Remembering Johnny Callison

Join baseball historian John Rossi and Moviehouse Productions host “Radio” Rick Spector for “Remembering Johnny Callison”.

When one had “choose up” baseball games in Philly during the early 1960’s, nearly every kid wanted to be “Johnny”. Callison could run, field, hit, had a rifle arm, and for a medium size man he had great power. He looked like a movie star. Callison almost led us to a World Series in 1964. For too few shining years, Johnny Callison was clearly the major sports idol of our city.

Philly Short Stories: Central High Class of 1905 Salute, Devon Theater, Widener School, Frank Memorial Synagogue

In this Moviehouse Production, we present several short stories:

  • A remembrance of Central High School’s class of 1905’s twenty-fifth reunion. The men of Central voiced opinions about 1930’s most controversial topics.
  • A trip to Northeast Philadelphia’s Devon Theater, the city’s last single screen movie house.
  • Two from Broad and Olney- Visits to a pair of landmarks – the Widener Memorial School for Industrial Training and the Henry S. Frank Memorial Synagogue.

Carol McGehean: Memories of Growing Up in Southwest Philadelphia

 

62nd and Woodland, 1944

         Sixty Second Street and Woodland Avenue, Southwest Philadelphia, 1944

Much of Southwest Philly history is lost. Carol McGehean currently resides in Bucks County. We are pleased that Carol spent some time with Moviehouse Productions to share some memories of growing up on Milan Street,  near the intersection of 71st Street  and Elmwood  Avenue. Click on this “pdf” file to read: Carol McGehean’s Memories of Growing Up in Southwest Philadelphia

 

Philadelphia’s Felton Theater: A Century of Movie Memories

The Felton Theater is an important landmark in Philadelphia’s Feltonville section, located at 4800 Rising Sun Avenue. Feltonville is a neighborhood south of Roosevelt Boulevard in the vicinity of Wyoming Avenue.

Judy Katz Schwartz grew up at 4601 “C “street in Feltonville during the bleakest days of the Great Depression. After school days ended, Judy and her friends flocked to the Felton to have fun and stay out of trouble, entertained by Shirley Temple films.

A contributor to the “Cinema Treasures” website remembered the Felton screening German language films, as the “Felton Kino”.

As most neighborhood theaters began closing with the advent of television, the life of Felton evolved. For a time, the shuttered movie house stored Eric Theater chain popcorn and soda machines. The Felton then lived on as a troubled night club. Today, the building serves as a church.

The Felton opened in 1919. In a flight of fantasy, Moviehouse Productions presents a dual celebration. First, the one – hundredth anniversary of the Felton Theater to salute a century of movie memories , and Kirk Douglas’ hundredth birthday , one of the screen’s greatest personalities.

Remembering Bill Campbell: Dean of Philadelphia Sportscasters

There was no finer Philadelphia sportscaster in terms of excitement, competence, and longevity than Bill Campbell.

In honor of MOVIEHOUSE PRODUCTIONS fortieth anniversary, we proudly present “Remembering Bill Campbell” a newly enhanced transcription of Bill’s “question and answer” session with a group of his fans, recorded originally in 1983.

You are invited to watch Bill’s candid and insightful review of the sports scene of long ago and the highs and lows of his great career on the Philadelphia airwaves. 

Philadelphia’s Manhole Cover Kings

Old manhole covers dot our Philadelphia city streets. Taking time to study them poses obvious safety risks, but if you take care and are curious enough to do so, these weathered iron discs reveal much about our city’s proud industrial past. Join with Moviehouse Productions to learn about Simon Scullin and J. Alfred Clark, Philadelphia’s undisputed manhole cover kings.

Jim’s Story: Growing up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Moviehouse Productions usual subject matter is “gritty “stories of growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This time, we throw our viewers a “change-up”, as we tell a story of coming of age in a rural area.

Our setting is Reinholds, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Our storyteller is Jim Nolt, who spent his formative years in this beautiful farming community, mid 1940’s through the late 1960’s. Jim speaks of the hard work and joys of farm life, but also his attraction to the big city 65 miles southeast; the City of Brotherly Love.

Jim Nolt is a long time friend Moviehouse Productions’ Rick Spector. Jim and Rick share an interest in the Golden Age of Television, especially the “Adventures of Superman” program and its star George Reeves.

A bonus track follows Jim’s story. Jim tells us about his “The Adventures Continue”, his special effort to preserve memories of the 1950’s Superman show and George Reeves. Read more about “The Adventures Continue” at http://www.jimnolt.com