JBon, The Broad was the smallest of the three theatres with a cap. of 499. It closed in the 70’s and was turned into a union hall and now a church. The other theatre furthe north was the Esquire (orig. the Grange) caps. 1000 seats at 5717-19 N. Broad. On the orthe side of the street was the Bromley Theatre at Broad and Old York Rd. It was turned into Wagners Ballroom in the late 50’s. Hope this helps. rg
The Rockland was sold and torn down to build Bell Telephone service center which is still there. Don’t forget the Broad theatre across the street from the Logan. It still stands. It went from a movie house to a union hall to a church which it is today. As you know the Logan stands empty and starting to fall apart. rg
You forgot the Broad Theatre on the otherside of the street. Remember itbetween the two theatres(Logan and the Rockland) The site of the rockland is now bell telephone building. Good time were had at all three. rg
mikera: Budco Theaters was from Doylestown, Pa. Budco did not really own theaters, it managed, booked and operated theaters. Many of the theaters were independently owned. Budco owned several small groups of theaters. One was Schlanger theaters which operated the Plymouth cinema, Norris theater, Ridge Pike D-I, Valley Forge D-I. The Ply., Ridge and V.F. were owned by the Sabaloski family from Norristown ( which and one time operated 5 theaters in Norristown). Budco Theaters bought the Goldman chain to get a foot hold in center city.
The name Budco is a part nickname BUDDY. If you have any questions about the early days of Budco let me know. Will try to help you. Most of the theaters under the Budco banner were D-I’s. When D-I’s were king. We had some great times and some great promos with WIBG radio. Hope this helps.
Speaking of the souvenier books, in my collection I have FUNNY LADY,JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR,BLUE MAX, hard covered books AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, BEN HUR, KING OF KINGS, JUST TO NAME A FEW. Do you remember the little containers of orange drink some of the theatres sold during these shows. I would see these great movies in center city and waite for them to come north. The BEST theatre of them all was the MASTBAUM. I made a point of going to the last show when it closed. Unfortunately it was domed from opening day.
Excuse me: I forgot that you know everything> The showing of BEN HUR were the complete, uncut with intermission at the two theatres above. The only difference from center city was price and NO resv. seating and in some cases no 70mm. However some theatres were able to feature 70mm.
Saturday May 6,1961 this theatre featured “BEN HUR” in its roadshow format. 2 shows daily 1:30 & 8pm. YES Moshe your right. The BEST matinees for kids was the Renel. Cartoons, 2 reelers, serials and a double feature. Life was GREAT> rg
DO YOU REMEMBER? Saturday May 6,1961 Live on stage Georgie Woods of WDAS The “TOP OF THE STARS 1961 STAGE SHOW” Featuring The Flamingos,Jerry Butler,The Vibration and many more. Georgie Woods held many of his shows at this great theatre. rg
This poor theatre needs some TLC> Its going down hill FAST> Just check out the front(it says please fix me up). It features first run attractions. Please spend some money on this theatre. rg
This was the first D-I in the Phila. area to install IN-CAR Air conditioning. That’s right “AIR”. The unit sat on the cement tear that held the speaker pole. A flexible hose (like the type used for your dryer) went between the unit and the car window. The unit worked great, the problem was with the hose (damaged or stolen). rg
This theatre was built by Budco theatres not Goldman theatres. It was located on the south west corner of Rt 309 and Rt 63. It covered the area that was the drive-in entrance, box office and the D-I office. The stores in the shopping center sit where the field, snack bar, projection booth and the screen were. The cinema was made a mess when the additional sreen were added. rg
The theatre is now a church and day care center. When they installed the cinemascope screen the stage was lost. The new screen had to go in front of the stage. They would use a slide projector with different colors to lite the screen before the show because of no curtain. rg
The two theatres really were different. The logan had a balcony and the Erlen had a great ceiling in the aud. When the movie was running it gave you the feeling you were sitting under the stars. rg
The Renel is a church and most od the intero the same. The area where the cany stand and the inner lobby (with the fire place)is several offices. The aud. was cut in half. The front half is the chapel and the other (stage and storage) was turned into a meeting room and kitchen. A second floor was added. The church takes good care of the buiding. rg
MikeRa, The 309 Cinema at the front entranceof the drive-in (entrance drive, box office and main office). They WERE NOT OPENED BY GOLDMAN. The drive-in was built by the Smith family and run by Budco. Budco built the 309 Cinema. I opened this theatre as a single screen house. It was twinned and then went (9). Budco was the largest chain to RUN D-I’s in the tri-state area.
