I agree that the Bridge is a great theatre. The staff is good and the presentation of the movie have always been perfect. I look at this theatre to see a “big"movie. They have only one theatre in this market, so they have a better chance of doing it right. Regal/UA have several theatres, and some are the old Eric. I go to the Grant Ave. and I seen everything that can go wrong with showing a movie happened. Bad spicing, a reel change resulting in bad sound, Nardia sounded like it was dragging throughout the whole movie, projector buld going out etc. I would never say Neshaminy is world class theatre. It’s good, I do not hestitate to go see a movie there. The UA at Riverview was always consider to be a "showcase theatre”. This is from their mouths when they talked about their theatres. Riverview and the KofP are the ones that they are going to put the best equipment in. I am assuming this based on pass history and news stories about U/A. Regal is still U/A, the only ones that are not are the ones that Regal built.
But Phiily theatres have always been OK and it’s shame for a city of this size.
I use to see about 100 movies a year in both the center city theatres and the ones in the burbs. I still see quite of few movies. No matter what it still like going to the movies. Seeing a movie in an old theatre is an experience. I hope that the mangement of the Boyd remember the experience of seeing a movie in the future of this once great movie theatre.
Sorry to say Philly is not a movie city. Look at the exhibitors that we had over the last several decades. Budco and porn, Eric with the run down theatres. Even UA has no respect for Philly. Is UA at Riverview a world class theatre? I saw Shriek there and the vocies were coming from all speakers, the theatre was dirty and seats were either rip or broken (and it is not a center city theatre!). If wasn’t for the Ritz, we wouldn’t have any good theatre, but these theates do not show popular Hollywood movies. We had some decent theatres in center city over the years, but if recent history hold true can the Boyd present big picture movies, with possible reissues of older movies, like the Zigfeld in NY. I think of NY for a big movie first, then I see it in Phiily. Why see a Star Wars type movie, with bad picture, poor sound or bad reel changes. Most of the area theatres I saw movies at over the years have been hit or miss.
With all this talk of movies at The Boyd, was it ever used as a legit theatre? It does have a stage, orchestra pit and dressing rooms. All the pictures show it as a movie theatre.
I started going to the theatres in center city in 1977. Seeing a movie at the Fox or SamEric was sometime better experience than the actul movie. Seeing the first Star Trek @ the Fox was unbelievable, but the movie was OK(at best). The SamEric did get some of the big movies and it was still an event to go there. Around the time of Quest for Fire, the SamEric showed 2001. The way it was ment to be shown, 70mm, 6 track Stereo. The Saturday I saw it there, the orchestra leval was closed, so you had to sit in the balcony.
There is nothing like seeing a movie, in an old theatre.
During the 80’s the Sameric used the balcony for the big pictures ( the Star Wars, Raiders type movie. Weekend it was opened. They once showed 2001 (70mm 6track stereo version and I went on a Saturday afternoon and the orchestra section was closed. You had to sit in the balcony. It was a great presentation.
My thoughts on Budco. I saw all the presentations that were previously mentioned, including Altered States, Apolgolis Now The Goldman had rockin seats and rockin rows, but the balcony was good). But think PORN Budco showed a porn @ the Orleans. And who could forget this wondeful double feature @ the Olde City… the advance showing of E.T. with The Story of O!!!!
For those who never seen the Boyd, it is small theatre although it has 2400 seats with a great sight line. It should be good for a legit theatre. It’s history as a movie theatre was so so. I hope the future make everybody appreciate the theatre. Lion King suppose to be one of its first show. This Wedneday they are having a tour of the theatre. This should be the last time the public will be able to see the theatre untill it reopens in 07.
The first movie I saw at the Sam Eric was Close Encounter. Although the Sam Eric advertised movies in 70mm Dolby Stereo, the theatre did not have dolby sound system. It did not need it due to it’s natural sound. If you ever been in the balcony the back wall is padded. The theatre had a good bass so the sound was deep. You can actully feel it at times. My biggest complaint was it you were down stairs the projection booth block the back speakers. I never saw Earthquake there, but I heard it was great. After the Fox was closed, the Sam Eric was the show case theatre in center city getting all the big movies. I had Star Wars 5 & 6, the Indiana Jones series and the big movie at Christmas. It held the premiere for Philadlphia. One year it showed older movies, including 2001 in 70mm 6-track stereo sound. The down stair was closed off so you had to sit in the balcony. It was billed as see it and hear it the way it was meant to be. It was billed has having one of the biggest screen in PA. It a shame that UA did not want to run it. It wasn’t always a pleasure seeing a movie there!! The quality of the picture and sound presentation wasn’t always reliable.
T2 was never shown at the Sam Eric. It was shown at Sam’s Place (19th & Chestnut) in 70mm. The presentation was excellent. It was shown in the large theatre.
Based on an article in the Daily News, the Logan was bought and is being restore. Should reopen as a live music venue. But the can’t do the Boyd!
I have a question for anyone out there.
