The Pearl Theatre was a theatre in Philadelphia, located at 2047 Ridge Avenue, [1] near the present-day location of the Philadelphia Housing Authority headquarters. Opened in 1927 with 1400 seats, [2] it was a notable jazz and dance venue and had a glamorous reputation among the rich and famous. [3]
In 1931, the Nicholas Brothers played here. [4] Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, and many other prominent jazz ensembles of the period performed here. [3] [5] Bennie Moten and the Kansas City Stompers's featuring Count Basie on piano performed at the club in November 1931, and in December 1932 the audience raved all week about their " Moten Swing"; the doors of the theatre were let open to the public who came crammed into the theatre to hear the new sound, demanding seven encores on one night. [6] [7]
Pearl Bailey was discovered at the theatre, where she entered and won the theatre's amateur song and dance contest and was to be paid $35 a week to perform there for two weeks, however, the theatre closed during her engagement and she was never paid. [8]
The Pearl Theatre closed in 1963 and was demolished after 1970. [1]
Modern cinema
Another Pearl Theatre at 1600 N. Broad Street in Philadelphia functioned as a modern cinema complex. [9] It closed in August 2016, [10] but reopened several years later as the AMC Broadstreet 7.
References
- ^ a b Cinema Treasures: Pearl Theatre
- ^ Cheryl M. Willis (2016). Tappin' at the Apollo: The African American Female Tap Dance Duo Salt and Pepper. McFarland. p. 222. ISBN 9781476662701.
- ^ a b Golden, Jane; Rice, Robin; Pompilio, Natalie (2006). More Philadelphia Murals and the Stories They Tell. Temple University Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-59213-527-1.
- ^ Hill, Constance Valis (23 April 2002). Brotherhood In Rhythm: The Jazz Tap Dancing of the Nicholas Brothers. Cooper Square Press. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-4617-3216-7.
- ^ Heath, Jimmy; McLaren, Joseph. I Walked With Giants: The Autobiography of Jimmy Heath. Temple University Press. p. 303. ISBN 978-1-4399-0199-1.
- ^ Vail, Ken (1 January 2003). Count Basie: Swingin' the Blues, 1936-1950. Scarecrow Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-8108-4882-5.
- ^ Daniels, Douglas Henry (January 2006). One O'clock Jump: The Unforgettable History of the Oklahoma City Blue Devils. Beacon Press. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-8070-7136-6.
- ^ Pennsylvania Biographical Dictionary. North American Book Dist LLC. January 1999. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-403-09950-4.
- ^ Cinema Treasures
- ^ "Pearl Theatre at Avenue North closes after 10 years". Retrieved 2016-08-29.
External links
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