I’ve been to the Dome a few times. It is similiar in terms of screen to the Washington D.C. Uptown. LA also has huge screens, though not curved, at Village (Westwood Village) and Grauman’s Chinese.
Even if somehow (which I doubt would ever happen) you were to un-assemble a facade and transport it thousands of miles (away from its original historic context of community) and paste it to a new building, and place some artifacts within the new building, and then proclaim that you have saved the theater, you would have not saved the theater. You would have told the public & developers that instead of saving historic architecture, you could move bits & parts & that such saving is good enough. That would be harmful to the historic preservation movement.
Box Office November 12, 1938 describes opening festivities for this new Warner Bros theater last Wednesday: A four and a half mile run from North Broad Street’s Uptown Theatre, a parade of military & school bands of Oak Lane preceded speeches, and speeches including that of Mayor S. Davis Wilson.
If you type in exactly the words “Boxoffice August 21, 1937” and after issue appears, enter in search box “Philadelphia” after enough clicks you will find “Theatre Lighting Section” and on its second page, middle set of photos shows beautiful Art Moderne (remodel) of Riant.
Google search exactly the words “Boxoffice May 29, 1937” and when the issue appears, type in the search box “Philadelphia” and eventually you will see an exterior photo of the Mayfair in all its original glory.
If you google search EXACTLY “Boxoffice May 29, 1937” and when the issue appears, type “Philadelphia” in the search box then after enough clicks, you will eventually see a photo of the glass block fireplace & mural above it! (next to a photo of a giant Hollywood vertical sign).
If you google search EXACTLY “Boxoffice April 30, 1938” and then after the issue appears, place in the search box “Philadelphia” then after enough clicks you will eventually find an exterior photo of the Dante in its Art Moderne glory.
What are you doing? Is the below quote accurate? I will post on Ridgewood news, too, since that’s still on homepage.
Nobody is going to “move” the entire Ridgewood Theatre, with all its original plaster, paint,and other decorative features. Movie palaces cost millions to build, and it is too expensive to move or reconstruct them in another location. Historic preservation of all buildings will be destroyed if preservationists pretend that moving a few artifacts is good enough!
February 8, 2009 New York Times:
Also on their list of possible acquisitions, she
said, is the Ridgewood Theater on Myrtle Avenue, where Queens and
Brooklyn meet. ‘'We might take it,’‘ said Ms. Miller, a publicity
manager. Mr. Owens is an auto dealer and financial planner. The
93-year-old movie house, designed by Thomas W. Lamb, who was considered
the king of theater architects, never missed a day of showings until it
closed last March, making it the longest-continuously operated cinema in
the country, according to the Theater Historical Society of America.
Ms. Miller said that she and Mr. Owens learned of the theater's
uncertain fate from Michael Perlman, a local preservationist who has
rallied supporters in efforts to save the theater and recently got the preservation commission to consider designating it for protection. In any case, only the facade would be granted landmark status. Of the n25,000 landmark buildings in New York, only 125 are protected inside as well. Mr. Perlman, 26, who has a graphic arts business and collects vintage postcards, said that the relocation of the seats and other furnishings of the Ridgewood Theater to Birmingham would be ’‘bittersweet.’‘ But he said, ’‘At least it would allow future generations to cherish it.’'
What are you doing? Is the below quote accurate? I will post on Ridgewood news, too, since that’s still on homepage.
Nobody is going to “move” the entire Ridgewood Theatre, with all its original plaster, paint,and other decorative features. Movie palaces cost millions to build, and it is too expensive to move or reconstruct them in another location. Historic preservation of all buildings will be destroyed if preservationists pretend that moving a few artifacts is good enough!
February 8, 2009 New York Times:
Also on their list of possible acquisitions, she
said, is the Ridgewood Theater on Myrtle Avenue, where Queens and
Brooklyn meet. ‘'We might take it,’‘ said Ms. Miller, a publicity
manager. Mr. Owens is an auto dealer and financial planner. The
93-year-old movie house, designed by Thomas W. Lamb, who was considered
the king of theater architects, never missed a day of showings until it
closed last March, making it the longest-continuously operated cinema in
the country, according to the Theater Historical Society of America.
Ms. Miller said that she and Mr. Owens learned of the theater's
uncertain fate from Michael Perlman, a local preservationist who has
rallied supporters in efforts to save the theater and recently got the
preservation commission to consider designating it for protection. In
any case, only the facade would be granted landmark status. Of the
25,000 landmark buildings in New York, only 125 are protected inside as
well. Mr. Perlman, 26, who has a graphic arts business and collects
vintage postcards, said that the relocation of the seats and other
furnishings of the Ridgewood Theater to Birmingham would be
’‘bittersweet.’‘ But he said, ’‘At least it would allow future
generations to cherish it.’'
