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11 Most Endangered
The Boyd Theatre
Year Listed: 2008
Location: Philadelphia , Pennsylvania
Current Status: Favorable
Threat: Development, Neglect
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Boyd Theatre
Majestic interior of the Boyd. Photo by Rob Bender.
Boyd Theatre
Lobby of the Boyd, Philadelphia, PA (1928). Photo from the Glazer Collection.
Boyd Theatre
Exterior of the Boyd, Philadelphia, PA (2008). Photo by Howard Haas.
Significance
Downtown ("Center City") Philadelphia's last surviving major motion picture palace opened Christmas Day in 1928 and operated until 2002. This masterpiece of Art Deco design now sits vacant, has no preservation easement in place, lacks designation as an historic landmark and is threatened with demolition.
The Boyd Theatre was considered the most elegant theater in Philadelphia's premier shopping area, Chestnut Street. Designed by the architectural firm Hoffman-Henon, the Boyd was the only first-run Art Deco movie theatre ever erected in Philadelphia. The rich beauty of its interior was characterized by luxurious ornamentation such as an exquisite, etched glass-mirrored lobby, an enormous auditorium with a seating capacity eclipsing 2,500 and stunning chandeliers. The Art Deco decorative motif was carried out in full force with stained glass insets, a huge mural by acclaimed artist Alfred Tulk and gold and black metal silhouettes celebrating the progress of women throughout the history of the world. The decoration inside the Boyd Theatre has survived and should be preserved.
Following the theatre's closing in 2002, a local group, Friends of the Boyd, Inc., a nonprofit organization of community volunteers, was formed. Since then, it has waged a highly visible citywide advocacy campaign to prevent the demolition of the theatre, including letters to city government, public testimony, rallies, editorials to key media outlets, and petition drives. Friends of the Boyd, Inc. has a website, and uses other tools in collaboration with local advocates, including the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, which this year included the Boyd on its most endangered places list. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has had a longstanding interest in preserving the Boyd; in 1993, the National Trust was involved in litigation to grant landmark status to the Boyd, and Adrian Fine, the Director of the National Trust's Northeast Field Office, serves on the board of Friends of the Boyd, Inc.
In 2005, Clear Channel, Inc. purchased the Boyd and planned to embark on a $31 million restoration of the theatre as a live performance art venue. After Clear Channel underwent a re-organization, however, the Boyd was transferred to Live Nation. Restoration plans were halted in early 2006 when Live Nation decided to refocus itself as a concert presentation company. Subsequently, the Boyd was placed on the market.
Currently, there is no sales agreement in place for the Boyd Theatre. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is working with Live Nation and the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia to attract purchasers who will restore and use the historic theater. The Boyd is eligible for use of Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits by developers. The National Trust for Historic Preservation works nationally with the League of Historic American Theatres to promote the restorations of movie palaces and the National Trust Community Investment Corporation has provided equity investments for restoration of a number of historic theaters. In 2001, the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed "Historic American Movie Theaters" among the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in the country.
Updates
Permits Approved for Boyd Theatre Rehabilitation
November 14, 2008 - Permits for the rehabilitation of the Boyd Theatre were unanimously approved by the Philadelphia Historical Commission. Developer Hal Wheeler is proceeding with plans to rehabilitate the Boyd Theatre as part of a larger Kimpton hotel project. Once condition as part of the approval process states, "No removal or demolition of the stage house area shall be permitted unless and until the developer has arranged for construction financing of the hotel tower and replacement stage house."
New Owner for the Boyd Theatre
September 9, 2008 - Philadelphia developer Hal Wheeler announced that he has signed an agreement to purchase the Boyd Theatre from Live Nation. Wheeler intends to build a new hotel adjacent to the Boyd, the Monaco brand of Kimpton Hotels. The new hotel would be connected to the Boyd Theatre through the rear stage house. A variety of entertainment venues would be housed within the restored Boyd Theatre portion, including movie premieres and a film series. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has met with Wheeler to review preliminary plans and is encouraged by this innovative reuse.
Philadelphia Historical Commission Designates Boyd Theatre
August 8, 2008 - By a unanimous 14 to 0 vote on August 8, 2008, the Philadelphia Historical Commission voted to add the Boyd Theatre to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, an act that provides protection for the exterior of the Boyd Theatre. The National Trust for Historic Preservation provided testimony in support of the designation along with the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia and supporters that overflowed the room.
Interior Designation Bill Introduced for Philadelphia
June 19, 2008 - A bill has been introduced in City Council that will allow for the interior designation and protection of significant, public interior spaces such as the Art Deco Boyd Theatre. There was a public hearing last week and the final vote on the bill is expected in September.
The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia submitted an application for local designation for the Boyd Theatre; the public hearing is set for July 16th.
An announcement by Live Nation (current owners of the Boyd), regarding a possible new owner of the Boyd Theatre is expected any day.
Mayor Nutter Announces Support for Preserving Historic Boyd Theater
May 29, 2008 - Mayor Nutter announced today his support of the nomination for historic designation of the Boyd Theater by the Preservation Alliance of Philadelphia, saying he encouraged the Historical Commission to give this nomination their fullest consideration.
"The Boyd Theater, which opened in 1928, is a cherished institution in this City. It is the last remaining example of the major movie theaters that were once prominent in Center City and which were an important part of the economic, social, and cultural life of this City in the early to mid-twentieth century. For so many of us Philadelphians, the Boyd is an entertainment venue that holds many fond memories. in fact, the Boyd is the place where I first saw that great film Rollerball. I hope that the Historical Commission will give a thorough evaluation o this structure's importance to our city, and I pledge to work with them to preserve this building."
Today the Historical Commission accepted the nomination of the Preservation Alliance and notified the owner of the property that it was placing the nomination on the agenda of the Commission's next meeting, which will be held Wednesday, July 16.
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