Lawndale Theatre
6613 Rising Sun Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19111
6613 Rising Sun Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19111
2 people
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I appeared in mame, fidler on the roof, how to succeed, oliver etc. I also choreographed several of them. TONY MARINO.
I was an usher and sold juice and soft pretzels during the musical MAME. It was a wonderful experience. The cast was so very talented. The staff were so friendly and so much fun. What a great memory.
It was never called “The Fox Tots.” It’s a preschool and a day care center called “Time For Tots.” Still operating, it’s pretty easy to recognize what it is! The marquee tells you!
Yes, I acted with Bob In Sound Of Music in 1965,playing Friedrich, and I remember Bob fondly.
Does anyone remember my Dad, Bob Simson, who played Bill Sykes in Oliver and Captain Von Trappe in Sound of Music? He would love to hear from you. He is 85 years old now and we were enjoying this site about Abbey Stage Door.
ADDRESS IS 6613 RISING SUN AVE
The Lawndale Theatre seated 1,217 when it opened in 1922. Later refitted for live theater, it was renamed the Abbey Stage Door and seating was reduced to 850. Seating had been reduced again to 500 by the time the Abbey closed in 1964. A health center for a time, the theater has been a day care since the late 1970’s.
I was in “Oliver ” there in 1967 as a workhouse boy. It was great fun, and since I lived in Lawndale I could walk there. The revolving stage was so cool!
Its still there as a daycare for tots!
I acted there in the late 1960s, early 1970s. The theatre was almost completely intact, with 500+/– seats. A revolving stage was added as well as a dressing room. Other than that, it was almost completely original. I believe the theatre was sold in the late 70s or early 80s. It first became a health club, then a daycare center. There are those who believed the building was haunted, as many of us had odd experiences there.
I acted in three productions there in 1964-66.
The building is still standing, still has its marquee. The marquee is advertising “The Fox Tots” – hard to tell exactly what the current use it. No other hint of current function. But the front facade is fairly modern – 1950s to 1960s, plain.
The building was used for live theater under the Abbey Stage Door name in the late ‘60s and '70s.
This is a 1988 photo from Michael Putnam’s book “Silent Screens”. The theater was a daycare center then. Sorry about the quality of the photo, however. I recommend the book:
http://tinyurl.com/2meesm