Metropolitan Opera House
858 N. Broad Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19130
858 N. Broad Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19130
4 people
favorited this theater
Built by Oscar Hammerstein Sr. as the second and final of what was to be a chain of opera houses. Was the largest theater of its kind in the world when it opened. Adapted to motion pictures in the 1920s. As of 1994 this theater was still standing, intact but deteriorated.
Contributed by
Matthew Horner
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
Contrary to reports the building is being renovated! Since 1998 a former member of the Met congregation who has since become a minister acquired the building. It is currently being used as a worship center-Holy Ghose Headquarters Revival Center at the Met under the leadership of Rev. Mark Hatcher who grew up in the previous church-The Met-under Dr. Thea Jones.
The congregation established a nonprofit development corporation and has been completing renovations-basic systems, stabilization and renovations-since 1998 at approximately $4.5 million without public sector or private foundation support!
The City of Philadelphia has recently made a financial commitment (its first) to support re-establishing 4 retail operations as had previously existed on the Broad Street side of the building. These will help to produce income for the renovations and maintenance of the building. One of the spaces-a fifth- will be designated as a historic exhibit center chronicling the building’s history as an Opera House, theatre and worship center. Tours will be available through the historic center when completed (approximately November 2007). Tours are currently available by appointment-215-431-6148.
websites-
http://www.holyghostheadquarters.org
http://www.npcdcatthemet.org
Also today (July 13th) the state granted $500,000 to the renovation and restoration of the Met.
MY MEMORIES OF THE MET!
IN ABOUT 1955, EVANGELIST JACK COE, CAME FROM DALLAS, TEXAS AND HELD A LARGE CITY WIDE HEALING REVIVAL AT THE MET.
THE POWER OF GOD WAS SO UNIQUE, THAT THOUSANDS WERE SAVED AND HEALED IN THE 2 SERVICES DAILY! OFTEN, THE
CROWDS WOULD GEATHER FOR THE NIGHT SERVICE, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY… AND THE FIRE DEPT WOULD SHUT THE DOORS,
AS THE BUILDING WAS ALREADY FULL TO CAPACITY!
DURING THAT REVIVAL, I WAS 14 YRS. OF AGE AND ATTENDING BRO. COE’S CHRISTIAN SCHOOL IN DALLAS. HE HAD PRAIED OVER MY HANDS, TO PLAY HEALING MUSIC TO THE NATIONS, WHEN I WAS 13! GOD GAVE ME A MIRACLE AND IN 4 WEEKS, I WAS PLAYING FOR
HIS CHURCH. LATER (ASSSITING HIS CRUSADE ORGANIST JIMMY ARNOLD) UNDER THE BIG TENT IN WASH. DC, WHERE THE CROWDS
GREW TO OVER 20,000 PEOPLE!
AS HE WAS FINISHING HIS CRUSADE AT THE MET, HE CALLED MY FATHER (EVANG. BUFORD DOWELL SR)WHO WAS THEN PREACHING
IN HIS 12TH WEEK OF REVIVAL IN DALLAS, AND ASK HIM TO COME TO PHILA AND TAKE OVER THE MET, AND CONTINUE THE REVIVAL
THERE!
MY FATHER PRAYED ABOUT IT AND FELT IT WAS NOT GODS WILL FOR HIM TO PASTOR IN PHILA.
REV. COE THEN INVITED DR. THEA JONES TO COME TO THE MET AND HE WAS THE DIRECTOR AND PASTOR, PRIOR TO THE PRESENT
MINISTY THERE!
LATER IN ABOUT 59, I CAME TO THE MET AS THE CHURCH ORGANIST FOR DR. JONES AND ALSO FOR HIS NEW YORK CHURCH.
THOSE WE’RE MIGHTY DAYS OF REVIVAL AND MANY WE’RE HEALED BY THE POWER OF GOD.
ONE OF MY BEST JOYS, WAS WHEN THE MET WOULD HAVE GOSPEL SINGING CONCERTS ON SAT. NIGHT!
