Walnut Street Theatre facts for kids
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The New Circus (1809–1811)
The Olympic (1812–1820, 1822–1828) |
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Walnut Street Theatre in 2024
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| Address | 825 Walnut Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States |
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| Public transit | 9th-10th & Locust:
PATCO Speedline
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Walnut Street Theatre
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Built | 1809 |
| Architectural style | Classical revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000693 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 29, 1962 |
| Owner | Walnut Street Theatre Company (non-profit) |
| Designation | National Historic Landmark |
| Capacity | 1,054 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1809 |
| Rebuilt | 1828, John Haviland 1903, Willis Hale 1920, William H. Lee |
| Architect | William Strickland |
| Website | |
| walnutstreettheatre.org | |
The Walnut Street Theatre is a very old and famous theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It first opened its doors in 1809. This makes it the oldest theater in the United States that is still open and putting on shows today!
You can find the theater at 825 Walnut Street. It is in the Washington Square West neighborhood. A special group called the Walnut Street Theatre Company runs the theater. This company is a non-profit organization, which means they use their money to support the theater, not to make a profit.
The theater has three different stages. The Mainstage is for their biggest shows. The Independence Studio on 3 is on the third floor for smaller plays. There is also Studio 5 on the fifth floor, which other groups can rent.
Contents
Cool Features of the Theater
The Walnut Street Theatre has been a leader in theater technology. In 1837, it was the first theater to use gas footlights. These lights are placed at the front of the stage. They help light up the actors from below.
Later, in 1855, it became the first theater to have air conditioning. Imagine how cool that must have been on a hot summer day! In 1892, the theater updated again. It started using electric chandeliers and footlights. The building has been changed and improved many times over the years.
In 2019, the theater announced plans for a big expansion. This project was put on hold for a short time in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Theater History
The Early Years: 1800s
The land where the theater stands was bought in 1808. Two people named Victor Pépin and Jean Baptiste Casmiere Breschard bought it. They built a theater there called The New Circus. Pépin and Breschard had a traveling circus. They built many venues along the U.S. East Coast. Their shows often included circus acts and plays with horses. Their very first show at this location was on February 2, 1809.
In 1811, they hired an architect named William Strickland. He designed a stage and a place for the orchestra. They also bought more land to make the theater bigger. The theater's name changed to The Olympic. It reopened on January 1, 1812. The first plays shown there were The Rivals and The Poor Soldier.
The theater changed owners a few times over the next years. In 1820, it was finally named the Walnut Street Theatre. The first plays under this new name were Wild Oats and The Agreeable Surprise. For a short time, it went back to being The Olympic. This was for shows that included horses. But by 1828, it was called the Walnut Street Theatre again.
Later, in 1863, two famous actors, Edwin Booth and John Sleeper Clarke, bought the theater. Clarke later bought Booth's share in 1871.
The 1900s
In June 1923, the famous Marx Brothers performed their first show, I'll Say She Is, at the Walnut Street Theatre.
From 1932 to 1940, the theater showed movies. It also hosted different kinds of live shows. In 1941, a big theater company called The Shubert Organization took over.
The Walnut Street Theatre was named a National Historic Landmark in 1966. This means it is a very important historical place. In 1969, a non-profit organization bought the theater.
A very important event happened there on September 23, 1976. It was the site of the first presidential debate between Gerald R. Ford and Jimmy Carter. This was a big moment in American history.
The Walnut Street Theatre Company was formed in 1983. It is a non-profit group that produces plays. In 1984, the Walnut Street Theatre School opened. Over 1,200 students learn acting and theater skills there each year. The company puts on five main shows each season.
The 2000s
In 2008, the theater celebrated 200 years of live shows. By 2010, it had more subscribers than any other theater company in the world. This means many people bought season tickets to see their shows!
Famous Shows and Performers
Many famous plays and actors have been part of the Walnut Street Theatre's history.
- Some well-known productions include
- I'll Say She Is with the Marx Brothers (June 1923)
- A Streetcar Named Desire with Marlon Brando (1947)
- Mister Roberts with Henry Fonda (1948)
- Gigi with Audrey Hepburn (1951)
- The Diary of Anne Frank with Susan Strasberg (1955)
- A Raisin in the Sun with Sidney Poitier (1959)
- A Man For All Seasons starring Paul Scofield (1961)
- Many famous performers have appeared on its stage, such as
Ethel Barrymore, Edwin Booth, George M. Cohan, Claudette Colbert, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, Marlon Brando, Edwin Forrest, Julie Harris, Helen Hayes, Katharine Hepburn, Mark Indelicato, Samuel L. Jackson, Jack Lemmon, Groucho Marx and the Marx Brothers, Rob McClure, Mike Nichols, George Peppard, Harold Perrineau, Robert Redford, Edward G. Robinson, Laura San Giacamo, Marina Sirtis, Lucas Steele, Jarrod Spector, George C. Scott, Jessica Tandy and Ethel Waters.
Images for kids
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Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford debate domestic policy at the Walnut Street Theatre during the 1976 presidential election on September 23, 1976
See also
