Also, the Ripley name didn’t appear here until the 1947 clothing store was built. In 1909 the theater was known as the Hippodrome Palace, according to a help wanted ad: “PIANO PLAYER for vaudeville and pictures. Apply Today before noon, Hippodrome Palace, 608 South st.”
According to an archive file of zoning docs, the Hippodrome was razed in 1942 and the Ripley clothing store was constructed in 1947.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/lni-zoning-pdfs/219-336816.pdf
The actual address of the Hill Theatre was 8324 Germantown Ave, according to various newspaper ads and historical maps, but the property possibly included more than one number, such as 8320-24.
Sadly, contrary to my previous post, the Avon has been gone for a long time, per historic maps I’ve seen since. The supermarket is in a completely separate building, dating back to at least 1875. I was previously going on incorrect information and photos from the Philadelphia Buildings and Architects site, which stated it was converted to a supermarket in 1950; apparently Irvin Glazer was mistaken.
Joe Vogel, you are correct with your streetview suggestion. That is the Owl Theatre, which in ads general listed its address as 23rd & South (It fronts both Grays Ferry Ave and South St, wrapping around a now-vacant corner lot). The streets are kind of confusing there, because in that block 23rd St more or less merges into the diagonal Grays Ferry Avenue for one block, but the buildings in that block have 22xx Grays Ferry Ave addresses.
The owner of the Owl Theatre building just recently began renovating it into retails spaces; prior to that, it had served as a warehouse for a fine art dealer, until several years ago.
The Owl Theatre is most assuredly not demolished. It served as a warehouse for a fine arts dealer until several years ago and just in recent weeks the owner has begun to renovate it into retail spaces. The building fronts on 2 streets, South and 23rd, and had wrapped around a long-gone building on the corner.
Also, the Ripley name didn’t appear here until the 1947 clothing store was built. In 1909 the theater was known as the Hippodrome Palace, according to a help wanted ad: “PIANO PLAYER for vaudeville and pictures. Apply Today before noon, Hippodrome Palace, 608 South st.”
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-piano-player-h/135285032/
According to an archive file of zoning docs, the Hippodrome was razed in 1942 and the Ripley clothing store was constructed in 1947. https://s3.amazonaws.com/lni-zoning-pdfs/219-336816.pdf
The actual address of the Hill Theatre was 8324 Germantown Ave, according to various newspaper ads and historical maps, but the property possibly included more than one number, such as 8320-24.
Philadelphia zoning document archives indicate the conversion to a dry cleaner/tailor occurred circa 1951, earlier than previously believed.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/lni-zoning-pdfs/219-47931.pdf
From what I see in a zoning/building permit archive file, it appears the conversion to catering hall occured c. 1954.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/lni-zoning-pdfs/219-333973.pdf
Sadly, contrary to my previous post, the Avon has been gone for a long time, per historic maps I’ve seen since. The supermarket is in a completely separate building, dating back to at least 1875. I was previously going on incorrect information and photos from the Philadelphia Buildings and Architects site, which stated it was converted to a supermarket in 1950; apparently Irvin Glazer was mistaken.
Or actually, they do have 2300 addresses in that block. Looks like the Owl is 2304.
Joe Vogel, you are correct with your streetview suggestion. That is the Owl Theatre, which in ads general listed its address as 23rd & South (It fronts both Grays Ferry Ave and South St, wrapping around a now-vacant corner lot). The streets are kind of confusing there, because in that block 23rd St more or less merges into the diagonal Grays Ferry Avenue for one block, but the buildings in that block have 22xx Grays Ferry Ave addresses.
The owner of the Owl Theatre building just recently began renovating it into retails spaces; prior to that, it had served as a warehouse for a fine art dealer, until several years ago.
A correct streetview link of the Grays Ferry Avenue side:
https://goo.gl/maps/64avuDfgtwD2
Or more correctly, Grays Ferry Avenue, rather than 23rd St, as 23rd becomes Grays Ferry in that block.
The Owl Theatre is most assuredly not demolished. It served as a warehouse for a fine arts dealer until several years ago and just in recent weeks the owner has begun to renovate it into retail spaces. The building fronts on 2 streets, South and 23rd, and had wrapped around a long-gone building on the corner.