The theatre was renamed the New Lyric (from the Manheim) in 1935, with the alterations and the new marquee. The marquee only read “Lyric”, but it was always called the “New Lyric Theatre”. That might have to do with there already being another Lyric Theatre ion Philadelphia at the time.
Here is a link to a photo of the New Lyric Theatre after it closed in the 1970s:
Germantown’s Colonial Theatre closed in 1960 and was razed shortly after. It’s been a parking lot ever since. There was another Colonial Theatre in Philadelphia, located at 1025 W. Moyamensing Avenue. Germantown’s Colonial Theatre had a lighted rooftop sign that read “Nixon’s Colonial Theatre”. This was to distinguish this theatre from the other Colonial Thetare in Philadelphia. Here is a link to an old postcard of the Colonial Theatre. You can see the rooftop sign here:
The Coulter today is an empty lot. The lot is available for sale as residential property. The theatre lasted almost 10 years, but it was an unsuccessful run. Probably the main reason for its fai1ure is that it was located in a less populated section of Germantown, a bit off the beaten path.
This theatre opened as the Chelten Auditorium in 1920. It was re-named the Allen Theatre when it was renovated in 1924. A small triangular marquee was added at that time. Even though the tax records say it closed in 1964, it actually closed much earlier, probably in the very early 1950s. I’ve come across very few who even remember this theatre. The only thing I was able to uncover is that, when the nearby St. Benedict’s parish was founded in 1922, they used this theatre as their worship site until their church building was completed in 1924. From the front today, there is no clue whatsoever that the bulding was once a theatre. I took a stroll to the rear recently and, from the rear, it does resemble a theatre.
The Colonial was the largest of Germantown’s theatres. One of the unique things about this theatre was the use of ramps to get from one level to another, rather than stairways.
I was born and raised in Germantown. This theatre closed before my time (showed Christian films during my growing-up years). Curious about it though. Anybody remember what it looked like inside? Email me at or post what you remember here. Thanks.
I was born and raised in Germantown. This theatre closed before my time. Curious about it though. Anybody remember what it looked like inside? Email me at or post what you remember here. Thanks.
I was born and raised in Germantown. This theatre closed before my time. Curious about it though. Anybody remember what it looked like inside? Email me at or post what you remember here. Thanks.
This was my neighborhood theatre, but was never in it because of the films they showed there. The Walton was a legitimate theatre for most of its life, but was an XXX theatre in my growing-up years. Curious about the interior. Anybody remember, please email me at or post what you remember here. Thanks
I know the Bandbox had an art deco basement lounge. Does anyone remember it? I came across a picture of a lounge for the “Bandbox”. The narrative gives a description that indicates it to be Germantown’s bandbox. But, never discloses its location or city. Looking to confirm that that is the Bandbox’s lounge. If you recall the lounge, email me and I’ll be happy to send it to you for confirmation. My email address is:
It did close as the Walton Art Theatre in 1974. From roughly 1961 to 1974, the Walton showed XXX films, to the chagrin of the neighborhood. It re-opened, I believe, in 1976 and attempted to operate as a legitimate theatre showing 2nd-run films. I’m really going off memory but I believe that lasted until 1978. When it closed, it closed for good and remained vacant for several years. It caught fire in the early to mid 1980s. The building was demolished shortly after that. There are two retail stores on the site today.
This is one that the Philadelphia Architects & Building site is wrong on. This was a large theater built as the Germantown Theatre and the early use was primarily stage shows and vaudeville. I have early press notices from the opening and onward that shows it was an 1,800 seat theatre. Also, people from Germantown are recalling it as the Vernon back in the 1940s. Not sure when it converted over from the Germantown to the Vernon, but it was sooner then 1950. The theatre closed in 1951.
The Pelham was the original name for this theatre located at 6351 Germantown Avenue. I’m not sure when the name changed to the Upsal Theatre. It was a 470 seat theatre that was built in 1914. It closed around 1951. It was sold to the Police Athletic League Boys Club, but initially used for the sale of lumber. The bulding is still there. I passed this building numerous times and it was clear to me that it was a theatre at one time and currently is being used as a church.
The building is still there, with the marquee. When the Boro closed, it was converted into a retail store. Today, it is the Roxborough Post Office (19128). The marquee is still being used, but as a sign, not for lettering. This theatre was right across the street from the Roxy Theatre (closed and demolished) at Ridge and Leverington Avenues.
