Metropolitan Opera House Skating Rink 858 N.Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. The Marquee with the words, "THIS THEATER CAN BE RENTED FOR ALL OCCASIONS." Date unknown however, taken by same photographer as next photo with the same wordings. It appeared to be 1930s. Source: The Met Philadelphia.
Metropolitan Opera House Skating Rink 858 N.Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. Appeared to be end of 1920s or early 1930s thanks to automobiles. Yes, this was once owned by the very same The Met of New York. Source: The Met Philadelphia.
Metropolitan Opera House Skating Rink 858 N.Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. The early 1970s but I see the building did need repairs. Look at the roof line for example. That car closest to the camera was really cool. He may have jacked up the rear a bit. Hot rodding. Source: The Met Philadelphia.
Metropolitan Opera House Skating Rink 858 N.Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. Taken in 2010. Noticed mismatched wall colors, marquee missing, and looked like it needed a lot of repairs. Source: Philly Voice - 17 July 2018.
Metropolitan Opera House Skating Rink 858 N.Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. Original appearance. The roller rink/ball room floor was on ground floor where all the seating were. They brought back the removable rows of chairs for ballroom, banquet, etc. But not skating. Source: The Met Philadelphia.
Metropolitan Opera House Skating Rink 858 N.Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. Two gentlemen on the lower left corner smiled for the camera while others danced or looked at the camera. Nope, it was not a selfie. It was not invented till around 1970s. (I actually did selfies in 1970s! Honest to God!) Source: The Met Philadelphia.
Metropolitan Opera House Skating Rink 858 N.Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. Night view rendering of renovated opera house. Source: Philly Voice - 17 July 2018.
Metropolitan Opera House Skating Rink
858 N.Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
858 N.Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
Once was an opera house, the Metropolitan Opera House Skating Rink was also once a rink at 858 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennyslvania. This rink was operational for a time.
The beginning was when it was built in 1908 by opera impresario, Oscar Hammerstein the First. It was him who built this opera house the 9th opera theater. The once– lavish Metropolitan Opera House is recognized internationally for its superb acoustics and once served as a recording hall for the Philadelphia Orchestra.
For years, people knew this venue as “The Met”, its life as a Grand Old Opera House was followed by years of changing fortunes as a movie theater, a venue for basketball and boxing, a roller rink, a vocational school, a gospel concert hall and finally ws home to the Church of the Holy Ghost (defunct). In its glory days, “The Met” presented theater and vaudeville as well as the likes of James Cleveland, Mahalia Jackson, etc.
There were changes for this same beautiful historic building. Oscar Hammerstein the First sold the opera two years after it was opened (why so soon?) and it was called Philadelphia Opera House (1908 to 1910). Then it was renamed by the owner, Metropolitan Opera of New York City in 1910, as Metropolitan Opera House which the name continued until 1984. Finally from 1984 to 1988, it was Philadelphia Evangelistic Center. Later, names were really changing quickly as I type this.
Today it is The Met, a music venue concert hall after they spend 56 Million USD renovation to become a music venue. It is operated by Live Nation. The Met’s historic value is certified by the Philadelphia Historic Commission and by its listing on both the Pennsylvania State and National Registers of Historic Places. Despite its birth in another cultural era, The Met possesses both the city’s largest performance stage as well as its largest theatrical auditorium.
Opera was sung in The Met from 1908 until 1934.
But from 1934 until 1988, it was function as many venues. The building then fell into serious disrepair and was unused and vacant from 1988 until 1995, when it became the "Holy Ghost Headquarters Revival Center at the Met". The church stabilized much of the building, Wow, that name is quite long! I checked for that church.. Still operational and they use The Met but mostly it is function as a music venue.
From that 1934 they converted to a ballroom, roller rink
In 1996, The Met was scheduled for demolition as the structure, put on the the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, was in need of major repairs as I said before. The church really stepped in to jump start the renovations. The church completed the renovation and from what I see, it is a beautiful venue today. The building is still owned by the Holy Ghost Headquarters.
For a time it did have Maple wood floor for dancing and roller skaitng venue.
The Interior.
Once was an opera theater and it had restored to the former for the music venue and church venue. It can seat 3,500 people. At the time of roller rink, seating was removed as it was renovated. It had Hardwood Maple floor.
The Exterior.
Free-Span Steel Trusses Stone Masonry - Walled Opera venue Building with a roof that is a Mixed style. It is a multistory building that looks like a government building because of the nature of style of building looked Greco-Roman style.
The signage however, was originally early 20th Century style of logo. It has been restored.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Renovations: 1939, 1943, 1948, 1975, 2017-18
Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Stone Masonry - Walled Opera venue Building.
Roof: Mixed.
