JodarMovieFan was right. I simply wasn’t used to the Bridge selling out afternoon shows. Yesterday, before departing, I purchased for today’s 3 PM. Today those 3 PM & 3 PM screenings were again sold out, but I was in the audience, enjoying 35mm. Unfortunately, Roloff is correct and there won’t be any more new films in 70mm.
I showed up 45 minutes before 3 PM showing today at largest auditorium at Philadelphia’s Bridge /theaters/10911/ “The Dark Knight” was also scheduled for 3:30 PM in the 2nd largest auditorium. Ticket sellers told crowds of us disappointed customers that it was sold out for both screenings!
Don, “from personal experience”? Have you visited this theater?
If the town bought the theater to refurbish it, are you telling them to forget it? That would be disappointing for cinema treasures fans to do that, don’t you think?
Reading Terry Wade’s comment above, I though “oh, my goodness, we might as well forget about showing film at the Boyd in Philadelphia if the Fox in Atlanta has also given up!” so I was greatly relieved when I read that a 35mm print was shown! I’ve heard so much about the Fox that I’d find it hard to believe they’d show a DVD of a classic. So far as I know, digital movies like Enchanted are available in 2k or 4k but only new movies- not classics.
Enchanted was shown in 2k or 4k rather than DVD, right?
And, yes, let’s hope a wonderful 70mm print of Ben Hur is issued for its 50th!
The Boyd is structurally sound! Architects, engineers, etc have verified that repeatedly including this year. Now, I have to take a break from answering questions as it has been tremendous (volunteer) work to obtain today’s giant step towards legal protection,and all the rest we are doing.
We have materials that name them and at some point, I can look for the names. Interesting is the purpose of them. That decor exists because the auditorium and proscenium arch are wonderfully wide- one reason the Boyd was selected in 1953 to host Cinerama. That decoration helps to visually make the auditorium seem not too wide.
The side chandeliers are indeed very nice. All the original light fixtures are currently off site in storage, waiting for restoration to get back on track.
Since you like the Boyd lights so much, I will tell you they had a model name: “Aura”, given to them by their maker, the famed Rambusch Company. Rambusch, then of NYC (now NJ)also were among the Boyd decorators in 1928 and refurbished post WW2.
Sadly, when the IRS takesover the Post Office building at 30th Street, that ornate Art Deco space will be totally off limits to the public, for security reasons! Another nearby post office will service the public. Looking at my own photos, I see ceiling domes at the entries of the post office, which I recall.
The Boyd’s balcony underside has plaster medallions. Well, the plaster & paint experts might have a more technical name, but that’s what they appear to be. They are quite elaborate at the Boyd.
We’ve heard Sensurround caused problems at the Boyd with “Earthquake”
The light fixtures are currently off site with a light fixture restoration company. Those you refer to are a famous 1939 model, installed in the Boyd during the 1953 remodel for Cinerama, as replacement for original 1928 lights. I saw the same exact ceiling light fixture on display in Washington D.C. at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, as an example of then cutting age 20th Century lighting.
Unanimously, the Designation Committee of the Philadelphia Historical
Commission today recommended that the Boyd Theatre be legally protected! KYW Radio’s report: View link
Friends of the Boyd have met with various parties interested in a great restoration of the movie palace. Partly on the various historic photos we supplied, and the main floor blueprint we supplied, but also due to their excellent work, Clear Channel’s architects drew up a detailed set of restoration plans and exploratory work including a paint study that revealed original designs. Preliminary work was done, but most of the actual renovation was not done.
The Baronet in NYC was the smaller auditorium, not the larger Coronet auditorium upstairs.
I enjoyed “Die Hard” on the huge screen in the original, huge historic Boyd auditorium (then named Sameric) in Philadelphia. The screen was much larger than the Wisconsin Avenue’s 2 big screens in DC. It was a fun action film.
to the cause of what?? nobody would pay $15 million to buy the Metro, more to recreate interior decor, and then put movies back in there where they failed repeatedly to draw enough audiences.
I’m not saying the Metro’s gutting should’ve been allowed. I’m not saying that I don’t “wish” it was still open for movies.
This posting was news of a Tribute, not a question. No need to speak so meanly of the dead, an actor who died too young. I enjoyed “Casanova” and “A Knight’s Tale” and other movies Heath Ledger featured in. They were good entertainment.
Anyone interested in what? The article makes it clear that the building won’t again be a movie house. It quotes Ross Melnick, co-webmaster of this site.
It is sad that anything that stands still in downtown Philadelphia, and indeed all of Philadelphia, gets tagged with graffiti. As we’ve posted as news on this site, there has been lots going on this year. That said, the future of the Boyd is not settled yet, and we appreciate the support of cinema treasures fans.
Friends of the Boyd
Somebody who visited the theater tells me all seating was on one floor, he recalls 3 large ceiling domes in the auditorium, and he thinks he recalls chariots in plaster on the side walls of the auditorium.
More photos including interior photos of large auditorium here:
http://oldcinemas.webplex.co.uk/westonsupermare/
photo this month by Roloff:
View link
fascinating photo by Roloff of plan showing additional auditoriums symmetrically arranged around original mother auditorium:
View link
Photo of world permiere of The Dark Knight here and many more on flickr:
View link
Thanks to Roloff for his photos this month, exterior & interior:
View link
JodarMovieFan was right. I simply wasn’t used to the Bridge selling out afternoon shows. Yesterday, before departing, I purchased for today’s 3 PM. Today those 3 PM & 3 PM screenings were again sold out, but I was in the audience, enjoying 35mm. Unfortunately, Roloff is correct and there won’t be any more new films in 70mm.
