Diamond Theatre

2119-2123 Germantown Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19122

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Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on December 11, 2009 at 11:34 pm

Very poor scan of a PAB photo.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 11, 2009 at 8:25 pm

Here is an undated photo from the Irvin Glazer collection:
http://tinyurl.com/yakgkkb

lostmemory
lostmemory on May 9, 2009 at 11:44 am

The next Google map link that you post will result in my posting them also.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 9, 2009 at 11:37 am

Here is a contemporary view. The building is still standing but is not in use:
http://tinyurl.com/qmowk4

lostmemory
lostmemory on September 17, 2007 at 7:04 am

A Kimball theater organ was installed in the Diamond Theater in 1926.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on March 12, 2007 at 10:35 am

Here is a 1967 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/38cj4a

Warren G. Harris
Warren G. Harris on September 17, 2004 at 8:45 am

P.S. I’ve just compared the exterior photo of the Diamond in Glazer’s book to the one of the Teatro Puerto Rico at nycsubway.org and it’s definitely the same theatre. The 1937 marquee had “DIAMOND” in illuminated letters across the front, with an illuminated diamond with just the letter “D” above that. These were later replaced by a painted sign “Puerto Rico Theatre” across the front of the marquee and a painted “PR” in the diamond above.

btkrefft
btkrefft on September 17, 2004 at 8:37 am

Thanks for your help with identifying this Warren & Rick…this was/is the Diamond Theatre. Found this site with photos of the Diamond/Puerto Rico Theatre. Unfortunately, you have to subscribe to their site to view the full photos (there are thumbnail views of the interior & exterior). Apparently, it was originally called the Cohooksink Theatre before its Diamond days.

Warren G. Harris
Warren G. Harris on September 17, 2004 at 8:34 am

According to Irvin R. Glazer’s “Philadelphia Theaters,” the Diamond Theatre was situated at 2119 Germantown Avenue and first opened in 1920 as a purpose-built movie house. In 1937, the Diamond was renovated and received a new marquee under the supervision of architect David Supowitz. Interior and exterior photographs taken at that time can be fournd on page 31 of Glazer’s book. (Curiously, in the chronological list of Philadephia theaters at the back of the book, the author contradicts himself by reporting the Diamond’s opening date as 1923!)

RickB
RickB on September 17, 2004 at 7:52 am

I believe this building was originally called the Diamond Theater. The actual address was on Germantown Avenue, a diagonal street that passes very close to the 6th & Diamond intersection. In the ‘80s this theater would occasionally show up in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s neighborhood movie listings; by then the films were typical Hollywood releases but the theater was still called the Puerto Rico.

Warren G. Harris
Warren G. Harris on September 17, 2004 at 7:23 am

Can you give a more specific address? Was it on 6th (Avenue? Street?) or on Diamond? I suspect that it had at least one name prior to Teatro Puerto Rico. The 1942 Film Daily Year Book reports a 1,657-seat Park Theatre at 31st. and Diamond Street. There was also a 927-seat Diamond Theatre on Germantown Avenue.