Devon Theater for the Performing Arts
6333 Frankford Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19135
6333 Frankford Avenue,
Philadelphia,
PA
19135
4 people
favorited this theater
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Just to fill in some details, the Devon opened October 1, 1946 as a post-War theatre with no stage, a glass curtain and the opening film, “The Wife of Monte Cristo.” It quickly became a grind house with continuous double features closing at the end of a ten-year lease in 1956 and was offered for lease. It reopened with the same policy unsuccessfully in 1957. In August of 1958 under new operators it found its footing with double-feature art films with provocative titles and ads.
The venue was rebranded as the Devon Art Cinema in 1959 with “sensational” films and Philadelphia premieres. On October 5, 1960, the venue became the AAA Art Devon Cinema advertising “triple ‘AAA’ films” or code for something better than an X-rated film. (The name “AAA Art” was used to get a prime listing at the top of the movie listings.) It earned if not relished its nickname among locals as the “Dirty Devon.” A policy change at the newspaper (if not the phone book) changed that and the theatre returned to Devon Theatre with an adult policy that lasted to the end of a 20-year lease.
On November 22, 1978, the theatre announced a new family-friendly policy as a sub-run discount house showing 99 cent mainstream films. This policy proved incredibly successful even into the home video era. The Devon appears to have ended operations with “The Contender” on November 9, 2000. The stage-less movie house was then equipped with a stage in March of 2009 going on a neary two-year venture in legit theatre: the Devon Theater for the Performing Arts beginning with “Nunsense.” The art center closed in January of 2011. On May 31, 2015 it had a grand reopening as the Devon Concert Hall with live music events. That, too, closed.
For further details about the Devon Theater, please see —– MAYFAIR CIVIC ASSOCIATION: Timeline: Devon Zoning from President Donny Smith (Wednesday, June 3, 2015)
It’s been 15-months since Joel told us his company aquired the Devon Theater. In those 15-months, not a peep! Thanks Joel for keeping us informed!
Now we have learned that a church — Kingdom Life Christian Center — has bought the former Devon Theater property. Not sure if that includes the adjoining six stores.
A proposal is now before the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a church, daycare center, and a food bank. What comes next, a drug and alcohol rehab center?
It appears the church group bought the theater before it sought any input from the community. It’s like closing the barn door after the horse gets out!
When representatives from the Mayfair Civic Association approached the church group about community useage of the building, they were refused, saying the church deemed it excessive.
There doesn’t seem to be any room for compromise!
http://www.phillymag.com/property/2015/06/12/devon-theatre-philadelphia-mayfair/
I just received a robocall about a community meeting re a church’s planned reuse of the Devon Theatre.
I am interested in finding out who is the owner of the Devon Theater…Is the this theater still for sale? I am very interested in any information or leads anyone may have… my email address is Thanks.
I guess the Devon can be officially listed as CLOSED now. It doesn’t appear that the new owners are going to reach out with their future plans. Only then might best wishes be in order. Until that time, it’s wait and see!
Sorry it does not look like my email went through properly. Try my other email at
My Company recently acquired the Devon Theater. If anyone is interested please reach out to me directly at JoelEl Capitan Theatermile.net
The answer to Howard’s question is yes, the Devon Theater for the Performing Arts is closed. As for the marquee confusion – MARQUEE SPONSORED BY DREXEL UNIVERSIY – appears on the bottom right corner of each of the three faces of the marquee. This is in recognition of Drexel’s financial contribution for the new marquee. DEVON remains the name of the theater! Also, the last time I looked, the marquee also reads AVAILABLE. If anyone has further information on the future of the Devon, please share, and thanks!
Wonder how much state tax money went into this project.
Did the Devon (in its current form) close?
I’m confused about the references to putting “Drexel” on the marquee. Was the theater renamed?
Never should have put Drexel on the marquee. Bad luck.
Here is a photo from the Irvin Glazer theater collection:
http://tinyurl.com/qwnhha
Philadelphia Inquirer story on the reopening here.
Thought that might be the case, Howard. I searched all over for the January 3 issue and couldn’t find it. The old issues of BoxOffice found on issuu.com are really interesting. One more thing that I can spend far too long doing.
Jack, it DOES appear in the January 3 issue. It also appears in your link. It is an ad. Your link’s text is clearer, so thanks.
Thanks, Howard. I think the date issue date is actually January 31, 1948 and it’s page 145. Here’s the link I used: View link
When I worked at the Mayfair in the late 70s/early 80s they had a subscription to BoxOffice magazine and I loved reading it. I didn’t realize it went back so long.
If you google exactly “Boxoffice January 3, 1948” and then enter 104 in the page box, you will see a photo of the Devon auditorium facing Proscenium (curtained screen).
