Film Society East
127 Sansom Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19106
127 Sansom Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19106
12 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Philadelphia Film Society (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Budco, Landmark Theatres (USA)
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Previous Names: Budco Olde City Twin, Ritz East Theatre, PFS East
Nearby Theaters
The Budco Olde City Twin opened on June 26, 1981. Theatre located on Sansom Street between Front Street and Second Street. Olde City Twin closed on Dec. 13, 1998 as AMC, which had purchased the Budco chain, did not renew the lease. The Ritz Theatre group remodeled the theatre and it reopened as the 800-seat Ritz East Theatre on May 21, 1999. The Ritz Theatre group also operate the Ritz Five and Ritz at the Bourse in Philadelphia. The Ritz East Theatre was closed on October 10, 2021.
The Philadelphia Film Society reopened the theatre as the PFS East in October 2022 programing critically-acclaimed first run movies. In February 2025 it was renamed Film Society East.
Contributed by
Dennis C Zimmerman
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Recent comments (view all 22 comments)
After reopening Sept 10, 2021 from the March 2020 Covid shutdown, the Ritz East closed again October 10, 2021, its fate uncertain!
It’s no longer listed on the Landmark site. Only the Ritz Five is listed.
Also,the phone # is no longer in service. What a shame,this was nicest of the Ritz theaters.
Perhaps the Philadelphia Film Society will take over the lease.
This really was imo the best of the Ritz’s. Stadium seating,the theater on the right as you entered, was perfect . Was never in the theater to the left when it was Ritz East.
According to the PFS Philadelphia Film Festival 2022 website, PFS has acquired the former Ritz East.
What wonderful news.
Has anyone been recently? Does anyone know how they assigned theater numbers here? . Is the theater to the right as you walk in,the theater with raised,tiered,semi stadium seating theater 1 or 2? Thank you.
Seating Capacity:
Theatre 1 240
Theatre 2 290
Please rename Film Society East as per website