This vintage Temple Theatre movie advertisement from late January 1936 presents a fascinating snapshot of Depression-era cinema programming in what appears to be a Philadelphia neighborhood, given the reference to daily ads in the Bulletin, Ledger, and Record. The double-feature format promotes two distinct cinematic experiences for the week of January 26-30. The upper section heralds the Sunday-Monday engagement of I Found Stella Parish starring Kay Francis, a major Warner Bros. dramatic star, supported by Ian Hunter and Paul Lukas, with special mention of child actress Sybil Jason. The lower section advertises the Wednesday-Thursday presentation of In Person featuring Ginger Rogers, fresh from her Fred Astaire successes, alongside George Brent, with promotional copy highlighting its connection to Samuel Hopkins Adams, author of It Happened One Night.
The advertisement reveals sophisticated exhibition strategies through its tiered pricing structure—10¢ for matinees and children, 20¢ for evenings—and emphasizes modern amenities including Air-Cushioned Seats and the Latest Sound and Projection R.C.A. High Fidelity Photophone System. The programming mix demonstrates the theatre's approach to audience diversification, balancing dramatic fare with lighter romantic comedy while incorporating educational content through the March of Time newsreel. The specific dating places this artifact precisely within the cinematic calendar of 1936, documenting the first-run exhibition circuit for both Warner Bros. and RKO productions. The Temple Theatre's location at 13th St. below Tioga St. with telephone exchange RAdcliffe 3767 provides concrete geographical and telecommunications history, while the promotional rhetoric reflects contemporary marketing techniques that emphasized star power, technical innovation, and value proposition during an economically challenging period. This ephemeral piece captures the material culture of movie-going at a transitional moment in sound film history, before the widespread adoption of double features became standard exhibition practice.