Belgrade Theatre
2848 Belgrade Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19134
2848 Belgrade Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19134
2 people
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Closed November 11, 1965 with a double feature of “What’s New Pussycat?” and “Genghis Kahn.”
‘Portrichmond'says a Mr. Owens was the first owner of the Belgrade, although PAB lists Louis Rovner as the client. PAB also says “Louis Rovner was part of the company of Handle & Rovner Amuesment Enterprises, which operated many theatres in the Philadelphia area.” That Philadelphia area included at least a dozen theatres in South Jersey. Could it be that Mr. Owens was the manager of the Belgrade Theatre, not the owner?
A great photo of a stuccoed wall. Would anyone have a photo of the Belgrade Theatre before the stucco? Please share if you do. Thanks!
Here is the view from Google. I guess they just stuccoed over whatever was on the front.
http://tinyurl.com/r84oq7
No, I don’t. I went to college in Philly, but I don’t recall this theater.
ken mc, do you have any memories of the belgrade that you can share on this forum?
Here is an undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2au577
I remember seeing “The World of Henry Orient”, “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Giant”, among other films, at The Belgrade.
This photo is from 9-15-1937 The Exhibitor article on Glass Brick
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Text: Aisleheads of the new Belgrade Theatre, Philadelphia, PA David Supowitz, Architect, uses glass brick corners inlaid in wood and lighted from within to direct patrons and promote (Howard Haas note: rest of text missing from my photocopy)
Another photo from same page of the drinking fountain:
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Only the top photo posted at philadelphiabuildings.org is that of the Belgrade Theater. The 2 other photos are of a beer distibutor. The Belgrade did not stand alone nor did it have parking. The theater stood directly at the sw corner of Belgrade and Auburn Streets in Philadelphia Pa. Brick row homes and businesses;namely, Spina Bakery were neighbors to the Belgrade.
Remodeled in 1937, the Belgrade was one of the first theaters to use glass block sructurally and decoratively.
The Belgrade showed Polish language movies in the 1950’s to accommodate its Polish Port Richmond neighborhood. Students from St. Adalbert Catholic School(Polish) often made field trips to the Belgrade to view the Polish films.
The Belgrade temporarily suspended movie operations during World War I and became a sewing shop that manufactured uniforms for
American troops.
A Mr. Owens was the first owner of the Belgrade; hence, its name Owens Theater and Owensies a neighborhood nickname.
Bello is the neighborhood equivalent to Belgrade.
In its Port Richmond, Philadelphia neighborhood, the Belgrade was known by other names: Bello, Owens, Owensies,and Hero.
Thumbnails here (DON’T expand w/o subscription):
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