Few would guess by looking that the lot now occupied by Caribbean Delight and a wide brick-faced walkway on the 1100 block of South Street was once the site of performances by the early 20th century’s most celebrated African American performers.  In the century prior to that, the site was host to Sunday services as the South Street Presbyterian Church. The image here below, taken from Samuel L. Smedley’s 1862 Philadelphia Atlas, shows the church on the south side of the street.

South Street Presbyterian Church, 1862

According to Explore PA History, the church was converted into the Standard Theatre in 1888.  Little information is available to describe the daily fare at the theatre prior to 1914, when Baltimore native and African American booking agent John Gibson purchased the lot.  Gibson’s theatre quickly rose to prominence as one of the premiere ‘black and tan’ clubs…

So…

Hurricane Sandy.

Radar Map

If you’ve turned on a television, radio, or computer, or picked up a newspaper over the past several days, perhaps you’ve heard that this massive “frankenstorm” is poised to batter our fair city for the next couple of days. Walking around late last night felt like a normal breezy fall night. Looking out the window at 7am, it looks like a little light rain that should hardly be closing schools, setting supermarkets into a frenzy, and inspiring several Walnut Street businesses to board up their windows.

But according to the New York Times, our area can expect winds approaching 85 MPH and up to six inches of rain in the days to come. Other sources are predicting stronger winds and even more rain. Glen ‘Hurricane’ Schwartz hasn’t slept in 72 hours.

Seriously.

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