Other Times

100 Years Ago – 1918:

While details of the sale have not been made public, announcement was made today that the Chester Playhouse has been sold to New York and Philadelphia theatrical promoters. The deal was consummated in the office of attorney J.C. Taylor. It is understood that the new owners, who will succeed George W. Shoemaker, will make a number of changes to the West Seventh Street theater, which will be enlarged to play the biggest shows on the road.

75 Years Ago – 1943:

Patriotic services, vacations, and “production as usual” marked Delaware County’s wartime Independence Day celebration last weekend. Most county residents celebrated a “stay-athome” Fourth of July. Few of the country’s humming war industries interrupted production to observe the holiday, holding thousands of men and women to their jobs.

50 Years Ago – 1968:

Fifty women, some of them sitting on lawn chairs in the middle of Marshall Road and Ardmore Avenue, Lansdowne, blocked rushhour traffic for 30 minutes Friday to protest traffic conditions in the area. Lansdowne and Upper Darby residents joined in the demonstration organized by Mrs. William Welsh and Mrs. Alan Shrader, both of the 2400 block of Marshall Road, Upper Darby.

25 Years Ago – 1993:

Opposition to an off-track betting facility proposed for the site of the current Eric twin movie theater on Baltimore Pike near Brinton Lake Road is expected to be fierce at the Concord Township Supervisors’ meeting tonight. Although there is no slated action on the proposal for a “Turf Club” submitted by the Sabatino Construction Co. and Greenwood Racing, Supervisor John Kemper said his phone hasn’t stopped ringing since the proposal was first unveiled last month.

10 Years Ago – 2008:

Posing as a bounty hunter – complete with an ID, badge and gun – has a city man in trouble with the law again, Chester police said. The 46-year-old, who served jail time for a manslaughter conviction back in 1994, had outstanding warrants for his arrest when he was spotted by police standing outside of a car wash in the 800 block of Upland Street around 10 a.m. July 1. As police were taking him into custody, he was asked if he had a gun his possession. Along with 9 mm handgun, which the man claimed he was taking to his sister, police found a gold “Fugitive Recovery Agent” badge, as well as a Fugitive Enforcement Agent identification card with his name and photo on it.