Milgram Theatre

Hello,

November 14th, 1920 grand opening ad as Stanton in photo section.

This reopened as Milgram on July 3rd, 1968. Grand opening ads in photo section.

Having seen Khartoum at the AFI Silver this weekend, I asked Vince Young where it originally was shown in Center City? I had it in Boyd notes but that was incorrect. Vince replied it was shown here at the Stanton aka Milgram.

Here’s some more Stanton history from Box Office:

18 April 1942 Box Office ad stated that “Ghost of Frankenstein” broke 8 year record for opening week business at Stanton

27 Oct 1951 Box Office: star Barbara Payton was due here Oct 27 to appear on Stanton stage to promote the film (Civil war drama) “Drums in the Deep South”

22 Dec 1951 Box Office: local parade to promote the showing of the movie “Fort Defiance”

Renewing my link.

What’s fascinating is that even the least-ornate theaters of yesteryear top the sleek thingamabobs of today. Man, what I’d give to see an old marquee again.

I believe The Stanton Theatre had 3 different marquees. The firs was from 1914 to the 1930’s. The second was from at least 1935 to around 1959, when the final marquee was nstalled. this would be the marquee style that was also used by this theatre’s sister theatre, The Boyd Theatre.

When this theatre became The Milgram Theatre, they modernized everything on the front of this theatre except for the marquee, with the exception of putting the “Milgram” name where the “Stanton” name used to be, not like what Sameric Theatres did, covering the “Boyd” name with metal and placing the “Sameric” name right through the Boyd name. you can still see the holes in the Boyd name from where the bolts were from the “Sameric” name.

Howard Haas just asked me if I had ever been in the Milgram and its predecessor, the Stanton. Here’s my long-winded answer.

“I had planned to add a bit to c.t. when the subject of "common width” masking pops up again to prove that this is not a new “phenomenon” (if that’s the right word.) I saw something or other at the Stanton as early as 1954 and was distressed that the ‘scope image was smaller than the screen on which the 'toons, newsreels, etc. were shown. The “widescreen” that was installed there that winter was entirely in front of the proscenium arch (and stage), and covered virtually the entire width of the theatre, masking being lowered for 'scope, which, of course I hated. This was the very first time I had ever seen anything like this. When renovated as the Milgram, the new screen, curtains, masking, etc. were once again within the proscenium, and, of necessity, rather smallish, even though Milgram had installed 70mm projection.

Saw quite a lot of schlock films there in the 50’s especially from William Castle (Tingler, House on Haunted Hill, Macabre) and fondly remember the skeleton that was rigged to fly out from behind a screen curtain and be pulled on wires up into the balcony during “Haunted Hill,” and those seats with buzzers that went off during “Tingler.” Much fun trying to determine beforehand which of the seats had been “Tingler-ized.”

More trivia since you asked, :–)
At some point the Milgrams decided to move away from the B product the house was famous for (and, that product line was dwindling anyway), and decided to go for the roadshow. MGM had remade its award-winning “Cimarron” for Spring, 1960 release, and somehow decided that Philadelphia and L.A. (and probably Chicago) would host the world premieres prior to New York, unheard of at the time. It opened at the Stanton as a 10-performances-per-week roadshow ahead of its engagement at the Music Hall. Didn’t perform well, however, and the film was pulled after just a few weeks. It didn’t even switch over to the “Now For The First Time at Popular Prices and Continuous Performances” policy. Just left the theatre never to be heard again. MGM and SW had also liberally “redone” the Stanton exterior for the engagement…new large and bright mylar display decorating the marquee instead of the usual plastic lettering; and over-sized three-dimensional posters covering the usual one-sheet boxes. I seem to remember an extra boxoffice outside for advance ticketing. It was quite impressive at the time, but, unfortunately, the film didn’t catch on. However, at any rate, the Stanton, like the Goldman some years earlier, had begun to shed its image as low-budget house and came firmly into the ranks of our classy first-run houses downtown.

Sorry for the rant. "

The 1963 motion picture almanac lists a Milgram Booking Service at 303 N. 13th Street, Philadelphia. I’ll make a leap and assume that this is connected with the Milgram Theater. President was Nathan Milgram. Vice-President was Alvin Milgram.

Great Picture, and if you could look inside, you can see me. I worked as an usher at the Milgram in 1971-1972. Pop Edward’s next door had great food.

thanks so much for the photos!!! they were great.
Does anybody no the last movie playing at the Milgram?
I would love to know..
thanks again
Jim

Ken MC, this picture must have been taken mid-70’s, no later than 1980 before the Fox and Milgram was torn down to make room for the PNC Office Complex.