Kensington Roller Rink 3419 Kensington Ave, Philadelphia, PA. Source: Hidden City Philadelphia.
Kensington Roller Rink 3419 Kensington Ave, Philadelphia, PA. Very much of Art Deco Streamlined Moderne. Source: Philly and Stuff.
Kensington Roller Rink 3419 Kensington Ave, Philadelphia, PA. After the banquet hall business was gone. Source: Shift.
Kensington Roller Rink 3419 Kensington Ave, Philadelphia, PA. During 2010s. Source: Google.
Kensington Roller Rink 3419 Kensington Ave, Philadelphia, PA. Can you spot where the rink was? Yes, you can see the half-wall on the blueprint. The next photo did not show that end. Only the storage end. To help you see better where the rink was, see next two photos. Source: Shift.
Kensington Roller Rink 3419 Kensington Ave, Philadelphia, PA. The roller rink floor retains. All dark and stained. Source: Shift.
Kensington Roller Rink 3419 Kensington Ave, Philadelphia, PA. Noticed it has red line? That was where the roller rink was. Source: Shift.
Kensington Roller Rink 3419 Kensington Ave, Philadelphia, PA. A new rendering of the proposed remodeled building. You will see the marquee would be back up again but new version. All modern. Although you will see the classic 1920s architecture in the front facing the tracks. Source: Shift.
Kensington Roller Rink 3419 Kensington Ave, Philadelphia, PA. Source: YouTube/The Philly Captain
Kensington Roller Rink 3419 Kensington Ave, Philadelphia, PA
Kensington Roller Rink 3419 Kensington Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This rink had a storied rink at one time and even in fact had a website focused on this rink. Apparently they do not have it anymore. This is why Dead-Rinks continue this tradition to carry on history of roller rinks for you and for everyone!
Loop Net said it was constructed in 1970. I think that would be renovated date. The whole thing looks like it was built way before that.
One time, it was a theater called Harrowgate Theatre then it became Kensington Roller Rink. After that, it became L & J Banquet Hall. Now it is being redeveloped into mutli business purpose building as you can see on Loop Net.
It's beginning was the Harrowgate Theatre. It was built in 1920 for independent operators, but Stanley Theatres taken over the Harrowgate Theatre in January 1921 and was opened by them on 24 January 1921 with Douglas Fairbanks in The Mark of Zorro. It had a seating capacity of 1,133. It had a Moellor 2 manual 9 ranks organ. The Harrowgate Theatre was located on Kensington Avenue at E. Russell Street. The Harrowgate Theatre closed sometimes in 1954.
This theater was the 35th Stanley operated theater in the city. They had a large chain in the city at the time considering there were no multiplex theaters back the day.
At the 20th Anniversary of the theatre, Stanley Warner updated the Harrowgate and other Stanley owned theaters to make them more Streamline Moderne. The Harrowgate Theatre was closed at the expiry of a 30-year lease on 30 September 1951 with Apache Drums and Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm.
The Moller organ, alone, cost $25,000. The orginial manager with Stanley Theaters was George Sobel who was hired away from the Iris Theatre.
It was converted into Kensington Roller Rink. The Moeller organ then had been vandalized and there were only 2 out of 9 ranks of pipes remaining.
According to the Philadelphia tax records, the mason-front building is still standing but in sub-par condition.
In 2011, the building was in use as a banquet hall called L & J Banquet Hall.
Timeline-
1920 - Build and opened as Harrowgate Theatre.
1921 - Stanley Theatres took over operations for 160,000 USD.
24 January 1921 - Stanley Theatres officially operated the theater.
30 September 1951 - Theater closed for good due to lease expired.
1954 - Kensington Roller Rink opened as a rink.
? - Closure of the rink.
2011 - L & J Banquet Hall Operated.
2021- Closure of banquet hall.
2021- As new multi-purpose building.
The Interior.
The interior had column-free with towering 18’ ceilings and a 400 SF mezzanine loft overlooking the main floor.
The Exterior.
