Jack,
per my Comment above, what you see is the former projecton booth. There was no balcony. You might be mistaken about drapes because I don’t believe theater drapes were still present when I visited as furniture store.
There was no concession stand on the Street level. Downstairs, next to the auditorium, was the concession stand. Opposite were the restrooms, which are still in the same place.
anybody seen the restored Godfather I & II at the Ziegfeld this weekend? How does it look & sound? even better than the versions shown in early 2006 at the Ziegfeld? Curtain being opened?
Philadelphia developer HAL WHEELER has signed an agreement to purchase the
historic Boyd Theatre in a few months from Live Nation. He is one of the
developers that Friends of the Boyd met with this past year. He would build
the MONACO brand of KIMPTON, a four star hotel, on the Sansom Street former
parking lot. This location is where the stage house expansion had previously
been planned. The Boyd would not host Touring Broadway musicals, which will
continue to be presented at the Academy of Music. The Boyd must be fully
restored to its original Art Deco beauty. Wheeler would reopen the closed
movie palace for a variety of entertainment and hotel events. He would like
to accommodate movie premieres and a film series. Inga Saffron’s article in
the Philadelphia Inquirer appears here: View link
Friends of the Boyd are eager to hear more of the details for authentic and
complete restoration. The reopening of the Boyd Theatre would revitalize the
neighborhood including Chestnut West, but nothing is conclusive yet. The
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia would need to help
fund restoration, as cities and states nationwide have done with their movie
palaces.
After the Boyd Theatre closed and appeared headed for demolition in 2002,
the FRIENDS OF THE BOYD, INC. organized as a nonprofit organization of
community volunteers, . For 6 years and working with three successive owners
of the theater and many allies, we are expecting the authentic restoration
of the Boyd and its reopening for entertainment. After a false start in
2006, when the Boyd was left at the altar by a prior owner, we have been
seeking other solutions.
This year has been quite exciting! The NATIONAL TRUST included the Boyd on
their national list of 11 endangered properties. The PHILADELPHIA
HISTORICAL COMMISSION legally protected the movie palace’s exterior.
Councilman BILL GREEN introduced his bill to allow for protection of
landmark interiors such as the Boyd. Friends of the Boyd are excited with
these milestones, but funding support is needed from the City and
Commonwealth, so the public can once again enjoy the Boyd Theatre!
AS to Jonesy’s list, I could be incorrect, but I thought Grauman’s Chinese is in same league. This website says it is 80 feet wide: http://www.silverscreens.com/enla.html
Of course, I do hope that film including classics can return as a component of a program to the Westmont. I’m sure the community leaders are wisely planning.
I’m considering a “revival house” as full time classic films. Not an arthouse. Not one classic on weekend matinees (Colonial in Phoenixville) or one week day eve show (Ambler). Not one weekend of classics per month (Loews Jersey). None of those have investors, because none make a profit.
Not one or two festivals per year (Ziegfeld) or an occasional classic (Paris, NY).
I wish the Uptown in DC would sure an occasional classic again but it is all mainstream fare now.
The Castro also shows arthouse films, but is somewhat a revival house.
There used to be full time revival houses in all the cities- that’s the only way that I know the term. Most of them closed.
If the Westmont is considering film, my guess is it wouldn’t only be classics.
Likely still has the 70mm projectors that showed “Hamlet"
I commented on the theater page that the sound is great. I believe there are surrounds. No, and I wouldn’t want color lights used on the curtain.
One of my favorite movie theaters! I sit in the balcony and enjoy a film with top notch projection & sound, and a curtain that opens before the movie and closes afterwards. There are no commercials, slides or any such nonsense, and when they run trailers they are for the wonderful films that might appear. The popcorn is good and the concessions are reasonably priced. The theater is kept in perfect condition and operated in an elegant way. The Paris is an Art Moderne gem, a great arthouse, and one of New York City’s longest success stories. Long live the Paris!
Though I am not an official volunteer, I have tried to be of help and I sent in the revisions to the Empire’s Introduction. I didn’t see the address Comment on the Parsons, but it will get done now (within a day or two). There’s no official mechanism for all comments to get read and acted upon. I suppose you could try at the “new theater” or other ways to directly send in updated information to the official webmasters.
Live Nation was spun off as a new company of theaters from Clear Channel. Clear Channel intended the Boyd to primarily be a Touring Broadway musical house. However, Live Nation decided to refocus on concerts. Also, Clear Channel especially liked to have real estate assets. So, now the Boyd is for sale….
There might be drapes but my guess is not the same as when the theater was open. I think I would have noticed. There was some redecoration.
Jack,
per my Comment above, what you see is the former projecton booth. There was no balcony. You might be mistaken about drapes because I don’t believe theater drapes were still present when I visited as furniture store.
There was no concession stand on the Street level. Downstairs, next to the auditorium, was the concession stand. Opposite were the restrooms, which are still in the same place.
Thanks, the “Live” will get added to functions, likely within a day or two.
anybody seen the restored Godfather I & II at the Ziegfeld this weekend? How does it look & sound? even better than the versions shown in early 2006 at the Ziegfeld? Curtain being opened?
current photo by Rob Bender showing historic marquee & ticket booth gone! now clothing store.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rgb/2904811426/
The Avalon and the Uptown are grand movie houses that should be patronized by anybody who loves real cinema treasures.
