Adelphi Theatre
1453 N. 52nd Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19131
1453 N. 52nd Street,
Philadelphia,
PA
19131
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Affiliated Theatres, Felt Amusement Corp.
Architects: David Supowitz
Functions: Church
Styles: Moorish
Nearby Theaters
The Adelphi Theatre (not to be confused with the older legitimate house of the same name on Broad Street) opened in 1938. The theatre was located on N. 52nd Street near Media Street and had 483-seats. After the theatre closed in 1965, it became a ballroom and catering hall. Since 1985 it has become home to the Mount Zion United African Church.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
I think the address should be 1453 N. 52nd Street.
The number streets run north and south, while the name streets run east and west. This excepts Broad Street, which would actually be 14th Street. Also please note that if you ask someone to take you to East Philly, they will dump you in the Delaware River.
Here is a photo from the mid seventies:
http://tinyurl.com/253vnt
Here is a better view of the 12/27/07 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/mldynd
Here is a link to a video shot in the Church that now resides in the theater.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYJuBSVSnjk&feature=related
After the theater closed, it became a hall for banquets and weddings — called ADELPHI. The photo referenced by kencmcintyre shows that it was still a banquet hall on 12/27/2007 and that the vertical ADELPHI sign still towered above the marquee. Only later could it have become a church.
And the address is 1453-1457 NORTH 52nd Street.
This CBS Sunday Morning news video about Daryl Hall and John Oates shows how they first met at what was then the Adelphi Ballroom. John visits starting at 2:34:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/daryl-hall-and-john-oates-no-end-in-sight/
Affiliated Theatre Circuit launched the Adelphi Theatre in 1938 using the architectural plans of David Supowitz which converted an automobile showroom.
I’ve found no evidence that this Adelphi Theatre operated any earlier than 1938. The Broad Street Adelphi was still in operation at least as late as 1930, and wasn’t demolished until 1937. The automobile showroom that David Supowitz converted into the Adelphi on 52nd Street may have been built in 1922, but the theater opened in 1938.
“The price paid by Affiliated Theatres Circuit, Inc., for the premises 1453-55 N. 52d St., purchased for the proposed new Adelphi Theatre to be built on the site, was $35,000, it was revealed yesterday when the deed was recorded.” –Inquirer, June 30, 1938. The Adelphi was open and advertising by the end of the year, so it must have gone from proposed to reality fairly quickly.