As indicated in that attachment, it was the Empress Theatre from 1914 to 1932 and then renovated and re-named the Riviera Theatre, which it remained until it closed in 1962.
The Orpheum was the “grande dame” of Germantown’s theatres. But, Germantown and the surrounding area had many more theatres and several huge theatres planned, but never built. To summ, Germantown had 10 theatres – the Orpheum, the Walton, the Chelten, the Allen, The Lyric (aka the Manheim and the New Lyric), the Colonial (aka the Nixon Colonial), the Vernon (aka the Germantown), the Bandbox, the Vernon Palace (short-lived) and the Wayne Avenue Theatre. There were 4 additional theatres for the vicinity of Germantown & Chelten, but never built because of the depression. There was a 5th very large movie theatre planned for where Chelten Avenue “bends” (Chelten Ave meets Wister St & Wyncote Ave). This was never built because word leaked out about the intent and local landowners excalated their land prices). Then, when you factor in the Mt. Airy theatres – the Rialto (aka the Tulpehocken), the Upsal (aka the Pelham) and the Segwick, along with Chestnut Hill’s one theatre – the Hill (aka the Bevedere), that is a lot of theatres in and around Germantown. For some, the building still exists, just used for another purpose. But, as theatres, all are just memories and are a part of the history of Germantown.
Located at 42 West Chelten Avenue, this was an architectural gem, inside and out, and contained very intricate and elaborate detailing. It was a very elegant and oppulant theatre in its day. Records found indicate the Orpheum had a seating capacity of 1,706, but early records indicate that it had a early seating capacity of over 2,000. Built in 1913 as a vaudeville house, it was also used for stage productions, concerts and films. It had a deep stage, large orchestra pit, a large organ, numerous dressing rooms behind the stage, a balcony and individial boxes on both sides of the auditorium. The auditorium was elaborately decorated and had a muraled ceiling. The elegant main lobby was chandeliered and gilded. It had grand stairways on either side of the main lobby leading to the second floor lobby. This was also a grand lobby, just outside the balcony area and had a large picture window that overlooked bustling Chelten Avenue.
It is said that, back in the early days of the Orpheum, 15,000 to 20,000 people a day attended Germantown’s various theatres. This being their main source of entertainment. Admission to the Orpheum back in its beginning daysa was just 5 or 10 cents and their program changed daily. As vaudeville died out, the Orpheum became more of a movie theatre, but still presented stage productions, big band and other concerts through the 1940s. By the 1950s, the Orpheum was used solely as a movie theatre. Like other independent theatres in Philadelphia and around the country, the Orpheum fell victim to the growing popularity of television. Another factor in its demise is the decline of the once-bustling commercial district of Germantown & Chelten Avenues. Throw in the high costs of maintaining such a large theatre as the Orpheum, the death-knell was evident. It closed in 1967 and was demolished to make way for some retail stores.
This was one the only one of Germantown’s theatres that I was in, yet remember so little of it. I just didn’t appreciate at the time the architecture gems that were were these old theatres.
I found this in an old press clipping regarding the Colonial:
“…It is built of the colonial style of architecture. The interior is of gold and white decorations with massive chandeliers suspended by large chains. The ceiling is embellished with mural decorations.”
Doesn’t really say a whole lot about the Colonial in terms of oppulance. But, the Colonial would had to have been a very grand and elegant theatre, since it cost $450,000 to build. In comparison, the Walton was built 2 years later (1915) at a cost of $12,000. Still, without having seen the Colonial myself, my feeling is that it paled in comparison to the Orpheum, the “grande dame” of Germantown’s theatres.
Thanks Renel-fan for that great description of the Bandbox Theatre
Here is a link to a photo of the Bandbox Theatre
View link
Here is a link to how the Bandbox looked in 2004
View link
Here is link to a photo of the basement lounge of the bandbox:
View link
The theatre was renamed the New Lyric (from the Manheim) in 1935, with the alterations and the new marquee. The marquee only read “Lyric”, but it was always called the “New Lyric Theatre”. That might have to do with there already being another Lyric Theatre ion Philadelphia at the time.
