Benn Theatre
6322 Woodland Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19142
6322 Woodland Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19142
7 people
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The Benn Theatre closed permanently on February 6, 1977 with “In Search of Noah’s Ark.”
The only thing that was in there for years after they closed was John’s Bargain Store than a beauty supply.
As of December 2021 the building is for sale. The realtor has posted images which show the auditorium in an advanced state of decay. The are also images which suggest that part of the building was used as a church. Perhaps that was the old “Benn Dance Studio”? [https://www.foxroach.com/ListingDetails/6322-WOODLAND-AVE-PHILADELPHIA-PA-19142/PAPH101273]
My parents and I went to SW Philly to see Charles Bronson in Hard Times in 1975. The Benn featured a double feature that evening: 11 Harrowhouse and, of course, Hard Times. The Benn had a long lobby in which you walked diagonally left before entering the auditorium which runs parallel to Woodland Avenue. Later, as we were walking out with the crowd, my Dad said to me that this is Bronson’s best film. As it turned out, he was correct. Coburn, Martin and Bronson were terrific in that film set in New Orleans . The opening at the old sugar plant is so moving. The Benn was a bit tarnished but still beautiful. It was and RKO Stanley Warner house for a while. The nearby Benson Theater was a Radio Shack at that time.
In my early days as a projectionist, I worked in some older theatres that we did the same thing. It was because the theatres did not install masking motors so the projectionist could operate it from the booth.
What I remember is when one of the double features was in scope they kept the masking open even for the film that was flat. If both films were flat the masking was closed.
I remember many kiddie double feature matinees at the old Benn. Standard format was a film, some cartoons, then a second film. When it was over, I would go to the payphone in the storage closet (the dial had a “Z” at “Operator”) to call my parents to pick me up. Then, the Benn was threadbare but clean. The upstairs bathrooms had a strange corridor arrangement that had me wordering if it had a balcony at one time. If it did it was renovated over long before my day.
I would love to chat with needb. I grew up in Southwest Philadelphia and the Benn was my escape into a world of animation and wonder. If needb could help, I would love to find out if a record was kept of all the movies played at the Benn. There is a film as I saw as I child that absolutely captivated me and left me in complete awe. If I can find the title of that film, I would be overjoyed.
Friel on March 28, 2004 at 10:35 pm A notable fact concerning one of Benn’s neighbors. W C Field was born in a house next to the Benn Theatre. … … … … … … … … … . . The above comment is incorrect. The following contains the correct information:
“William Claude Dukenfield was born Jan. 29, 1880 in Darby, Pennsylvania, just across the Philadelphia city line.”
Source — W. C. Fields © 1999 – 2006 John F. Crowley
Small grand opening ad from September 1st, 1923 at http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201923/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201923%20-%206906.pdf
Also in the photo section.
A Dynamic Dollar & Up store now lives where the Jupiter store once did. The entrance to the theatre itself is shuttered. The marquee is still present but is rapidly deteriorating. The signage is gone now. And the upper façade is covered with weathered plywood. The past 39 years have not been kind to ol' Benn!
Close but the spelling is off by one letter on each.
The theatre was designed and built by the Philip Haibach Contracting Company — architects and builders.
Harvey Childs Hodgens and Albert Douglas Hill were architects that comprised the firm of Hodgens & Hill. The firm specialized in the design of theatres.
It appears that the two firms collaborated on the design of the Benn Theatre.
According to the November 18, 1922, issue of The American Contractor, the Philip Halbach Company was the construction firm that built this theater. The item said that the theater was designed by H. C. Hodgons, Inc., 130 S. 15th st., but I can’t find any references to such a company on the Internet, nor any variant of the name Hodgons (Hodgson, Hodgdon, Hodgins.) It might have been a mistake. The item did give the name of the owner as Marcus A. Bonn instead of the correct Marcus Benn. Those old trade journals were full of typos.
This theater was owned by my grandfather & great grandfather, Abraham Benn & Marcus Benn. My mom used to have movie parties there… I believe the Benner and the Alan were also part of that group. My Avitar is Alan & Esther Benn
I remember going to the Benn when I was a kid back in the 70’s. I went to saturday matinees when I could. There was always a line all the way to 63rd Street and the theater was always full. Too bad it’s closed. Jupiter’s was next to it, which was a Kmart store.
Here is a blurb from Boxoffice magazine, April 1950:
Robert Kessler, manager of S-W’s Benn Theater, following a successful “Miss Sunshine” contest, is getting ready to set up his annual baby contest.
The only thing I can recall about the Benn was the curtains – or lack thereof. They stayed in the open position partly because the rod was snapped in half above the screen. Nice look for a movie theater, no?
It looks like the building is now occupied by a Dynamic Dollar store, which I imagine is like the 7-11. They didn’t have any Dynamic Dollar places when I lived in town.
Here is an expanded version of one of the PAB thumbnails posted on 4/2/05. The photo is from the Irvin Glazer collection:
http://tinyurl.com/256jt6
The Benn is listed as an RKO-Stanley Warner theater in the 1970 IMPA.
A notable fact concerning one of the Benn’s neighbors. W C Field was born in a house next to the Benn Theatre.