Sunday, February 17, 2013

Location One: South Philadelphia's Broadway Theatre


       When the Broadway Theatre opened on 2042 S. Broad St. in South Philadelphia in 1913, it quickly became one of the greatest entertainment attractions that part of the city had to offer. Long before the sports complex was a twinkle in the town's eye, the Broadway Theatre housed 2,183 individuals and hosted an array of events.1

      Designed by well known theater architect Albert E. Westover, the Broadway Theatre's white brick and terra cotta facade gave it a look of grandeur and quality, while speaking to the acts housed inside.2

Broadway Theatre, via Temple University Library's Urban Archives

       That is right. The Broadway Theatre first opened as a vaudeville theater, but was eventually converted into a movie theater as the technology became popular. Though it contained just a single screen, South Philadelphia residents flocked to the theater to catch some of the most popular films of all-time.3

      Though the Broadway Theatre showed no genre of film in particular, it did an excellent job of bringing the most popular films to the “big screen.”

      Outside of films, the Broadway Theatre quickly became known for its elegant Halloween parties. The promotion, first arranged by manager Dominic Lucente, nicknamed the “Mayor of South Philadelphia” because of his popularity, was a costume party that offered gifts and prizes for children and served as one of the theater's best promotional events.4

      As other theaters grew and the sports complex became a realistic endeavor in South Philadelphia, however, the Broadway Theatre's popularity began to fade and one of the greatest entertainment attractions in the city's history was demolished in 1971.5 A Walgreens parking lot now stands in its place.
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Works Cited
1 ) "Broadway Theatre -- Philadelphia Architects and Buildings." Philadelphia Architects and Buildings. http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/5826 (accessed February 18, 2013).
2 )"Broadway Theatre -- Philadelphia Architects and Buildings." Philadelphia Architects and Buildings. http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/5826 (accessed February 18, 2013).
3 ) Evans, Shawn. "Neighborhood Movie Theaters." The Philly History Blog. www.phillyhistory.org/blog/index.php/2011/06/neighborhood-movie- theaters/ (accessed February 17, 2013).
4 ) "Comments about Broadway Theater in Philadelphia, PA - Cinema Treasures." Cinema Treasures. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4912/comments (accessed February 18, 2013).
5 ) "Broadway Theatre -- Philadelphia Architects and Buildings." Philadelphia Architects and Buildings. http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/5826 (accessed February 18, 2013).