Keswick Theatre - Historic Venue in Glenside
My spouse and I
attended a concert at the Keswick Theatre on a Saturday evening in early
November 2017. The Keswick offers live music, comedy, and other events. The
theatre first opened in 1928 as a vaudeville/movie house, and it was added to the National
Register of Historic Places in 1983. The building was designed by the same
architect who constructed the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The theatre is
located in Glenside, about 10 minutes (5 miles) from Fort Washington and about
6 minutes (2 miles) Abington. The venue seats about 1,300 guests for concerts
in one of six permanent seating areas (on traditional velvet-cushioned theater
seats), or sometimes on folding chairs in a temporary “pit” area fronting the
stage.
To enter the
theatre, you must pass through metal detectors and allow your bag to be
inspected. Inside, two full-service bars and one express drink area sell wine,
beer, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as packaged snacks (including
popcorn, pretzels, and candy). Credit Cards are accepted for purchases.
Restrooms are situated on the upper level, reachable by twin staircases, with
accommodations for the handicapped. Paid parking is available in a surface lot
behind the venue, or you can pay to park at a meter on the street. (Meters in effect Monday
through Saturday until 8:00 pm for $0.25 per hour.) Additional parking (both metered and
complimentary) is available throughout the surrounding neighborhood, just be sure
to obey any posted signs.
Nearby full-service
bars and restaurants include the Keswick Tavern and Dino’s Backstage (see our
separate reviews on both establishments). The nearest hotels are located about
a 10-minute drive from the venue in Fort Washington, including the Hilton
Garden Inn (see our separate review), Holiday Inn Express, and Best Western; these
properties sometimes offer discounted rates to Keswick patrons.
We enjoyed our night
at the Keswick Theatre so much that we signed up for their mailing list so that
we know what’s happening next!