veyoung, I grew up going to these center city theatres including the one and only Mastbaum. Inthe 60,s budco ran a tight ship. Indoor theatres (hardtops) the was trained to check the following ever day and night. All signage,lighting (inside and out)glass,carpet,seating screen face and the projectors pre show mucis. When the show started sound, focus, picture and print status. Unfortunately when the trend to twin theatres cost was more important than what the theatre looked like. Many theatre operators not just Budco did the same bad
job. I agree with you about how the theatres turned out. Many of the twins only had a single cinder block wall going down the middle.
Tear up some seats and put up the wall. Seats were never replaced properly and in some cases the new screens were put in front of the stage. Let me know what you think. rg
Hey veyoung, Budco wasn’t that bad.I worked for them as a manager and also as a district manager. They knew how to run D-I’s. The trouble with some of the indoor theatres was budco just managed & booked the theatres. Budco did not OWN all the theatres under its name. Let me know your thoughts. rg
The ads in the news papers listed as Frankford Ave. at the Phila.city line. It had a FREE kiddie playground and was operated by Budco Theatres out of Doylestown, Pa. Budco was the largest drive-in operators in the tri-state.
JBon, The Broad was the smallest of the three theatres with a cap. of 499. It closed in the 70’s and was turned into a union hall and now a church. The other theatre furthe north was the Esquire (orig. the Grange) caps. 1000 seats at 5717-19 N. Broad. On the orthe side of the street was the Bromley Theatre at Broad and Old York Rd. It was turned into Wagners Ballroom in the late 50’s. Hope this helps. rg
The Rockland was sold and torn down to build Bell Telephone service center which is still there. Don’t forget the Broad theatre across the street from the Logan. It still stands. It went from a movie house to a union hall to a church which it is today. As you know the Logan stands empty and starting to fall apart. rg
You forgot the Broad Theatre on the otherside of the street. Remember itbetween the two theatres(Logan and the Rockland) The site of the rockland is now bell telephone building. Good time were had at all three. rg
William: Is the Ellis chain still around and what happened to it. I’m looking for pictures of a couple of the theatres.Thanks rg
mikera: Budco Theaters was from Doylestown, Pa. Budco did not really own theaters, it managed, booked and operated theaters. Many of the theaters were independently owned. Budco owned several small groups of theaters. One was Schlanger theaters which operated the Plymouth cinema, Norris theater, Ridge Pike D-I, Valley Forge D-I. The Ply., Ridge and V.F. were owned by the Sabaloski family from Norristown ( which and one time operated 5 theaters in Norristown). Budco Theaters bought the Goldman chain to get a foot hold in center city.
The name Budco is a part nickname BUDDY. If you have any questions about the early days of Budco let me know. Will try to help you. Most of the theaters under the Budco banner were D-I’s. When D-I’s were king. We had some great times and some great promos with WIBG radio. Hope this helps.
Speaking of the souvenier books, in my collection I have FUNNY LADY,JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR,BLUE MAX, hard covered books AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, BEN HUR, KING OF KINGS, JUST TO NAME A FEW. Do you remember the little containers of orange drink some of the theatres sold during these shows. I would see these great movies in center city and waite for them to come north. The BEST theatre of them all was the MASTBAUM. I made a point of going to the last show when it closed. Unfortunately it was domed from opening day.
Excuse me: I forgot that you know everything> The showing of BEN HUR were the complete, uncut with intermission at the two theatres above. The only difference from center city was price and NO resv. seating and in some cases no 70mm. However some theatres were able to feature 70mm.
