Hope for the Boyd Theater?

Philadelphia’s last movie “palace” – the historic 1927 Boyd Theater – may still have life as a live performance venue. The building’s current owner, the Goldenberg Group, has indicated to the Preservation Alliance that it is serious about exploring redevelopment options for the 2400-seat Art Deco theater at 1910 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

Several months ago, the theater shut its doors and ceased operations as an movie house. Known as the “Sameric”, the movie house was leased to United Artists which showed first-run movies until recently. United Artists has filed for bankruptcy, and has cited building inefficiencies and high costs for closing the Sameric.

The Goldenberg Group – which has owned the property since 1998 – has investigated other uses for the space, including live theater, music performances and art films, but the group reports that so far no one has expressed serious interest. Goldenberg has conferred with the Nederlander Company (owners of many live theaters in New York City), Clear Channel Entertainment (operators of the Merriam and Tower theaters, the Electric Factory, and the Tweeter Center), and the Philadelphia Theater Company. All ultimately declined interest in the Boyd, citing building inefficiencies, costs, or lack of demand for additional performance venues in Center City.

Nonetheless, Goldenberg has publicly and privately indicated that it continues to seek ways to reuse the theater, and continues discussions with other potential theater operators. Representatives of Goldenberg have met several times with the Preservation Alliance which has advised the property owners on the many possible preservation incentives that could help the redevelopment of the Boyd, including rehabilitation tax credits, transfer of development rights, easement charitable gift deductions, and tax-increment financing.

The Preservation Alliance submitted nomination to designate the Boyd, built in 1927, as a city-certified historic site. The submission was based on the theater’s “significance as the last motion picture palace in Philadelphia, as a fine example of the work of the significant Philadelphia architecture firm of Hoffman and Henon, and as a unique remaining example in Philadelphia of the Art Dec motion picture palace, popular during the first quarter of the twentieth century, but constructed only once in Center City Philadelphia, at the Boyd Theater.”

The owners opposed the designation, however, and in spring 2002, the Philadelphia Historic Commission, in a split vote, declined to designate the property as a local landmark, despite the recommendation of its own Designation Committee and many other supporters. Apparently, at least some of the Commissioners based their “no” decision, not on the historic and architectural significance of the property, but rather on the purported deteriorated condition and bleak economic future of the property.

Immediately after the historic designation denial, the Goldenberg Group obtained a demolition permit for the Boyd. Goldenberg has publicly stated that it has no actual plans to demolish the theater, but that the permit simply allows it another option.

Public concern has resulted in the formation of the Committee to Save the Boyd Theater which is actively advocating for the theater’s preservation through rallies, petitions, fundraising, public meetings, and discussions with the Goldenberg Group. (Check the group’s web site at www.savethesameric.com)