It stands as a testament to the evolving cultural landscape of North Philadelphia, reflecting changes from a bustling movie palace dating back to the early 1920s to a vibrant church, and now aiming to become a modern entertainment venue.
The theater, which opened as a grand movie palace on January 24, 1924, was originally named the Logan Theater. It was built by the Stanley Company of America and designed by the architectural firm Hoffman and Hernon. The opulent structure had a seating capacity of 1,894 and was equipped with a Kimball pipe organ for musical accompaniment. On its opening day, the theater screened the silent film The Common Law, starring Corinne Griffith and Conway Tearle. The show was accompanied by the orchestra, known as the Loganians, and the Kimball pipe organ.
In its early years, the theater showcased both highbrow films and more popular fare. It also hosted live dance shows and had a large ballroom on the second floor where social dances took place.
The theater’s operation shifted in the 1940s when Warner Bros. Circuit Management took over. The movies featured were mostly standard fare. Local historians have also written about some unusual events hosted in the theater, including the series of popular cooking classes and the Miss Logan Beauty Contest in the 1960s. In later years, boxing matches were telecast in the theater, with perhaps the most famous being a heavyweight title fight between Muhammad Ali and Cleveland Williams in 1966.
The theater continued to screen movies until its closure on January 30, 1973. The final films shown were “Blindman,” starring Ringo Starr, and “Trouble Man,” featuring Paul Winfield. In 1973, the Logan Theater was purchased by the Deliverance Evangelistic Church, which used the space for its services until 1992. The church modified the interior to suit its needs, including adding a large baptismal tank on stage.
The building remained vacant after the church moved out for over a decade. During this period, it suffered from neglect and damage. In the early 2020s, a new partnership acquired the theater and embarked on the journey to restore it to its former glory as an entertainment venue. Restoration efforts focused on preserving the building’s historic charm while upgrading its facilities to meet modern standards. This included restoring the original marquee, refurbishing the seating, and updating the stage and backstage areas. Today, the theater is a vibrant live performance venue, hosting a diverse array of events, including theater productions, concerts, comedy shows, and community performances. The restored theater continues to serve as a cultural hub, drawing in a new generation of patrons while honoring its rich history.
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