It is a Free-Span Steel Trusses, Bricks - Walled NYC-style Commercial Bricks Building with Flat roof. The style was quite different when it was a theater. It had Early Art Deco Streamlined Moderne design with much geometric design. Circles on the 4 sets of two doors with a Chrome straight Horizonal stripes and a movie theater marquee. It was literally facing the train track bridge above the road. The front facing the track bridge. Never that pretty when you are in a city with trains like this (Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, etc) to name a few.
Since photographs are B/W, One might can guess what colors the exterior were like. Likely the beautiful circled window doors had steel sheets and they were Blood Red to match with the Dark Red Bricks. However, the trims were Chrome above the door and they were Black background. This style and colors were common in 1920s
The Stats:
Rink Size: 51' x 119' (According to Blueprint). Floor: Likely Maple Hardwood, Non-painted, Stained? Floor Layout: FAN.
Building Size: 12,000 SF (SHIFT) / 10,795 SF (Loop Net) / 73' x 150' (Cinemas Treasures)
Built: 1920. Renovations: (to rink): 1954, 2011, late 2010s/2020s. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses, Bricks - Walled NYC- style Commercial Bricks Building.
Roof: Flat.
Acres: N/A.
Organ: Moellor 2 manual 9 ranks organ (theater and yes, the rink although it was damaged and stolen during the rink operations era.)
Operated: (Overall)-- Building - 1920 to present.
Theater - 1920 to 30 September 1951.
Rink - 1951 to ?
Banquet hall - 2011 to 2020.
New plex - Present to present.
Reason for Closure:
Theater - Lease expired.
Rink - N/A.
Banquet hall - N/A.
New plex - Present.
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:
Loop Net - Real estate, new redeveloped property on former rink. PDF
Shift - Data about the location, great photo. Real estate. PDF
Fact Sheet - from Shift. It includes tourist friendly map for you to see where. And a blueprint!
YouTube/The Philly Captain.
Philly and Stuff.
Hidden City Philadelphia.
Loop Net Brochure.
Open Corporates - It may stated it began in 1960. It must be the incorporated registered although the rink was opened since 1954.
Cinemas Treasures - About the old Harrowgate Theatre. Comments.
Cinemas Treasures - About the old Harrowgate Theatre.
Worth to visit:
None. Boarded up however, it is being renovated into some kind of retail according to Loop Net. The wood floor I think it says will stay on. When completed, you can visit to see the floor but do not loiter in the store. Buy something.
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: 16 May 2022.
For office use only: 8/1.
Disclaimer: The contents including words and photos above on this page and/or on any pages are purely educational entertainment purposes only. I provide what information from other websites, skaters, and operators and it may end up with differences result between two sources. It is not our responsible for errors we caused. All sources are shown on each page. All opinions and statements of mine are also stated and are for purely educational entertainment only. Thank you for understanding. To understand more about this, please go to this page: Dead-Rinks List.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16. Deut. 32:7
Loop Net said it was constructed in 1970. I think that would be renovated date. The whole thing looks like it was built way before that.
One time, it was a theater called Harrowgate Theatre then it became Kensington Roller Rink. After that, it became L & J Banquet Hall. Now it is being redeveloped into mutli business purpose building as you can see on Loop Net.
It's beginning was the Harrowgate Theatre. It was built in 1920 for independent operators, but Stanley Theatres taken over the Harrowgate Theatre in January 1921 and was opened by them on 24 January 1921 with Douglas Fairbanks in The Mark of Zorro. It had a seating capacity of 1,133. It had a Moellor 2 manual 9 ranks organ. The Harrowgate Theatre was located on Kensington Avenue at E. Russell Street. The Harrowgate Theatre closed sometimes in 1954.
This theater was the 35th Stanley operated theater in the city. They had a large chain in the city at the time considering there were no multiplex theaters back the day.
At the 20th Anniversary of the theatre, Stanley Warner updated the Harrowgate and other Stanley owned theaters to make them more Streamline Moderne. The Harrowgate Theatre was closed at the expiry of a 30-year lease on 30 September 1951 with Apache Drums and Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm.
