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.
The Fans Theatre closed during an August 25, 1963 showing of “Diary of a Madman.” Kids running across the roof looking for a free way into the theatre near a skylight resulted in plaster falling 100 feet and injuring patrons. The Fans had a reported crowd of 600 at the time of the incident. The theatre was listed as “Closed for repairs; open soon.” But, apparently, the 50th Anniversary in 1964 was not meant to be.
H.W. Rambo of the Lubin Company opened the new vaudeville/movie house on February 14, 1911 as the Lincoln Theatre at 1317-1325 South 49th Street. A neighboring soda fountain served as the de facto concession stand in the theater’s early days. The theatre closed for a major refresh in 1924 when J.J. Miller sold off the lease. The Murphy-Quigley Company presided over the improvements. It re-emerged under new operator Ray O’Rourke and Quaker City Amusement when it became the Doris Theatre in January of 1925. O'Rourke had previously managed the Orpheum in Germantown and operated a number of West Philly theaters including this one. As the Doris, the venue was now a full-time movie theater complete with pipe organ.
The Doris was equipped with sound (presumably in 1930 under a new 20-year lease) and, in 1939, was modernized once again to the plans of David Supowitz to become a streamline moderne theatre. A 1936 case in which the Doris Theatre personnel refused to sell a movie ticket to an African American patron ended up in court with the plaintiff winning the case. Another case involved the charge that its Bank/Bingo nights amounted to an illegal lottery - which O"Rourke’s theatre won. And another situation involved the playing of Sunday movies.
A.M. and Martin D. Ellis took on the vnue on May 27, 1942 operating it under the last eight years remaining on its lease. The Doris closed permanently at the expiry of its lease with William Holden in “Dear Wife” on May 25, 1950. After being listed for sale or lease, the former Doris was auctioned off in 1952. The building is still standing as of the 2020s.
The $125,000 Bellevue Theatre launched for Milton Rogasner and St. Charles Amusement on December 10, 1914. Charlie Chaplin’s “The Tango Tangle” opened the theatre shown on its Radium Gold Fibre screen and accompanied by its new Haskell pipe organ with echo effect. The theatre appears to have ceased operations at the exit point of a lease at the 15 year mark.
William Hunt / Hunt’s Enterprise operated the venue at 4910-4914 North Broad Street from 1922 to 1942. Listed as a Spanish architecture theatre, in 1941 the theatre was modernized to the plans of Thalheimer and Weitz bringing a streamlined look. The theatre was transferred to A.M. Ellis Theatres in 1943. Ellis also launched the Chester Pike D-I on My 26, 1949. The Rockland ceased operations following showtimes on October 11, 1970 with “Machine Gun McCain” and “Land Raiders.”
On March 29, 1929, the Northeastern was one of eleven existing theaters acquired by Warner-Equity Theatres. In April of 1942, Warner Circuit gave it a streamline moderne makeover. A long-running soda fountain served as a before and after show hangout. The Northeastern Theatre closed on January 25, 1958 with “The Unknown Terror” and “Back from the Dead.”
Warner-Equity Theatres launched the new Holme Theatre with sound pictures on October 11, 1929 with “On With the Show” supported by “Look Out Below.” The theatre was named after Thomas Holme and was in the Holemsburg neighborhood of Philly. The Holme closed after the January 8, 1942 showing of “Hold That Ghost” for a major $100,000 refresh. On March 17, 1942, it was relaunched as the Penypak Theatre with Kay Kyser in “The Playmates.”
The Penypak scuffled in the 1950s along with many neighborhood movie houses. In 1950, the independent operator, Melvin Fox, sued the eight major Hollywood distributors citing a cartel that didn’t allow it access to key first run films. That and similar suits at that time around the country led to the Paramount decree that would break up the cartel. The Penypak Theatre initially closed at the expiry of a leasing period on September 27, 1951 with “The Great Caruso.” The former Penypak became the short-lived Herby’s Auction House. A boy got his hand stuck in the Penypak popcorn machine during an auction requiring rescue by the fire department. The auction house closed early in 1954 with the building offered for sale.
