Richmond Theater
3037-3043 Richmond Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19134
3037-3043 Richmond Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19134
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Green & Altman, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Architects: E. Allen Wilson
Nearby Theaters
The Richmond Theater opened in 1913. The proscenium was 28ft wide. In 1921 it was equipped with a Wurlitzer 2 manual 4 ranks organ. By 1927 it was operated by Green & Altman. From March 1929 it was operated by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp. The Richmond Theater closed on March 9, 1952 with Bob Hope in “My Favorite Spy”.
It was used by a plumbing firm for offices & storage for many years. Since 2005 it was in use as a book store but this had closed by September 2019 when it was proposed for demolition of the theatre to occur in May 2021. Demolition began at the rear of the building and it was fully demolished by September 2021 and the vacant site is crushed bricks.
Contributed by
Bob Murphy
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Here is an undated photo from the Philadelphia Architects and Buildings site. The photo is from the Irvin Glazer collection:
http://tinyurl.com/2k9zag
Hidden City Philadelphia today: http://hiddencityphila.org/2013/03/books-take-stage-in-a-former-theater-in-port-richmond/
Photo in ex-auditorium in yesterday’s Philadelphia Sunday Inquirer in Business section re Port Richmond “Area gets younger, but Polish food endures” http://articles.philly.com/2013-06-23/business/40148369_1_port-richmond-northern-liberties-swiacki-meats
Proposed for demolition! https://starnewsphilly.com/2019/09/12/community-staple-port-richmond-books-is-under-threat-of-demolition/?fbclid=IwAR32ikx6wiYqpH9MCUc1_wGt4_Iqcp4GhYsKJf9UY0gi40tzQLdZKJr5KRQ
My friend Jay Farrell has suggested to me that the same road construction that is putting the bookstore out of business apparently kept the google streetview photography car from reaching that block.
Demolition has not started yet, and may not happen at all according to a friend who runs a nearby business. Seems that the new owners are amenable to restoration. I’m going to try!!!
Devastated to report that after inspecting the site myself today, I was wrong. Demolition has indeed started on the back half of the building. The facade is still intact. I suppose it’s too late at this point :(
Apologies for the vertical video: https://youtu.be/3BFOfYsavXg
Warner Theatre Circuit took on the venue in March of 1929 equipping it with Vitaphone sound to remain viable. Warner closed the Richmond Theatre permanently on March 9, 1952 with Bob Hope in “My Favorite Spy.”