Merben Theater
7145 Frankford Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19135
7145 Frankford Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19135
4 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Architects: Armand de Cortieux Carroll, William J. Stephenson
Firms: Magaziner & Shapiro
Styles: Streamline Moderne
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News About This Theater
- Jun 18, 2010 — "Jaws"... Happy 35th!
- May 14, 2010 — Please Post Today, May 14 --- "Jaws," Happy 35th
The Merben Theater was opened on August 16, 1950 with Van Johnson in “The Big Hangover”. It had seating for 2,100, all on a single floor. It was designed by architects Armand de Cortieux Carroll & William J. Stephenson.
There was a 14-seat television room beneath the foyer. The auditorium, which ran parallel to Frankford Avenue behind seven shop units, was plain in decoration, the only decorative elements being the contour and draw curtains at the screen end.
The Merben Theater was closed on October 6, 1977 with Sylvester Stallone in “Rocky”.
It was later torn down. The space is now a car parking lot, although the adjoining seven shops which were built with the theatre remain, now as a single unit known as Einstein Plaza Mayfair.
Contributed by
Richard J. Petsche
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Recent comments (view all 18 comments)
Nearly the entire Merben building was taken down for use as a parking lot. The storefronts along Frankford Avenue that were in front of the Merben were kept. The Merben was at 7145 Frankford Ave. The Mr. Storage place at 7049 used to be the Concord Roller Rink. I understand the Concord was originally planned to be a theater, but was actually built specifically for use as a roller rink. (I spent many Saturdays in the 70s at the Concord and the Merben.)
For what its worth, 7049 Frankford was sold in September 2005 for $1.2 million.
I agree with Jack. The Merben was completely razed and a parking lot occupies what was auditorium area. The walkway between the existing buildings was the entrance/boxoffice area.
I didn’t know that the Concord Roller Rink was NOT a theater. It looks as though it was converted into a roller rink.
Magaziner was the architect. Shapiro was the client. The Boyd theater later knew Shapiro as he who bought it in 1971 for the Sameric Corporation. Irv Glazer’s hardback book on Philadelphia theaters makes clear that Shapiro was the client.
I read in the MIDWAY Theater entry that MERBEN name came from the first three letters of his sons' names.
Sam’s son Merton ran the Sameric Corporation after Sam died. A grandson, Eric died young & was memoralized by the naming of so many of the theaters as Eric. I don’t about others.
I saw “Oliver” at the Merben when I was a kid visiting my cousins in NE Philly. I recall it being a decent sized theater in relativly good shape at the time. I do remember it being on the narrow side which limited the size of the screen, especially for ‘scope presentations.
Funny,I saw “OLIVER” with my Cousin when visited me in Georgia from Ohio.
Grand opening ad at http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201950/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201950%20a%20-%202420.pdf
also in the photo section
I saw Jaws there when it first came out in 1975. It played there for a year right before the theatre closed. I remember that cavernous auditorium well. There was a terrible thunderstorm that day, and it made the movie even more scary! Tomorrow I’m going to see it again on the big screen for the 40th anniversary, although I’ll be 3000 miles away from where I first saw it. It’ll be awesome!
The Merben Theater was opened on August 16, 1950 with “The Big Hangover.” It closed with the Philly favorite, “Rocky,” on October 6, 1977.