The Penypak re-emerged on a grind policy by Mr. Fox on May 8, 1955 with “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and “Desiree.” The venue had a new 40' screen and widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles. But the Penypak’s audience loss was not stemmed and it soon cased operations on October 30, 1955 with Anne Appleton in the exploitation film, “The Desperate Women,” supported by Richard Coogan in “Girl on the Run” ending the venue’s cinematic journey.
After being offered for sale without a buyer, the theatre was auctioned off on July 12, 1956 for $70,000. It resumed auction services for a short period. In 1959, it was a showplace with live plays by the Pinypak players. That only lasted three months closing just prior the theater’s 30th Anniversary. The building was again sold in 1962 for $52,500 to a furniture retailer beginning a long retail career.
The Airport Drive-In Theatre took flight on October 30, 1957 with “Man of a Thousand Faces” and “War Drums.” The Airport crash landed on December 16, 1969, with a quadruple feature of “Fanny Hill,” “The Wild Angels.” “The Glory Stompers” and “Hell’s Angels on Wheels.”
The Elm Theatre dates back at least to 1920. It was renamed the Airport in 1942. The Airport crash landed on July 9, 1950 with “Crime Doctor’s Diary” and Pat O'Brien appropriately in “Flight Lieutenant.” The building was then offered for sale before being auctioned off in 1952 at end of lease.
Jack Delmar launched the Bell Theatre in 1913. Under new ownership by Marcus Benn, it became the original Benn Theatre in 1917. Benn soon outgrew the diminutive house and purchased land in 1920 at 6316 to 6322 Woodland to build the New Benn Theatre for some $350,000. During the project, the Stanley Circuit bought the venue claiming it as part of its $10 million building spree of theaters in 1923.
The September 1, 1923 opening of the New Benn ended the original Benn Theatre which would eventually became to the Benson Theatre. The Benson appears to have closed August 13, 1967 with “Divorce, American Style.”
Irwin and Leighton launched the Orient Theatre to the 1912 architectural plans of John Irwin Bright. The Stanley Circuit took over the theatre in 1924 later equipping it for sound. Stanley-Warner closed The Orient permanently on October 29, 1950 with “The Duchess of Idaho.” It was one of several theatres listed together as “Former theatres for lease” thereafter.
M.J. Walsh launched the Iris Theatre on December 12, 1910. The first night feature live vaudeville with the Lester Brothers and the Creighton Sisters. Photoplays were also in the first week of shows at the Iris. The Stanley Circuit took on the venue. The theatre installed sound to remain viable.
On April 29, 1953, the Iris installed a silver screen to present 3D films starting with “Bwana Devil.” In 1954, it installed widescreen technology to present CinemaScope films. The Iris closed May 8, 1965 with a double feature of “Bus Riley’s Back in Town” and “Operation SNAFU.”
Pioneering movie house operator Joseph Cohen of the Dazzleland announced the new Allegheny Theatre in September of 1911 to the plans of Magaziner & Potter. The Allegheny opened in 1912 and was acquired by the Stanley Circuit in 1919. In 1929, it added Western Electric sound to remain viable.
The Allegheny Theatre ceased operations following the April 19, 1952 expiry of the second of two 20-year leases with a double feature of “Meet Danny Wilson” and “Treasure of Lost Canyon.” The venue was then listed in the classified ads later in 1952 as “former movie building” for sale.
The Harrowgate Theatre was built in 1920 for Lewin Pizor and Benjamin Dintenfass in Harrowgate Square. Just prior to launch, however, the Stanley Theatre Circuit bought the Harrowgate in January of 1921 for $160,000 (or $200,000, depending on which report) from Dintenfass. At opening the Harrowgate seated 1,133 in a 73' by 150' venue becoming the 35th Stanley operated theater in the city. The Moller organ, alone, cost $25,000. The opening film was “The Mark of Zorro” on January 24, 1921. The opening manager of George Sobel coming over from the Iris Theatre.
The Harrowgate added sound to remain viable. At the 20th Anniversary of the theatre, Stanley Warner updated the Harrowgate and a group of other venues to make them more streamline moderne. The Harrowgate Theatre was closed at the expiry of a 30-year lease on September 30, 1951 with “Apache Drums” and “Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm.” The venue was transformed into the long-running Kensington Roller Rink.
