Chestnut Street is not muli-laned Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles, but it has long been one of Philadelphia’s main streets (along with Market Street, and Broad Street). Philadelphians don’t consider it a small side street, at all. There will be adequate parking nearby, and mass transit connections are great.
The above list of posters has no relevancy to the Chelsea West page.
What is relevant is that in about the same time period Cineplex Odeon was turning this 3 screener into a very nice 2 screener, they renovated the Beekman (since demolished) in New York, and in Washington D.C. the Cinema (since closed & gutted) and Uptown. They didn’t renovate the Avalon in D.C, which after Loews departed, was saved & renovated by neighbors. I miss Cineplex Odeon.
I agree there are too many lawyers, though I don’t mind your being one. You at least care about something else, i.e. historic moviehouses. I usually encourage competition to move to Florida.
I am a lawyer, so when I put an “s” on it, it’s because I am starting to spell Holmesburg due to a facility that used to provide “rent free housing” to clients in the past. That place is more locally famous than a theater that closed half a century ago.
I’ve said that I don’t believe it is feasible to return the Mayfair to daily single screen status. I never suggested anyone should damage original historic details, exterior or interior including the murals. I also haven’t read any definitive account as to whether the Mayfair murals are in fact gone, and when so.
Although I understood your reference, I don’t think we need to bring in politics & religion here to understand why Art Deco ornamentation shouldn’t be destroyed.
Also, I have long gone long out of my way to enjoy movies in historic theaters, but there aren’t enough people like me to keep enough of those historic theaters alive, much less return too many that failed three decades ago or even half a century ago (Holmes).
No offence is meant to a dream, but if economics could revive single screen theaters, they’d be popping all over the place.
Did it look the 1928 Art Deco marquee at Boyd, or the later 1953 version that’s still mostly there? www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org and visit photo gallery’s Exterior gallery?
I wish somebody would’ve photographed the original marqueee when briefly visible. Even before gutting, I knew that a movie theater closed in the 1950’s wasn’t going to reopen. Even if a wealthy person renovated the theater to being any kind of theater, Art Deco or not, it wouldn’t exist as a daily mainstream single screener.
Sometimes there’s an employee to ask, but chains are stupid, and there may not be someone to ask or they may not say yes. Bring in your camera in your pocket or bag. Snap a few photos without trying to attract attention. Eventually, an employee says “no photos” so you put away your camera. No real harm to anybody. (Don’t snap at the screen while a movie is ongoing, as they don’t want tapes of movies being made- that’s bad for all of us).
Can somebody please photograph the Art Deco touches, such as the railings? And, post the photos on a flickr or other website, linking that here so people can see?
The Orleans has been open as a movie theater for more years than the Holmes was.
In his hardback book on Philly theaters, Irv Glazer lists Thalheimer and Weitz as architects. Among other theaters, they earlier designed the Devon, and later, Center City Philadelphia’s Regency. Even earlier, they had designed Art Deco theaters. Architects, however, work within the budget specified by the client.
There were other theaters built by Goldman that were twinned shortly
after he sold the chain to Budco, including in Center City
Philadelphia the Goldman & Regency. He built large single screen movie houses, and didn’t do any twinning that I am aware of.
no, Lee only worked on a redesign of the Hiway, and was one of several architects over time on that theater. The Hiway is closing this month for yet another renovation.
Mainstream fare survived longer at the Orleans because it has 8 screens. Commercial exhibitors rely on concessions for profits, and can’t be inexpensive with such.
If there’s going to be another movie theater in NE Philly, it would more likely have as many screens or more as the Orleans. That’s just economics, at least for mainstream fare. I don’t know that arthouse films would have enough audience.
In his books, the late Irvin Glazer characterizes this theater as “beautiful” and his description makes it clear it was an impressive Art Deco theater. He says it closed in 1951. Therefore, it didn’t survive TV? or was there also a migration of people from the area?
