Upsal Theatre
6531 Germantown Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19144
6531 Germantown Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19144
3 people
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Additional Info
Firms: Borzner & Wood
Functions: Daycare Center
Styles: Colonial Revival, Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Pelham Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Pelham Theatre was built in 1914. The architects are listed as Borzner and Wood. In 1933 it was renamed Upsal Theatre. In March 1941 it was given a Streamline Moderne style makeover. The Upsal Theatre was closed on March 19, 1950 with Robert Sterling in “Roughshod” & Johnny Weissmuller in “Tarzan’s Desert Mystery”.
It became a lumber store, then the Police Athletic League Boys Club. Later use was as a Halal deli, a church and by 2019 a young persons daycare center.
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
The Pelham was the original name for this theatre located at 6351 Germantown Avenue. I’m not sure when the name changed to the Upsal Theatre. It was a 470 seat theatre that was built in 1914. It closed around 1951. It was sold to the Police Athletic League Boys Club, but initially used for the sale of lumber. The bulding is still there. I passed this building numerous times and it was clear to me that it was a theatre at one time and currently is being used as a church.
Here is a larger view of the photo posted on 1/31/05:
http://tinyurl.com/n88vbc
The Upsal Theatre was given a streamline moderne makeover in March of 1941 by operators Sidney and Edward Kapner. The Upsal permanently closed on March 19, 1950 with a double feature of “Roughshod” and “Tarzan’s Desert Mystery.” The City of Philadelphia took on the venue for the Police Athletic League until being sold again in 1954.
According to the local paper, the original architectural style of the Pelham was Colonial. It was updated in 1924, 1933, 1941 and 1951 where it would gradually lose those Colonial features.