Architect Carl P. Berger created the the plans for the Lafayette Theatre on behalf of operator Michael Stiefel. It was built by B. Katchums and Son and opened late in 1913. The Lafayette sat 1,300 and its arched 20'x80' lobby was still recognizable from the 2914 Kensington Street entry in the 2020s. The auditorium portion is well back from the lobby sitting at the interior of 2919-2927 E Street. The Lafayette was a movie theater for its entire run of less than 17 years. Its halcyon days were when it had a contract with Paramount films. It also had a neighboring confectioner that served as the de facto concession stand.
The Lafayette did not make the transition to sound and was sold to a drug store operator in 1930. It’s not clear what happened to the Lafayette after 1930. When the building was next transferred in 1951, it was still referred to as “the former Lafayette Theatre.” The lobby portion of the former theatre was part of a car wash operation in the 2020s having had its interior gutted. The E Street auditorium was apparently still used for community events.
Joseph Cohen and A. Morrison retrofitted a retail store for an early theatre in 1907 known as the Dazzleland Amusement Parlor. It expanded encompassing 2940-2946 Frankford as the New Dazzleland Theatre. Cohen solely owned the theatre later which was said to have a start-up cost of $40,000. (In an interview in 1927, Cohen said that he had opened the Dazzleland in 1904 and in a later interview he said that it had opened in 1906.) Sam Hyman took over the Dazzleland in 1921. In 1927, it was advertised as the Cameo Theatre.
The Cameo added sound to remain viable and closed with a double feature of “Stalag 17” and “Shane” on November 8, 1959. At the end there were cries of, “Come back!” Sadly, there was no response.
In 1961, the space was used as a retail location for John’s Bargain Store.
Barnet Rubin built the new Walton Theatre in 1913 at 733-735 East Chelten. Its first advertised showtime was in 1914. John F. McMahon took on the venue in 1917 operating until his death in 1943. McMahon had added sound to the Walton to keep the venue viable. He then performed a streamline modern makeover in March of 1938 to the plans of David Supowitz. In 1954, the theatre added widescreen projection to present CinemaScope films. Operating as a grind house for much of the 1940s to 1960, the theatre saw a drop-off of attendance as the decade of the 1960s began.
The operation changed under new owners to the Walton Art Theatre showing adult films to continue remaining viable as of September 21, 1960 with “Hideout in the Sun.” (The same operators also had the Devon Art and the Spruce Art theaters.) The Walton Art Theatre closed on January 14, 1976 with John Holmes in “Beyond Fulfillment” and Brigette Giursa in “The Devil Made Me Do It.”
Richard Williams reopened the Walton with a combination of documentaries, small indy films, and live stage shows in January of 1979 as the Walton Theatre closing with a live comedy show on August 30, 1980. So, technically, this venue opened and closed as the Walton Theater aka the Walton Art Theatre aka the Art Walton Theatre.
A wind storm ripped the marquee off of the building on November 20, 1989 and much of its front causing the building to be razed in 1989 and 1990.
The Lenox Theatre launched February 9, 1927. It closed permanently on June 7, 1964 with “Captain Newman” and “Eye of Frankenstein.” A salvage sale occurred immediately thereafter as Acme Supermarkets purchased the building and had the theatre razed.
John C. Conner opened the Greenway in 1916. He sold it in 1919 to M. Seltzer who sold it to Eli Resnick in 1921. Stanley Circuit took on the Greenway Theatre in 1930 but Resnick operated the theatre until his death in 1952. It appears that Paul and Samuel Resnick took on the operation and it may have exited after the October 19, 1952 showing of “The Iron Man” and “Double Crossbones.” However, they may have continued operations without advertising. Either way, it became a long-running church that was still operating in the 21st Century.
The Keystone closed permanently after a double feature of “Elephant Walk” and “The Black Glove” supported by fight highlights of the Marciano-Charles boxing match on July 5, 1954. It was used as a house of worship until being auction in 1958. The auction winner had the building razed in 1959.
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.
The Fans Theatre closed during an August 25, 1963 showing of “Diary of a Madman.” Kids running across the roof looking for a free way into the theatre near a skylight resulted in plaster falling 100 feet and injuring patrons. The Fans had a reported crowd of 600 at the time of the incident. The theatre was listed as “Closed for repairs; open soon.” But, apparently, the 50th Anniversary in 1964 was not meant to be.