Its chances of again becoming a single screen theater are sllightly less good as TheaterBuff1’s chances of winning the multi-million dollar lottery. Slightly less good because the owner need not sell, or could be tied to lease obligations not to sell. And, he would need to get Hollywood studios to provide films, which they might not do.
When are they turning it into mini-mall?
Originally, “all of the ceilings and wall surfaces were painted in elaborate design…” I wander if any of that survived.
The “SaveTheSameric” domain name expired. I’ve asked the Webmaster to see if we can renew it, so old references can be viewed. For a long time, we’ve been at www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org
We are sending out free Weekly Update emails to anyone who enters their email address for such, at our homepage. The latest news, soon to be posted by volunteer Webmaster, is last week’s removal of the Water Tower framework from atop the Boyd’s stagehouse. That step was needed prior to demolition of stagehouse for replacement with larger stagehouse.
Dennis, I’m sure you are familiar with how long it takes everything to get done in Philadelphia. Closed historic buildings like Lit Bros, the Victory Building, the Naval Home, etc. took many years…new projects like the Kimmel Center, the Gallery, the Vine Street expressway, etc. took forever. The Boyd closed in 2002. Clear Channel bought it earlier last year, but they spun off their theaters to a new company Live Nation, and yes, there have been delays. However, the restoration plans are great, and there will be great shows at the Boyd.
There won’t be poles obstructing views, either! The Academy of Music is an opera house. Touring Broadway & concerts will be fun at the up to date Boyd Theatre. And, Friends of the Boyd are working to set up exhibits of the movie palace’s history, and towards our program of films (classics, festivals, etc), organ, and public tours.
Chestnut Street is not muli-laned Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles, but it has long been one of Philadelphia’s main streets (along with Market Street, and Broad Street). Philadelphians don’t consider it a small side street, at all. There will be adequate parking nearby, and mass transit connections are great.
MikeRadio, have you ever been to the Uptown?
Regarding the Tivoli, you might want to read a bit about the effects of 1960’s racial rioting in American cities.
3 photos from today
View link
Historic photo from early 20th Century:
View link
The above list of posters has no relevancy to the Chelsea West page.
What is relevant is that in about the same time period Cineplex Odeon was turning this 3 screener into a very nice 2 screener, they renovated the Beekman (since demolished) in New York, and in Washington D.C. the Cinema (since closed & gutted) and Uptown. They didn’t renovate the Avalon in D.C, which after Loews departed, was saved & renovated by neighbors. I miss Cineplex Odeon.
I meant another famous “rent free” place now closed but still there. I have practiced many fields of law.
I agree there are too many lawyers, though I don’t mind your being one. You at least care about something else, i.e. historic moviehouses. I usually encourage competition to move to Florida.
I am a lawyer, so when I put an “s” on it, it’s because I am starting to spell Holmesburg due to a facility that used to provide “rent free housing” to clients in the past. That place is more locally famous than a theater that closed half a century ago.
Presumably you are telling the public rather than me who William Penn was.
If you were paid by the word, you’d have the funding….
You do go so off point with all the politics, taxes, etc…
Did the Mayfair reopen yet, as a bank? Is that going to use the former auditorium space?
Thanks for sharing the interesting article.
I hope you can post the videotape of the Mayfair online and Dan can find photos.
That show will be at the Merriam instead. No date yet for Boyd reopening.
I’ve said that I don’t believe it is feasible to return the Mayfair to daily single screen status. I never suggested anyone should damage original historic details, exterior or interior including the murals. I also haven’t read any definitive account as to whether the Mayfair murals are in fact gone, and when so.
Although I understood your reference, I don’t think we need to bring in politics & religion here to understand why Art Deco ornamentation shouldn’t be destroyed.
Also, I have long gone long out of my way to enjoy movies in historic theaters, but there aren’t enough people like me to keep enough of those historic theaters alive, much less return too many that failed three decades ago or even half a century ago (Holmes).
No offence is meant to a dream, but if economics could revive single screen theaters, they’d be popping all over the place.
