Esquire Theatre
5717 N. Broad Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19141
5717 N. Broad Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19141
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Budco, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp., William Goldman Theaters Inc.
Architects: Leroy Berman Rothschild
Functions: Retail
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Grange Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Grange Theatre opened on December 25, 1934 with 1,000 seats and was designed by architect LeRoy Berman Rothschild. It was located on N. Broad Street, just north of Olney Avenue at Grange Street. It was the second address from the corner, with Esquire Drugs occupying the corner space just next to the marquee. By 1941, it was operated by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp. It showed 2nd run movies. By 1950 it was operated by William Goldman Theaters Inc.
In 1951, the Grange Theatre was sold and renamed Esquire Theatre. Budco Theatres closed it in 1979. The theatre reopened briefly in 1981 by Rusty A. Miller, who also reopened the Benn Theatre on Woodward Avenue and the 69th Street Theatre in Upper Darby.
Since closing it has had several incarnations as retail stores including a clothing store. Since 2009 it became a fast food restaurant, but this had closed by September 2015. By June 2019 it was a Dollar Tree discount variety store.
Contributed by
jeff hurvitz, Howard B. Haas
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
This theatre was closed by Budco Theatres in 1979, and was opened by Stanley Warner Theatres as “Grange Theatre” in the 1930’s or 1940’s.
The theater is now a fried chicken place. The second link is a 1980 photo.
http://tinyurl.com/c9cllu
http://tinyurl.com/c8lg97
The function should be changed to restaurant, which it is, arguably, even if it serves bad fried chicken.
From Boxoffice magazine, January 1948:
PHILADELPHIA – Meyer B. Strouse, manager of the Grange Theater, died suddenly early Monday at the age of 70. Strouse, who was associated with many other Stanley Warner theaters here during his career, was active in a number of civic organizations.
During the 1950’s & early 1960’s the manager of this theatre was LOU WAKSHUL who went on to be manager of the Goldman Theatres all new ORLEANS THEATRE on Cottman Ave in NE PHILA
Strong memories of the Esquire. I would take my mom there to try to distract her from her grief after my dad’s passing. Saw “Man for All Seasons”, “Bonnie & Clyde”, “Z”…among others. Worked at the White Tower across the street and danced at Wagner’s Ballroom with the Geator with the Heater.
The theater reopend briefly in 1981 by Rusty A Miller who also reopened the Benn on Woodland Ave and the 69th St in Upper Darby. All were short lived. Update information above to show this information.
well according to these pictures from American classic images. theater was open for business in August of 80 showing the shining…
Photo of the Esquire in the day uploaded.
It’s now a Dollar Tree.