The Haverford opened January 16, 1910. It was auctioned off in 1956.
H.W. Rambo of the Lubin Company opened the new vaudeville/movie house on February 14, 1911 as the Lincoln Theatre at 1317-1325 South 49th Street. A neighboring soda fountain served as the de facto concession stand in the theater’s early days. The theatre closed for a major refresh in 1924 when J.J. Miller sold off the lease. The Murphy-Quigley Company presided over the improvements. It re-emerged under new operator Ray O’Rourke and Quaker City Amusement when it became the Doris Theatre in January of 1925. O'Rourke had previously managed the Orpheum in Germantown and operated a number of West Philly theaters including this one. As the Doris, the venue was now a full-time movie theater complete with pipe organ.
The Doris was equipped with sound (presumably in 1930 under a new 20-year lease) and, in 1939, was modernized once again to the plans of David Supowitz to become a streamline moderne theatre. A 1936 case in which the Doris Theatre personnel refused to sell a movie ticket to an African American patron ended up in court with the plaintiff winning the case. Another case involved the charge that its Bank/Bingo nights amounted to an illegal lottery - which O"Rourke’s theatre won. And another situation involved the playing of Sunday movies.
A.M. and Martin D. Ellis took on the vnue on May 27, 1942 operating it under the last eight years remaining on its lease. The Doris closed permanently at the expiry of its lease with William Holden in “Dear Wife” on May 25, 1950. After being listed for sale or lease, the former Doris was auctioned off in 1952. The building is still standing as of the 2020s.
The Chester Pike Drive-In was opened by Ellis Theatres on May 26, 1949 with “The Adventures of Robin Hood.”
The $125,000 Bellevue Theatre launched for Milton Rogasner and St. Charles Amusement on December 10, 1914. Charlie Chaplin’s “The Tango Tangle” opened the theatre shown on its Radium Gold Fibre screen and accompanied by its new Haskell pipe organ with echo effect. The theatre appears to have ceased operations at the exit point of a lease at the 15 year mark.
William Hunt / Hunt’s Enterprise operated the venue at 4910-4914 North Broad Street from 1922 to 1942. Listed as a Spanish architecture theatre, in 1941 the theatre was modernized to the plans of Thalheimer and Weitz bringing a streamlined look. The theatre was transferred to A.M. Ellis Theatres in 1943. Ellis also launched the Chester Pike D-I on My 26, 1949. The Rockland ceased operations following showtimes on October 11, 1970 with “Machine Gun McCain” and “Land Raiders.”
On March 29, 1929, the Northeastern was one of eleven existing theaters acquired by Warner-Equity Theatres. In April of 1942, Warner Circuit gave it a streamline moderne makeover. A long-running soda fountain served as a before and after show hangout. The Northeastern Theatre closed on January 25, 1958 with “The Unknown Terror” and “Back from the Dead.”
Warner-Equity Theatres launched the new Holme Theatre with sound pictures on October 11, 1929 with “On With the Show” supported by “Look Out Below.” The theatre was named after Thomas Holme and was in the Holemsburg neighborhood of Philly. The Holme closed after the January 8, 1942 showing of “Hold That Ghost” for a major $100,000 refresh. On March 17, 1942, it was relaunched as the Penypak Theatre with Kay Kyser in “The Playmates.”
The Penypak scuffled in the 1950s along with many neighborhood movie houses. In 1950, the independent operator, Melvin Fox, sued the eight major Hollywood distributors citing a cartel that didn’t allow it access to key first run films. That and similar suits at that time around the country led to the Paramount decree that would break up the cartel. The Penypak Theatre initially closed at the expiry of a leasing period on September 27, 1951 with “The Great Caruso.” The former Penypak became the short-lived Herby’s Auction House. A boy got his hand stuck in the Penypak popcorn machine during an auction requiring rescue by the fire department. The auction house closed early in 1954 with the building offered for sale.
The Penypak re-emerged on a grind policy by Mr. Fox on May 8, 1955 with “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and “Desiree.” The venue had a new 40' screen and widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles. But the Penypak’s audience loss was not stemmed and it soon cased operations on October 30, 1955 with Anne Appleton in the exploitation film, “The Desperate Women,” supported by Richard Coogan in “Girl on the Run” ending the venue’s cinematic journey.
