There aren’t many places around Philadelphia where you can walk into a nearly century-old movie house and still take a seat for a show. The Media Theatre is one of them.
Opened in 1927, the theatre is one of the Philadelphia area’s surviving movie houses from the golden age of cinema. It isn’t a cinema anymore, but that may be part of what makes it so interesting as, after nearly 75 years of showing films, the historic building has reinvented itself, welcoming in new generations of audiences.
And a huge new performance just got added to the calendar. Candlelight concerts are bringing live music into the old movie palace, including an evening of the magical soundtracks from the iconic The Lord of the Rings films, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences.
This was once Media’s biggest movie theatre
The Media Theatre opened its doors in August 1927 as Media’s third and largest movie theatre, right in the middle of the movie-palace era.
Its first screening was The Jazz Singer, starring Al Jolson, which was the landmark film famous for helping usher in talking pictures. The theatre wasn’t exclusively about movies, either. It also hosted vaudeville performances, school graduations and community events, making it a major gathering place for the town.
The building was designed by the Philadelphia firm of Magazine, Eberhard and Harris, with an English Renaissance-style interior by Harris Brodsky. Back then, going to the movies was an occasion in itself. Audiences didn’t simply press play from the comfort of their sofas as we do today, the grandeur of the theatre was part of the experience, too.
Nearly 100 years later, it’s still a place to go for a show
The Media Theatre remained a movie palace for almost 75 years before its cinema days came to an end. Rather than being demolished or turned into something completely unrelated, however, the building got a second act. In 1994, it was acquired by Walter M. Strine and converted into the Media Theatre for the Performing Arts, following a renovation costing more than $1 million.
Today, the theatre’s programme centres on live performance, with musical theatre, concerts and special events taking place throughout the year.
In other words, the entertainment has changed, but the basic idea hasn’t. Almost a century ago, people came here for an evening of movies and vaudeville. Today, audiences still walk through the same doors to enjoy performances and great entertainment.
And now, cinema’s music returns to the stage
There’s a fitting twist to the Media Theatre’s latest chapter. While films are no longer screened here, some of cinema’s most recognisable music is making its way onto the stage.
Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings will bring Howard Shore’s acclaimed score to the historic theatre, with a string quartet performing themes from Peter Jackson’s film franchise by candlelight. Sign up to the waitlist now to be among the first to hear when tickets are released.
The programme draws listeners into Middle-earth, from the sweeping theme of “The Fellowship” to the haunting melody of “The One Ring”. There are also pieces inspired by some of the films’ most memorable moments, from the Battle of Helm’s Deep to Gandalf’s defiant “You Shall Not Pass”.
Rather than accompanying sweeping landscapes and epic battles on screen, the music takes centre stage. This building began its life at a major turning point in cinema, opening with one of the films that helped make the transition to sound. Nearly a century later, it’s hosting live musicians performing music written for some of the biggest screen stories of the modern era.
8 November 2026 20:45 + more dates
Media Theatre For The Performing Arts
Make a day of it in Media
With its historic theatre, walkable downtown and independent businesses, Media makes a fun little escape from the usual Philadelphia itinerary. Before taking your seat at the Media Theatre, you can wander along State Street, browse the local shops or stop for a bite at one of the town’s restaurants and bars.
There’s also plenty to explore beyond the main street, from the trails and green spaces of Ridley Creek State Park to the Media-Upper Providence Free Library, which occupies a striking historic building of its own. And if you’re visiting on a weekend, you can time your trip around the Media Farmers Market, a long-running local tradition.
Everything you need to know
🕯️Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings
🎻 Howard Shore’s iconic score performed by a string quartet
🏰 Media Theatre for the Performing Arts, surrounded by candlelight
⏰ Approximately 60 minutes
🎟️ Waitlist now open
Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings
8 November 2026 20:45 + more dates
Media Theatre For The Performing Arts
So, whether you’re coming for a Candlelight performance or simply looking for somewhere new to explore outside the city, Media offers plenty of reasons to stick around. And after nearly a century of entertaining audiences, the Media Theatre makes for a pretty memorable place to end the day.
