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Addition of the Marx Brothers premiere at the Walnut in 1923 |
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The Walnut was the first theatre to install gas [[footlight]]s in 1837. In 1855, it was also the first theatre to feature [[air conditioning]]. The theatre switched to electric [[chandelier]]s and footlights in 1892. The theatre has undergone many renovations since its opening.
In June 1923, the Marx Brothers premiered their first show, [[I'll Say She Is]] at the Walnut.<ref>https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/TODAY-IN-PHILADELPHIA-HISTORY/Marx-Brothers-premiere-first-show-at-Walnut-Street-Theatre.html</ref>
Between 1932 and 1940, the theatre ran movies and hosted vaudeville and burlesque shows when it wasn't dark.<ref>In the old tradition: Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre Returns to a First Love. ''New York Times''. 05 Oct 1941: X1.</ref>
The first theatrical production at the theatre was Sheridan's play ''[[The Rivals]]'' presented on New Year's Day, 1812. [[Edwin Forrest]] and [[John Sleeper Clarke]] purchased the theatre in 1865, and then the theatre became part of [[The Shubert Organization]] in 1941. While part of the Shubert chain, the theatre housed many pre-[[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] tryouts of soon-to-be classics, including:
*''[[I'll Say She Is]] with the [[Marx Brothers]] (June 1923) ([[Harpo Marx|Harpo]], [[Chico Marx|Chico]], [[Groucho Marx|Groucho]], and [[Zeppo Marx|Zeppo]])
*''[[A Streetcar Named Desire (play)|A Streetcar Named Desire]]'' with [[Marlon Brando]] (1947)
*''[[Mister Roberts (play)|Mister Roberts]]'' with [[Henry Fonda]] (1948)
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