Cool Facts You Didn’t Know About The Met Philly
The Met will kickoff its inaugural season with a bang beginning on 12/3 with Bob Dylan and his band, Weezer on 12/12 then New Hope natives, Ween, on Friday 12/14 followed by a ton of other great acts just announced (full schedule HERE).
So while you’re waiting for those shows, here are a bunch of fun facts to share with your friends:
This place is Massive
The Met which takes up the entire block at Broad & Poplar was the largest theater of its kind in the world when it opened in 1908. Then it sat more than 4,000 people, these renovations have brought that number down to 3,500.
Notable Roots
The Philadelphia Opera House was built by theater impresario, Oscar Hammerstein. Just two years before construction, the cigar mogul and passionate lover of the arts financed the Manhattan Opera House because he was dissatisfied with the original Metropolitan Opera Company across the street. By the way, he’s not that Hammerstein but instead the grandfather of the obvious half of the Rodgers and Hammerstein duo who gave us The King and I, South Pacific and The Sound of Music.
Philly Firsts
On November 17 1908 the house was packed for the inaugural performance of the opera Carmen. After closing it’s doors with a final performance of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin in 1918, The Met was reinvented as a movie theater, a basketball court for the Catholic Armature Athletic Association (photo) and Auto Mechanical School and home of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Most recently it has been the home for Holy Ghost Headquarters who will continue to share the space.
The Met is looking for employees! Apply online or in person at the Job Fair October 26 – 27. Visit TheMetPhilly.com for details.
See you at The Met!
