (it’s not that hard to get the seating capacity for the screens at Lincoln Square…). That said, what I find disconcerting is that given the choice of theater playing The Master in NYC (70MM, 35MM, Digital), that the so-called discerning Manhattan filmgoer chose the subway rumble of the Angelika or the passe Cinema 1,2,3 on Third Avenue (to say nothing of the “other” (non-70MM) screens at Village East) over the Ziegfeld.
The Ziegfeld is in a difficult position: squeezed the Lincoln Square on the Upper East and the Empire (and to a lesser extent, Regal) on 42nd street.
atb
commented about
PFS Easton
Sep 12, 2012 at 10:17 pm
ALPS: Any idea what type of digital projection was installed? Hope it was 4K…
RE: Blow Out and the Goldman Theater: Travolta makes a phone call in front of the Goldman Theater; you can see the marquee (and the multi-colored lights) in the background of the widescreen frame. His office is above the Apollo Theater (a long-gone porn theater) on Market East at City Hall.
The Philadelphia Historical Commission granted preliminary approval of the iPic proposal; full commission approval due March 14th. My recommendation for all on this board: ignore what will be the hue and cry of the few and celebrate the fact that at least some part of the history of the Boyd (the façade) will live on. That said, fire your slings and arrows all who live the dream that this relic could be saved with pipe dreams and false promises…
I don’t know what is more irresponsible: the picture of the Boyd in all of it’s glory (why not run a “before and after” picture to let people know what an eyseore the facade has become) or the “11th hour” offer which will result in nothing being done to the facility for another 12 years. The one-sided nature of the coverage of this issue on this site is nothing short of shameful. The thousands of residents of center city (and I am one of them) who need a new movie theater built now are being held hostage by a small group of people with an agenda no rational business person can agree to. I hope the commission looks out for the “needs of the many will outweigh the needs of the one.”
To all on this site: in the spirit of the request to keep things civil, let me just say this: There is no one on the planet that would like to see this site saved, renovated and revitalized. That said—and as I have said over and over again—IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. Where is the money going to come from? Where are the people who will buy tickets? Philadelphia CANNOT support another performing arts venue and WILL NOT support another film venue (the PFS can’t even get the Roxy up and running!).
As I mentioned in my last post, the problem I have with the discussion on this site is that it is one-sided. Where is Sharon Pinkenson’s impassioned letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer supporting the new plan for the Boyd? As someone who has successfully run the Greater Philadelphia Film Commission (and unsuccessfully tried to get a rep cinema off the ground at the significantly smaller Prince), she is someone who understands the two key words Show + Business: there cannot be a show without business.
The irony here is that, if I met with Howard and the other friends of the boyd they would find that we have more in commmon than it may appear from my posts. I love old movie theaters and have traveled the country to see watch movies in the ones that remain open. That said, I am a business person and a realist and from my vantage point, the i-Pic plan offers the best possible solution to a sad situation: the ability to show my child the facade to what was once a palace where I saw many great movies.
Howard: Will you create a link to Sharon Pinkenson thoughtful and impassioned plea for approval of the iPic transformation of the Boyd? Or will you—and this site—continue a single-minded, closed-minded path toward denying a future for the venue and for the economic vitality of Chestnut Street and Center City Philadelphia?
Howard: Will you create a link to Sharon Pinkenson impassioned plea for approval of the iPic transformation of the Boyd? Or will you—and this site—continue a single-minded, closed-minded path toward denying a future for the venue and for the economic vitality of Chestnut Street and Center City Philadelphia?
Saw “Carrie” in new RPX screen last night. Very disappointed: Uncomfortable “leather” seats jammed too close together and no top/bottom masking for wide screen presentation, which is/was way more distracting than the lack of masking for IMAX presentations (i.e. “Gravity”, which was outstanding in IMAX 3-D at this location). And I did not see any speakers in the ceiling which means they did not install Dolby Atmos, which seems very short-sighted given the upcoming holiday films released in Atmos. Has anyone else been disappointed by RPX presentations in the past, especially given the surcharge added by Regal?
Yet again another presumptive, offensive (“This can only go foward…” Really, says who?) and anti-business screed from the Haas and his “friends” who have allowed naive, sentimental and anti-business rhetoric to get in the way of an irrevocable truth: The. Boyd. Is. Not. Coming. Back.