MY APT, WAS OFF THE STAGE AND I THEN MET AND WAS ASKED TO PLAY THE ORGAN FOR CLARA WARD, THE CARAVANS, SAM COOK
AND THE SOUL STIRRERS, AND SEVERAL OTHERS.
I WAS THE ONLY WHITE BOY THEIR, BUT MY LORD .. DID WE HAVE A GOOD TIME!
IT HELPED SHAPED MY OWN MUSIC STYLE, TO PLAY “HOLY GHOST, CAMPMEET'N, REVIVAL STYLE MUSIC!
OVER 35 YRS, I HAVE TRAVELED 54 NATIONS (OVER 4,000,000 MILES) WITH JACK COE, WILLIAM BRANHAM, A A ALLEN, R W SHAMBACH, MORRIS CERULLO, JOHN H. OSTEEN, AND MOST OF THE FAMOUS HEALING MINISTRIES…. IN THE WORLDS LARGEST GIANT TENT
CRUSADES IN AMERICA!
GOD HAS BLESSED US TO CONDUCT SOME 119 INTERNATIONAL MISSIONARY CRUSADES AND LEED MULTITUDES TO CHRIST!
PHILIDELPHIA… GET READY! GOD SAVES THE BEST WINE FOR THE LAST…AND A MIGHTY HOLY GHOST OUT POURING IS GOING TO FALL
ON PHILIDELIPHA, LIKE RAIN OUT OF HEAVEN!
GOD WILL SHAKE YOUR CITY (AND MANY OTHERS) WITH HIS MIGHTY END TIME VISITATION …. UNTIL PEOPLE MOVE TO PHILY, BECAUSE
OF THE POWER OF GOD THERE!!
HE WANTS TO USE YOU! HE HAS A DESTINY FOR YOUR LIFE, WILL YOU LET HIM TAKE OVER CONTROLL??
DO IT… IN CHRIST NAME!!!
IN “HIM”–
BUFORD DOWELL /DIR
EAGLE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION,
WWW.EI-TENTS.COM
PH: 214-282-8194.
“ IN CHRIST… IS LIFE! ”
The actual commitment from the state as of 7/13/06 (press conference held on site with state representatives) is $1m. We are also expecting an additional $500,000 per a 7/11 meeting with another state official. It will probably take approximately one year for the grants to be processed. We Will keep you posted. Thank you so much for your interest and support.
GwenW.
Project Coordinator
A recent Philadelphia Inquirer story here and a picture slideshow here.
The Met is planning to celebrate its restoration with a kick-off festival on September 23, 2006 on Broad Street at the theater. It should be a great party; come if you are in the neighborhood!
My dad was a Voice of Healing Evangelist and I spent a part of my childhood roaming the cooridors of this great building when I wasn’t in church. We often stayed in the apartment on the top floor of the MET. A night I would sit in the upper balcony looking over the vaste auditorium. Mahalia Jackson sang for my dad’s meeting and we met other men who shared their ministry in the city.
Though it was built for theatrical and operatic performance, It was a place where many people came broken and lonely and found an exciting spirited worship service, with a challenging message of Christ’s love for the fallen and broken. A lot of good came out of those services. Personally, I saw the power of God demonstrated, for others it was a new spiritual beginning. One Baptist Deacon, Dr. Benjamin Smith came one night and felt called to start a church in North Philly, It became The Deliverance Evagelistic Church starting with 62 people growing to more than 5,000. My dad helped start that church as well. Thanks for putting this info out there. Blessings,
RichardSA
TO-RICHARD!
PLEASE EMAIL ME, AT: “ "
I’D LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU!
SEE MY POSTING ABOVE.
THANKS-
REV. BUFORD DOWELL
“ IN CHRIST … IS LIFE”
There are two photos on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/22pucr
A Moller theater organ opus 5315 size 4/39 was installed in the Metropolitan Opera House in 1928 at a cost of $20,000. Note: With Artiste roll player.