Heralded as Philadelphia’s last movie palace, it appears the final curtain has fallen for The Boyd Theater.
The Philadelphia Historical Commission voted on Friday to allow a luxury movie theater developer demolish a large portion of the theater along the 1900 block of Chestnut Street.
iPic, the Florida-based developer, plans to demolish the 2,450 seat art deco theater and it’s lobby to construct a modern, eight-screen multiplex. The plan would keep the theater’s entrance and façade on Chestnut Street.
Friends of The Boyd, a preservation group, has fought the development by asking the commission to block iPic’s plan. Rather, they wanted to restore the theater. iPic and the theater’s current owners, Live Nation, argued that plan would not be financially viable.
After hearing hours of testimony on Friday, the commission concluded the multiplex development would be best for the future of the property and the community.
Friends of The Boyd tell NBC10.com they plan to fight the ruling.
The Boyd opened in 1928 and showed movies for nearly 75 years. It closed in 2002.
Photo Credit: AP