Diamond Theatre
2119-2123 Germantown Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19122
2119-2123 Germantown Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19122
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Obsessed with this building. Hoping to get it nominated
Riot on July 27th, 1937.
https://philly.newspapers.com/clip/6933981/diamond_theatre_riot/
Warren, here is a more specific address: — 2117-7123 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19122. On Germantown Avenue, the theater is at North 6th Street between Diamond Street and West Susquehanna Avenue. The theater opened in 1920 as the Cohooksink Theatre, was renamed the Diamond Theatre (c. 1937), and finally became the Teatro Puerto Rico in the 1960’s.
What does the 1,657-seat Park Theatre, at 31st and Diamond Streets, have to do with the Diamond Street? They’re twenty-five blocks apart! You mention that there was also a 927-seat Diamond Theatre on Germantown Avenue. That is the one and the same as the Diamond Theatre on this Cinema Treasures page!
Would anyone be able to share when this theater closed? After its closure, a Puerto Rican congregation used the space for religious services. Today, the building appears vacant. “FOR SALE” is scribbled on the façade.
Here is an undated photo from the Irvin Glazer collection:
http://tinyurl.com/yakgkkb
Here is a contemporary view. The building is still standing but is not in use:
http://tinyurl.com/qmowk4
Here is a 1967 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/38cj4a
I believe this building was originally called the Diamond Theater. The actual address was on Germantown Avenue, a diagonal street that passes very close to the 6th & Diamond intersection. In the ‘80s this theater would occasionally show up in the Philadelphia Inquirer’s neighborhood movie listings; by then the films were typical Hollywood releases but the theater was still called the Puerto Rico.