Remembering the Theater

I was perusing Ridge Avenue before East Falls, trying to check out Laurel Hill Cemetery. Unfortunately, every entrance I came across was locked. Little did I know, I had missed out on the cemetery visiting hours for the day. Disappointed, I headed back to my car…until I heard a faint tune. Like a rat following the Pied Piper, I chased the jingle in my ear. Down the hill, through the bushes, around the corner, until….I came across something that shifted my interests.

There, locked up and abandoned like an old prison, sat a dirty and lonely stage. Interested, I climbed a fence and jumped on top of a structure that looked like an old ticket booth. What used to be an audience was now uncontrolled weeds and trees. Wondering what had happened, and why the area was locked up and restricted, I searched for an answer. I looked for someone, anyone, who could clue me in.

Luckily, I spotted an elderly man resting in a lawn chair by his vehicle. The gentleman referred to the stage as East Falls Theater. He said it had been shut down about a year ago due to rodent infestation and vandalism. He said the area was in the process of being rebuilt, then he began reminiscing about the many plays and concerts he attended there throughout his life.

While I was listening to this man tell me about how much this theatre meant to him, I found it ironic that it was Memorial Day weekend. I thought of what a shame it would be if the area wasn’t restored. I figured that this gentleman wasn’t the only member of the community with fond memories of what used to be, and how those memories would die with them if the theatre was left to rot in oversized weeds. I also realized that Memorial Day may not be just about remembering those who fought for our country, but also remembering the things that have had a major impact on our lives.

By Dennis Bovell and Kelly White, Group 16