The Moller organ, alone, cost $25,000. The orginial manager with Stanley Theaters was George Sobel who was hired away from the Iris Theatre.
It was converted into Kensington Roller Rink. The Moeller organ then had been vandalized and there were only 2 out of 9 ranks of pipes remaining.
According to the Philadelphia tax records, the mason-front building is still standing but in sub-par condition.
In 2011, the building was in use as a banquet hall called L & J Banquet Hall.
Timeline-
1920 - Build and opened as Harrowgate Theatre.
1921 - Stanley Theatres took over operations for 160,000 USD.
24 January 1921 - Stanley Theatres officially operated the theater.
30 September 1951 - Theater closed for good due to lease expired.
1954 - Kensington Roller Rink opened as a rink.
? - Closure of the rink.
2011 - L & J Banquet Hall Operated.
2021- Closure of banquet hall.
2021- As new multi-purpose building.
The Interior.
The interior had column-free with towering 18’ ceilings and a 400 SF mezzanine loft overlooking the main floor.
The Exterior.
It is a Free-Span Steel Trusses, Bricks - Walled NYC-style Commercial Bricks Building with Flat roof. The style was quite different when it was a theater. It had Early Art Deco Streamlined Moderne design with much geometric design. Circles on the 4 sets of two doors with a Chrome straight Horizonal stripes and a movie theater marquee. It was literally facing the train track bridge above the road. The front facing the track bridge. Never that pretty when you are in a city with trains like this (Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, etc) to name a few.
Since photographs are B/W, One might can guess what colors the exterior were like. Likely the beautiful circled window doors had steel sheets and they were Blood Red to match with the Dark Red Bricks. However, the trims were Chrome above the door and they were Black background. This style and colors were common in 1920s
The Stats:
Rink Size: 51' x 119' (According to Blueprint). Floor: Likely Maple Hardwood, Non-painted, Stained? Floor Layout: FAN.
Building Size: 12,000 SF (SHIFT) / 10,795 SF (Loop Net) / 73' x 150' (Cinemas Treasures)
Built: 1920. Renovations: (to rink): 1954, 2011, late 2010s/2020s. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses, Bricks - Walled NYC- style Commercial Bricks Building.
Roof: Flat.
Acres: N/A.
Organ: Moellor 2 manual 9 ranks organ (theater and yes, the rink although it was damaged and stolen during the rink operations era.)
Operated: (Overall)-- Building - 1920 to present.
Theater - 1920 to 30 September 1951.
Rink - 1951 to ?
Banquet hall - 2011 to 2020.
New plex - Present to present.
Reason for Closure:
Theater - Lease expired.
Rink - N/A.
Banquet hall - N/A.
New plex - Present.
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:
Loop Net - Real estate, new redeveloped property on former rink. PDF
Shift - Data about the location, great photo. Real estate. PDF
Fact Sheet - from Shift. It includes tourist friendly map for you to see where. And a blueprint!
YouTube/The Philly Captain.
Philly and Stuff.
Hidden City Philadelphia.
Loop Net Brochure.
Open Corporates - It may stated it began in 1960. It must be the incorporated registered although the rink was opened since 1954.
Cinemas Treasures - About the old Harrowgate Theatre. Comments.
Cinemas Treasures - About the old Harrowgate Theatre.
Worth to visit:
None. Boarded up however, it is being renovated into some kind of retail according to Loop Net. The wood floor I think it says will stay on. When completed, you can visit to see the floor but do not loiter in the store. Buy something.
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: 16 May 2022.
For office use only: 8/1.
Disclaimer: The contents including words and photos above on this page and/or on any pages are purely educational entertainment purposes only. I provide what information from other websites, skaters, and operators and it may end up with differences result between two sources. It is not our responsible for errors we caused. All sources are shown on each page. All opinions and statements of mine are also stated and are for purely educational entertainment only. Thank you for understanding. To understand more about this, please go to this page: Dead-Rinks List.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16. Deut. 32:7