Boyd Theatre
1908-18 Chestnut Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19103
1908-18 Chestnut Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19103
45 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 514 comments
the gambling was never an issue here, as this venue, when open did not offer on site sports betting.
After 4 months and 25 million dollars, Bankroll closed.
In a sports crazy town like Philadelphia, one would think this would be a success. But mismanagement was its downfall as in this article
https://billypenn.com/2023/06/29/philadelphia-bankroll-sports-bar-paul-martino/
The venue sits dark, with the bankroll name illuminated where the words Boyd once were. Sadder still is that any remnants of the once glorious movie theatre are long gone.
I must say the mind reels having just seen what replaced what could have been a beautifully renovated Performing Arts theater. I wonder if the “concerned” citizens who vetoed that plan will appreciate the garishly appointed betting joint and non descript tower which replaced the Boyd, especially when the overly imbibed gambling patrons noisily make thier way to the street at closing time.
Bankroll opened on 3/3/23.
Article here from NBCPhiladelphia.com
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/business/bankroll-center-city/3511609/
and an MSN article https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/bankroll-the-25-million-sports-bar-at-the-former-boyd-theater-opens-this-week/ar-AA185VZA photos are featured in both…
The letters in the BANKROLL marquee are now illuminated. The front entrance is now glass doors.
The website is located here - https://www.bankrollclub.com/
This link includes more information and a photo of the interior.
https://www.playpennsylvania.com/bankroll-philadelphia-updates-upscale-sports-bar/
in the place of the grand titles that played when this venue was the majestic Boyd theatre is now the word “BANKROLL” in a poorly designed font. White letters on a black background.
We’ll presume that’s the name of the next alleged tenant.
I know I had this conversation way back on here but I am positive that when I saw Man Of La Mancha here (my first time at the theater) the curved Cinerama screen was still in place on the stage. When I went back in 1975 for a revival of GWTW, the flat screen was installed. I know historians say the screen was removed when SamEric theaters took over with Fiddler, but I am positive it was after Man Of La Mancha. Anyone else out there remember this? Had we had cell phones than I would have had pictures to show.
Thanks bigjoe59. I could not remember if TMMITFM was roadshow there. I know it was in NYC at the DeMille. It’s funny because I remember that next door the Arcadia had What’s New Pussycat.
The Trans-Lux became Eric’s Place
Hello-
to MSC77- since its not listed by such a name what theater listed was known as The Trans-Lix during the roadshow run of Those Magnificent Men………….
Here’s a new 4-page 50th anniversary FIDDLER ON THE ROOF retrospective featuring a roadshow playdate chronology and historian Q&A. This venue’s lengthy run is mentioned in the piece.
Next thing you know Independence Hall will be torn down and made into a parking lot. Philadelphia, the city that just doesn’t give a damn…..
heartbreaking. I hate developers. I already hated livenation, but now I REALLY do
I was just wondering if maybe the Cinerama screen was installed from 10/05/53 to 11/30/71. I can’t find any articles that mention the removal of the Cinerama screen till 12/17/71.
Hello Boyd fans- never to be forgotten! To the question of how the Boyd handled 3 panel Cinerama and 70mm presentations, my family went to the Boyd to see Around the World in 80 Days in Todd-Ao, and it was presented on the Cinerama curved screen from the Center floor booth. I have no clue as to whether the Curved Cinerama screen was still in place for 70mm Cinerama. It was gone for Close Encounters in 70mm.
Any guess how the Philadelphia Boyd theatre handled the presentation of 3-panel Cinerama and flat 35mm/70mm films? 10/05/53 to 03/16/58 3-panel Cinerama 04/05/58 to 10/19/58 35mm/70mm on flat screen? 10/29/58 to 10/25/59 3-panel Cinerama 11/24/59 to 07/17/62 35mm/70mm on flat screen. 08/08/62 to 12/01/63 3-panel Cinerama 12/19/63 to 11/30/71 35mm/70mm on the Cinerama screen.
The info I have gathered says the Cinerama equipment (three projection boxes and Cinerama screen) were removed after 10/25/59 and re-installed before 8/8/62 but with one projection box in the orchestra for all three Cinerama projectors. But, what did they do from 4/5/58 to 10/19/58? I’m guessing between 03/17/58 and 04/04/58 they removed the Cinerama screen, installed a flat screen, and projected from the balcony projection box starting 04/05/58. Then between 10/20/58 and 10/28/58 they removed the flat screen and installed the Cinerama screen.
MSC77— Thank you for reminding us on The Boyd’s 70mm presentation of this remarkable film. The Boyd is where I saw it; trotting to Philadelphia from Harrisburg to see something at the Boyd in 70MM was not unheard of for this guy; it was an unforgettable experience.
Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” opened here forty years ago today. This venue was among only about three dozen nationwide to play the movie in a 70mm presentation and the run played for nearly six months. For more, please see my retrospective article celebrating the movie’s 40th anniversary.
I remember skipping school & seeing The Empire Strikes Back here on opening day.
Big Walt, hello, I’ve led “Friends of the Boyd” we didn’t save the Boyd but we still document its history. You managed the Boyd (Sameric) from 1977 to 1987? do you have photos? any world premieres other than Rocky III during that time? any celebrities attend then? in the downstairs lounge there were 2 beautiful mirrors on closet doors then but later, they weren’t there, any idea what happened to them?
Big Walt I went there many times in the late 70’s until 83. I knew one of the other managers Bob.
I was a usher at Sameric Theatre and Eric Mark I(Holiday Inn, 18th & Market St in 1971. Promoted to Assistant Manager at Eric Mark I in 1972 and subsequently Duke & Duchess Theatre, 1605 Chestnut until 1977. After graduating from Temple University in January 1977,I managed the Beekman Theatre for Cinema V Corp. briefly in Manhattan, NY until I became manager of Cinema 19 Theatre at the corner of 19th & Chestnut for about 6 months. I then got an offer from owner Mert Shapiro (July 1977), to manage the flagship Sameric Theatre (old Boyd Theatre) with 1908 seats and balcony. At that time, I was one of the first black Managers in Center City. I wore a tuxedo on the weekends. Was manager when the Sameric Theatre became Sameric 4 and was managed the theatre until June 1987 when I had my second back operation. In between, I was manager at Duke & Duchess Theatre for a year to oversee the Theatre before it subsequently closed. I consider Mert Shapiro a father figure and it saddens me to see the old Boyd Theatre close. The theatre was magnificent with the art deco, big screen and big chandelier in the main auditorium. It also had a beautiful chandelier in the lobby area. I enjoyed the preparations for opening days and premiers. It was truly an enjoyable experience and I truly miss all the staff and truly miss Mr. Shapiro, a great man and owner.
According to the Google Aerial views (April 2017), the auditorium is now completely demolished; only the lobby portion remains.
Thanks Matt.
The Boyd is one of the 24 theaters in my new book, “After the Final Curtain: The Fall of the American Movie Theater,” which is available on Amazon or your local bookstore
Here’s a new article detailing the many large format engagements at the Boyd (and other Philadelphia area theaters).