The Logan Theater at 4732 N. Broad Street opened in 1923 and was vacated by its last owner in 2005. Director and playwright Nolbert Brown Jr. hopes to reopen the old movie palace as a multi-use entertainment venue akin to the Apollo Theater in Harlem. | Photo: Michael Bixler
Much of my teenage years were spent at the intersection of Broad and Wyoming. That time was never a full day of any specific activity, but it did add up. 10 to 20 minutes here and there or longer if I engaged in a conversation or simply took a minute to sit and look around.
When my family moved to the area in the mid-1990s the landscape was naturally different. A used car lot was once on the west side of Broad Street, while a Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Budget Video occupied the northeast corner. For as long as I have lived in the area, The Way of the Cross Church has been the only constant place in operation.
Today, you might spot a pair of Mormons leaving their headquarters. Sid Booker’s Shrimp Corner is usually busy serving its famous baskets of fried seafood. During the weekday parents drop off and pick up their children at Cooke Elementary. On Sundays, the Cambodian Evangelical Church opens its doors and parishioners gather. Sometimes they have a small cook-out and I enjoy those moments for the delicious, lingering smells. It’s a mostly sleepy block of North Philadelphia, so when something changes everyone notices, like a hopeful plan to open a music venue in the old movie theater at 4732 N. Broad Street.
Logan’s Lost Movie Palace
The Logan Theater upon opening in 1923. | Photo courtesy of The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
The Logan Theater was built in 1924 for the Stanley Company of America and designed by architectural firm Hoffman & Henon. The 1,894-seat theater originally screened silent films. Its first feature was The Common Law starring Corinne Griffith. The film was accompanied by a live orchestra, known as The Loganians, that included a Kimball pipe organ. Logan Theater would continue in this fashion until making the switch to the more popular sound film format in the 1940s.
Interior architectural details included depictions of mythological creatures and a fresco of a ship in the lobby. A ballroom was on the second floor, known as the Waltz Studio, which featured live performances that had audiences reveling until the late hours.
The auditorium of the Logan Theater in 1923. | Photo courtesy of The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
The theater remained in operation until January 30, 1973 when it featured its last films, Blindman, featuring Beatles drummer Ringo Star, and Trouble Man, a blaxploitation crime thriller. In May 1973 the building was sold to the Deliverance Evangelist Church by RKO Stanley Warner for $350,000. The church remained at this location until 1992.
The theater sat vacant for more than a decade until it was purchased by Dr. Owen Williamson in 2005. The renovation of the building became a labor of love to honor of his late wife Claretilda. Starting with a leaking roof, Dr. Williamson continued to repair and repaint the theater, slowly working to bringing it back to its former glory. Unfortunately, over time, the project became too expensive for Dr. Williamson and it returned to vacancy once more.
Reinventing a Neighborhood Landmark?
The Logan Theater’s auditorium in 2012. | Photo: Chandra Lampreich
Nolbert Brown Jr. claims that his career spans from the creation of the iconic fictional character George Jefferson on the TV show All in the Family to writing for the stage and directing plays like The Life Story of Marvin Gaye, Bubbling Brown Sugar, and an upcoming remake of the 1959 film Imitation of Life. His work has earned him multiple Tony, Urban, and Gospel Awards.
Brown’s alleged philanthropy has gone towards trying to save local landmarks like the Germantown YMCA, with a $1 million donation two years before it closed in 2008, and the Lansdale Performing Arts Theater. His current mission is to bring the Logan Theater back as the Ceceliy Tyson Music Theater under his organization The American Emerald Awards Foundation.
The Logan Theater’s old ballroom in 2012. | Photo: Chandra Lampreich
Spearheaded by chief officer of operations, Damariz Winborne, she says the theater currently has a scheduled soft opening on February 1, 2023. An official grand opening is planned to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of the Logan Theater’s original 1923 opening. The venue will be renamed after groundbreaking African American actress Cicely Tyson, who had a seven-decade career until her passing in January 2021.
Both principals overseeing the restoration project took turns showing me around the interior. My immediate impression was that the reactivating the building is part of a goal to bring back a component of North Philadelphia that has been buried under the long-standing stigma of divestment, minus the recently gentrifying areas in Francisville and around Temple University.
