Logan Theatre - Philadelphia, PA
The Logan Theatre in Philadelphia, PA, opened on January 24, 1924. It was built by the Stanley Company of America (now known as Time Warner) for $1.1 million, or $14 million when adjusted for inflation. The 1894-seat theater was designed by Hoffman and Henon, the architectural firm who also designed the now mostly demolished Boyd Theatre in downtown Philadelphia. Designed in the Adamesque style, the plasterwork in the auditorium featured mythological creatures, and there was a fresco of a sailing ship in the lobby. The building also had a large ballroom on the second floor, known as the “Waltz Studio.”
Originally a silent film theater, the opening day celebration included a showing of
“The Common Law,” starring Corinne Griffith and Conway Tearle [is this a famous silent film?]. The film was accompanied by music from the Kimball organ and the house orchestra, which was known as “The Loganians.” Then-mayor of Philadelphia W. Freeland Kendrick and Jules E. Mastbaum, the president of the Stanley Company, spoke at the opening. Like most of its contemporaries, the Logan eventually switched from silent films to “talkies,” or motion pictures with sound.
The Logan was closed in 1972, and in May of 1973, the building was sold by RKO Stanley Warner for $350,000 to the Deliverance Evangelist Church (DEC), one of the largest congregations in the area at the time. DEC made some alterations to the theater, including adding a closed-circuit television system, as the theater was often filled to capacity. This allowed people to watch the three-hour-long services from the former Waltz Studio ballroom. DEC moved out of the Logan in 1992, and the theater was abandoned. Soon after, the roof began to leak, causing significant water damage.
Dr. Owen Williamson purchased the Logan in 2005 and began to restore it as a memorial to his late wife, Claretilda. Since buying the building, he has repaired the roof, repainted the interior, and updated some wiring. Dr. Williamson plans to reopen the theater as a live music venue with a restaurant named “Claretildaville,” However, the building remains closed today.
Matt Lambros PA Philadelphia Nov 24, 2021 Architecture Theaters
Nov 24, 2021
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