Erlanger Theatre

Philadelphia, PA

21st Street and Market Street, NW corner

, Philadelphia, PA 19013 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed/Demolished
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Adam

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	1890
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Hoffman - Henon Co.

After the original Forrest Theatre was demolished in 1927 on South Broad Street, the two theater operators went their separate ways. The Shubert organization built a new Forrest Theatre on Walnut Street. Abraham Lincoln Erlanger built his own theater, the Erlanger Theatre on the northwest corner of 21st Street and Market Street. Prior to the decision of the Shuberts to build separately, this theater was going to be called the New Forrest.

The Erlanger Theatre was Philadelphia's most elaborate legit theater ever and one of the most magnificent ever built in the United States. The exterior was Georgian. The elegant interior was furnished in Napoleonic French and other period styles. Three lobbies, the grand stairs, lounges, and the 1,890 seat auditorium were elaborated decorated and furnished with imported marble, gold leaf, murals, tapestries, crystal chandeliers, crystal mirrors, antique wood-work, hand wrought ironwork, and elaborate furniture. The Spanish Lounge for smoking was especially magnificent. Philadelphia theater architects Hoffman-Henon designed the theater.

The Erlanger Theatre opened October 23, 1927 with the musical show "Criss Cross." The theater was also equipped to show movies. RKO began a lease on September 29, 1929 to show first run movies. RKO's first "talkie", "Street Girl" had its premiere here. By 1930 RKO gave up. In 1932, William Goldman, formerly manager of Stanley Warner's local operations, leased the theater.

The Erlanger Theatre was famous for Broadway musical stage shows such as "Guys and Dolls" "West Side Story" "Man Of La Mancha" "My Fair Lady" Movies were also shown. The theater ceased showing Howard Hughes' movie "The Outlaw" (1943) because of church objections. Goldman couldn't show all the movies he wanted because Warner Brothers controlled so many other theaters and had such leverage. So, Goldman filed an antitrust lawsuit that forced Hollywood studios to sell off their movie theaters.

Starting in 1968, the Erlanger Theatre became a restaurant, a night club, a venue for rock shows, and had great success with more legit stage shows. Overall, the Erlanger Theatre continued in the red, and was demolished in 1978. The Philadelphia Historical Commission seemed to note its importance in taking many photos. The site became a parking lot for three decades. In 2008, the Murano residential tower was built at its old site.

Contributed by Howard B. Haas

YOUR COMMENTS

Photos here http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/12547 but you need a subscription to make them larger.

Type Erlanger http://diamond.temple.edu:81/search/ for exterior photos of protesters upset a Communist rally was being held inside the theater, and a view of the auditorium facing the balcony.

Type Erlanger http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Search.aspx
for more exterior photos.

posted by HowardBHaas on Jan 13, 2008 at 9:45am

1976 photo of the Erlanger Theatre. At that time it was a Caf'e.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c38%2c3%2c2268&catpageindex=5&ProductID=33150

posted by Chuck1231 on Apr 16, 2009 at 9:10pm

Here's some more Erlanger history of its film presentations.

From the late 1930's: 10 April 1937 Box Office reported that “The Lost Horizon” would be transferred from Chestnut Street Opera to Erlanger after a run of 6 weeks there, to make room for a play. 27 May 1939 Box Office reported that Sam Nirdlinger took the Erlanger for a showing of Preferred's "Wages of Sin" 25 Nov 1939 Box Office reported that Pop Korson has taken the Erlanger for first run on the “Beast of Berlin”

From first half of 1940s: 27 March 1943 Box Office reported that trade showing of “The Human Comedy” would be 12 April at the Erlanger. Other references to Erlanger trade shows are found in Box Office. 28 July 1945 Box Office reported that "Wonder Man" would be the first film since Goldman leased the theater 3 years ago and the first major product at independent non-Warner house theater in Philadelphia in many years. Before Goldman's lease, distributors had leased theater to roadshow pictures. 1 Sept 1945 Box Office reported that "Wonder Man" had opened.

2nd half of 1940s: 15 Nov 1947 Box Office reported that Goldman withdrew “The Outlaw” after Philadelphia's Archbishop protested, but the theater went dark as no other film available. Goldman was suing in antitrust. 31 Jan 1948 Box Office reported that the film “Cass Timberlane” was being shown. 30 March 1948 Box Office reported that after 7 weeks of "Cass Timberlane" the Erlanger went dark for lack of product. "Cass Timberlane" was the first film since "The Outlaw" protests. 9 Sept 1950 Box Office reported that Goldman was returning the Erlanger to legit.

posted by HowardBHaas on May 3, 2009 at 10:25am

Here is a February 1938 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/kucvxt

posted by ken mc on Jun 21, 2009 at 4:10pm

Here is another 1976 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/lta2vt

posted by ken mc on Jun 21, 2009 at 4:13pm

Your 1938 link don't work

posted by Chuck1231 on Jun 21, 2009 at 5:53pm

Click it again Chuck. It seems to work for me.

posted by Lost Memory on Jun 21, 2009 at 6:10pm

Strange, it won't work on my PC or my laptop.

posted by Chuck1231 on Jun 21, 2009 at 8:57pm

When I click the link on both my PC & Laptop I get the following message Server Error in PhotoArchive Application.

posted by Chuck1231 on Jun 21, 2009 at 8:59pm

Chuck....That is one of the best photos that I've ever seen. It's a shame that you can't see it. LOL
Maybe it's a problem with your service provider. I just tried the link again and it still works. The name of the movie on the marquee is "In Old Chicago".

posted by Lost Memory on Jun 22, 2009 at 8:04am

Chuck; here is the full address of the 1938 photo;
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Detail.aspx?assetId=15451
The source home page of the photos is:
http://www.phillyhistory.org/PhotoArchive/Home.aspx

All work ok with me, so if you are having a problem opening them, it could be a settings issue on your firewall or as LM stated above, your service provider.

posted by KenRoe on Jun 22, 2009 at 8:17am

The part about the illegal sign was mentioned on some other 1938 photos. It apparently had something to do with the projection of the marquee over the street past some statutory limit.

posted by ken mc on Jun 22, 2009 at 8:58am

Ken Roe, both your links work, but it still won't let me open the ones that Ken Mc posted. At at any rqate I got to see the photo. Besides and unidentified souce sent me the photo through email. LOL

posted by Chuck1231 on Jun 22, 2009 at 9:06am

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