Star Theatre
2640 Kensington Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19125
2640 Kensington Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19125
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Milgram Theaters
Architects: Carl P. Berger, David Supowitz
Functions: Community Center
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The Star Theatre was built in 1914, designed by architect Carl P. Berger. It opened in November 1914. In 1924 it was equipped with a Wurlitzer 2 manual 3 ranks organ. It received a makeover in 1941 to the plans of architect David Supowitz. The Star Theatre was closed in 1954.
Later that year it became the Starlite Ballroom. In the 1970’s it went over to hosting rock concerts, then returned to ballroom use and in May 1980 back to rock concerts. The theatre became a church and is now a community center.
Contributed by
OttoBurger
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
A tiny hole-in-the-wall theater. It had no lobby to speak of. You practically walked right into the theater which was separated from the street only by a curtain in a doorway. I remember seeing the original “The Thing” here.
I worked on the building in the early 90’s the outreach center down Kensington Avenue had bought it for taxes and we were using it as a soup kitchen. We showed Monday night football on the big screen. Some years earlier it had been flatten up word and turned into a dance hall but the old hardwood was in total disrepair by then. Sure would love to see the place again.
Here is an undated photo from the Philadelphia Architects & Buildings site. The photo is from the Irin Glazer collection:
http://tinyurl.com/2lofyc
Another shot of the Star marquee may be found here.
The marquee is now gone, as is the blue paint seen in the preceding photo.
The Star Theatre was a $20,000 venue built in 1914 for John Knoell. Louis Sheffitt performed a 1941 remodeling to the plans of David Supowitz. James Milgram closed the theatre at the expiry of a second 20-year lease in 1954 and was taken over by new operators becoming the Starlite Ballroom later in 1954. A picture of the new Starlite Ballroom is in photos.