{"id":80,"date":"2021-10-22T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zhouchenshu.upenn.domains\/phillymoviegoing\/?p=80"},"modified":"2022-01-05T02:53:01","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T02:53:01","slug":"the-big-bad-boyd-and-the-neighborhood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zhouchenshu.upenn.domains\/phillymoviegoing\/neighborhoods\/the-big-bad-boyd-and-the-neighborhood\/","title":{"rendered":"The Big Bad Boyd and the Neighborhood Around It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n

By Aubrey Luk and Michele Gross<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
\n

How a West Philly Neighborhood Berthed a Hollywood Gem<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"
The Boyd Theatre (December 25, 1928) From Athenaeum archives.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
The Boyd Theatre renamed the Sam Eric (1991) From Athenaeum archives.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Boyd Theatre retains its long-standing legacy as the last operating movie palace in downtown Philadelphia until its closing in 2002. In its heyday, the palace<\/em> thri<\/em>ved off the spectacle of both the films shown as well as its<\/em> extravagent layout.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
\n

Timeline<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n

This area of downtown Philadelphia was a constant hub of activity even in the 1800’s because of its close vicinity to the political center of the city. The continued presence of prominent figures and constant social events made the establishment of a theatre where people can go to socialize and be entertained a natural development.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Early 1800’s<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

1830<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Late 19th Cent<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

1927 -1928<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

The Chestnut block had strong 18th century ties to its neighboring State House Square (now known as Independence Hall)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frequent parades and demonstrations passed through this street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ties to State House Square diminished after the capital moved from Philadelphia, but prominent figures still lived in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jacob Ridgeway builds a mansion used to host social functions through his generation and that of his daughter<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ridgeway mansion is converted into an addition of the Aldine Hotel, a hotel known for being the lodging place of theatrical people<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chestnut St. area boomed as an established hub for book trade-printers, publishers, lithographers, and book binders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The respective section of the Aldine Hotel is ripped down and purchased to become the Boyd Theatre.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

BOYD OPENING<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Boyd was able to find almost immediate success. It luckily opened up right before the Great Depression hit in 1929, a time when few new theaters were established. On the other hand, theaters that were already opened saw a boom in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
“Depression Bar” – a bar within the theatre during the Depression (Athenaeum)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

1928<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

1953<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

1971<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1980’s<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1988<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1998<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2002<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

2005<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

2006<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

2013<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

February 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

March 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Unfortunately, the Boyd became a victim of the changing moviegoing landscape. Perhaps no private entity thought it would be profitable to continue to fund the revival and upkeep of a traditional movie palace. Downtown Philadelphia, where the Boyd is located at, is a prime commercial location for other business ventures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

November 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

The Boyd Theatre opens! The Boyd Theatre officially opened on December 25, 1928. It was owned by Alexander R. Boyd, a veteran of theatre construction and ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boyd sold to Stanley Co. who sold to Warner Bros. soon after opening<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warner Bros. relinquished Stanley Warner Theatres because of antitrust laws<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Became RKO Stanley Warner Theatres<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local architect William Howard Lee renovated theatre to feature a curved marquee, new ticket booth, and larger movie screen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boyd Theatre was sold to the Sameric Group and renamed to the Sam Eric Theatre<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expanded to 4 auditoriums total<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sameric Corporation sold the theatre and other theatres to the United Artists Circuit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Goldenberg Group, made up of local developers, purchased Boyd from United Artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goldenberg obtained a demolition permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Committee to Save the Sameric formed. Nonprofit organization Friends of the Boyd, inc. would later join this group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clear Channel, Inc. purchased the Boyd Theatre and began talks for restoration to be used as an actual theatre with a film program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clear Channel’s theatres branched off into their own independent company: Live Nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restoration work ceased<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Boyd Theatre was included in the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also listed as one of the most endangered historic places<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Live Nation wanted to sell the theatre to developer Neal Rodin to lease to iPic thetres under the condition that the Philadelphia HIstorical Commission gives permission to demolish all but the Boyd’s facade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friends of the Boyd offered Live Nation 4.5 million dollars to match the sale price. The money came from an anonymous foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philadelphia Historical Commission approved the demolition permit via an economic hardship application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Live Nation began gutting the auditorium, which some believe was a move done to make an appeal of the PHC ruling less likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pearl Properties purchased Boyd Theatre from Live nation for 4.5 million dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demolition of the auditorium began<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction on a residential tower where the auditorium was began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan is to glass in the outdoor part of the surviving Boyd facade and use it and the old grand lobby as part of a restaurant.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Aubrey Luk and Michele Gross The Boyd Theatre retains its long-standing legacy as the last operating movie palace in downtown Philadelphia until its closing in 2002. In its heyday, the palace thrived off the spectacle of both the films shown as well as its extravagent layout. This area of downtown Philadelphia was a constant … Read moreThe Big Bad Boyd and the Neighborhood Around It<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,22],"tags":[19,7],"class_list":["post-80","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audience","category-neighborhoods","tag-center-city","tag-theater"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zhouchenshu.upenn.domains\/phillymoviegoing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zhouchenshu.upenn.domains\/phillymoviegoing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zhouchenshu.upenn.domains\/phillymoviegoing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zhouchenshu.upenn.domains\/phillymoviegoing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zhouchenshu.upenn.domains\/phillymoviegoing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80"}],"version-history":[{"count":47,"href":"https:\/\/zhouchenshu.upenn.domains\/phillymoviegoing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":260,"href":"https:\/\/zhouchenshu.upenn.domains\/phillymoviegoing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80\/revisions\/260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zhouchenshu.upenn.domains\/phillymoviegoing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zhouchenshu.upenn.domains\/phillymoviegoing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zhouchenshu.upenn.domains\/phillymoviegoing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}