America's Oldest · Founded 1808

Historic Photo Gallery: 1921 to 1940

1933

In August 1933 the Walnut was taken over by a group of producers who operated it as a pre-Broadway tryout house. The first season included film star Jean Arthur in The Curtain Rises. Called "the quintessential comedic leading lady" by Turner Classic Movies, Arthur is best known as the heroine in three Frank Capra films: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, You Can't Take It With You, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. (Photograph courtesy of the Theatre Collection, Free Library of Philadelphia.)

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