Sedgwick Cultural Center
7137 Germantown Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19119
7137 Germantown Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19119
2 people
favorited this theater
Designed by prolific Pennsylvania theater architect William H. Lee in 1928, the 1,636 seat Sedgwick Theatre was located in the Mount Airy area of Philadelphia, on Germantown Avenue. It remained in operation until 1966, and was afterward used as a warehouse for many years.
Since 1996, the theater has been home to the Sedgwick Cultural Center, a showplace for the Mount Airy community, featuring a wide variety of activities, such as music, fine arts, children’s programs, film and many other events.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 21 comments)
Without a date or other information, the ticket price doesn’t mean much. It might have been for a midweek matinee in an era when 32 cents was worth a lot more than it is today. The average movie ticket price in 1958 was 50.5 cents, and even less before that. And “average” means a median between the highest and lowest prices being charged at that time.
A Moller theater organ opus 5230 size 3/19 was installed in the Sedgwick Theater in 1928 at a cost of $17000.00. Note: Moved (several times) and is now living in the Keswick Theater in Glenside, Pa.
Here is a circa 1940s photo from the Irvin Glazer theater collection:
http://tinyurl.com/lq6j7k
Still no activity and the lobby is empty. The center must be out of business. The video store th the left of the theatre built a small screening room and shows movies. I guess it would cost to much to do it at the center. rg
The Theatre Historical Society visited the Sedgwick during their Philadelphia Conclave on July 11th of this year. It is indeed still in operation as a community center in the section of the building housing the lobbies.
We also went into the auitorium, but had to do so through the stage loading dock doors as it is still sealed off from the lobbies and used as a wharehouse. Wow, what a beautiful ceiling.
The lobbies have some spectacular art deco plaster work, but quite a bit of it is damaged and missing. It will take a lot to bring it back to it’s former glory.
Is the moving and storage co. still the owner of the building. Many years ago the owner gave me a tour again you must use the loading dock doors to get auditorium. He took the time to show me the entire building. What a great theatre it once was. When it was open my buddie and go to this theatre along with the others on Germantown Ave and the one ones on Chelton Ave. As a kid my grandmother ran the Chelten theatre one of the small houses in the area. rg
Here are some photos by Rob Bender.
Hello from England ! Very interesting to read about the Sedgwick Theatre – and see the photos of the wonderful Art Deco interior. I am researching my family tree and there is a connection with the Sedgwick Theatre. – My Great Aunt May ( from England ) married a man called ‘Lee Balsley’ ( I think it is Lee, but definitely Balsley ), and he was the Manager at the Sedgwick Theatre for a time. I don’t know dates but I am guessing it was after the end of WW2. If anyone has any further information, that would be of interest. Many thanks. Graham Brown. Essex. England.
A new life for the Sedgwick?
View link
“In a recent interview Burns noted that when he first started cleaning up the Sedgwick for ‘Measure for Measure,’ he spent four days just removing the dust and grime that had collected since the place had been turned into a warehouse some years ago.”
suggests that maybe they’ll reopen the main theater? for now they’re just in the lobby. this NEEDS to be done!
Can anyone tell me what the link to “Sedgwick” is? Interested in history of the theatre’s name.