The Grand Opening has been announced and set for March 27, 2009! Here’s the official new release:
PHILADELPHIA, PA, JANUARY 21, 2009 – “The Mayfair Community Development Corporations Chairman of the Board Reese Hartey, Officers, Board of Directors, and staff in association with operating partner Fuse Management Inc., is proud to announce the long awaited and much anticipated Grand Opening of the DEVON Theater for Performing Arts, slated for Friday, March 27th 2009. The invitation only black tie gala will begin with a Red Carpet Open House from 6:00-7:00 P.M., followed by speeches from esteemed guests and entertainment hosted by CBS 3 anchor Pat Ciarrocchi from 7:00-9:00 P.M. The evening will conclude with a Theater Party from 9:00-11:00 for those in attendance. The Devon Theater for the Performing Arts is located at 6333 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19135-3033.
Following the Grand Opening Gala, the DEVON is opening its doors to the public on Saturday, March 28th with the hit comedy musical “Nunsense,” quoted by the New York Times as “A hail of fun and frolic like the holy mother church, Nunsense is a bona fide institution.”
“Nunsense” is the first of many local professional theatrical productions in the works for the DEVON. In addition to in-house theatrical productions the Devon will also present concerts, comedians, family attractions, dance, educational programs, as well as provide the theatre for rent to businesses, community groups, families, promoters, and faith based organizations. “We believe the community is the heartbeat of this theater and will engage them not only as patrons but also participants in as many ways as imaginable,” says Artistic Director, Michael Pickering.
The DEVON Revitalization Project is the result of passionate dedication from the Mayfair CDC and numerous individuals and organizations that have worked tirelessly on behalf of the community of Mayfair. Special recognition and appreciation to State Representative John Perzel, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, State Senator Tina Tartaglione, and Councilwoman Joan Krajewski who’s combined vision sparked the Devon Revitalization Project. Special Thanks to Governor Edward G. Rendell and the State of Pennsylvania along with Mayor Michael Nutter and the City of Philadelphia who have generously given their passion and support to the project. Continuous support from State Representative Michael McGeehan, State Senator Michael Stack, and the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades, has all combined for the completion of a very exciting and dynamic project.
“With the City in economic crisis it will be a tremendous positive to see the DEVON Revitalization Project completed, and new life blown into the Mayfair business corridor along Frankford Avenue. The Mayfair CDC has fought long and hard to make this dream a reality in the Northeast and their persistence has paid off. A project of this size would have taken most organizations 10 or 20 years to complete what the MCDC has done in 4 years. I am a proud supporter of the MCDC and of this tremendous project.” Quoted Councilwoman Joan Krajewski.
“The creation of jobs, the revitalization of a business corridor, and the infusion of art into the community, who could ask for more?” said State Representative John Perzel. “I have proudly stood by and supported Reese Hartey and the Mayfair CDC since day one of this project, and am excited to have something of this magnitude happening in our community. They have had a tremendous impact on both the commercial and residential sections of Mayfair and are to be commended for their constant example of community leadership.”
Thalheimer & Weitz, who were part of the team that designed City Hall and the Philadelphia Bourse, originally built the Devon in 1946 to serve the community as a movie theater. The DEVON is now a state-of-the-art 400 seat live performing arts center and will fulfill the need for an arts and entertainment venue in the Mayfair community and surrounding region.
For more information, Contact: Michael Pickering / Artistic Director
Devon Theater for the Performing Arts
6333 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19135-3033
646-275-9505 direct
215-338-6300 office
215-338-6302 fax
www.devontheater.org
Website is actually www.devontheater.org
I attended the Devon when it was first built.
I was wondering if anyone else out there was around at that time.
I remember Ed, Bill, Mary, Chickie, Norman Jean, Peggy, Ray, Joan, and others who grew up around Levick and Erdrick Sts.
Memories are great.!
Anyone hear anything lately about the status of the Devon project?
Jack, of the two of us, I’m not the one with feathers, in reference to speaking the truth about the Devon, which, if I’m not mistaken, is a Cinema Treasures' topic. So was that another Freudian slip on your part or what? You know things about this that you’re not telling, while I’d be curious to know if you know what Rich Costello’s position on it is, he being the former Philadelphia F.O.P. president who’s going to be running against Perzel in the fall (2008 — my making a special point to give the date in this instance as I’m sure we’ll be having this same discussion 100 years from now, “Anything new on the Devon?”)
Meantime, it seems odd to me that Drexel University, which is in a whole other universe, is sponsoring the Devon’s alleged restoration.
But then, what isn’t odd in this particular Cinema Treasures' story? We could go on to say that Ho Chi Minh XIII plans to emcee the opening ceremonies in 2135, of course. To which we could all say, “Why yes! Of course!” That’s how odd this whole Devon Theatre story is.
Given that the marquee was sponsored by my alma mater, I now understand the sloth.