Imperial Skating Rink 219 S. 60th Street, Philadelphia, PA. As Imperial Theatre at the time. Source: Hidden City.
Imperial Skating Rink 219 S. 60th Street, Philadelphia, PA. Both the ballroom and roller rink signs were shown. It appeared to be 1960s when this was taken. Source: Hidden City.
Imperial Skating Rink 219 S. 60th Street, Philadelphia, PA. Closed, seen as abandoned. Source: Hidden City.
Imperial Skating Rink 219 S. 60th Street, Philadelphia, PA. Rendering of new facilities on that block including rebuilt Imperial Theatre as Ballroom/venue. Source: Hidden City.
Imperial Skating Rink 219 S. 60th Street, Philadelphia, PA. Source: Cinemas Treasures.
Imperial Skating Rink 219 S. 60th Street, Philadelphia, PA. Indoor ticket booth in middle between doors. Likely the coatroom was on the left. Source: Hidden City.
Imperial Skating Rink 219 S. 60th Street, Philadelphia, PA. Abandoned theater. Notice the stage. And yes, the floor is listed. But which one? Source: Hidden City.
Imperial Skating Rink 219 S. 60th Street, Philadelphia, PA. A sheet with a list of different theaters at the time. Yes, there were two Imperials but the addresses were shown where exactly they were. Source: Hidden City.
Imperial Skating Rink 219 60th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Imperial Skating Rink was at 219 S. 60th Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was once a 1,474 seat movie theater named Imperial Theatre which was open on 13 September 1913. The theater did not have any balcony. The entire single floor faced the stage and screen. What interested was that they had a Kimball 2 manual 11 ranks organ.
By 1920, Imperial Theatre was operated by Stanley-Warner Theatres, who remodeled in 1930. They kept the Kimball organ until the late-1930’s. But the Imperial Theatre was closed by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Inc. on 04 November 1951 with hosting Lawrence Tierney in “The Hoodlum” & Robert Montgomery in “Texas Rangers”.
Two years later...
In 1953, Donald Bean and James Toppi, Sr. purchased the building for $40,000. Their plan was to renovate the theater into a roller skating rink and catering hall. James Toppi, Sr. who was a sports and entertainment promoter mostly remembered for his role in the Philadelphia boxing community, took control of the Imperial Theatre and renovated it. The floor flattened to accommodate a large surface for roller skating He opened it 1953-ish.
But in 1961, James Toppi wanted to add a dance hall to already established roller rink, so he applied for a license to become a dance hall at night. Several community leaders including the district’s police commander opposed the change, citing it would be noisy and a nuisance space where patrons would damage houses, fight, and generally cause an unsafe environment. However, James Toppi proved his point with a three-page opinion approving the conversion, L&I noted Toppi’s investments in the neighborhood–he also converted the old Orchid Ballroom on Market Street into a nightclub–as part of their rationale in approving the project. L&I did advise Toppi to “keep police problems to a minimum,” but did not outline any consequences should he not do so. It was a mistake by the licensing department although James Toppi sold the Imperial in 1965, well over a year when 19-year-old Richard Levi was fatally shot by 24-year-old Richard Lewis in an argument over a date. The community’s concerns would come to fruition in 1966 when that shooting happened.
The history after the closure in 1966 was turning sour. The run of the event hall after the closure of the rink in 1966 after the shooting until it ended in the late 1970s.
New ownership from that point on was The Baptist Church of the Blessed Lord. They were the final public occupant when they left in 1990s. I googled it and the church seems to be gone. Closed. Then it became a storage facility but they left the building as abandoned. It was deteriorating fast.
The city wanted to tear it down but a developer bought pretty much of the block there and turn into a development. That would include the former Imperial Theatre into something while the rest will be new housing
West Philadelphia Real Estate, a for-profit developer that focuses on rehabilitates West Philly row houses for affordable housing through low income housing tax credits allocated by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. They purchased the Imperial building and several properties along 60th and Chancellor Streets in 2015. They had a plan to revive the ballroom, build affordable housing, and have retail spaces.
But a string of violent incidents in 2016 delayed the project, however, it is now back on track. The initial plan called for retaining the entirety of the Imperial’s building structure and reviving the ballroom as a community space. Unfortunately, decades of abandonment left the both the interior and structural elements uninhabitable, and WPRE made the decision to demolish all but the façade of the building, This means only the front wall was salvageable. That part was saved, the rest were totaled dismantled and demolished carefully to save the front wall.
