The future of Philadelphia’s historic Boyd Theater

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Guests:  Sharon Pinkenson and Inga Saffron

If the Florida company iPic Entertainment gets its way, Philadelphia’s historic Boyd Theater at 19th and Chestnut will become an eight screen, 744-seat movie theater with an Italian restaurant. Supporters of their efforts point to the energy and vitality a first-run movie theater would bring to an already transforming Chestnut Street. Local preservationists, however, are worried about the Company’s plans for renovations which would require significant demolition to the historically- certified, Art Deco building. The debate over the future of the Boyd Theater raises a host of complicated issues for the City’s government, business community and residents. We’ll sort it all out with two guests with differing perspectives. Sharon Pinkenson is executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office and Inga Saffron is the architecture critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

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