ABOVE: The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin's 1939 photo of the balcony of the old Concordia Theatre on 4th and Callowhill Streets - after the building had been used for many years as a brewery bottling plant.
BELOW: From a 2013 Inquirer article, the interior of the former "Grasso's Magic Theater," and the modern front door of the yet-to-be-completed Hannah (author's photo, 2025).
Also from the Inquirer, a 2022 photo of Melissa and Matt Dunphy inside the first level of their house, ready to dig out their privy pit. I have been in touch with them before the release of the episode, and they tell me that their current plan is to create an exhibition space for all their treasures called "The Necessary Museum." ("Necessary" was a Colonial American euphemism for the toilet.)
A view up the hill looking west, showing the I-95 overpass over Callowhill Street, followed by my own 2025 photo of the northwest corner of 4th and Callowhill Streets:
An 1850's print of the City Museum - the converted church at 4th and Callowhill, with a theater upstairs and a collection of Indian artifacts below. Also a detail from a map of the intersection with a notation for "Concordia Hall" which faced the market stalls to its south, circa 1855.
Below, an 1890 print of the massive Betz Brewery complex - we can see how it was attached to, and virtually swallowed, the former Concordia Theatre to the left:
A 1939 Evening Bulletin photo of the rescued Concordia - soon to become a furniture warehouse. It was demolished in the 1970s.
A detail section from an 1875 Philadelphia Atlas map, showing the National Theatre at the corner of 10th and Callowhill:
From the collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia, a historic photo of Adam Forepaugh's circus building at the site - Though this seems to the entrance, note that this was what later became the BACK of the theatre, along 10th Street.
The National Theatre's facade - with the rundbogenstil windows - in the 1870s:
A souvenir photo of the 1876 production of "The Black Crook" on stage at the National Theatre:
The southwest corner of 10th and Callowhill Streets in 2025, looking west, showing "The Cliffs at Callowhill" (author's photo):
Finally, the former site of the New Theatre on 16th north of Vine Street:
Down St. Stephen's Alley