George Bantel of WPRE says saving the façade is intentional. The project is being designed by local, architecture firm Bright Common. Although the demolition of the ballroom might raise a preservationist’s ire, the new project manages to address a present community need for affordable housing and community and retail spaces while honoring the block’s history. The choice of brick helps the project integrate into the early 20th century structures surrounding it while keeping the Imperial as the focal point. However, the lack of ground floor windows on the corner of Chancellor Street disrupts the visual symmetry of the project and is a curious omission given windows would look out onto a small public park. The new buildings conform to the scale of the block’s height and depth. Making it a mixed-use structure further reflects the history of 60th Street. While 52nd Street has long been a central commercial district, 60th Street has always been a mix of commercial and residential properties. - According to Hidden City.
The finished project will include 30 affordable housing units, including six units designed for people with disabilities–with two designated for [Deaf] and [Blind] residents–ground level retail, and three community spaces. In a nod to its history, the community space will include a ballroom that can be booked for weddings and other events, signaling the return of the Imperial as a 60th Street cultural and community gathering space. According to Blackwell, “This is the heart of the community. Anyone with any time on Earth will want to be first in line to see what can happen.” Construction has began in June 2021.
(Editor note- the wording "Hearing and Sight-Impaired" is erroneous therefore, editing to correct the words to state as "Deaf and Blind" residents...)
The Interior.
Unknown appearance because all I see were photos of when it was abandoned. All appealing of paints, damages, holes, mess, etc.
I am sure the floor was Maple. It sounds like they had rotunda as the article stated in Hidden City. I edited and shorten in this profile.
The Exterior.
Free-Span Steel Trusses Bricks/blocks - Walled Theater - like Building.
Roof: Gabled.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted Maple. Floor Layout: Rotunda.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1913. Renovations: 1930, 1951, 1953, 1966, and 2021. (bold indicate roller rink) Demolished: partial in 2021. Only rear demolished saving front half. Totally renovated.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Bricks/blocks - Walled Theater - like Building.
Roof: Gabled.
Acres: N/A.
Organ: No organ during roller rink era. Only had Kimball 2 Manual 11 Ranks Organ for the theater era.
Operated: (Overall)-- skating only- 1953 to 1966.
Building - 13 September 1913 to present (with closures several times).
Imperial Theatre - 13 September 1913 to 1951
Imperial Skating Rink - 1953 to 1966.
Imperial Ballroom - 1951 to 1970s.
First Baptist Church of the Blessed Lord - 1970s to 1990s.
Storage - 1990s
New housing development - 2022 to present.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Imperial Theatre - Sold.
Imperial Skating Rink - Fatal shooting of a skater prompt closure in 1966.
Imperial Ballroom - Decline.
First Baptist Church of the Blessed Lord - Likely closed for good (Google search result no church such named that).
Storage - N/A.
New housing development - Presently operating.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Facebook - Hidden City talking about the building and people comments.
Hidden City - Imperial Theatre.
Cinema Treasures - Imperial Theatre.
Curbed - About the theatre.
Worth to visit:
None. Being renovated as of 2022. Private property!
DISCLAIMER:
Dead-Rinks and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. Please always obey laws and regulations and property owner's signs. Some states allow purple paint on fence which means they even have guns on their property and have rights to shoot you. Please DO NOT attempt to enter property without permission!
For abandoned rinks, after you receive permission, do WEAR safety OSHA equipment including a safety glasses, pair of safety gloves, an orange vest or a jacket, and a construction helmet.
Thank you for understanding.
Date of issue: 07 May 2022.
For office use only: 8.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16. Deut. 32:7
By 1920, Imperial Theatre was operated by Stanley-Warner Theatres, who remodeled in 1930. They kept the Kimball organ until the late-1930’s. But the Imperial Theatre was closed by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Inc. on 04 November 1951 with hosting Lawrence Tierney in “The Hoodlum” & Robert Montgomery in “Texas Rangers”.
Two years later...
In 1953, Donald Bean and James Toppi, Sr. purchased the building for $40,000. Their plan was to renovate the theater into a roller skating rink and catering hall. James Toppi, Sr. who was a sports and entertainment promoter mostly remembered for his role in the Philadelphia boxing community, took control of the Imperial Theatre and renovated it. The floor flattened to accommodate a large surface for roller skating He opened it 1953-ish.
But in 1961, James Toppi wanted to add a dance hall to already established roller rink, so he applied for a license to become a dance hall at night. Several community leaders including the district’s police commander opposed the change, citing it would be noisy and a nuisance space where patrons would damage houses, fight, and generally cause an unsafe environment. However, James Toppi proved his point with a three-page opinion approving the conversion, L&I noted Toppi’s investments in the neighborhood–he also converted the old Orchid Ballroom on Market Street into a nightclub–as part of their rationale in approving the project. L&I did advise Toppi to “keep police problems to a minimum,” but did not outline any consequences should he not do so. It was a mistake by the licensing department although James Toppi sold the Imperial in 1965, well over a year when 19-year-old Richard Levi was fatally shot by 24-year-old Richard Lewis in an argument over a date. The community’s concerns would come to fruition in 1966 when that shooting happened.
