19th century Designed by architect
Edwin Forrest Durang, it opened as the Arch Street Opera House on August 29, 1870. Despite its name, it operated as a venue not for opera but
vaudeville,
minstrel shows, and musical comedies. It was renamed the Trocadero Theatre in 1896. At that time it underwent a renovation using a plan by
George Plowman.
20th century '', April 4, 1909 It was modified several times, was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 1973, and to the
National Register of Historic Places five years later. The building was known at various time as the Arch Street Opera House (1870–1879); Park Theatre (1879); New Arch Street Opera House (1884); Continental Theatre (1889); Gaiety Theatre (1890); Casino/Palace Theatre (1892), Troc Theatre (1940); Slocum's and Sweatman's Theatre; Sweatman's Arch Street Opera House; Simmon's & Slocum's Theatre; and Simmon's Theatre. It was already referred to as the Trocadero Theater in 1908. The Trocadero was a burlesque theater from the early 1900s until the 1970s. Burlesque performer
Mara Gaye performed here in the 1950s. The Pennsylvania Opera Theater, in 1982, was presenting three productions a year at the Trocadero. In 1986, the Trocadero was again remodeled for its current use as a concert hall and dance club. The Trocadero retains a promoting team and books bands directly. It has a capacity of 1,200 patrons (standing room) or 600 patrons (fully seated). The theater hosted a wide range of events including movie screenings, comedy shows, burlesque, and concerts from alternative, indie rock,
heavy metal, punk rock, jam, industrial,
gothic bands, and hip hop and electronica artists.
Bob Dylan performed at the Troc on December 11, 1997.
21st century Galactic Empire performed at the venue on June 3, 2017 as part of the
Wizard World Comic Con. After several days of rumors and a last-minute attempt by local promoters to save it, Philadelphia's Trocadero Theatre, part of the city's entertainment skyline since 1870, closed in May 2019. In October 2022, it was announced that Northwest Arch LLC, the group shown to legally own the Trocadero, had applied for and subsequently received a $2.5 million state-issued grant through Pennsylvania's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. Plans were announced soon thereafter that the theater would be undergoing a "complete renovation of the exterior and interior of the Trocadero building. The end product will be a fully updated first-class concert venue, entertainment space and full-service restaurant." No immediate timeframe was given for commencement or completion of the renovations. ==Recordings and broadcasts==