Photo of exterior:
View link
Lit up at night:
View link
View link
auditorium:
View link
View link
View link
Photos of the exterior, all from the last few years:
View link
details of the exterior:
View link
View link
View link
old projector:
View link
Auditorium photo apparently taken today
View link
Is that one of the two largest auditoriums?
Lot of good it did me!
I showed up 45 minutes before 3 PM showing today at largest auditorium at Philadelphia’s Bridge /theaters/10911/ “The Dark Knight” was also scheduled for 3:30 PM in the 2nd largest auditorium. Ticket sellers told crowds of us disappointed customers that it was sold out for both screenings!
Congrats to Warners.
Don, “from personal experience”? Have you visited this theater?
If the town bought the theater to refurbish it, are you telling them to forget it? That would be disappointing for cinema treasures fans to do that, don’t you think?
Reading Terry Wade’s comment above, I though “oh, my goodness, we might as well forget about showing film at the Boyd in Philadelphia if the Fox in Atlanta has also given up!” so I was greatly relieved when I read that a 35mm print was shown! I’ve heard so much about the Fox that I’d find it hard to believe they’d show a DVD of a classic. So far as I know, digital movies like Enchanted are available in 2k or 4k but only new movies- not classics.
Enchanted was shown in 2k or 4k rather than DVD, right?
And, yes, let’s hope a wonderful 70mm print of Ben Hur is issued for its 50th!
The Boyd is structurally sound! Architects, engineers, etc have verified that repeatedly including this year. Now, I have to take a break from answering questions as it has been tremendous (volunteer) work to obtain today’s giant step towards legal protection,and all the rest we are doing.
We have materials that name them and at some point, I can look for the names. Interesting is the purpose of them. That decor exists because the auditorium and proscenium arch are wonderfully wide- one reason the Boyd was selected in 1953 to host Cinerama. That decoration helps to visually make the auditorium seem not too wide.
The side chandeliers are indeed very nice. All the original light fixtures are currently off site in storage, waiting for restoration to get back on track.
Since you like the Boyd lights so much, I will tell you they had a model name: “Aura”, given to them by their maker, the famed Rambusch Company. Rambusch, then of NYC (now NJ)also were among the Boyd decorators in 1928 and refurbished post WW2.
Sadly, when the IRS takesover the Post Office building at 30th Street, that ornate Art Deco space will be totally off limits to the public, for security reasons! Another nearby post office will service the public. Looking at my own photos, I see ceiling domes at the entries of the post office, which I recall.
The Boyd’s balcony underside has plaster medallions. Well, the plaster & paint experts might have a more technical name, but that’s what they appear to be. They are quite elaborate at the Boyd.
We’ve heard Sensurround caused problems at the Boyd with “Earthquake”
The light fixtures are currently off site with a light fixture restoration company. Those you refer to are a famous 1939 model, installed in the Boyd during the 1953 remodel for Cinerama, as replacement for original 1928 lights. I saw the same exact ceiling light fixture on display in Washington D.C. at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, as an example of then cutting age 20th Century lighting.
Unanimously, the Designation Committee of the Philadelphia Historical
Commission today recommended that the Boyd Theatre be legally protected! KYW Radio’s report:
View link
Friends of the Boyd have met with various parties interested in a great restoration of the movie palace. Partly on the various historic photos we supplied, and the main floor blueprint we supplied, but also due to their excellent work, Clear Channel’s architects drew up a detailed set of restoration plans and exploratory work including a paint study that revealed original designs. Preliminary work was done, but most of the actual renovation was not done.
The Baronet in NYC was the smaller auditorium, not the larger Coronet auditorium upstairs.
I enjoyed “Die Hard” on the huge screen in the original, huge historic Boyd auditorium (then named Sameric) in Philadelphia. The screen was much larger than the Wisconsin Avenue’s 2 big screens in DC. It was a fun action film.
to the cause of what?? nobody would pay $15 million to buy the Metro, more to recreate interior decor, and then put movies back in there where they failed repeatedly to draw enough audiences.
I’m not saying the Metro’s gutting should’ve been allowed. I’m not saying that I don’t “wish” it was still open for movies.
This posting was news of a Tribute, not a question. No need to speak so meanly of the dead, an actor who died too young. I enjoyed “Casanova” and “A Knight’s Tale” and other movies Heath Ledger featured in. They were good entertainment.
Proscenium Arch framing stage:
View link
more facing stage including curtain:
View link
View link
detail of curtain & Proscenium Arch:
View link
Bison head:
View link
The beautiful Art Deco facade stays. The article says the marquee stays. The interior has been destroyed. $15 million means no movies.
Anyone interested in what? The article makes it clear that the building won’t again be a movie house. It quotes Ross Melnick, co-webmaster of this site.
It is sad that anything that stands still in downtown Philadelphia, and indeed all of Philadelphia, gets tagged with graffiti. As we’ve posted as news on this site, there has been lots going on this year. That said, the future of the Boyd is not settled yet, and we appreciate the support of cinema treasures fans.
Friends of the Boyd
Somebody who visited the theater tells me all seating was on one floor, he recalls 3 large ceiling domes in the auditorium, and he thinks he recalls chariots in plaster on the side walls of the auditorium.