The Walnut Street Theater: Documents

On the Walnut Street Theater, 1809-1860

from the souvenir program which accompanied the 1920 reopening of the Walnut Street Theater (Free Library of Philadelphia Theatre Collections, Philadelphia Theatres: Cinema & Stage--History & Criticism): We will endeavor to picture to the readers the old Circus Building on the inside. The arena was slightly elliptical in formation, measuring 58 by about 69 feet in depth. The ring being 36 by 44 feet stood in the middle of the structure, with seats encircling it, these were called the pit. The balcony was formed in the louge [sic] style, seating four persons to each box, two front, two in back, running around the entire walls of the building, built in ledge fashion, the rises being as high as a person's head when seated. There were two rises in the balcony or boxes, and accredited the best seat [sic] in the house. The gallery consisted of four rises, making four rows of seats, which were very steep. The ones in the gallery being right above the performers' heads, so to speak. The stables were to the right at the rear, with an entrance into the main building that riders and horses could enter. The dressing rooms for the performers also were located next to the stables. What is now the left-hand corner of the orchestra pit, or where the musicians sit, facing the stage, stood a pump furnishing water for the spectators, also furnishing water for the horses in the ring. Workmen in tearing out the floors and foundation of the old house came across a large portion of the ring formation, also the evidence of the old pump.

In remodeling the Circus Building in 1811, the ring was left intact but the stage was built on to the rear of the present house. It opened on January 1, 1812, as combination of circus and drama.

from Cowell, THIRTY YEARS PASSED AMONG THE PLAYERS (Campbell collection, Historical Society of Pennsylvania) on the Walnut Street theater during its days as a circus: This stage has a spacious front without the avant scene of 54 feet, equal to the diameter of the circus. The orchestra lies between the stage and riding course, on each side of which is a doorway from under the stage for the introduction of the riders into the circus. The additions to the original building make the whole length equal to 140 feet. The entrance to the circus is by Walnut Street. The pit is on the level with the riding course; the lodges or boxes are ona level with the stage--a corridor, or passage, communicates with all of them. On this floor are rooms for refreshments; above the boxes are the galleries, part of which is alloted to an upper tier of boxes.

from PICTURE OF PHILADELPHIA, a guidebook to the city published in 1835: Formerly called the Olympic Theatre, at the corner of Walnut and Ninth streets, was built in 1809, and was originally constructed as a circus for equestrian performances. The first entertainments of this description were under the direction of Messrs Pepin and Breschard. An additional building was erected a few years afterwards, north of the circus and adjoining it, by which means a stage of extensive dimensions was added to the house; and in 1828, the building underwent a complete metamorphosis, both within and without, under the superintendence of Mr Haviland. This building is ninety-six feet six inches fronting Walnut street, and one hundred and forty-six feet in depth on Ninth street; the principal features of the front are composed of marble, and the rest rough-cast to correspond. Its elevation is forty-four feet, composed of rusticated wings perforated with well proportioned niches, and between the wings is a colonnade, composed of six marble columns, that support a bold architrave entablature. Three decorative Grecian lamps stand on the plinth between the columns, and add much to the finish of the front. The entrance into the boxes and pit is by a flight of seven marble steps, extending sixty-five feet, the whole length of the colonnade in front, leading to four folding doors, one disposed between each group of columns. The plan of the interior does not widely differ from that of the other theatres--the lobbies are narrower, and the pit more spacious. This house will; it is supposed, contain the most numerous audience.

From Relf Philadelphia Gazette and Daily Advertiser, Tuesday 12 November 1822:

To the Managers of the Circus.

Gentlemen--You are admonished in future not to suffer more persons to enter into the Boxes or Pit of the Circus, than you can accommodate.

Since the opening of the Circus, you have received the money for tickets, when your door keeper must have known at the time there was no room, and in doing this, you incommode the whole audience.

When the Boxes and Pit are full you ought not to dispose of more tickets, particularly when you have taken upon yourselves to deprive the visitors from securing seats, which has always been the custom in this place. --It is to be hoped that you will take this hint, and remember that a Philadelphia audience, tho' indulgent, will never suffer their rights to be infringed.

THOUSANDS

On the Walnut Street Theater, 1860-1920

On the Walnut Street Theater, 1920-1970

On the Walnut Street Theater, 1970-present