I saw a site that offer pictures of movie theatres. I like to buy one. Can someone give me a site (or two) where I can get one.
Thanks
I agree that the Bridge is a great theatre. The staff is good and the presentation of the movie have always been perfect. I look at this theatre to see a “big"movie. They have only one theatre in this market, so they have a better chance of doing it right. Regal/UA have several theatres, and some are the old Eric. I go to the Grant Ave. and I seen everything that can go wrong with showing a movie happened. Bad spicing, a reel change resulting in bad sound, Nardia sounded like it was dragging throughout the whole movie, projector buld going out etc. I would never say Neshaminy is world class theatre. It’s good, I do not hestitate to go see a movie there. The UA at Riverview was always consider to be a "showcase theatre”. This is from their mouths when they talked about their theatres. Riverview and the KofP are the ones that they are going to put the best equipment in. I am assuming this based on pass history and news stories about U/A. Regal is still U/A, the only ones that are not are the ones that Regal built.
But Phiily theatres have always been OK and it’s shame for a city of this size.
I use to see about 100 movies a year in both the center city theatres and the ones in the burbs. I still see quite of few movies. No matter what it still like going to the movies. Seeing a movie in an old theatre is an experience. I hope that the mangement of the Boyd remember the experience of seeing a movie in the future of this once great movie theatre.
Sorry to say Philly is not a movie city. Look at the exhibitors that we had over the last several decades. Budco and porn, Eric with the run down theatres. Even UA has no respect for Philly. Is UA at Riverview a world class theatre? I saw Shriek there and the vocies were coming from all speakers, the theatre was dirty and seats were either rip or broken (and it is not a center city theatre!). If wasn’t for the Ritz, we wouldn’t have any good theatre, but these theates do not show popular Hollywood movies. We had some decent theatres in center city over the years, but if recent history hold true can the Boyd present big picture movies, with possible reissues of older movies, like the Zigfeld in NY. I think of NY for a big movie first, then I see it in Phiily. Why see a Star Wars type movie, with bad picture, poor sound or bad reel changes. Most of the area theatres I saw movies at over the years have been hit or miss.
With all this talk of movies at The Boyd, was it ever used as a legit theatre? It does have a stage, orchestra pit and dressing rooms. All the pictures show it as a movie theatre.
My two cents.
I started going to the theatres in center city in 1977. Seeing a movie at the Fox or SamEric was sometime better experience than the actul movie. Seeing the first Star Trek @ the Fox was unbelievable, but the movie was OK(at best). The SamEric did get some of the big movies and it was still an event to go there. Around the time of Quest for Fire, the SamEric showed 2001. The way it was ment to be shown, 70mm, 6 track Stereo. The Saturday I saw it there, the orchestra leval was closed, so you had to sit in the balcony.
There is nothing like seeing a movie, in an old theatre.
During the 80’s the Sameric used the balcony for the big pictures ( the Star Wars, Raiders type movie. Weekend it was opened. They once showed 2001 (70mm 6track stereo version and I went on a Saturday afternoon and the orchestra section was closed. You had to sit in the balcony. It was a great presentation.
My thoughts on Budco. I saw all the presentations that were previously mentioned, including Altered States, Apolgolis Now The Goldman had rockin seats and rockin rows, but the balcony was good). But think PORN Budco showed a porn @ the Orleans. And who could forget this wondeful double feature @ the Olde City… the advance showing of E.T. with The Story of O!!!!
For those who never seen the Boyd, it is small theatre although it has 2400 seats with a great sight line. It should be good for a legit theatre. It’s history as a movie theatre was so so. I hope the future make everybody appreciate the theatre. Lion King suppose to be one of its first show. This Wedneday they are having a tour of the theatre. This should be the last time the public will be able to see the theatre untill it reopens in 07.
The first movie I saw at the Sam Eric was Close Encounter. Although the Sam Eric advertised movies in 70mm Dolby Stereo, the theatre did not have dolby sound system. It did not need it due to it’s natural sound. If you ever been in the balcony the back wall is padded. The theatre had a good bass so the sound was deep. You can actully feel it at times. My biggest complaint was it you were down stairs the projection booth block the back speakers. I never saw Earthquake there, but I heard it was great. After the Fox was closed, the Sam Eric was the show case theatre in center city getting all the big movies. I had Star Wars 5 & 6, the Indiana Jones series and the big movie at Christmas. It held the premiere for Philadlphia. One year it showed older movies, including 2001 in 70mm 6-track stereo sound. The down stair was closed off so you had to sit in the balcony. It was billed as see it and hear it the way it was meant to be. It was billed has having one of the biggest screen in PA. It a shame that UA did not want to run it. It wasn’t always a pleasure seeing a movie there!! The quality of the picture and sound presentation wasn’t always reliable.
T2 was never shown at the Sam Eric. It was shown at Sam’s Place (19th & Chestnut) in 70mm. The presentation was excellent. It was shown in the large theatre.