Here is a link to a photo of the New Lyric Theatre after it closed in the 1970s:
View link
Here is a link to a sad photo of the New Lyric Theatre on fire. The fire destroyed the theatre and it was razed afterwards:
View link
Here are links to photos of the Orpheum in the 1960s:
View link
View link
By the 1960s, the Orpheum was in a tired state. But, even in a tired state, you knew it was something special….
Germantown’s Colonial Theatre closed in 1960 and was razed shortly after. It’s been a parking lot ever since. There was another Colonial Theatre in Philadelphia, located at 1025 W. Moyamensing Avenue. Germantown’s Colonial Theatre had a lighted rooftop sign that read “Nixon’s Colonial Theatre”. This was to distinguish this theatre from the other Colonial Thetare in Philadelphia. Here is a link to an old postcard of the Colonial Theatre. You can see the rooftop sign here:
View link
Here is a link to another postcard view of Germantown Avenue that provides a better vire of the rooftop sign that reads :Nixon’s Colonial Theatre"
View link
The City of Phila photo has the wrong address. The correct address is 8320 Germantown Ave, now parking for the Bell Telephone building
The Coulter today is an empty lot. The lot is available for sale as residential property. The theatre lasted almost 10 years, but it was an unsuccessful run. Probably the main reason for its fai1ure is that it was located in a less populated section of Germantown, a bit off the beaten path.
This theatre opened as the Chelten Auditorium in 1920. It was re-named the Allen Theatre when it was renovated in 1924. A small triangular marquee was added at that time. Even though the tax records say it closed in 1964, it actually closed much earlier, probably in the very early 1950s. I’ve come across very few who even remember this theatre. The only thing I was able to uncover is that, when the nearby St. Benedict’s parish was founded in 1922, they used this theatre as their worship site until their church building was completed in 1924. From the front today, there is no clue whatsoever that the bulding was once a theatre. I took a stroll to the rear recently and, from the rear, it does resemble a theatre.
The Colonial was the largest of Germantown’s theatres. One of the unique things about this theatre was the use of ramps to get from one level to another, rather than stairways.
I was born and raised in Germantown. This theatre closed before my time (showed Christian films during my growing-up years). Curious about it though. Anybody remember what it looked like inside? Email me at or post what you remember here. Thanks.
I was born and raised in Germantown. This theatre closed before my time. Curious about it though. Anybody remember what it looked like inside? Email me at or post what you remember here. Thanks.
I was born and raised in Germantown. This theatre closed before my time. Curious about it though. Anybody remember what it looked like inside? Email me at or post what you remember here. Thanks.
This was my neighborhood theatre, but was never in it because of the films they showed there. The Walton was a legitimate theatre for most of its life, but was an XXX theatre in my growing-up years. Curious about the interior. Anybody remember, please email me at or post what you remember here. Thanks
I know the Bandbox had an art deco basement lounge. Does anyone remember it? I came across a picture of a lounge for the “Bandbox”. The narrative gives a description that indicates it to be Germantown’s bandbox. But, never discloses its location or city. Looking to confirm that that is the Bandbox’s lounge. If you recall the lounge, email me and I’ll be happy to send it to you for confirmation. My email address is:
I have a picture of the Germantown Theatre (before it was the Vernon)and will upload it once the photo feature is restored here.
Here is a tumbnail picture of the Walton, when it was vacant and after it was destoyed by fire.
View link
It did close as the Walton Art Theatre in 1974. From roughly 1961 to 1974, the Walton showed XXX films, to the chagrin of the neighborhood. It re-opened, I believe, in 1976 and attempted to operate as a legitimate theatre showing 2nd-run films. I’m really going off memory but I believe that lasted until 1978. When it closed, it closed for good and remained vacant for several years. It caught fire in the early to mid 1980s. The building was demolished shortly after that. There are two retail stores on the site today.
This is one that the Philadelphia Architects & Building site is wrong on. This was a large theater built as the Germantown Theatre and the early use was primarily stage shows and vaudeville. I have early press notices from the opening and onward that shows it was an 1,800 seat theatre. Also, people from Germantown are recalling it as the Vernon back in the 1940s. Not sure when it converted over from the Germantown to the Vernon, but it was sooner then 1950. The theatre closed in 1951.