This theatre was featuring the resevered seat performance of “EXODUS"
matinees 2pm & evenings 8pm. What a great theatre to see this movie. rg
Saturday May 6.1961 this theatre was playing “BEN HUR” Exclusive N.E. showing. 2 Shows 1:30 and 8pm. Roadshow engagement. rg
Saturday May 6,1961 this theatre featured “BEN HUR” in its roadshow format. 2 shows daily 1:30 & 8pm. YES Moshe your right. The BEST matinees for kids was the Renel. Cartoons, 2 reelers, serials and a double feature. Life was GREAT> rg
DO YOU REMEMBER? Saturday May 6,1961 Live on stage Georgie Woods of WDAS The “TOP OF THE STARS 1961 STAGE SHOW” Featuring The Flamingos,Jerry Butler,The Vibration and many more. Georgie Woods held many of his shows at this great theatre. rg
FLASH BACK: Saturday May 6, 1961 this theatre was playing “Where The Boys Are” and “Look In Any Window”. Cont. shows from 1:30. rg
Does anyone know the history of the ELLIS Theatre circuit for Phila. that operated this theatre. rg
This poor theatre needs some TLC> Its going down hill FAST> Just check out the front(it says please fix me up). It features first run attractions. Please spend some money on this theatre. rg
Does anyone know the history of the Ellis Theatre Circuit from Phila. that owned this plus several other neighborhood theatres. rg
This was the first D-I in the Phila. area to install IN-CAR Air conditioning. That’s right “AIR”. The unit sat on the cement tear that held the speaker pole. A flexible hose (like the type used for your dryer) went between the unit and the car window. The unit worked great, the problem was with the hose (damaged or stolen). rg
This theatre was built by Budco theatres not Goldman theatres. It was located on the south west corner of Rt 309 and Rt 63. It covered the area that was the drive-in entrance, box office and the D-I office. The stores in the shopping center sit where the field, snack bar, projection booth and the screen were. The cinema was made a mess when the additional sreen were added. rg
The theatre is now a church and day care center. When they installed the cinemascope screen the stage was lost. The new screen had to go in front of the stage. They would use a slide projector with different colors to lite the screen before the show because of no curtain. rg
The two theatres really were different. The logan had a balcony and the Erlen had a great ceiling in the aud. When the movie was running it gave you the feeling you were sitting under the stars. rg
The Renel is a church and most od the intero the same. The area where the cany stand and the inner lobby (with the fire place)is several offices. The aud. was cut in half. The front half is the chapel and the other (stage and storage) was turned into a meeting room and kitchen. A second floor was added. The church takes good care of the buiding. rg
MikeRa, The 309 Cinema at the front entranceof the drive-in (entrance drive, box office and main office). They WERE NOT OPENED BY GOLDMAN. The drive-in was built by the Smith family and run by Budco. Budco built the 309 Cinema. I opened this theatre as a single screen house. It was twinned and then went (9). Budco was the largest chain to RUN D-I’s in the tri-state area.
A brand new LA Fitness built from the groun up now sits on the former andora theatre rg
veyoung, I grew up going to these center city theatres including the one and only Mastbaum. Inthe 60,s budco ran a tight ship. Indoor theatres (hardtops) the was trained to check the following ever day and night. All signage,lighting (inside and out)glass,carpet,seating screen face and the projectors pre show mucis. When the show started sound, focus, picture and print status. Unfortunately when the trend to twin theatres cost was more important than what the theatre looked like. Many theatre operators not just Budco did the same bad
job. I agree with you about how the theatres turned out. Many of the twins only had a single cinder block wall going down the middle.
Tear up some seats and put up the wall. Seats were never replaced properly and in some cases the new screens were put in front of the stage. Let me know what you think. rg
Hey veyoung, Budco wasn’t that bad.I worked for them as a manager and also as a district manager. They knew how to run D-I’s. The trouble with some of the indoor theatres was budco just managed & booked the theatres. Budco did not OWN all the theatres under its name. Let me know your thoughts. rg
The ads in the news papers listed as Frankford Ave. at the Phila.city line. It had a FREE kiddie playground and was operated by Budco Theatres out of Doylestown, Pa. Budco was the largest drive-in operators in the tri-state.