Wynne Theatre

2001 N. 54th Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19131

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Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on October 30, 2023 at 7:12 am

You’d be better off going to Google Streetview to see the outside of this building. ^That website above^ is nearly impossible to navigate.

m00se1111
m00se1111 on October 30, 2023 at 2:13 am

Updating the bio, the Wynne is currently open as a senior residence facility. From PennRose.com - “Wynne Senior Residences was designed to replicate much of the architectural heritage of the previously iconic Wynne Theater. The building was historically used as a ballroom, cinema, and later a catering facility. ” The rooftop sign has been recreated. The photos of what the outside looks like can be seen https://www.pennrose.com/apartments/pennsylvania/wynne-senior-residences/

RobHarp
RobHarp on October 30, 2023 at 2:01 am

I have an inaugural program from the Wynne theater among others in my collection.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on February 25, 2022 at 1:39 pm

The Wynne Theatre opened November 18, 1927 with Morton Sills in “The Sea Tiger.” The Wynne closed permanently March 1, 1953 with Olivia DeHavilland in “My Cousin Rachel.”

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on October 9, 2016 at 5:37 am

Ad didn’t appear in photo section

rivest266
rivest266 on October 9, 2016 at 5:32 am

November 18th, 1927 grand opening ad in photo section.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on March 1, 2016 at 1:41 pm

Article here http://cdesignc.org/blog/2015/12/17/golden-sledgehammers-for-wynne-senior-residences

robtadrian
robtadrian on March 1, 2016 at 1:34 pm

Currently being renovated to open as Wynne Senior Housing.

RickB
RickB on October 8, 2012 at 8:21 am

Demolition reported to be imminent as the building is said to be too far gone to save. Hidden City Philadelphia story here. The piece says that the city took over ownership of the property this summer after the previous owners ran up $500,000 in unpaid taxes.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on September 19, 2011 at 4:49 am

Here’s Friday’s Hidden City Philadelphia blog article about how current plans are on hold: http://hiddencityphila.org/2011/09/wynne-theater-plans-on-hold/

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 14, 2010 at 10:57 pm

Here is a photo circa 1920s from the Irvin Glazer theater collection:
http://tinyurl.com/yfaw3l4

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on September 3, 2009 at 6:32 am

More on Katie Jackson, see above post-

View link
Much of the development of Wynnefield after the 1960s is due to the influence of the late Katie B. Jackson, born 1929. Known by the African-American community as “Queen of Wynnefield,” Jackson founded the Wynnefield Academy, a private, co-educational PK-4 elementary school in 1975. The Katie B. Jackson Development Corporation and Katie B. Jackson Senior Citizens Complex bear her name.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on September 2, 2009 at 8:18 pm

from April 2007 Wynnefield Residents Association newsletter

“Local Wynnefield Institutions”

The Wynne Plaza Ballroom: The Wynne or Wynne Plaza Ballroom at 54th and Arlington streets was an integral part of the 54th street business sector. It was a movie theater, then became an up-scale catering and banquet hall, and later a bingo parlor. In 1981 the Wynne was sold again to successful Wynnefield entrepreneur Mrs. Katie B. Jackson, who reopened it as a successful banquet and catering facility. It continued as a successful enterprise until after Mrs. Jackson’s death in 1993.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on September 2, 2009 at 7:48 pm

More recent photos at this website:
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HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on September 2, 2009 at 7:44 pm

Photo & text in book, Jewish Community of West Philadelphia:
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HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on March 29, 2009 at 7:33 pm

This photo, too, from same time:
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HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on March 29, 2009 at 7:31 pm

Photo August 2008, apparently abandoned:
View link

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on March 3, 2009 at 3:12 pm

31 Jan 1953 Box Office reported that the Wynne was shuttered.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on June 21, 2008 at 6:34 pm

That’s where I got Arlington from. I couldn’t find the theater on Google using Wynnefield Avenue.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on June 21, 2008 at 6:15 pm

This won’t map out correctly unless you substitute Arlington Street for Wynnefield Avenue. If you do that the building shows up pretty much as described above.