HISTORY
OF THE ROBIN HOOD DELL EAST
The Robin Hood Dell East concerts have their roots in free summer concerts sponsored by the City of Philadelphia at the Lemon Hill Concert Pavilion in Fairmount Park. Concerts were held near 31st and Poplar Streets , seven nights a week, during the summer in the 1920's. A 50 piece orchestra, composed mostly of members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, performed at the concerts, which attracted as many as 20,000 people. The crowds were too large to fit in the concert pavilion, and the overflow sat or stood on the grass around the pavilion, extending as far as the sounds of the orchestra could be heard.
In addition to the evening concerts, the City scheduled Sunday afternoon concerts in 1922, but the first afternoon performance was the last. The summer heat, which reached 104 degrees in the bandstand shell, made the brass instruments so hot that it was nearly impossible to touch them. The heat also caused violin strings to snap, and the sun's glare was so bright that the musicians could not see the notes on their sheet music.
After the first Sunday afternoon concert, the remaining afternoon concerts were rescheduled as Sunday morning concerts for children, starting at 10 AM.
The Lemon Hill concerts were so popular that the City decided to build a concert amphitheater seating 10,000 in Fairmount Park. In 1930, the new amphitheater, Robin Hood Dell, opened at Ridge Avenue, and Dauphin Street. This location, in addition to being convenient to the regular public transit lines, was located near the terminal of the park trolleys which ran to the Woodside Park amusement park and West Philadelphia.
The first concert at Robin Hood Dell took place on July 8, 1930. Even though Robin Hood Dell was much larger than the Lemon Hill Concert Pavilion, many who came to the concerts frequently found the amphitheater filled to capacity, and remained outside to listen to the music.
Over the years many world famous conductors, musicians, and singers appeared in the concerts at the Robin Hood Dell.
*Reprinted from the August 18, 1983 issue by permission of The Girard Home News, Inc.
Welcome to the Dell East. "The Urban Contemporary People's Venue." Located on
Ridge Avenue near 33rd Street in Philadelphia, PA (USA), The Dell East offers a wide
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