Ambassador Theatre
5542 Baltimore Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19143
5542 Baltimore Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19143
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The architect referred to it as Adam Style architecture complete with a marble and gold interior and terra cotta and granite front at open. Harvey C. Hodgens' exterior architectural sketch is in photos and was created for operators Samuel and George Felt of the Aldine. John A. Queen was at the organ for the grand opening.
The Ambassador initially closed on December 4, 1956 as a second-run, discount operation with “Safari” and “Miami Expose.” Albert M. Greenfield subleased the venue to Samuel Gross on a one-year basis. The theatre tested its rebranding as the remodeled Ambassador Art Theatre from October 14, 1958 with “The Gold Rush” and closing permanently on October 13, 1959 with “The Truth About Women” and “Secrets of the Reef.”
September 25th, 1921 grand opening ad in the photo section. It opened on the 1st.
In what style was the Ambassadore Theatre designed?
http://hiddencityphila.org/2013/09/murder-disco-and-democrats-on-baltimore-ave/
It was a skating rink later on in its life
3 Feb 1958 Box Office (available online) reported that the Ambassador closed
This is a larger view of one of the Irvin Glazer photos posted on June 3, 2008:
http://tinyurl.com/nrw2wp
The building still stands, but the marquee is gone altogether.
I remember for a brief period mid to late 70’s it was a dance club.
I remember as a child living in West Philadelphia, going to the Ambassador theatre at 57th and Baltimore. If you ride the trolly out of the 60th and Baltimore loop, as you ride toward center city, you can still see the facade of the theatre. Look upward at the front corners and you can see the letters “AMBASSADOR” still etched in the deco window panes. Further up at about 55th and Baltimore stood the Sherwood Theatre on an island in the street. The Sherwood was demolished. Sweet memories.
Does anyone have any further information regarding this theatre?