A second floor lounge area in 2012. | Photo: Chandra Lampreich
Brown and his associates said the theater will be renovated and reopened under the mantra “For us, by us, from us.” The project is seen as a course correction that will pay homage to the days when the city was known for its distinctive Philly Soul that came from the studios of Philadelphia International Records, Gamble & Huff, and Sigma Sound. There will be no rap or hip hop acts on the performance roster. Instead, the focus will be on soul, R&B, gospel, comedy, dance, and related acts. Performers tentatively on the schedule include Jeffrey Osborne, Mavis Staples, Mighty Clouds of Joy, and Rose Royce to name a few. Instead of going to venues in Atlantic City, the revenue they hope to generate at the Ceceliy Tyson Music Theater will stay in the community.
Building Black Broadway
The Logan Theater’s balcony seating in 2012. | Photo: Chandra Lampreich
As locals poked their heads into the front door to see what the commotion was about, Winborne began taking down their information as part of the interviewing process. The opening of the theater is expected to bring about 200 to 350 jobs to the area ranging from ticket takers, ushers, kitchen staff, custodians, and management. Starting wages are expected to be around $15 an hour. VIP booths will be available for special guests, and a house orchestra made up of local musicians will also play during events.
A banquet hall is planned for the long dormant ballroom upstairs which will be closed off to events happening in the main performance space and rented for catered events. A buildout of the unfinished lower level space will serve as a performing arts and music school. The project also includes space for a satellite location of Germantown’s Bleu Soul restaurant, which is also owned by Brown. A large mural is planned for the exterior wall of the parking lot that will feature various Black musicians and luminaries as well as the theater’s owner Dr. Williamson and his wife Claretilda.
The lobby of the Logan Theater in 2012. | Photo: Chandra Lampreich
Initial plans are to reinstate the operational programming of the original Logan Theater with matinees and special events from Tuesday to Sunday. Special events include posthumous awards including one for singer-songwriter Minnie Ripperton whose daughter, the comedian and actress Maya Rudolph, is scheduled to accept in her mother’s honor.
Brown’s vision for the venue is to become Philadelphia’s own Apollo Theater and to informally christen Broad and Wyoming as Black Broadway. Organizer’s say that the space will not simply be providing entertainment, but for giving back to the community. For example, a free meals program will take place during the holidays.
Great reporting. I was born and raised on the 4500 block of Carlisle St. Logan was my favorite theater. The Saturday matinee was 25cents. Glad to know it has a chance to see new life
I call this Building Back Black andBetter!
What a magnificent theater!! I hope it can be saved and repurposed!!
Wonderful, I love your ideas. Good luck in your endeavors. Can’t wait to see the finished Theater.
This is great news. I have been by that building a hundred times since the mid- 1970’s, and I could never figure why it wasn’t a major arts venue. Thanks for an informative article.
My great grandfather was a projectionist here! This is awesome!
I happened to notice it today while riding on rte.16 bus,came home& googled.i am a classical performer.Will their be any room for us?
Good morning,
It is good to hear that something good is coming back to Logan. I have been a Logan resident for 30 years. I am tired of Logan being referred to as the place of the sinking homes, we are much more than that. I am the Chairperson for the Logan Civic Association and we have been working hard to revitalize our community. I am one of many who loves Logan, and we know that Logan has great potential. I appreciate your vision to bring restoration to this landmark structure.
I attended Cooke junior high school from 1966 to 1969 and after school I would stand and look at the Logan theater and the beauty of the place would take my breath away. This will be a great moment to behold in the city of Philadelphia PA.
Incredible investigative work. Looking forward to seeing where this goes.
This is awesome. I was too young to know it as a theater. However, I remember many Sundays at Deliverance Church watching my grandmother on that hugh stage in the Choir. Sunday school was held upstairs in the Ballroom area. I have awesome memories. As a logan native and current resident, I am truly looking forward to the restoration of such a beautiful place.
I worked as an usher around 1959 and saw a rock n roll show there featuring Bobby darrin. It had a lot of cool secret rooms
Johnny Greene, theres a name from the past. I was friends with you and most of all the other ushers of that era. Dougherty, Celloto, Luty. All great guys that let me in for nothing. We all hung at Ben’s and played basketball in the back of my house.
Glad to see civic minded people and individuals restoring these buildings (like the Met, etc) and not $ome group that ju$t want$ to tear thing$ down, like the Boyd Theater:
The Boyd’s auditorium was demolished in the Spring of 2015 by its current owner Pearl Properties, which plans to replace it with a 24 story residential tower.