After being offered for sale without a buyer, the theatre was auctioned off on July 12, 1956 for $70,000. It resumed auction services for a short period. In 1959, it was a showplace with live plays by the Pinypak players. That only lasted three months closing just prior the theater’s 30th Anniversary. The building was again sold in 1962 for $52,500 to a furniture retailer beginning a long retail career.
The Merben Theater was opened on August 16, 1950 with “The Big Hangover.” It closed with the Philly favorite, “Rocky,” on October 6, 1977.
The Lehigh Theatre closed September 22, 1957 with “Bambi” and “The adventures of Robin Hood.”
The Airport Drive-In Theatre took flight on October 30, 1957 with “Man of a Thousand Faces” and “War Drums.” The Airport crash landed on December 16, 1969, with a quadruple feature of “Fanny Hill,” “The Wild Angels.” “The Glory Stompers” and “Hell’s Angels on Wheels.”
The Elm Theatre dates back at least to 1920. It was renamed the Airport in 1942. The Airport crash landed on July 9, 1950 with “Crime Doctor’s Diary” and Pat O'Brien appropriately in “Flight Lieutenant.” The building was then offered for sale before being auctioned off in 1952 at end of lease.
Jack Delmar launched the Bell Theatre in 1913. Under new ownership by Marcus Benn, it became the original Benn Theatre in 1917. Benn soon outgrew the diminutive house and purchased land in 1920 at 6316 to 6322 Woodland to build the New Benn Theatre for some $350,000. During the project, the Stanley Circuit bought the venue claiming it as part of its $10 million building spree of theaters in 1923.
The September 1, 1923 opening of the New Benn ended the original Benn Theatre which would eventually became to the Benson Theatre. The Benson appears to have closed August 13, 1967 with “Divorce, American Style.”
The Lindy Theatre closed permanently on August 28, 1952 with “Ivory Hunter” and “Outlaw Women”
Irwin and Leighton launched the Orient Theatre to the 1912 architectural plans of John Irwin Bright. The Stanley Circuit took over the theatre in 1924 later equipping it for sound. Stanley-Warner closed The Orient permanently on October 29, 1950 with “The Duchess of Idaho.” It was one of several theatres listed together as “Former theatres for lease” thereafter.
M.J. Walsh launched the Iris Theatre on December 12, 1910. The first night feature live vaudeville with the Lester Brothers and the Creighton Sisters. Photoplays were also in the first week of shows at the Iris. The Stanley Circuit took on the venue. The theatre installed sound to remain viable.
On April 29, 1953, the Iris installed a silver screen to present 3D films starting with “Bwana Devil.” In 1954, it installed widescreen technology to present CinemaScope films. The Iris closed May 8, 1965 with a double feature of “Bus Riley’s Back in Town” and “Operation SNAFU.”
Pioneering movie house operator Joseph Cohen of the Dazzleland announced the new Allegheny Theatre in September of 1911 to the plans of Magaziner & Potter. The Allegheny opened in 1912 and was acquired by the Stanley Circuit in 1919. In 1929, it added Western Electric sound to remain viable.
The Allegheny Theatre ceased operations following the April 19, 1952 expiry of the second of two 20-year leases with a double feature of “Meet Danny Wilson” and “Treasure of Lost Canyon.” The venue was then listed in the classified ads later in 1952 as “former movie building” for sale.
The Harrowgate Theatre was built in 1920 for Lewin Pizor and Benjamin Dintenfass in Harrowgate Square. Just prior to launch, however, the Stanley Theatre Circuit bought the Harrowgate in January of 1921 for $160,000 (or $200,000, depending on which report) from Dintenfass. At opening the Harrowgate seated 1,133 in a 73' by 150' venue becoming the 35th Stanley operated theater in the city. The Moller organ, alone, cost $25,000. The opening film was “The Mark of Zorro” on January 24, 1921. The opening manager of George Sobel coming over from the Iris Theatre.