The Pelham was the original name for this theatre located at 6351 Germantown Avenue. I’m not sure when the name changed to the Upsal Theatre. It was a 470 seat theatre that was built in 1914. It closed around 1951. It was sold to the Police Athletic League Boys Club, but initially used for the sale of lumber. The bulding is still there. I passed this building numerous times and it was clear to me that it was a theatre at one time and currently is being used as a church.
The building is still there, with the marquee. When the Boro closed, it was converted into a retail store. Today, it is the Roxborough Post Office (19128). The marquee is still being used, but as a sign, not for lettering. This theatre was right across the street from the Roxy Theatre (closed and demolished) at Ridge and Leverington Avenues.
As indicated in that attachment, it was the Empress Theatre from 1914 to 1932 and then renovated and re-named the Riviera Theatre, which it remained until it closed in 1962.
The Orpheum was the “grande dame” of Germantown’s theatres. But, Germantown and the surrounding area had many more theatres and several huge theatres planned, but never built. To summ, Germantown had 10 theatres – the Orpheum, the Walton, the Chelten, the Allen, The Lyric (aka the Manheim and the New Lyric), the Colonial (aka the Nixon Colonial), the Vernon (aka the Germantown), the Bandbox, the Vernon Palace (short-lived) and the Wayne Avenue Theatre. There were 4 additional theatres for the vicinity of Germantown & Chelten, but never built because of the depression. There was a 5th very large movie theatre planned for where Chelten Avenue “bends” (Chelten Ave meets Wister St & Wyncote Ave). This was never built because word leaked out about the intent and local landowners excalated their land prices). Then, when you factor in the Mt. Airy theatres – the Rialto (aka the Tulpehocken), the Upsal (aka the Pelham) and the Segwick, along with Chestnut Hill’s one theatre – the Hill (aka the Bevedere), that is a lot of theatres in and around Germantown. For some, the building still exists, just used for another purpose. But, as theatres, all are just memories and are a part of the history of Germantown.
Located at 42 West Chelten Avenue, this was an architectural gem, inside and out, and contained very intricate and elaborate detailing. It was a very elegant and oppulant theatre in its day. Records found indicate the Orpheum had a seating capacity of 1,706, but early records indicate that it had a early seating capacity of over 2,000. Built in 1913 as a vaudeville house, it was also used for stage productions, concerts and films. It had a deep stage, large orchestra pit, a large organ, numerous dressing rooms behind the stage, a balcony and individial boxes on both sides of the auditorium. The auditorium was elaborately decorated and had a muraled ceiling. The elegant main lobby was chandeliered and gilded. It had grand stairways on either side of the main lobby leading to the second floor lobby. This was also a grand lobby, just outside the balcony area and had a large picture window that overlooked bustling Chelten Avenue.
It is said that, back in the early days of the Orpheum, 15,000 to 20,000 people a day attended Germantown’s various theatres. This being their main source of entertainment. Admission to the Orpheum back in its beginning daysa was just 5 or 10 cents and their program changed daily. As vaudeville died out, the Orpheum became more of a movie theatre, but still presented stage productions, big band and other concerts through the 1940s. By the 1950s, the Orpheum was used solely as a movie theatre. Like other independent theatres in Philadelphia and around the country, the Orpheum fell victim to the growing popularity of television. Another factor in its demise is the decline of the once-bustling commercial district of Germantown & Chelten Avenues. Throw in the high costs of maintaining such a large theatre as the Orpheum, the death-knell was evident. It closed in 1967 and was demolished to make way for some retail stores.
This was one the only one of Germantown’s theatres that I was in, yet remember so little of it. I just didn’t appreciate at the time the architecture gems that were were these old theatres.
I found this in an old press clipping regarding the Colonial:
“…It is built of the colonial style of architecture. The interior is of gold and white decorations with massive chandeliers suspended by large chains. The ceiling is embellished with mural decorations.”
Doesn’t really say a whole lot about the Colonial in terms of oppulance. But, the Colonial would had to have been a very grand and elegant theatre, since it cost $450,000 to build. In comparison, the Walton was built 2 years later (1915) at a cost of $12,000. Still, without having seen the Colonial myself, my feeling is that it paled in comparison to the Orpheum, the “grande dame” of Germantown’s theatres.
Thank you for clarifying & confirming Empress vs Riviera. Never heard of it being the Empress at one point, so I learned something here.