Ad for The Goodbye Girl, playing at the Arcadia Theater at 1529 Chestnut.  By A. Solether

Review of the film “Possessed” at the Arcadia Theatre.

The review discusses the plot of the film, which revolves around a poor girl’s struggle to overcome her environment. The ideas of people moving between the worlds of wealth and poverty, and people from humble means achieving great things were related to social issue films and represented an idealism that was soothing for film-goers during the Depression. By Uri Friedman

Ad for Arcadia Theater (showing Niobe starring Hazel Dawn) and others. By Jake M. Chanin

Ad for Arcadia Theater (opened Apr. 24, 1915) for continuous “A. M. to 11.15 P. M.” showings of The Bride of Hate staring Frank Keenan and Margery Wilson.  By Jake M. Chanin

Ad for Arcadia Theater Opening Day, showing of Metro Picture’s The High Road staring Valli Valli. Admission 15¢ for matinee and 25¢ for evening shows. Also mentions Crosskey Theater (opened December 28, 1914) playing photoplays. By Jake M. Chanin

Review of opening night at a new theater. Arcadia Theater is noted for being “pretty and comfortable.” It was described as a well planned theater part of the shift towards more elaborate exhibition spaces such as picture palaces. The decorum was French renaissance with marble and an expensive organ; the theater even had an air conditioning system. The theaters policy is to only show “high-class photo plays, with frequent changes of subjects.” Arcadia seems to have been designed as a space for elite art.  By Jake M. Chanin

Article reviewing theater plays and films. Mention of Juggernaut playing at the Arcadia Theater, which was “brilliantly added to the list of picture theaters.” Juggernaut was not worthy for its “thrilling scenes” especially the “crashing through a trestle of an entire railroad train.” This crash was a “climax” and “in itself would makes the picture well worth seeing.” Review demonstrates the novelty of early cinema. By Jake M. Chanin