Franklin Music Hall

Franklin Music Hall is a concert venue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is in a converted building once part of the General Electric Switchgear Plant and opened in 1995. It has a capacity between 2,500[1] and 3,000 people.[2] It is owned and operated by The Bowery Presents.

Franklin Music Hall
Former namesElectric Factory (1968-2018)
Address421 N. 7th Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39°57′33.1″N 75°08′58.9″W
OwnerThe Bowery Presents
OperatorThe Bowery Presents
TypeIndoor theater
Seating typeGeneral admission
Capacity2,500-3,000
Opened1968–1973 (first incarnation)
1995–present (second incarnation)
Website
www.bowerypresents.com/greater-philly/shows/franklin-music-hall

The venue features a variety of musical acts in the rap, electronic, heavy metal, rock, grunge, and pop genres.

History

In 1968, the "Electric Factory and Flea Market", a concert venue, opened in a converted tire warehouse on the northwest corner of 22nd and Arch Streets. It was owned by Sheldon Kaplan, Herbert Spivak, and his brothers Jerry Spivak and Allen Spivak. They soon hired Larry Magid to book all of the shows. Kaplan sold his stake in the company after the Atlantic City Pop Festival in 1969 and Magid became a partner. The venue hosted concerts, including performances of The Chambers Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, and The Who, until 1970 and was torn down in 1973 to be replaced by flats.[3][4]

Coincident with the venue, Electric Factory Concerts began as a concert promoter, also owned by Larry Magid.[5]

In 1995, Magid and Spivak reopened the Electric Factory in a converted building from the General Electric Switchgear Plant on 7th and Willow Street.[4]

In 2016, it was named the 16th best venue in the United States by Consequence.[2]

In September 2018, the Electric Factory was sold to The Bowery Presents; however, the trademarked name was owned by rival Live Nation and the buyer sought a new name.[6][7][8][9] After a public naming contest that received over 5,000 submissions, in October 2018, the new name was announced as Franklin Music Hall.[10][11][12]

References
  1. Vettese, John (October 18, 2018). "The venue formerly known as the Electric Factory will now be called Franklin Music Hall". WXPN.
  2. Vettese, John (April 29, 2016). "The Electric Factory is the 16th best venue in the U.S., according to Consequence of Sound". WXPN.
  3. Deluca, Dan (February 16, 2018). "Electric Factory turns 50: How the concert business was created in Philadelphia". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  4. SASKO, CLAIRE (September 12, 2018). "Say Goodbye to the Electric Factory: The Historic Venue Is Getting a New Name". Philadelphia.
  5. Deluca, Dan (July 5, 2011). "Making Philly Electric". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  6. "The Bowery Presents Acquires Historic Electric Factory" (Press release). The Bowery Presents. September 12, 2018.
  7. Crimmins, Peter (September 12, 2018). "Pulling the plug on Electric Factory: Rock club sold, name retired". WHYY-TV.
  8. Sacher, Andrew (September 12, 2018). "Bowery Presents acquires Philly's Electric Factory, renaming it". BrooklynVegan.
  9. Hilario, Kenneth (October 16, 2018). "N.Y. entertainment company buys Electric Factory, searches for new name". American City Business Journals.
  10. Hilario, Kenneth (October 16, 2018). "The Electric Factory has a new permanent name". American City Business Journals.
  11. Vadalsa, Nick (October 18, 2018). "Electric Factory has a new name: Franklin Music Hall". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  12. Sacher, Andrew (October 18, 2018). "Philly's Electric Factory officially renamed Franklin Music Hall". BrooklynVegan.
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