Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia

Peter Schmitz
  • 5.0 (25)
  • Performing Arts
  • Updated Semimonthly

Bringing you the best stories from the deep and fascinating history of theater in the city of Philadelphia. This is the podcast for all lovers of theater, students of history - or anyone who enjoys great stories with lots of drama!

  1. The Ghost Theaters of Callowhill Street

    May 23

    The Ghost Theaters of Callowhill Street

    A modern walking tour along a noisy street - with the narrative of a long-forgotten theater district of Philadelphia's near north side! For a blog post with images and photos of the theaters and streets we discuss in the episode, go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/photos-and-images-for-the-ghost-theaters-of-callowhill-street---episode-124/ Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.com Our email address is AITHpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    36 min
  2. The Lantern Theater

    May 17

    The Lantern Theater

    Back-to-back interviews about the past - and the future - of the Lantern Theater. Peter talks with Stacy Maria Dutton and Charles McMahon. For a blog post with images relating to this episode go here: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/down-st-stephens-alley/  Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.com Our email address is AITHpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    55 min
  3. Interview: Grace Gonglewski

    Apr 17

    Interview: Grace Gonglewski

    A conversation with Grace Gonglewski, who has been performing and creating in Philadelphia theaters for the last four decades! She shares with us her memories of her life and work. Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.com Our email address is AITHpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    40 min
  4. Three Nights at the Opera

    Apr 3

    Three Nights at the Opera

    Three tales from the deep annals of Philadelphia opera history . .  . . from a fantastical account of a performance of Guy Mannering in the 1840s, to the world premiere of Victor Herbert's Natoma in 1911, to a final Gotterdammerung at the Academy of Music in 1948.  To view images and additional details about all the stories in this episode - go to this blog post on our Patreon page! https://www.patreon.com/posts/121123422 Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.com Our email address is AITHpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    31 min
  5. "A Lament for The Troc" - Special Episode!

    Mar 23

    "A Lament for The Troc" - Special Episode!

    In the Spring of 1978, "The Troc" - Philadelphia's longtime notorious burlesque house on Arch Street - closed for business.  The journalist Edgar Williams composed this poetic farewell to the site of so many vivid, poignant, and hilarious episodes from his youth. A good photo essay about the history of The Troc can be found in this online article by writer Thom Carroll in the Philly Voice: https://www.phillyvoice.com/photos-100-years-trocadero-theatre/ It is our podcast's 5th Birthday! So we are releasing a special treat for our listeners - a treasure taken from our vault of Bonus Episodes of our Patreon page. Please consider becoming a supporter of our show on Patreon! The link is here: https://www.patreon.com/c/AITHpodcast Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.com Our email address is AITHpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    29 min
  6. Diana Barrymore - Too Much, Too Soon

    Mar 13

    Diana Barrymore - Too Much, Too Soon

    It might seem to be a lurid Hollywood tale . . . but is it really a Philadelphia theater story? Here's our take on the life and times of the actress Diana Barrymore, eldest daughter of John Barrymore - from her privileged beginnings, through her successes on stage, her failures in filmdom . . to her sad and sordid end.  But is she really just another celebrity cautionary tale? There's more to her story than got told in the tabloids. As you listen, for a selection of photos of Diana, and other fascinating images about the events we discuss in this episode, GO HERE. Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.com Our email address is AITHpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    37 min
  7. Before he was "One of the Hollywood Ten"

    Feb 27

    Before he was "One of the Hollywood Ten"

    Herbert J. Biberman, the screenwriter, director and left-wing activist, was once one of the most well-known men in show biz - but not, unfortunately for his talent or his intellect.  In 1950, he became famous for being one of the "Hollywood Ten," a group of men known for their opposition to politically-motivated industry blacklists - and facing prison for refusing to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee. But Biberman's Philadelphia origin story is almost completely unknown - because he wanted it that way. We investigate that story in this episode, and uncover much that had been hidden or unexamined - until now For photos and images of Biberman, as well as many of the other people and plays we mention in this episode, go to our photo essay on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/images-for-he-of-119082063 Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.com Our email address is AITHpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    39 min
  8. Starting on the Third Floor - and Going Up

    Feb 15

    Starting on the Third Floor - and Going Up

    The rise of the Arden Theatre  Company - as well as the story of the beginnings of the modern Walnut Street Theatre Company and the Lantern Theater Company. Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! For a link, go to our website: www.aithpodcast.com Our email address is AITHpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Bluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE © Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

    32 min
See All (124)

5
out of 5
25 Ratings

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Bringing you the best stories from the deep and fascinating history of theater in the city of Philadelphia. This is the podcast for all lovers of theater, students of history - or anyone who enjoys great stories with lots of drama!

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