The Scenic / Roxy Theatre (South side of Philadelphia between Bright and Washington) In 1919, John Henry Gwin, owner of Whittier’s second grocery store, Truman Berry, owner of Whittier’s Berry Grand Theatre and H.J. Siler, a businessman, opened a new modern theatre on the south side of Philadelphia Street between Bright and Washington. (Because funds were raised so quickly, it is rumored Truman Berry wrote a check for the entire cost of the building.) The theatre had a pipe organ adjacent to the orchestra, with dressing rooms and a stage large enough for legitimate plays. The first floor had 700 seats, while the balcony seated another 300 people! The elegant foyer featured French mirrors and heavy drapery with broad winding staircases at either end leading to the mezzanine and balcony floors. On the mezzanine, a large central parlor called The Palm Room offered couches, easy chairs and a writing desk. A door at one end led to a smoking room for the gentlemen, while a door at the opposite end lead to an elegant parlor for the ladies. In 1936, the Scenic was sold to the Bruen family, and at some point the name changed to the Roxy Theatre. In 1967, the Bruen Company (which also managed the Wardman, Whittier and Sundown theatres) closed the Roxy and announced that the theatre would be sold. Unfortunately, late one night in 1971 a mysterious fire destroyed the theatre and the building was lost to us forever. Source: Pioneer Families of Whittier by Virginia Mathony
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:59:25 +0000
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