I think that acquisition was in 1986 and two years later United Artists Circuit bought Sameric Corp, the last remaining large Philadelphia based chain for mainstream exhibition.
I’ve notified this site as to the website link change. That change will be done soon.
Looking at the Introduction at the top of the page to see if changes, additions, etc need to be made, could you please advise, Peter, if it is still correct that the Galaxy Theatre Corporation is leasing the theater? Or if not, who are current operators?
Did Nelson depart this year or 2008?
And, what year did the classic film series begin? Might as well note the starting &ending years of the classic film series in the Intro.
Hitchcock’s films were meant to be seen in 35mm so I’d vote against any process that doesn’t have that much resolution. That would appear to be this process, too. See the films in your living room in less resolution. See them in theaters in 35mm or digital 2k or 4k if those provide high resolution similiar to film.
Photo of “South Seas Adventure” at the Boyd Theatre: View link
Photo of “How the West was Won” with a band at the Boyd: View link
Friends of the Boyd have a “Cinerama Holiday” postcard, donated recently to us: View link
Here’s the back of the postcard with Boyd Theatre details: View link
Want more information & free Weekly Updates about our cause to ensure the Boyd is restored & reopened including with a film series? enter your information at www.FriendsofTheBoyd.org
“more than ten times the cost of new construction!” new construction for what? It is an ornate 1900 seat theater and even non-ornate, they don’t get built cheaply.
I enjoyed “Dial M for Murder” in 35 mm (not 3D)when Warner Brothers showed it as one of the four 1950s films they showed as part of their 75th Anniv festival. It was a popular film at the time. Philadelphians can have extra pride in that Grace Kelly stars.
I know mature adults who enjoyed seeing “Polar Express” in 3D at the King of Prussia Imax. Both 3D and Imax are indeed gimmicks to attract people into the theaters, including young people who are too used to tiny screens they carry around. If the studios produce good 3D movies, they will do well. Let’s wish them luck!
7 June 1941 Box Office states the Astor in Reading reopened May 28, with the world premiere of the movie “In the Navy”
The Joy isn’t on this website. Perhaps you could go to link above “add theater” and add it?
Ceasar, you saw “2001” at the Joy Theatre in which city & state?
I’ve been to the Dome a few times. It is similiar in terms of screen to the Washington D.C. Uptown. LA also has huge screens, though not curved, at Village (Westwood Village) and Grauman’s Chinese.
Even if somehow (which I doubt would ever happen) you were to un-assemble a facade and transport it thousands of miles (away from its original historic context of community) and paste it to a new building, and place some artifacts within the new building, and then proclaim that you have saved the theater, you would have not saved the theater. You would have told the public & developers that instead of saving historic architecture, you could move bits & parts & that such saving is good enough. That would be harmful to the historic preservation movement.
The theater would not be saved.
What would happen to the relocated parts? What would be their use? Why would the couple do this? It would be an enormous cost.
Box Office November 12, 1938 describes opening festivities for this new Warner Bros theater last Wednesday: A four and a half mile run from North Broad Street’s Uptown Theatre, a parade of military & school bands of Oak Lane preceded speeches, and speeches including that of Mayor S. Davis Wilson.
If you type in exactly the words “Boxoffice August 21, 1937” and after issue appears, enter in search box “Philadelphia” after enough clicks you will find “Theatre Lighting Section” and on its second page, middle set of photos shows beautiful Art Moderne (remodel) of Riant.
Google search exactly the words “Boxoffice May 29, 1937” and when the issue appears, type in the search box “Philadelphia” and eventually you will see an exterior photo of the Mayfair in all its original glory.
If you google search EXACTLY “Boxoffice May 29, 1937” and when the issue appears, type “Philadelphia” in the search box then after enough clicks, you will eventually see a photo of the glass block fireplace & mural above it! (next to a photo of a giant Hollywood vertical sign).
Does the fireplace & mural survive?
If you google search EXACTLY “Boxoffice April 30, 1938” and then after the issue appears, place in the search box “Philadelphia” then after enough clicks you will eventually find an exterior photo of the Dante in its Art Moderne glory.
What are you doing? Is the below quote accurate? I will post on Ridgewood news, too, since that’s still on homepage.
Nobody is going to “move” the entire Ridgewood Theatre, with all its original plaster, paint,and other decorative features. Movie palaces cost millions to build, and it is too expensive to move or reconstruct them in another location. Historic preservation of all buildings will be destroyed if preservationists pretend that moving a few artifacts is good enough!
February 8, 2009 New York Times:
Also on their list of possible acquisitions, she
said, is the Ridgewood Theater on Myrtle Avenue, where Queens and
Brooklyn meet. ‘'We might take it,’‘ said Ms. Miller, a publicity
manager. Mr. Owens is an auto dealer and financial planner. The
93-year-old movie house, designed by Thomas W. Lamb, who was considered
the king of theater architects, never missed a day of showings until it
closed last March, making it the longest-continuously operated cinema in
the country, according to the Theater Historical Society of America.
