The Theatre Historical Society of America (www.historictheatres.org) is a non-profit 501(c)3 educational organization, founded in 1969, with a national and international membership.
It is the foremost organization in the United States dedicated to documenting the architectural, social and cultural history of America’s theatres. Membership is open to organizations and individuals; details available on its website. THS publishes a quarterly journal Marquee, a quarterly Newsletter, and a yearly Annual. THS also operates the American Theatre Architecture Archive & Museum at its national headquarters in Metro-Chicago. With material on more than 17,000 theatres, primarily in the United States, it is the largest such collection if its kind.
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There are churches in Philadelphia who share their space liberally with many arts groups from very small to mid-sized for concerts and plays. If all other efforts to save and restore this theater have failed, perhaps negotiating before the purchase for public access events — the arts and film — would serve all very well. You could strike a written agreement with the Church to provide such access and, in exchange, provide support for their renovations — primarily for those aspects of the renovation that would preserve or update projection, stage, etc. capabilities. It’s in the Church’s best interest as well as it helps them befriend and give back to their community, they will be seen as a savior of a landmark, and brings many patrons to the church who may join the congregation.
There is opportunity if you start with an open discussion of the win-win-win possibilities.
(I say this as we continue our own fight in my own town to save center city Philadelphia’s sole remaining movie palace, The Boyd Theatre. Pray that all our efforts to preserve our past treasures as a gift to future residents will succeed.)