Wonderful news. My grandpop told a story about when he, a track runner at Olney High School, would race the trolley down Wyoming Avenue from the Logan Movie to his house on Front Street in the early 1930s.
Thank you for the valuable in-depth history! This project will help restore the vibrancy and culture of Logan that was lost over the years.
Please watch my video about Logan from long ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5NbGO7zQDk&t
thank you!
I worked at the defunct Rockland theatre up the street from the Logan theatre. Harry the doorman (ticket taker)would leave us in free. in return we left him free in the Rockland Theater
There was a guy in 80’s who wrote a book about theatres in Philly. No recall of name of book or author.
I grew up at 4744 Carlisle street in the ‘40’s, right behind the Logan Theater. The alley-way was our “playground”, roller-skating down the ramp or sledding down in winter. Saturday matinees there were a treat. I attended Logan Elem, Cooke Jr Hi. Great Logan memories!
Bravo! The way things should be done. I hope the community will support it. This could be a vital improvement.
Yeah Logan! The historic land of great bakeries, delis, butcher shops, fish stores, fruit and vegetable stores!— and three movies on Broad Street.
I lived at 4758 N. 10th street from 1970 until the city demolished our block in 1988 and played on Warnock st, Hunting Park and Logan Police Atheletic League. I attended Birney Elementary played ball for Cooke Jr. High and Olney High before getting an athletic scholarship to Mansfield University of Pennsylvania…I still have friends in Logan and absolutely miss the community. I always felt blessed to have been raised in Logan.
I spent so many Saturday afternoons at The Logan – it was like Hollywood for us. I even took ballet lessons upstairs in the ballroom. Wishing you great success with this venture. Rita
i AM SO GRATEFULFOR THOSE WHO TOOK UP THIS CHALLENGE TO BRING BACK THE lOGAN. Went there many times back in 60s, 70s.
THANK YOU!
Wonderful comments. I am glad we renovated the Met and now the Logan Theater.
What I am wondering is who will buy the Theater next to Temple University and renovate it. A few years ago Temple was considering building a new performance center on campus a few years ago but did not get to build one. Were Temple to buy and renovate the theater crying to be put back to work, this would lead to a groundsweii of investment to make the commercial area more safer for Temple students to shop there if the stores were repurposed to serve students with cash.
GREAT NEWS. It would be wonderful to have The Logan Theater operating again. I grew up on Sydenham St, in the late 40’s, early 50’s (I AM OLD), and spent many, many Saturday afternoons watching the matinee at The Logan. Great memories
Wonderful, I love your ideas. Good luck in your endeavors. Can’t wait to see the finished Theater.
Yes my brother Norbert this is John Hall ( The Bossman ) let’s talk I like to Host your new place am from Philly and most of my people follow me.
Contestant from America’s Got Talent TV Show
And Apollo winner.
(267) 591-6162
Thank U ‼️…. We R the Freedom Dream Our Ancestors Wanted US to Have …. 🖤☺️
Norbit Brown please don’t believe the hype he owes everyone in the city of Philadelphia he’s a shyster and a thief he takes people’s money and don’t pay the bills
Today2/5/23was the first time I heard on the Cicely Tyson theater here in Philadelphia.listening to MelbaMoore appearing on the Tamala hall show;that she was going to
Perform at the theater . Reenacting the classic invitation of life. The news media should be all over the premier opening of that theater so that the people in Philadelphia will know that the theater is there on N Broad Street. I welcome you Mr. Brown, and plan to be one of your number one supporters please advertise.
Wonderful news I passed it n was amazed n happy..I’m overwhelmed I will be a supporter
Would you need appointment to view the inside of building??
I’m trying to recover my refund got canceled show 3/18/23 please contact me
Norbert Brown you’re at it again how many people do you owe in the city of Philadelphia that you stole money from and never repaid them or people work for you and you didn’t pay them you’re a crooked and a shyster pay your debts first
Norbert Brown did a Emerald Awards recently. It was supposed to be at the Cicily Tyson building people that came had to be rerouted to a venue in brewerytown the owner of the venue got a $3,000 check from his business partner which bounced the caterer that did the venue she can’t get in contact with him he owes her $600. He has a restaurant on Germantown avenue called Blue soul which he subletted to a young lady and I’ll let her tell her own story ongoing as of today.