Ms. Miller said that she and Mr. Owens learned of the theater's
uncertain fate from Michael Perlman, a local preservationist who has
rallied supporters in efforts to save the theater and recently got the preservation commission to consider designating it for protection. In any case, only the facade would be granted landmark status. Of the n25,000 landmark buildings in New York, only 125 are protected inside as well. Mr. Perlman, 26, who has a graphic arts business and collects vintage postcards, said that the relocation of the seats and other furnishings of the Ridgewood Theater to Birmingham would be ’‘bittersweet.’‘ But he said, ’‘At least it would allow future generations to cherish it.’'
What are you doing? Is the below quote accurate? I will post on Ridgewood news, too, since that’s still on homepage.
Nobody is going to “move” the entire Ridgewood Theatre, with all its original plaster, paint,and other decorative features. Movie palaces cost millions to build, and it is too expensive to move or reconstruct them in another location. Historic preservation of all buildings will be destroyed if preservationists pretend that moving a few artifacts is good enough!
February 8, 2009 New York Times:
Also on their list of possible acquisitions, she
said, is the Ridgewood Theater on Myrtle Avenue, where Queens and
Brooklyn meet. ‘'We might take it,’‘ said Ms. Miller, a publicity
manager. Mr. Owens is an auto dealer and financial planner. The
93-year-old movie house, designed by Thomas W. Lamb, who was considered
the king of theater architects, never missed a day of showings until it
closed last March, making it the longest-continuously operated cinema in
the country, according to the Theater Historical Society of America.
Ms. Miller said that she and Mr. Owens learned of the theater's
uncertain fate from Michael Perlman, a local preservationist who has
rallied supporters in efforts to save the theater and recently got the
preservation commission to consider designating it for protection. In
any case, only the facade would be granted landmark status. Of the
25,000 landmark buildings in New York, only 125 are protected inside as
well. Mr. Perlman, 26, who has a graphic arts business and collects
vintage postcards, said that the relocation of the seats and other
furnishings of the Ridgewood Theater to Birmingham would be
’‘bittersweet.’‘ But he said, ’‘At least it would allow future
generations to cherish it.’'
I think that acquisition was in 1986 and two years later United Artists Circuit bought Sameric Corp, the last remaining large Philadelphia based chain for mainstream exhibition.
1st run movies- good!
I’ve notified this site as to the website link change. That change will be done soon.
Looking at the Introduction at the top of the page to see if changes, additions, etc need to be made, could you please advise, Peter, if it is still correct that the Galaxy Theatre Corporation is leasing the theater? Or if not, who are current operators?
Did Nelson depart this year or 2008?
And, what year did the classic film series begin? Might as well note the starting &ending years of the classic film series in the Intro.
Are new movies still being shown? Is the Layfayette closed? or does it have a new website rather than the one linked above?
Hitchcock’s films were meant to be seen in 35mm so I’d vote against any process that doesn’t have that much resolution. That would appear to be this process, too. See the films in your living room in less resolution. See them in theaters in 35mm or digital 2k or 4k if those provide high resolution similiar to film.
So this isn’t 2k or 4K? (what they show in some 1st run movie theaters)
Thanks Vince Young & Michael Coate!
Photo of “South Seas Adventure” at the Boyd Theatre:
View link
Photo of “How the West was Won” with a band at the Boyd:
View link
Friends of the Boyd have a “Cinerama Holiday” postcard, donated recently to us:
View link
Here’s the back of the postcard with Boyd Theatre details:
View link
Want more information & free Weekly Updates about our cause to ensure the Boyd is restored & reopened including with a film series? enter your information at www.FriendsofTheBoyd.org
Excellent work on the part of Ken Roe & others!
“more than ten times the cost of new construction!” new construction for what? It is an ornate 1900 seat theater and even non-ornate, they don’t get built cheaply.
No doubt for the era of scope films, 5 Sept 1953 Box Office reported installation of a new 40 feet wide movie screen
I’m hoping that link will be fixed soon. Here is the link:
View link
Ah, clarification: my meaning was that “Dial M for Murder” was popular when first released.
I enjoyed “Dial M for Murder” in 35 mm (not 3D)when Warner Brothers showed it as one of the four 1950s films they showed as part of their 75th Anniv festival. It was a popular film at the time. Philadelphians can have extra pride in that Grace Kelly stars.
I know mature adults who enjoyed seeing “Polar Express” in 3D at the King of Prussia Imax. Both 3D and Imax are indeed gimmicks to attract people into the theaters, including young people who are too used to tiny screens they carry around. If the studios produce good 3D movies, they will do well. Let’s wish them luck!