Richmond Theater

3037-3043 Richmond Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19134

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Green & Altman, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.

Architects: E. Allen Wilson

Nearby Theaters

Richmond Theater

The Richmond Theater opened in 1913. The proscenium was 28ft wide. In 1921 it was equipped with a Wurlitzer 2 manual 4 ranks organ. By 1927 it was operated by Green & Altman. From March 1929 it was operated by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp. The Richmond Theater closed on March 9, 1952 with Bob Hope in “My Favorite Spy”.

It was used by a plumbing firm for offices & storage for many years. Since 2005 it was in use as a book store but this had closed by September 2019 when it was proposed for demolition of the theatre to occur in May 2021. Demolition began at the rear of the building and it was fully demolished by September 2021 and the vacant site is crushed bricks.

Contributed by Bob Murphy

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on February 5, 2008 at 7:03 pm

Here is an undated photo from the Philadelphia Architects and Buildings site. The photo is from the Irvin Glazer collection:
http://tinyurl.com/2k9zag

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on March 7, 2013 at 9:07 am

Hidden City Philadelphia today: http://hiddencityphila.org/2013/03/books-take-stage-in-a-former-theater-in-port-richmond/

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on June 24, 2013 at 6:48 am

Photo in ex-auditorium in yesterday’s Philadelphia Sunday Inquirer in Business section re Port Richmond “Area gets younger, but Polish food endures” http://articles.philly.com/2013-06-23/business/40148369_1_port-richmond-northern-liberties-swiacki-meats

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on September 14, 2019 at 5:13 am

Proposed for demolition! https://starnewsphilly.com/2019/09/12/community-staple-port-richmond-books-is-under-threat-of-demolition/?fbclid=IwAR32ikx6wiYqpH9MCUc1_wGt4_Iqcp4GhYsKJf9UY0gi40tzQLdZKJr5KRQ

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on September 15, 2019 at 4:26 am

My friend Jay Farrell has suggested to me that the same road construction that is putting the bookstore out of business apparently kept the google streetview photography car from reaching that block.

amby_moho
amby_moho on May 28, 2021 at 8:09 am

Demolition has not started yet, and may not happen at all according to a friend who runs a nearby business. Seems that the new owners are amenable to restoration. I’m going to try!!!

amby_moho
amby_moho on May 29, 2021 at 11:33 pm

Devastated to report that after inspecting the site myself today, I was wrong. Demolition has indeed started on the back half of the building. The facade is still intact. I suppose it’s too late at this point :(

amby_moho
amby_moho on June 1, 2021 at 7:13 am

Apologies for the vertical video: https://youtu.be/3BFOfYsavXg

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on April 25, 2022 at 7:25 am

Warner Theatre Circuit took on the venue in March of 1929 equipping it with Vitaphone sound to remain viable. Warner closed the Richmond Theatre permanently on March 9, 1952 with Bob Hope in “My Favorite Spy.”

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