And before the “preservationists” flame me (or worse, as Haas is wont to do, delete me) I would like nothing more than the former Sameric to turn into a East Coast version of the IMAX Chinese Theater. But guess what: this is never going to happen. If Clear Channel could not do it, who is going to provide Howard with the 41 million (according to iPic) to renovate the theater? Comcast?
That said, what everyone should consider is allowing iPic to move forward and bring movies to Chestnut Street once again. Otherwise, 11 years will pass, the building will be a boarded-up eyesore (with a Gap Outlet, no less), joining the empty lot at 19th and Walnut (interesting that no one talks about the “preservationist” debacle that nixed a high-end theater proposal from Posel) as a stark reminder that Philadelphia, save for the Ritz (Landmark) Chain (which is also in decline and in the case of the Ritz Five, at risk for demolition) is one of the least desirable cities in the US for exhibition.
Great news today from the Philadelphia Inquirer regarding the Boyd Theater. iPic operates great theaters—the Boca Raton location is a gem—and IF it happens this will go a long way to revitalizing the Chestnut Street corridor. That said, get ready for the inevitable whining and teeth nashing from “preservationists” (including one leading hypocrite with an oversize presence on this website) out of touch with both the future value of this venue and the exhibition business. Downtown Philadelphia is woefully underscreened and the existing screens (Riverview, Pearl and The Bridge) are nothing to get excited about and/or downright abominations.
and who deleted my comment on this theater as well?
This theater — and the Anthony Wayne in Wayne — are NOT part of the Bow Tie Cinemas chain. They are now part of “Reel Cinemas.” Anyone know when or why this happened? Does anyone know anything about Reel Cinemas?
This theater — and the Bala in Bala Cynwyd — are NOT part of the Bow Tie Cinemas chain. They are now part of “Reel Cinemas.” Anyone know when or why this happened? Does anyone know anything about Reel Cinemas?
Closed. No one notices, no one cares.
Plaza King of Prussia? Chestnut Hill? Maybe the Frazer (I was never there when it was a single theater)…
theater 5 is definitely NOT the Mark I; that theater was narrower and had a distinct slope to the screen. Theater 5 could be any single screen (pre-twin) Eric: Tri-State Mall, Concordville, etc.
The only thing I noticed about the “Concordville” pix is that they must have raised the parking lot: in the 4-plex shot the stairs have vanished. Maybe due to changes mandated for handicap access?
For the Concordville: if memory serves, the Eric sign was lowered when they added to the complex to go to 4-screens. They also added a flat sign to the front of the complex, as you can see in the Cinema Tour pages.
Howard: You are correct about Pilgram Gardens… who could forget the exit doors BELOW the screen. Saw Damnation Alley in Sound 360 here (a failed attempt at recreating sensurround). The theater also had 70MM capability (Starman, Raiders, among others) and, for its time, was a well run house.
theater 3 looks like the Eric Frazer when it was single screen.
Theatre 1 is the Eric Concordville when it was a single screen.
Bill: How was the presentation. HowardBHaas made a comment on the Ziegfeld page that there was no sound for the surrond array. Was that your experience?
Anyone else see “The Master” at the Ziegfeld and notice the “no surround sound” issue (see Howard Haas post)? I would be nothing short of stunned to here that the surrounds were off and the presentation was anything less than perfect.
To add to Al and Ed’s comments: I agree with the hatchet-job nature of the Post column; a little more research would have gone a long way (it’s not that hard to get the seating capacity for the screens at Lincoln Square…). That said, what I find disconcerting is that given the choice of theater playing The Master in NYC (70MM, 35MM, Digital), that the so-called discerning Manhattan filmgoer chose the subway rumble of the Angelika or the passe Cinema 1,2,3 on Third Avenue (to say nothing of the “other” (non-70MM) screens at Village East) over the Ziegfeld.
The Ziegfeld is in a difficult position: squeezed the Lincoln Square on the Upper East and the Empire (and to a lesser extent, Regal) on 42nd street.
ALPS: Any idea what type of digital projection was installed? Hope it was 4K…
Anyone know why some of the theaters were closed today during the day? Anything to do with “The Master” opening here next week? Installation of 4K?
RE: Blow Out and the Goldman Theater: Travolta makes a phone call in front of the Goldman Theater; you can see the marquee (and the multi-colored lights) in the background of the widescreen frame. His office is above the Apollo Theater (a long-gone porn theater) on Market East at City Hall.