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Chestnut Street Opera House

History on the Third Theater
On August 19, 1882, Mrs. Goodwin transferred the unexpired leases of the Walnut Street Theatre and Chestnut Street Opera House to Frank L. Gardner, who will be remembered as the manager of the Legion of Honor combination. Mr. Gardner had been selected by Mr. Goodwin as manager of the Opera House June 1882. The lease of the latter house runs for one year, when it is likely that J. Fred Zimmerman will become manager.

The theater at 1021–29 Chestnut Street – between 10th and 11th Streets, north side – had been owned and occupied by the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Robert Fox purchased it in 1870 for 135,000 USD, subject to ground rent of 320 USD a year. Fox re-opened it December 17, 1870, as Fox's New American Theatre — also known as The Standard Theater and Fox's Varieties. It was damaged by fire February 25, 1877. Fox had it rebuilt more elegantly and performances resumed November 1877. In August, Sheriff Taylor of Harrisburg issued a summons, notifying several theater owners in Philadelphia that they were in default for failure to pay a theatrical state tax of $500.

Soon thereafter, the building was sold by the sheriff. Col. Joseph M. Bennett acquired it and leased it to George K. Goodwin, who re-opened it September 20, 1880, as the Chestnut Street Opera House. When Bennett died in 1898, he had willed the theater to the University of Pennsylvania. The Shuberts bought it in 1922, but the Penn regained ownership in 1939.

The Chestnut Theater Opera House closed April 1, 1939, performing Five Kings. The building was razed and turned into a parking lot February 1940 by Penn, under the direction of William H. DuBarry, assistant to S. Thomas Gates, President.

Owners

 * Joseph Monroe Bennett (1816–1898), a clothing merchant, purchased the Chestnut Street Opera House around 1877.  Architect George W. Plowman (1833–1903) was executor of Bennett's estate.
 * Robert Fox (1837–1899) lost his theater company – Fox's American Variety Theatre – by fire in June 19, 1867. The venue was on Samson Street, above 9th Street.  Thirteen men lost their lives.

Managers

 * George K. Goodwin (1830–1882) was, in 1880, manager of three theaters: (i) the Walnut Street Theatre, (ii) the Park Theatre, and (iii) the Chestnut Street Opera House. J. Fred Zimmerman became manager after Goodwin died in 1882.


 * Sometime in the early 1900s, Sam S. Shubert became manager.