Logan Theatre

I used to live a few blocks from The Logan Theater back in the 1940s. I wrote a little story about my Saturday Matinee experiences with a photo of what the Logan looked like in the old days. Here’s a link to the story: http://bit.ly/f56x18

At least they are maintaining this place to some degree. The pics in the link above at Abandonedbutnotforgotten were taken by a friend of mine who just happened to pass by one day when the place was open and being worked on. They let him come in to shoot the place. I saw a door open and a person hosing down the lot outside but could not stop that day. I hope to get inside one day before anything happens to the place.

As far as the closing date for the Logan, I believe it was 1972. I lived not far away on Olney Avenue from 1972-1975 and would sometimes walk to the Logan. The last show I saw there was a double bill of Hammer thrillers, ‘Vampire Circus’ and ‘Twins of Evil’. That was on a Sunday night and the theater was closed on Monday. IMDB lists the release date for both films as 1972. After the Logan closed the only other theaters I could walk to were the Esquire and the Lane. Like the Logan those buildings are still standing, but have not been cinemas for decades.

MR HOLLYWOOD AND DOCTOR OWEN IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB INSIDE THAT MAY NOT BE APPAERENT TO THE PUBLIC. THE THEATER WILL OPEN SOON, I HAVE INSIDE SOUCE. ROME WASN’T BUILD IN ONE DAY. THE UPTOWN WAS GIVEN 1 MILLION DOLLARS AND IS STILL NOT OPEN YET. YOU MUST BE PATIENT GOD CAN DO ALL THINGS.

I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL THE THEATRE OPEN, HOLLYWOOD IS WONDERFUL. HE IS GOING TO DO WONDERS WITH IT!

Drove by the theater today and what ever work that was taking place can not be scence on the outside. The large dumpster that was next to the building is gone. The last I heard the roof needed repairs and with winter here look out. I don’t think this gem will make it, sad to say. rg

In May, 1973, RKO Stanley Warner sold the Logan Theatre for $350,000 to the Deliverance Evangelistic Church, according to a newspaper report at the time. The church had previously been based in the former Tioga Theatre at 3540 North 17th Street. I don’t think that the Tioga is listed at Cinema Treasures, but the 1944 FDYB gives a seating capacity of 1,000. I guess that the Tioga became too small for the church’s needs.

Never mind. I found it in Monday’s Daily News at Dan Gross' column-
Logan Theater to live again

Entertainment promoter Jimmy “Hollywood” Brooks and Dr. Owen Williams are fixing up the old Logan Theater (4732 N. Broad) and hope to reopen it as a live-music venue called Claretildaville as early as November, Brooks says. The property, which was built in 1924, later became a church. Brooks and Williams acquired the spot two years ago and have purchased the old curtains from the Copa Room at the recently shuttered Sands in Atlantic City. The venue is named after Williams' late wife, Claretilda.

Based on an article in the Daily News, the Logan was bought and is being restore. Should reopen as a live music venue. But the can’t do the Boyd!

ALERT: I passed by the theatre today and workers were repairing the old marquee. Could not stop to ask what might be going on but if repair work is going something must be up. rg

Anything new on the Logan? I too remember spending many happy Saturdays @ the Logan as well as the Rockland, the Broad and on rare occasions, the Esquire. Cartoons always were before the movies. The Dirty Dozen, the Three Stooges Movies and in 1967, my freshman year at “the Prep” I saw To Sir, With Love (LuLu and Judy Geeson were HOT!!).
I also remember as Jbon calls them the “other kids” and how they eventually took over and everything went to “hell in a handbasket”.
I don’t think that it will do much good to sink a lot of bucks into fixing the Logan up because the neighborhood is too far gone.
Lumpy

Does anybody know of any sites with info or photos on the Logan neighborhood? Thanks, George Chorin