Venice Theatre

This item from the May 17, 1930 issue of The Billboard notes the opening of the Venice Theatre: “An invitation audience of 500 recently attended the formal opening of Philadelphia’s newest neighborhood picture theater, the Venice, Snyder avenue and 18th street. Jacob Blumberg and Charles Steiffel are the owners, and Jack Blumberg Jr., is house manager.”

you find a painting of one of the most iconic moments in cinema history hideous, got it..

After watching the story I saw 2 murals, by local artist Anna Taylor.
“horribly rendered” is the last thing I’d be referring to them as.

Newbold Exchange is still open, which is great that South Philly has a space like that for remote workers.

H.W. Becker was one of the pioneering area theatre operators when live theater changed over to photoplays. Becker’s first foray into the Philadelphia market when we acquired Fox’s Pleasure Palace in 1898 and changed it to Becker’s Lyceum Theatre. As for this entry, local accounts show the building of the theatre in late 1911 and opening as Becker’s Theatre early in January of 1912 by August W. Becker, Jacob Becker and C.W. Becker (aka the Becker Brothers' Theatre). They also acquired another theatre at 7th and Snyder in 1913 which they renamed as the Becker Theatre.

The venue was opened at the corner lot of 1727-1731 Snyder Avenue and the Becker made headlines when two blackmail notes came in reading, “ Warning to the bearer, Jacob Becker. I am going to blow up your moving picture place is you don’t send me $5,000…. I will blow it up when (you and) the crowd are in it. YOUR WORST ENEMY.” The Philadelphia police apprehended a 13-year old boy who didn’t follow through on his plan and the tip came after he had boasted of the plot to school chums. The Beckers ran the unexploded venue until 1928 when they sold it to J.M. Krause, Inc.

The theatre was wired for sound under the Venice Theatre nameplate. According to the local paper, the Venice was modernized to the plans of David Supowitz in 1938/9 for a streamlined look. Gilbert Addeo was the final operator of the Venice which closed September 7, 1953 with “The Girl Next Door” and “Invaders from Mars.” It became the events center, the Venice Plaza in 1956.

Today, the marquee is gone and plywood covers much of the facade. Most of its doors and windows have been bricked up and and its current use, except for haphazard storage, is vague at best!

Check out the Google map.