The Harrowgate added sound to remain viable. At the 20th Anniversary of the theatre, Stanley Warner updated the Harrowgate and a group of other venues to make them more streamline moderne. The Harrowgate Theatre was closed at the expiry of a 30-year lease on September 30, 1951 with “Apache Drums” and “Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm.” The venue was transformed into the long-running Kensington Roller Rink.
Architect Carl P. Berger created the the plans for the Lafayette Theatre on behalf of operator Michael Stiefel. It was built by B. Katchums and Son and opened late in 1913. The Lafayette sat 1,300 and its arched 20'x80' lobby was still recognizable from the 2914 Kensington Street entry in the 2020s. The auditorium portion is well back from the lobby sitting at the interior of 2919-2927 E Street. The Lafayette was a movie theater for its entire run of less than 17 years. Its halcyon days were when it had a contract with Paramount films. It also had a neighboring confectioner that served as the de facto concession stand.
The Lafayette did not make the transition to sound and was sold to a drug store operator in 1930. It’s not clear what happened to the Lafayette after 1930. When the building was next transferred in 1951, it was still referred to as “the former Lafayette Theatre.” The lobby portion of the former theatre was part of a car wash operation in the 2020s having had its interior gutted. The E Street auditorium was apparently still used for community events.
Joseph Cohen and A. Morrison retrofitted a retail store for an early theatre in 1907 known as the Dazzleland Amusement Parlor. It expanded encompassing 2940-2946 Frankford as the New Dazzleland Theatre. Cohen solely owned the theatre later which was said to have a start-up cost of $40,000. (In an interview in 1927, Cohen said that he had opened the Dazzleland in 1904 and in a later interview he said that it had opened in 1906.) Sam Hyman took over the Dazzleland in 1921. In 1927, it was advertised as the Cameo Theatre.
The Cameo added sound to remain viable and closed with a double feature of “Stalag 17” and “Shane” on November 8, 1959. At the end there were cries of, “Come back!” Sadly, there was no response.
In 1961, the space was used as a retail location for John’s Bargain Store.
Barnet Rubin built the new Walton Theatre in 1913 at 733-735 East Chelten. Its first advertised showtime was in 1914. John F. McMahon took on the venue in 1917 operating until his death in 1943. McMahon had added sound to the Walton to keep the venue viable. He then performed a streamline modern makeover in March of 1938 to the plans of David Supowitz. In 1954, the theatre added widescreen projection to present CinemaScope films. Operating as a grind house for much of the 1940s to 1960, the theatre saw a drop-off of attendance as the decade of the 1960s began.
The operation changed under new owners to the Walton Art Theatre showing adult films to continue remaining viable as of September 21, 1960 with “Hideout in the Sun.” (The same operators also had the Devon Art and the Spruce Art theaters.) The Walton Art Theatre closed on January 14, 1976 with John Holmes in “Beyond Fulfillment” and Brigette Giursa in “The Devil Made Me Do It.”
Richard Williams reopened the Walton with a combination of documentaries, small indy films, and live stage shows in January of 1979 as the Walton Theatre closing with a live comedy show on August 30, 1980. So, technically, this venue opened and closed as the Walton Theater aka the Walton Art Theatre aka the Art Walton Theatre.
A wind storm ripped the marquee off of the building on November 20, 1989 and much of its front causing the building to be razed in 1989 and 1990.
The Lenox Theatre launched February 9, 1927. It closed permanently on June 7, 1964 with “Captain Newman” and “Eye of Frankenstein.” A salvage sale occurred immediately thereafter as Acme Supermarkets purchased the building and had the theatre razed.
John C. Conner opened the Greenway in 1916. He sold it in 1919 to M. Seltzer who sold it to Eli Resnick in 1921. Stanley Circuit took on the Greenway Theatre in 1930 but Resnick operated the theatre until his death in 1952. It appears that Paul and Samuel Resnick took on the operation and it may have exited after the October 19, 1952 showing of “The Iron Man” and “Double Crossbones.” However, they may have continued operations without advertising. Either way, it became a long-running church that was still operating in the 21st Century.
The Keystone closed permanently after a double feature of “Elephant Walk” and “The Black Glove” supported by fight highlights of the Marciano-Charles boxing match on July 5, 1954. It was used as a house of worship until being auction in 1958. The auction winner had the building razed in 1959.