That sounds like a stimulating night at the movies. If I can digress, I was watching an adult film in Philly one late night in a half-empty theater. An elderly African-American gentleman was sleeping in the seat in front of me, or so I assumed as he hadn’t moved since I sat down. Towards the end of the film, the gentleman suddenly arose from his prone position with the unmistakeable body language (and accompanying verbalization) that suggested that he had actually not been sleeping at all. Needless to say, I stayed away from his seat when leaving the theater.
The gym at this location is alive and well. There is some information about the theater on the wall outside of the gym entrance. Other than the shape of the building, it is hard to tell that a theater was there previously.
I was going to say that Canter’s is in Los Angeles, not Hollywood, but as Hollywood is not a city the difference is miniscule. I saw the picture of the Esquire the first time I went to Canter’s back in the mid-80s.
I remember when the Apollo was a burlesque house in the mid 1970s. For some reason, burlesque was still popular years after its heyday. I recall another burlesque house on Virginia Avenue between Pacific Avenue and the Boardwalk. There was a city bus station just before you reached the boardwalk, and a novelty store as well, along with a few bars on the south side of the street. All of that was obliterated to make way for the Taj Mahal.
By the way, I recall another classic film that was shown at the Goldman – Yor, Hunter of the Future. If anyone else has heard of this film, hats off to you.
Market Street is south of Chestnut. If the theater was above Chestnut, it would be between Chestnut and Sansom Streets. It can’t be above Chestnut and still be between Chestnut and Market. Isn’t it great that we can argue about the location of a movie theater that was torn down twenty years ago?
You are absolutely right. The Royal was the name of the theater. Thanks for the information, Charles. I can stop wondering about that place after twenty years.
Well, I went through all of the Philadelphia theaters listed and didn’t find the one I was looking for. During the 1981 Septa strike, I used to ride my bike from 44th and Walnut to Broad and Snyder (!) to go to work. Part of my route took me down South Street from around 20th to Broad, where I would turn right to go to South Philly. At that time, South Street from the river to about Sixth was a lively area. After Sixth, though, the neighborhood deteriorated. If I recall, on South between Fifteenth and Sixteenth there was a ghost of a movie theater in a block full of abandoned buildings. I can’t think of the name of the theater to save my life, but it had obviously been closed a long time. I looked forward to seeing that old theater every time I had to pedal through Center City, cursing Septa all the way. If anyone remembers this theater, or knows if the site has been renovated, let me know. Thanks.
I’m sorry. I should have read your synopsis more carefully. You do point our that the theater ended up showing adult films in the 70s. I actually went to this theater with a frat buddy and tried to stay up all night (they were true to their advertising) but the quality of the films was so poor by three a.m. that we left. By the early morning, the films looked like super 8 loops that were taken by peering in someone’s bedroom window.
Wasn’t this another adult film place in the mid 70s? As I recall, the Fox was on the east end of Market Street, then further down the block there were two or three porno houses that sold tickets for 99 cents.
The Ritz Three was the best place to see foreign films in the early 1980s. The TLA was more inclined to show Pink Flamingos and Plan Nine from Outer Space.
I saw many films at the Midtown, including 10 with Bo Derek, Endless Love with Brooke Shields and Saturn 5 with Kirk Douglas and Farrah Fawcett. I didn’t say they were good films, did I?
I went to numerous birthday parties when this theater was a bowling alley in the 1970s.
This theater was on Atlantic Avenue near Columbus Park, if I recall, on the east side of the street.
Here is a link with some pictures:
View link
Here is a link:
View link
Here is a link that shows a picture of the Capitol Theater:
http://206.103.49.193/odds/nj/htm/acs85.htm
I have driven down this street hundreds of times. I had no idea that a theater existed in Lomita.
Now that I think about it, everyone is correct except me. Blame it on old age and a bad memory.
That sounds like a stimulating night at the movies. If I can digress, I was watching an adult film in Philly one late night in a half-empty theater. An elderly African-American gentleman was sleeping in the seat in front of me, or so I assumed as he hadn’t moved since I sat down. Towards the end of the film, the gentleman suddenly arose from his prone position with the unmistakeable body language (and accompanying verbalization) that suggested that he had actually not been sleeping at all. Needless to say, I stayed away from his seat when leaving the theater.
The gym at this location is alive and well. There is some information about the theater on the wall outside of the gym entrance. Other than the shape of the building, it is hard to tell that a theater was there previously.
There are some pictures of the demolition of the Belmont on lapl.org.
I was going to say that Canter’s is in Los Angeles, not Hollywood, but as Hollywood is not a city the difference is miniscule. I saw the picture of the Esquire the first time I went to Canter’s back in the mid-80s.
As of today, the Ambassador Hotel is on death row. They pulled all of the furniture out yesterday. Demolition will start in a few days. R.I.P.
This building is a true landmark in Southern California. At least something was saved.
There was an advertisement for roller derby on the marquee a few years ago. I don’t think that ever took off.
I remember when the Apollo was a burlesque house in the mid 1970s. For some reason, burlesque was still popular years after its heyday. I recall another burlesque house on Virginia Avenue between Pacific Avenue and the Boardwalk. There was a city bus station just before you reached the boardwalk, and a novelty store as well, along with a few bars on the south side of the street. All of that was obliterated to make way for the Taj Mahal.
I thought the theater where I saw Jungle Book was on the boardwalk, but you may be right. It’s been a long time.
By the way, I recall another classic film that was shown at the Goldman – Yor, Hunter of the Future. If anyone else has heard of this film, hats off to you.
Market Street is south of Chestnut. If the theater was above Chestnut, it would be between Chestnut and Sansom Streets. It can’t be above Chestnut and still be between Chestnut and Market. Isn’t it great that we can argue about the location of a movie theater that was torn down twenty years ago?
You are absolutely right. The Royal was the name of the theater. Thanks for the information, Charles. I can stop wondering about that place after twenty years.
Well, I went through all of the Philadelphia theaters listed and didn’t find the one I was looking for. During the 1981 Septa strike, I used to ride my bike from 44th and Walnut to Broad and Snyder (!) to go to work. Part of my route took me down South Street from around 20th to Broad, where I would turn right to go to South Philly. At that time, South Street from the river to about Sixth was a lively area. After Sixth, though, the neighborhood deteriorated. If I recall, on South between Fifteenth and Sixteenth there was a ghost of a movie theater in a block full of abandoned buildings. I can’t think of the name of the theater to save my life, but it had obviously been closed a long time. I looked forward to seeing that old theater every time I had to pedal through Center City, cursing Septa all the way. If anyone remembers this theater, or knows if the site has been renovated, let me know. Thanks.
I remember this building. You could see much of the theater from Sansom Street.
I’m sorry. I should have read your synopsis more carefully. You do point our that the theater ended up showing adult films in the 70s. I actually went to this theater with a frat buddy and tried to stay up all night (they were true to their advertising) but the quality of the films was so poor by three a.m. that we left. By the early morning, the films looked like super 8 loops that were taken by peering in someone’s bedroom window.
Wasn’t this another adult film place in the mid 70s? As I recall, the Fox was on the east end of Market Street, then further down the block there were two or three porno houses that sold tickets for 99 cents.
The Ritz Three was the best place to see foreign films in the early 1980s. The TLA was more inclined to show Pink Flamingos and Plan Nine from Outer Space.
I saw many films at the Midtown, including 10 with Bo Derek, Endless Love with Brooke Shields and Saturn 5 with Kirk Douglas and Farrah Fawcett. I didn’t say they were good films, did I?