Here’s a link to original exterior in 1934, Lamb design:
View link
Here’s a photo from 2004:
View link
And, a photo today:
View link
4-24-06 photo here:
View link
photo I took yesterday here:
View link
Did it look the 1928 Art Deco marquee at Boyd, or the later 1953 version that’s still mostly there? www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org and visit photo gallery’s Exterior gallery?
I wish somebody would’ve photographed the original marqueee when briefly visible. Even before gutting, I knew that a movie theater closed in the 1950’s wasn’t going to reopen. Even if a wealthy person renovated the theater to being any kind of theater, Art Deco or not, it wouldn’t exist as a daily mainstream single screener.
Sometimes there’s an employee to ask, but chains are stupid, and there may not be someone to ask or they may not say yes. Bring in your camera in your pocket or bag. Snap a few photos without trying to attract attention. Eventually, an employee says “no photos” so you put away your camera. No real harm to anybody. (Don’t snap at the screen while a movie is ongoing, as they don’t want tapes of movies being made- that’s bad for all of us).
Can somebody please photograph the Art Deco touches, such as the railings? And, post the photos on a flickr or other website, linking that here so people can see?
The Orleans has been open as a movie theater for more years than the Holmes was.
In his hardback book on Philly theaters, Irv Glazer lists Thalheimer and Weitz as architects. Among other theaters, they earlier designed the Devon, and later, Center City Philadelphia’s Regency. Even earlier, they had designed Art Deco theaters. Architects, however, work within the budget specified by the client.
There were other theaters built by Goldman that were twinned shortly
after he sold the chain to Budco, including in Center City
Philadelphia the Goldman & Regency. He built large single screen movie houses, and didn’t do any twinning that I am aware of.
no, Lee only worked on a redesign of the Hiway, and was one of several architects over time on that theater. The Hiway is closing this month for yet another renovation.
Mainstream fare survived longer at the Orleans because it has 8 screens. Commercial exhibitors rely on concessions for profits, and can’t be inexpensive with such.
If there’s going to be another movie theater in NE Philly, it would more likely have as many screens or more as the Orleans. That’s just economics, at least for mainstream fare. I don’t know that arthouse films would have enough audience.
In his books, the late Irvin Glazer characterizes this theater as “beautiful” and his description makes it clear it was an impressive Art Deco theater. He says it closed in 1951. Therefore, it didn’t survive TV? or was there also a migration of people from the area?
Its chances of again becoming a single screen theater are sllightly less good as TheaterBuff1’s chances of winning the multi-million dollar lottery. Slightly less good because the owner need not sell, or could be tied to lease obligations not to sell. And, he would need to get Hollywood studios to provide films, which they might not do.
When are they turning it into mini-mall?
Originally, “all of the ceilings and wall surfaces were painted in elaborate design…” I wander if any of that survived.
The “SaveTheSameric” domain name expired. I’ve asked the Webmaster to see if we can renew it, so old references can be viewed. For a long time, we’ve been at www.FriendsOfTheBoyd.org
We are sending out free Weekly Update emails to anyone who enters their email address for such, at our homepage. The latest news, soon to be posted by volunteer Webmaster, is last week’s removal of the Water Tower framework from atop the Boyd’s stagehouse. That step was needed prior to demolition of stagehouse for replacement with larger stagehouse.
Dennis, I’m sure you are familiar with how long it takes everything to get done in Philadelphia. Closed historic buildings like Lit Bros, the Victory Building, the Naval Home, etc. took many years…new projects like the Kimmel Center, the Gallery, the Vine Street expressway, etc. took forever. The Boyd closed in 2002. Clear Channel bought it earlier last year, but they spun off their theaters to a new company Live Nation, and yes, there have been delays. However, the restoration plans are great, and there will be great shows at the Boyd.
There won’t be poles obstructing views, either! The Academy of Music is an opera house. Touring Broadway & concerts will be fun at the up to date Boyd Theatre. And, Friends of the Boyd are working to set up exhibits of the movie palace’s history, and towards our program of films (classics, festivals, etc), organ, and public tours.