Acres: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- N/A.
Metropolitan Opera House Skating Rink:
Philadelphia Opera House: 17 November 1908 to 26 April 1910.
Metropolitan Opera House: 13 December 1910 to 84.
Philadelphia Evangelistic Center: 1984 to 88.
Holy Ghost Headquarters Revival Center at the Met: (1988 to 1995.)
The Met: 03 December 2018* to present.
*It was reopened after heavy renovations.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
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:
The Met Philadelphia - Current as music venue.
Visit Philly - About The Met Philiadelphia.
Philly Tribute - About the church in The Met, a revival.
Hidden City Philia - About the bygone rinks. (Excellent article! One of best seen!)
Wikipedia
Philly Voice - 17 July 2018.
Worth to visit:
Only if you want to hear a music concert. Check here: The Met.
Or you want to hear the Word of God, check here: HGH Church
Date of issue: 17 March 2022.
For office use only: 7.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
The beginning was when it was built in 1908 by opera impresario, Oscar Hammerstein the First. It was him who built this opera house the 9th opera theater. The once– lavish Metropolitan Opera House is recognized internationally for its superb acoustics and once served as a recording hall for the Philadelphia Orchestra.
For years, people knew this venue as “The Met”, its life as a Grand Old Opera House was followed by years of changing fortunes as a movie theater, a venue for basketball and boxing, a roller rink, a vocational school, a gospel concert hall and finally ws home to the Church of the Holy Ghost (defunct). In its glory days, “The Met” presented theater and vaudeville as well as the likes of James Cleveland, Mahalia Jackson, etc.
There were changes for this same beautiful historic building. Oscar Hammerstein the First sold the opera two years after it was opened (why so soon?) and it was called Philadelphia Opera House (1908 to 1910). Then it was renamed by the owner, Metropolitan Opera of New York City in 1910, as Metropolitan Opera House which the name continued until 1984. Finally from 1984 to 1988, it was Philadelphia Evangelistic Center. Later, names were really changing quickly as I type this.
Today it is The Met, a music venue concert hall after they spend 56 Million USD renovation to become a music venue. It is operated by Live Nation. The Met’s historic value is certified by the Philadelphia Historic Commission and by its listing on both the Pennsylvania State and National Registers of Historic Places. Despite its birth in another cultural era, The Met possesses both the city’s largest performance stage as well as its largest theatrical auditorium.
Opera was sung in The Met from 1908 until 1934.
But from 1934 until 1988, it was function as many venues. The building then fell into serious disrepair and was unused and vacant from 1988 until 1995, when it became the "Holy Ghost Headquarters Revival Center at the Met". The church stabilized much of the building, Wow, that name is quite long! I checked for that church.. Still operational and they use The Met but mostly it is function as a music venue.
From that 1934 they converted to a ballroom, roller rink
In 1996, The Met was scheduled for demolition as the structure, put on the the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, was in need of major repairs as I said before. The church really stepped in to jump start the renovations. The church completed the renovation and from what I see, it is a beautiful venue today. The building is still owned by the Holy Ghost Headquarters.
For a time it did have Maple wood floor for dancing and roller skaitng venue.
The Interior.
Once was an opera theater and it had restored to the former for the music venue and church venue. It can seat 3,500 people. At the time of roller rink, seating was removed as it was renovated. It had Hardwood Maple floor.
The Exterior.
Free-Span Steel Trusses Stone Masonry - Walled Opera venue Building with a roof that is a Mixed style. It is a multistory building that looks like a government building because of the nature of style of building looked Greco-Roman style.
The signage however, was originally early 20th Century style of logo. It has been restored.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Renovations: 1939, 1943, 1948, 1975, 2017-18
Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Stone Masonry - Walled Opera venue Building.
Roof: Mixed.
Acres: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- N/A.
Metropolitan Opera House Skating Rink:
Philadelphia Opera House: 17 November 1908 to 26 April 1910.
Metropolitan Opera House: 13 December 1910 to 84.
Philadelphia Evangelistic Center: 1984 to 88.
Holy Ghost Headquarters Revival Center at the Met: (1988 to 1995.)
The Met: 03 December 2018* to present.
*It was reopened after heavy renovations.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
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:
The Met Philadelphia - Current as music venue.
Visit Philly - About The Met Philiadelphia.
Philly Tribute - About the church in The Met, a revival.
Hidden City Philia - About the bygone rinks. (Excellent article! One of best seen!)
Wikipedia
Philly Voice - 17 July 2018.
Worth to visit:
Only if you want to hear a music concert. Check here: The Met.
Or you want to hear the Word of God, check here: HGH Church
Date of issue: 17 March 2022.
For office use only: 7.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.