Broadway Theatre
2042 S. Broad Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19145
2042 S. Broad Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19145
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Stanley-Warner Theatres, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Architects: Clarence Stern Thalheimer, David Daniel Weitz, Albert E. Westover
Firms: Thalheimer & Weitz
Styles: Art Deco
Nearby Theaters
The Broadway Theatre was opened in 1913. It was remodeled in 1940 to the plans of architectural firm Thalheimer and Weitz. It was closed in 1971, and was demolished later that year.
The site became a MacDonalds fast food restaurant, but now houses a Walgreens.
Contributed by
Annette Ravinsky, MikeRa, CharlesVanBibber
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
Here is a November 1956 item from Boxoffice magazine:
PHILADELPHIA-Stanley Warner’s Broadway Theater in South Philadelphia threw a big Halloween party Saturday October 27. Gift certificates were awarded winners of several age groups for best costume. Free masks were given to every child attending the special matinee. The promotion was arranged by manager Dominic Lucente, “the mayor of South Philadelphia”.
Here is a July 1971 photo from Temple U:
http://tinyurl.com/yzcfr62
I remember going to a Halloween party at the Broadway:)
hey maybe somebody could help me out!! My grandmother use to do dance numbers between movies at some theatres in South Philadelphia when she was 15yrs old (late 30s). Do u know if this was common practice at the broadway theatre?? or any other south philly theatres? I’m really hoping to locate which theatres she was talking about in her old stories. (unfortunately she passed away this last month).
No, the Broadway did not close in 1959. But if it was closed and demolished in 1971, the last picture show at the Broadway could not have been “Charlotte’s Web” as the film was not released until February 22, 1973 (New York City).
BROADWAY THEATRE is carved into the facade of the building, above the columns (or pillars). Take notice that the spelling is THEATRE, not theater.
@LSouth219 My understanding was that that was the case. It had a very large stage for Vaudeville acts (three sets of curtains if I remember) and there was a small orchestra pit down front, plenty of leg room. It had a loge and two balconies.
The Colonial on Moyamensing Ave. had talent shows and other performances. Eddie Fisher got his start here as well as other well known notables. It had a curtain and there were dressing rooms behind the stage area. These dressing rooms were originally a part of the house that was occupied by my family- the original builders and owners of the theatre- my grandparents Sadie and Morris Gerson.It was originally a garage in 1908, they installed fifty seats, with my grandfather running the projector, my grandmother the cashier, and my father, Philip, the usher. It was built into a regular theatre in 1910. It was the first “air cooled” theatre in South Philly. Fans would blow air across a bed of ice in the basement. I distinctly remember experiencing the air cooled system. There was a banner hanging from the marquee announcing “air cooled”, before air conditioning was installed.
When it was demolished it became a Popeye’s chicken before it was a McDonald’s. Saw two movies there Darby O Gill And The Little People and 2001.
I saw “The Sound of Music” there as a child. Beautiful theater.