Basic info on the Sam’s Place theater, along with historical photographs.  By A. Solether

Basic info on the Milgram theater, along with historical photographs.  By A. Solether

Basic info on the Sameric theater, and many photographs of Philadelphia’s most famous movie theater.  By A. Solether

Basic info on the Fox theater, along with historical photographs.  By A. Solether

Website advocating the historical importance of Philadelphia’s famous Sameric Theater (formerly Boyd Theater), including many pictures of the old picture palace. By A. Solether

Samuel Shapiro decides to open another movie theatre in downtown Philadelphia, due in part to the success of “The Graduate” at his Rittenhouse Square location.  By E. Fuld

“Philadelphia’s Finest Male Cinema.” Philadelphia Inquirer 30 Jan 1976: 7-D .

An ad among various film advertisements and arts & leisure articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer  inviting readers to a “Male Cinema.”  By A. Carl

“Neighborhood Movie Directory.” Philadelphia Inquirer 9 Jan 1976: 8-D.

Local listings of theaters, movies, and showtimes in Pennsylvania.  By A. Carl

Philadelphia inquirer [microform]. Philadelphia, Pa. : Triangle Publications, 1969-
Call#: Microfilm news 61

The locations of movie theaters in Philadelphia along with the new releases of motion pictures. By M. Kach and G. Lane

Philadelphia inquirer public ledger [microform]. Philadelphia, Pa. : Philadelphia Inquirer Co., 1934-1969.
Call#: Microfilm news 61

The locations of movie theaters in Philadelphia along with the new releases of motion pictures. By M. Kach and G. Lane

Sameric Corp., which sold the Boyd Theater in 1988, claims that the fight over the status of theater as a historical structure forced it to sell the building for less than fair market value.  Courts have upheld the law allowing the designation of buildings as historical structures but have rejected the Boyd Theater’s designation as such.  The new owners of the building intend to convert it into stores.  By L. Pardue

United Artists, the current owner of the Boyd Theater, AKA Sameric 4, are in the process of selling the theater to real estate investors despite efforts to preserve it as a historical structure. By L. Pardue

It’s interesting that David and Lisa, released in New York in December of 1962, is being advertised in Philadelphia—the city in which it was filmed—almost a year later, in December of 1963—8 months after the film failed to win an Academy Award.  And on a double-bill, no less. It’s very likely that this is a second-run for the film.  By A. Migdail

Demonstrates the fact that Philadelphia was, to some extent, on the cinematic cutting-edge during the 1960’s.  Of course, the bulk of the movies advertised in the Inquirer seem to be the standard big-budget Hollywood fare, but there were also theaters, like the Bryn Mawr, that were up-to-speed on world cinema movements.  The fact that this article was included in the “Amusements and the Arts” section is proof that there was interested in this type of film in Philadelphia.  By A. Migdail

Glazer, Irvin R. “Philadelphia Theatres, A-Z.”  New York, Westport, CT, London. Greenwood Press: 1986.  p. 70-71

According to Glazer, the Boyd was the “only Art Deco first-run moving picture theatre erected in the city” of Philadelphia.  In 1963, the Boyd underwent a transition from the three-projector Cinerama system to a single-projector system, though Glazer only mentions the three projection booths being installed.  He also mentions, interestingly, that “when Cinerama product was no longer available, the Boyd had a brief period of porno.”  By A. Migdail

This is an article from the Philadelphia Inquirer briefly reviewing the films playing at each of the major Philadelphia theaters during the Christmas season, from “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” at the Boyd to “Kings of the Sun” at the Goldman.  It is interesting to note that, in 1963, theaters made a somewhat long-term commitment to an individual movie (whereas today, most theaters play more than one film) so that the theaters in the article are often listed before the film that is playing.  By A. Migdail

Philadelphia Inquirer.  2 Jan 1963: 17
Philadelphia Inquirer.  4 Jan 1963: 21
Philadelphia Inquirer.  9 Jan 1963: 17

These advertisements from the Philadelphia Inquirer show the kinds of movies that the theaters in Philadelphia were playing in 1963.  The Viking seems to have been a more family-oriented theater, showing a lot of Disney movies (the Castaways, the Sword and the Stone, etc.)  Obviously, “Daniella By Night” was being shown in art theaters, of which there were at least a few in Philadelphia.  Notice the emphasis on “Cinerama” in the advertisement for the Boyd’s “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm.”  The Boyd Theater was, in fact, well known for being Philadelphia’s Cinerama theater though, in December of 1963, the Boyd switched from the three-projector Cinerama technique to the single-projector “70mm Cinerama.” (see also the review of “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad World”).  By A. Migdail 

