A July 17. 1960 Philadelphia Inquirer story about the building’s demolition said that the theater showed movies until about 1955, then was converted to retail use.
The Bijou was demolished on May 25, 1967, according to a story in the Inquirer of the following day. The same story said that the theater closed in 1947. However, an April 13, 1947 Inquirer story about a sale of the building stated that the theater would continue in operation as a movie house.
Last listing I can find for this one is December 16, 1969, with a quadruple feature of “Fanny Hill,” “The Wild Angels.” “The Glory Stompers” and “Hell’s Angels on Wheels.” For a few days after that ads ran saying “Theatre Closed—Visit our 61st Street Drive-In.”
The last day of advertising for the Renel in the Inquirer looks like September 12, 1970, with “Cry of the Banshee” and “Kiss and Kill” as the features. A November 28, 1971 story about neighbors protesting the XXX policy calls the house simply the Adult Theater, while a Daily News story from February 8, 1972 about a robbery of the place calls it the Consenting Adult Theater. The adult operation does not appear to have advertised in either of those papers.
The theater’s sign on Broad Street is now covered with a wrap announcing Regal’s ownership and the recliners. Doesn’t say when they’ll open but I suspect it won’t be too long.
This 1980 story says that Kohlberg was the operator that was evicted to effect the 1981 closing. The owners of the building had plans to convert the two lower floors to retail and build a 1600-seat theater above them; obviously that never happened.
From my memory M&R was running the Oriental when I got to Chicago in 1976.
Just not a prime location for a theater. The kind of area that has tons of traffic screaming through but not much stopping. The site backs up to Route 38 but has no access from 38. The competing theaters were near Cherry Hill Mall and at Moorestown Mall—established, familiar destinations for 40+ years when this opened. People would probably drive past this to get to those areas, but not vice versa. Too many strikes against it.
Bay Atlantic Symphony moves its subscription series to the Landis in the fall. They’re starting with Mozart’s Requiem; let’s hope it’s not an omen. Philly.com story here.
“The brick and stucco building at 636 N. Broad St. is one of very few examples of Spanish Mission style architecture in New Orleans. It was built in 1923 and sold the following year to plumbing, heating and ventilation contractors Sciambra & Masino, whose name is still on the building. It has served as home to a charity bingo hall, a boat shop, a plumbing supply company and the House of Champions boxing gym, among other businesses.” From a story on the development of the theater here.
Brief video of Broadway in late 1929, beginning with a shot of the Embassy Newsreel and proceeding up the street to the Strand. Go here <warning: autoplay audio>, click on “Sound”, find “Noise Abatement Commission” in the far right column toward the bottom and click there.
Brief video of Broadway in late 1929, beginning with a shot of the Embassy Newsreel and proceeding up the street to the Strand. Go here <warning: autoplay audio>, click on “Sound”, find “Noise Abatement Commission” in the far right column toward the bottom and click there.
Jammer, in Philadelphia United Artists releases, including the Bond films, always seemed to show up at the Sameric theaters. Perhaps the chain that owned this theater had a similarly tight relationship with UA.
Last day of operation as the Crescent was on or about January 24, 1971, with “Soldier Blue” on the screen.
Last day of operation for the theatre appears to have been June 25, 1963; the final feature was “Hud.”
A July 17. 1960 Philadelphia Inquirer story about the building’s demolition said that the theater showed movies until about 1955, then was converted to retail use.
The Bijou was demolished on May 25, 1967, according to a story in the Inquirer of the following day. The same story said that the theater closed in 1947. However, an April 13, 1947 Inquirer story about a sale of the building stated that the theater would continue in operation as a movie house.
Last listing I can find for this one is December 16, 1969, with a quadruple feature of “Fanny Hill,” “The Wild Angels.” “The Glory Stompers” and “Hell’s Angels on Wheels.” For a few days after that ads ran saying “Theatre Closed—Visit our 61st Street Drive-In.”
$6 million restoration project announced; new seating will be a highlight. Tampa Bay Times story here.
Reopening tomorrow (12/15) with Rogue One. Long story with plenty of pictures here.
The last day of advertising for the Renel in the Inquirer looks like September 12, 1970, with “Cry of the Banshee” and “Kiss and Kill” as the features. A November 28, 1971 story about neighbors protesting the XXX policy calls the house simply the Adult Theater, while a Daily News story from February 8, 1972 about a robbery of the place calls it the Consenting Adult Theater. The adult operation does not appear to have advertised in either of those papers.
The theater’s sign on Broad Street is now covered with a wrap announcing Regal’s ownership and the recliners. Doesn’t say when they’ll open but I suspect it won’t be too long.
This 1980 story says that Kohlberg was the operator that was evicted to effect the 1981 closing. The owners of the building had plans to convert the two lower floors to retail and build a 1600-seat theater above them; obviously that never happened.
From my memory M&R was running the Oriental when I got to Chicago in 1976.
The Strand will be serving pizza next year…but not movies. Longtime Boardwalk pizzeria Manco & Manco is moving in. Announced in a Facebook post here.
Just not a prime location for a theater. The kind of area that has tons of traffic screaming through but not much stopping. The site backs up to Route 38 but has no access from 38. The competing theaters were near Cherry Hill Mall and at Moorestown Mall—established, familiar destinations for 40+ years when this opened. People would probably drive past this to get to those areas, but not vice versa. Too many strikes against it.
This self-guided walking tour of Hammonton includes a picture of the Rivoli on page 11 of a PDF file. The picture is small, but the PDF zooms nicely.
Bay Atlantic Symphony moves its subscription series to the Landis in the fall. They’re starting with Mozart’s Requiem; let’s hope it’s not an omen. Philly.com story here.
Upper floors of the theater building set to become a 198-room hotel, opening in September 2017. DNAInfo story here.
October 17, 1963 appears to have been the Marbro’s last day of operation; the features were “The Caretakers” and “Johnny Cool.”
“The brick and stucco building at 636 N. Broad St. is one of very few examples of Spanish Mission style architecture in New Orleans. It was built in 1923 and sold the following year to plumbing, heating and ventilation contractors Sciambra & Masino, whose name is still on the building. It has served as home to a charity bingo hall, a boat shop, a plumbing supply company and the House of Champions boxing gym, among other businesses.” From a story on the development of the theater here.
Now AMC’s buying Carmike, which may mean yet another new owner here.
Brief video of Broadway in late 1929, beginning with a shot of the Embassy Newsreel and proceeding up the street to the Strand. Go here <warning: autoplay audio>, click on “Sound”, find “Noise Abatement Commission” in the far right column toward the bottom and click there.
Brief video of Broadway in late 1929, beginning with a shot of the Embassy Newsreel and proceeding up the street to the Strand. Go here <warning: autoplay audio>, click on “Sound”, find “Noise Abatement Commission” in the far right column toward the bottom and click there.
Ultimately, the occupant of the Nortown site will be…a Wendy’s.
“Botanical brewpub” expects to open here February 19.
Theater only offers “quiet food” in the auditorium: items that don’t crunch loudly or require silverware. Brooklyn Paper story here.
Vaudeville dancers at the El Capitan, 1932.
Jammer, in Philadelphia United Artists releases, including the Bond films, always seemed to show up at the Sameric theaters. Perhaps the chain that owned this theater had a similarly tight relationship with UA.