Adelphi Theatre

1453 N. 52nd Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19131

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Affiliated Theatres, Felt Amusement Corp.

Architects: David Supowitz

Functions: Church

Styles: Moorish

Nearby Theaters

Adelphi Theatre

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

Recent comments (view all 11 comments)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on November 2, 2007 at 6:44 pm

I think the address should be 1453 N. 52nd Street.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on November 2, 2007 at 6:52 pm

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.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 27, 2007 at 7:54 pm

Here is a photo from the mid seventies:
http://tinyurl.com/253vnt

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 8, 2009 at 8:28 am

Here is a better view of the 12/27/07 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/mldynd

jwheckert
jwheckert on November 6, 2011 at 6:20 pm

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

TheALAN
TheALAN on January 27, 2014 at 3:46 pm

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.

David_Schneider
David_Schneider on May 1, 2017 at 12:51 pm

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/

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on December 28, 2017 at 2:52 am

Affiliated Theatre Circuit launched the Adelphi Theatre in 1938 using the architectural plans of David Supowitz which converted an automobile showroom.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 7, 2022 at 9:32 pm

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.

RickB
RickB on February 7, 2022 at 10:32 pm

“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.

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