This is a digital version of the book by Glasser.  It has detailed pictures of each theater from the 20^th century.  The website has tons of links to everything from a full history of each venue to a brief synopsis of the main figures involved with the theater over the years.  By W. Wright

This website is a very detailed examination of old film theaters that have come and gone.  It has a database of every theater worth mentioning in the Philadelphia area.  By W. Wright

This website has pictures of what the Keith Theater and many other picture palaces looked like back in the mid 20^th Century. It allows for a perspective of what Goldman actually did to the picture palaces and how the theaters’ evolved over time. By W. Wright

This article deals with Goldman’s expansion of his movie theatre chain.  He moves his business from a small out of the way theater to a small empire of the last picture palaces in Philadelphia.  The buying and gutting of this old establishment becomes representative of the new way of making movie theaters.  Though Keithe’s theater is still considered a picture palace, it is a new age palace and much different than its predecessors.  Goldman makes this venue into a state of the art theater for the next generation of film goers.  By W. Wright

Historic Kiethe Theatre Sold to William Goldman.  By W. Wright 

In LexisNexis, click "Get a Case" and search for case 19 T.C. 637

United States. U.S. Tax Court. William Goldman Theatres, Inc. v. Commissionner of Internal Revenue. 19 T.C. 637; 1953 U.S. Tax Ct. Lexis 262.

This is a federal court case (the case was never granted a writ of certiorari from the Supreme Court) about the settlement of William Goldman Theater Co. against Loews. This case talks about the money Goldman won after suing Loews under the Sherman Anti-trust act. The original case has to deal with the incurred loss of Goldman’s theaters because of an unfair monopoly practices under the vertically integrated studio system. Goldman was originally awarded $1.35 million for loss and damages, but after another appeal, a district court awarded him $125,000, plus $375,000 in punitive damages. By 1953, the case was already over seven years old, but it was not simply a case fighting large studios, it was a case that allowed for a local area theater owner to gain some control over distribution and exhibition with Philadelphia. This decision leads to Goldman opening a successful chain of movie theaters, which he owns and operates for over another twenty years. By W. Wright

Glazer, Irvin R., 1922- . Philadelphia theatres, A-Z : a comprehensive, descriptive record of 813 theatres constructed since 1724 / Irvin R. Glazer. Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, c1986.

A one page exerpt about William Goldman and his winning stance against Loews. This one page gives a quick history of William Goldman’s ten year rise to becoming one of Philadelphia’s most prominent entrepreneurs. His ownership of multiple theaters in Philadelphia came at a point towards the end of the studio system. Goldman’s expansion of his theatre palaces changed the landscape of downtown for many years to come. By W. Wright

Central City theaters are now organized into one larger cohesive advertisement. All are owned by Stanley-Warner. Includes the Stanley, Boyd, Fox, Earle, Aldine, Stanton, Karlton, Keith’s, Palace, and Victoria theaters. By Alexis Tryon

New Terminal Theater opens at 69^th St.  Advertises its “mirrorphonic sound”, “acousticon seat phones for the deaf”, and “complete air conditioning”. Shows are $.20 from 10:30AM to 6PM and $.30 after 6PM. Children are $.10.  By Alexis Tryon

Many theater advertisements now read “Scientifically Air-Conditioned” across the top banner, with the titles looking frozen. New technological advancements with the heat of summer. Great way to keep film patrons visiting theaters in the summer.  By Alexis Tryon

Contains both advertisements as well as pictures. This book essentially describes the entirety of the Keswick’s existence as a suburban theatre that transformed an entire community. Takes the theatre from before it was constructed up to today. By Lee Forest Black

Provides facts about buildings in Philadelphia. By Peggy DeAngelo

A website that brings attention to the Boyd theater in Philadelphia and asks for support in restoring it.  By Peggy DeAngelo

Gives factual information about old theaters.  Also provides an open comment space where people involved with the theater or who were alive to experience the theater can write what they know.  The collection includes information and first hand acounts about old theaters in Philadelphia.  By Peggy

Glazer describes theaters built in Philadelphia after 1724.  By Peggy DeAngelo

Philadelphia Theater Locations (Constructed 1906-1915). Lists Philadelphia theaters with descriptions and addresses.  By Jake M. Chanin

Glazer compiles historical photographs of Philadelphia Theaters.  By Jake M. Chanin

Review of new theater (playhouse) the Forrest Theater. This is a play house but it is still interesting because it is an example of the expansion in exhibition spaces and it marks the move towards more opulent spaces. The Forrest Theater is described as “magnificent” and “a gem.”  By Jake M. Chanin

Article on the future of motion pictures in 1915. Integration of the theater space as an exhibition area for plays, burlesque shows, vaudeville, and photo plays.  By Jake M. Chanin