Commodore Theatre

Inside the Commodore Theatre

Architect: the Ballinger Company

Year opened: September 22, 1928

Architectural style:  Moorish styled

Neighborhood: West Philadelphia

Street Address: 4228 Walnut Street Philadelphia, SE corner of 43rd and Walnut

Corner of 43rd Walnut Street

The Commodore Theatre is located at 4228 Walnut Street in Philadelphia on the corner of 43^rd street and Walnut Street. The theatre opened in 1928 after being built by a renowned local architecture company, the Ballinger Company. Similar to the architecture movement happening across the United States in the early 20^th century, the inspiration for the building was based after Moorish, Spanish Revival styles and designs. At first, the Commodore theatre was established as a film theatre. The Commodore had one screen and could accommodate 1,105 people during a show. Like most theatres, The Commodore theatre kept up to date and shown popular films during its time.  The Commodore then closed as a movie theatre in the late-1950’s. It was then given a new life in the early 1960’s when it was gutted out and turned into a live stage theatre, and changed its name to 43rd Street Theatre.  During the 1960’s, the 43^rd Street Theatre brought the art movement of acting to Philadelphia as many famous Broadway plays made their way to the stage.               

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Side View of Theatre

But not too long after, the theatre started to fail after a couple of seasons and the building was left empty for quite some time. In 1973, the 43^rd Street Theatre officially closed their doors and the building was remade into the Masjid Al-Jamia. Mosque.  Today, the Commodore Theatre does not have functionality but the building remains standing.