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.
__
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).