The history after the closure in 1966 was turning sour. The run of the event hall after the closure of the rink in 1966 after the shooting until it ended in the late 1970s.
New ownership from that point on was The Baptist Church of the Blessed Lord. They were the final public occupant when they left in 1990s. I googled it and the church seems to be gone. Closed. Then it became a storage facility but they left the building as abandoned. It was deteriorating fast.
The city wanted to tear it down but a developer bought pretty much of the block there and turn into a development. That would include the former Imperial Theatre into something while the rest will be new housing
West Philadelphia Real Estate, a for-profit developer that focuses on rehabilitates West Philly row houses for affordable housing through low income housing tax credits allocated by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. They purchased the Imperial building and several properties along 60th and Chancellor Streets in 2015. They had a plan to revive the ballroom, build affordable housing, and have retail spaces.
But a string of violent incidents in 2016 delayed the project, however, it is now back on track. The initial plan called for retaining the entirety of the Imperial’s building structure and reviving the ballroom as a community space. Unfortunately, decades of abandonment left the both the interior and structural elements uninhabitable, and WPRE made the decision to demolish all but the façade of the building, This means only the front wall was salvageable. That part was saved, the rest were totaled dismantled and demolished carefully to save the front wall.
George Bantel of WPRE says saving the façade is intentional. The project is being designed by local, architecture firm Bright Common. Although the demolition of the ballroom might raise a preservationist’s ire, the new project manages to address a present community need for affordable housing and community and retail spaces while honoring the block’s history. The choice of brick helps the project integrate into the early 20th century structures surrounding it while keeping the Imperial as the focal point. However, the lack of ground floor windows on the corner of Chancellor Street disrupts the visual symmetry of the project and is a curious omission given windows would look out onto a small public park. The new buildings conform to the scale of the block’s height and depth. Making it a mixed-use structure further reflects the history of 60th Street. While 52nd Street has long been a central commercial district, 60th Street has always been a mix of commercial and residential properties. - According to Hidden City.
The finished project will include 30 affordable housing units, including six units designed for people with disabilities–with two designated for [Deaf] and [Blind] residents–ground level retail, and three community spaces. In a nod to its history, the community space will include a ballroom that can be booked for weddings and other events, signaling the return of the Imperial as a 60th Street cultural and community gathering space. According to Blackwell, “This is the heart of the community. Anyone with any time on Earth will want to be first in line to see what can happen.” Construction has began in June 2021.
(Editor note- the wording "Hearing and Sight-Impaired" is erroneous therefore, editing to correct the words to state as "Deaf and Blind" residents...)
The Interior.
Unknown appearance because all I see were photos of when it was abandoned. All appealing of paints, damages, holes, mess, etc.
I am sure the floor was Maple. It sounds like they had rotunda as the article stated in Hidden City. I edited and shorten in this profile.
The Exterior.
Free-Span Steel Trusses Bricks/blocks - Walled Theater - like Building.
Roof: Gabled.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted Maple. Floor Layout: Rotunda.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1913. Renovations: 1930, 1951, 1953, 1966, and 2021. (bold indicate roller rink) Demolished: partial in 2021. Only rear demolished saving front half. Totally renovated.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Bricks/blocks - Walled Theater - like Building.
Roof: Gabled.
Acres: N/A.
Organ: No organ during roller rink era. Only had Kimball 2 Manual 11 Ranks Organ for the theater era.
Operated: (Overall)-- skating only- 1953 to 1966.
Building - 13 September 1913 to present (with closures several times).
Imperial Theatre - 13 September 1913 to 1951
Imperial Skating Rink - 1953 to 1966.
Imperial Ballroom - 1951 to 1970s.
First Baptist Church of the Blessed Lord - 1970s to 1990s.
Storage - 1990s
New housing development - 2022 to present.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Imperial Theatre - Sold.
Imperial Skating Rink - Fatal shooting of a skater prompt closure in 1966.
Imperial Ballroom - Decline.
First Baptist Church of the Blessed Lord - Likely closed for good (Google search result no church such named that).
Storage - N/A.
New housing development - Presently operating.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Facebook - Hidden City talking about the building and people comments.
Hidden City - Imperial Theatre.
Cinema Treasures - Imperial Theatre.
Curbed - About the theatre.
Worth to visit:
None. Being renovated as of 2022. Private property!
DISCLAIMER:
Dead-Rinks and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. Please always obey laws and regulations and property owner's signs. Some states allow purple paint on fence which means they even have guns on their property and have rights to shoot you. Please DO NOT attempt to enter property without permission!
For abandoned rinks, after you receive permission, do WEAR safety OSHA equipment including a safety glasses, pair of safety gloves, an orange vest or a jacket, and a construction helmet.
Thank you for understanding.
Date of issue: 07 May 2022.
For office use only: 8.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16. Deut. 32:7