Boyd Theatre
30 W. Broad Street,
Bethlehem,
PA
18018
30 W. Broad Street,
Bethlehem,
PA
18018
10 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 48 comments
I made a few trips to the Boyd before it was demolished. Here’s a short write up with some of my photos.
Unfortunately, the deed is now done, and the Boyd is gone. growing up in Bethlehem in the late 90s/ early 2000s, had some great memories of this place– it was the first area theater to get Dolby, and retained a policy of not selling tickets until an hour or so before showtimes, so it was a great place to sneak into a big premiere.
It seemed lke it always did decent enough business, but a huge 2011 storm shut it down (storm in late august/early september IIRC, knocked out power for a few days), and badly damaged the roof, and management couldn’t address it in time, so the whether damage just got worse and worse until it was unrepairable… the balconies were shut down my entire life too, so I think the upper levels were weaker to begin with.
I remember a historic banner/sign that was always up front, that commemorated some big premiers back in the 30s, some movie stars and Mickey Mouse were on it… any pics of that?
Anyway, at least the master plan for this of apartment buildings is now set to incorporate the old signage and name:
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/2022/03/redesigned-bethlehem-boyd-theatre-project-retains-iconic-look-photos.html
Nice overview from a local library https://www.bapl.org/a-farewell-to-the-boyd-theater/
Sadly, the Boyd is being demolished over the next 60 days. The signage will be incorporated into the new apartment building that is to be built on the site although the sign itself is not historically significant. I saw all three Back to the Future films here. The theater has a nicely pitched auditorium floor which followed the contour of the hill on which is was built.
Bad news today https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/2019/02/22m-apartment-project-to-be-the-next-act-for-bethlehems-beloved-boyd-theatre-report-says.html
I would be nice to see classic movies there during the holidays and also have appearances by up coming celebrities. Hate to see this building go to waste.
It’s Charles Jefferson, not Johnson. Sounds like a guy who gets things done; let’s hope his “thing” is preservation/restoration! Great if movies return, but the important thing is keeping it as a theater!
sold to developer Charles C Johnson, no promise it will be a theater again-
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-bethlehem-boyd-owner-jefferson-20160118-story.html
Very big news indeed! This is the only movie theater remaining in downtown Bethlehem. Allentown lost its last one when the Colonial was demolished (still has Symphony Hall a/k/a Lyric of old), and Easton has the State. Under all the later trappings in the Boyd there is a real vintage house that will be a treasure again if the restoration is properly handled. Let’s hope so!
WOW! The morning papers are reporting Joyce Hecht has sold the Boyd (with 4 stores, office space and a basement used as a club) to an undisclosed limited partnership for $1.35 million. Heydt is said to be “thrilled” with the new developer. The realtor that handled the deal says showing movies has not been ruled out but described plans for an “arts center.” Moravian College, which made an attempt to purchase the property earlier, has already said they look forward to talking with the new owners. WOW! The realtor says the new owner “has the funds to do everything he needs to do.” and “I think it’s going to be pretty spectacular.” WOW! I’m keeping my fingers crossed, but WOW!
Today’s Express-Times says that Moravian has backed away from the sale. Bethlehem hopes that it will proceed with the other investor, but he says he is only interested if Moravian is in the deal.
Yesterday’s Morning Call (12/13/14—ha!) reported sale of the Boyd to Moravian College, which plans to restore the Boyd for its theater program. This is good news! As a former production house, the Boyd has an ample stage house, dressing rooms, orchestra pit (to be uncovered?), etc. One drawback is the tiny lobby, which is scarcely a lobby at all, but rather an extension of the entrance foyer (corridor). We’ll see how extensively they plan to restore the interior features, which have been covered by curtains for years, probably due to deterioration from leakage. I think that there are box seats behind the curtains. Also, at present the AC machinery occupies a substantial area on stage! This will have to be moved, of course. Let’s hope that the College does it right and returns this venerable old treasure to its former state of restrained dignity (it’s not an elaborately fancy “movie palace” by any means).
If Moravian bought it, that would be the best outcome, IMO. It would be great to see this fine old theater restored for stage productions.
Sale cancelled, so there is hope for the Boyd.
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2014/12/bethlehems_boyd_theatre_in_act.html
Sheriff’s sale scheduled for tomorrow, see http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2014/12/bethlehems_boyd_theatre_still.html#incart_river
Looks like another one bites the dust.
The update is that the theater is posted for Sheriff’s sales as taxes not paid to the School District.
linked here below is an update on Boyd Theatre
lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2014/09/bethlehems_boyd_theatre_posted.html
I really hope the Boyd will open up again. Such a beautiful theatre.
Seems less and less likely that this theater that I fell in love with so many years ago will ever come back. Pretty much the only theater closing I’ve ever been genuinely saddened by.
Here’s the real scoop: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-bethlehem-boyd-theater-20110714,0,6091518.story .[copy and paste into your browser.] Note the incorrect name “Hurtz” in story should be “Kurtz.” BTW, that is not the original façade or marquee in the photo.
Unfortunately, the third-hand report turned out not to be true. A notice on the Boyd’s web site (link under “Related Websites” above) currently announces the closing of the theatre through the end of the year. The tone of the notice gives mixed messages — while proclaiming “the show must go on,” it also announces concentrating on the retail and office space in the building. And as for its continued life as a movie theater: “…in the period since the theatre closed, Heydt has been approached by several community members and business people about adapting the theater to a performing arts venue or other use. We will certainly entertain any of those options, while keeping focused on the task at hand.”
Third-hand or not, I hope this is true! Thanks for the hope Rich!
This is third-hand information, but I just spoke to a friend who spoke to a friend who spoke to one of the family members that owns the theatre, and supposedly the Boyd plans to re-open mid-July with the final Harry Potter installment.
I visited Bethlehem the past two weekends and stayed at the Hyatt Place immediately behind the theatre. There was a hand-written “closed for renovations” sign scotch-taped in the Boyd box office, but no sign of workers at any time during my visit. There were giant bags of popcorn visible in the lobby. I do hope that those renovations will happen and the theatre will reopen.
Oh, and to respond to a prior post, the GCC theatre that used to be in Springfield Mall in Virginia told me that “Gattaca” was “sold out” when I went to see the last show of the evening during the last week of its run. It was a weeknight and the place was a ghost town.
Restoration would be great, as this old theater has much remaining original detail, a lot of it covered by side curtains, and an orchestra pit which has been covered. It also has dressing rooms and a fairly large stage house. It would be a terrific asset to the Bethlehem community, which needs a real production house and not more casinos and SteelStax nonsense. End of rant.