Leader Theatre
4102 Lancaster Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19104
4102 Lancaster Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19104
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Architects: John D. Allen, John Adolph Emil Eberson
Nearby Theaters
The Leader Theatre opened on October 23, 1912, designed by architect John D. Allen with seating for 1,000. Originally a legitimate house, the Leader Theatre later became a movie house. In 1916 it was equipped with a Kimball organ. The theatre was remodeled in the early-1920’s. By 1931 it was operated by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp. and in 1935 they remodeled it to the plans of architect John Eberson.
The Leader Theatre closed on December 16, 1968 with Barbara Steele in “Terror-Creatures From the Grave”, Duane Jones in “Night of the Living Dead” & Mickey Hargitay in “Bloody Pit of Horror”. It later housed the Philadelphia Police Athletic League. It then served as a discount store for many years and from 1971 with metal cladding covering the façade. They had moved out by October 2019. As of September 2020, the cladding had been removed revealing the original façade. The new owner reportedly wishes to again use the building for performing arts.
Contributed by
Bryan
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
Here is an undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/23yzra
What have they done?
http://tinyurl.com/nx8fvd
I was there the last day it was open. A triple feature of Horror films. After the new sensation, Night of the Living Dead, a gang fight broke out. The last movie theater on Lancaster Ave was closed for good. Psycho, Jason and the argonaughts, Planet of the Apes, From Russia with Love and Thunderball. Bonnie and Clyde all seen on that giant screen.
Thanks Al for the story.
Thanks Al,Know you miss it.
I used to live a block away on Preston Street. Went here many times in 40’s and 50’s. Remember seeing The Blackboard Jungle here and when Rock around the Clock came on, the kids got up and danced in the aisles. Saw live stage shows here, one thaT COMES TO MIND WAS fRANKIE lYMAN AND THE jUNIORS IN 1956. They used to run Looney Tune cartoon festivals on Saturday afternoons for 25 cents many hours of cartoons. Remember when admission price was 16 cents for kids under 12. Used to sneak up on the balcony as it was normally closed. At Halloween they would run a triple feature of Frankenstein…Dracula…The Wolfman all original Universal classics. Had good memories of the place. Went back recently. From the front you would never know it was once a movie theater, but if you go around on 41st street the original bldg stillstands as does the rear, complete with the emergency fire escapes at balcony level.
In addition to the Leader during the 50’s when I was a kid growing up in West Philly we had the nearby Colonial at 42nd Lancaster; The Casino at 39th Haverford off Lancaster;The Unique at 36th Haverford;The Eureka at 39th Market St;The Fans between 40th and 41st Market;The Commodore at 43rd Walnut. And there was always 52nd street area with a lot of movie houses. Life was good, before TV.
The Leader Theatre closed for renovations after a triple-feature of “Terror-Creatures from the Grave,” “Night of the Living Dead” and “Bloody Pit of Horror” on December 17, 1968 promising to reopen on Christmas Day 1968. But Leader fans got a lump of coal as the theatre remained closed.
Good in-depth article about the theatre and its path towards renovation as an artist studio here
Current picture