News on potential reopening:
http://phillyskyline.com/jumbo.htm
Here’s our Weekly Update email from yesterday:
Philadelphia developer HAL WHEELER has signed an agreement to purchase the
historic Boyd Theatre in a few months from Live Nation. He is one of the
developers that Friends of the Boyd met with this past year. He would build
the MONACO brand of KIMPTON, a four star hotel, on the Sansom Street former
parking lot. This location is where the stage house expansion had previously
been planned. The Boyd would not host Touring Broadway musicals, which will
continue to be presented at the Academy of Music. The Boyd must be fully
restored to its original Art Deco beauty. Wheeler would reopen the closed
movie palace for a variety of entertainment and hotel events. He would like
to accommodate movie premieres and a film series. Inga Saffron’s article in
the Philadelphia Inquirer appears here:
View link
Friends of the Boyd are eager to hear more of the details for authentic and
complete restoration. The reopening of the Boyd Theatre would revitalize the
neighborhood including Chestnut West, but nothing is conclusive yet. The
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia would need to help
fund restoration, as cities and states nationwide have done with their movie
palaces.
After the Boyd Theatre closed and appeared headed for demolition in 2002,
the FRIENDS OF THE BOYD, INC. organized as a nonprofit organization of
community volunteers, . For 6 years and working with three successive owners
of the theater and many allies, we are expecting the authentic restoration
of the Boyd and its reopening for entertainment. After a false start in
2006, when the Boyd was left at the altar by a prior owner, we have been
seeking other solutions.
This year has been quite exciting! The NATIONAL TRUST included the Boyd on
their national list of 11 endangered properties. The PHILADELPHIA
HISTORICAL COMMISSION legally protected the movie palace’s exterior.
Councilman BILL GREEN introduced his bill to allow for protection of
landmark interiors such as the Boyd. Friends of the Boyd are excited with
these milestones, but funding support is needed from the City and
Commonwealth, so the public can once again enjoy the Boyd Theatre!
Howard B. Haas
www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org
the Charles Cinema was great. Its screen was 50 feet wide.
Villa’s screen 78 feet wide for time “Lord of the Rings” was shown:
View link
From the Intro, it seems like a perfectly charming movie theater!
AS to Jonesy’s list, I could be incorrect, but I thought Grauman’s Chinese is in same league. This website says it is 80 feet wide:
http://www.silverscreens.com/enla.html
Of course, I do hope that film including classics can return as a component of a program to the Westmont. I’m sure the community leaders are wisely planning.
I’m considering a “revival house” as full time classic films. Not an arthouse. Not one classic on weekend matinees (Colonial in Phoenixville) or one week day eve show (Ambler). Not one weekend of classics per month (Loews Jersey). None of those have investors, because none make a profit.
Not one or two festivals per year (Ziegfeld) or an occasional classic (Paris, NY).
I wish the Uptown in DC would sure an occasional classic again but it is all mainstream fare now.
The Castro also shows arthouse films, but is somewhat a revival house.
There used to be full time revival houses in all the cities- that’s the only way that I know the term. Most of them closed.
If the Westmont is considering film, my guess is it wouldn’t only be classics.
Likely still has the 70mm projectors that showed “Hamlet"
I commented on the theater page that the sound is great. I believe there are surrounds. No, and I wouldn’t want color lights used on the curtain.
One of my favorite movie theaters! I sit in the balcony and enjoy a film with top notch projection & sound, and a curtain that opens before the movie and closes afterwards. There are no commercials, slides or any such nonsense, and when they run trailers they are for the wonderful films that might appear. The popcorn is good and the concessions are reasonably priced. The theater is kept in perfect condition and operated in an elegant way. The Paris is an Art Moderne gem, a great arthouse, and one of New York City’s longest success stories. Long live the Paris!
Please name the revival houses in the United States that make “a killing” for investors.
Swampdevil, what’s “A & C”? arthouse & classic films? or perhaps you’d explain what the abbreviation stands for………
Photo set of wonderful exterior photos taken yesterday:
View link
Though I am not an official volunteer, I have tried to be of help and I sent in the revisions to the Empire’s Introduction. I didn’t see the address Comment on the Parsons, but it will get done now (within a day or two). There’s no official mechanism for all comments to get read and acted upon. I suppose you could try at the “new theater” or other ways to directly send in updated information to the official webmasters.
Today’s exterior photo by Rob Bender:
View link
Exterior photo:
www.oldnewark.com/busind/images/theatres/newarkscreens/newarkscreens012003spohn.jpg
Live Nation was spun off as a new company of theaters from Clear Channel. Clear Channel intended the Boyd to primarily be a Touring Broadway musical house. However, Live Nation decided to refocus on concerts. Also, Clear Channel especially liked to have real estate assets. So, now the Boyd is for sale….
1st comment of today named 2 of the films. Again, introduction’s 3rd paragraph elaborates on the Belasco.
already dealt with in 3rd paragraph of our revised Introduction above. Note that the 1926 show was a stage show.