Frolicking at Boulevard Pools in 1935
Letter from the Northeast
The busy intersection of Roosevelt Boulevard and Tyson Avenue in Mayfair will get even busier when the Wawa mini market and gas station on the northeast corner opens later this year. A humble use for what was, from the 1920s to the 1970s, one of the largest outdoor swimming and recreation centers in the nation–Boulevard Pools.
Situated on seven acres on Roosevelt Boulevard, Boulevard Pools opened on May 28, 1928. It included two acres of swimming pools, a ballroom, and a locker room to accommodate 6,000. Surrounding the pools were grandstands where spectators could enjoy water shows. There was sand, picnic tables, and trees. The sandy area was used as an ice skating rink in the winter.
Newspapers dubbed Boulevard Pools the “Northeast’s seashore.” Most of Northeast Philadelphia was still undeveloped at this time, however, and the venue’s clientele came primarily from the more densely populated areas of Frankford, Kensington, and neighborhoods to the south. Admission was twenty-five cents for adults and ten cents for children.
Bathing Beauties at Boulevard Pools
In 1930, over 50,000 visitors traveled up the Boulevard to “the Pools” to escape the summer heat of the city streets. Lifeguards routinely provided the entertainment for the water shows. Toward the end of the 1930 season the owners tried to boost attendance by staging a wrestling match with an alligator. One of the lifeguards agreed to wrestle the alligator, whose mouth was to be tied shut. During the match, the rope slipped and the alligator bit the lifeguard. His brother jumped in the water to help, whereupon the alligator turned and bit the brother’s hand. The audience of some 1,500 was horrified by the blood. The man’s arm had to be amputated. Attendance was never again the same.
In the 1940s and 1950s Boulevard Pools became a swim club charging annual fees. The ballroom was used for wedding receptions and weekly dances. At the end of the 1976 summer season, citing rising maintenance fees, owner Harry Blatstein, father of developer Bart Blatstein, closed the place down. The complex was demolished in April 1978. The ice rink was saved and converted to a rollerskating rink with an adjoining family entertainment area. The land eventually became homes, a strip of stores, a K Mart, a car dealership, and the roller rink.
Thank you for sharing this information. I moved to Princeton Ave at five years of age in 1955 and consider myself very fortunate to grow up in Mayfair
My ex-father in law, Charles McErlanel, Mac, was co-owner with Harry Blatstein and I remember going to the dances in the late 60,s. Mac retired after Ford bought the land on the Blvd and opened a Mercury dealership. Do not know if it is still there.
lots of good stories and memories. Going to Cinelli’s, over in Cherry Hill for dinner
Mercury dealership closed years ago. There is a large WaWa on the corner of Tyson & the Blvd.
I knew your father-in-law, but never chatted with him. I worked directly for Harry. I worked all areas of the pools but especially the Snack Bar with the 15 cent hamburgers.
Harry treated us very well.
As a teen growing up in frankford during the seventie, we regularly took the bus up the boulevard to Princton ave on saturday nights to dance at the Tunnel….. what a great time….
Yes, The Tunnel. It WAS a great time! My friends and I came down from Fox Chase. It was around ’74/’75. 💖
Met my wife ther in 1958, married in 1960 she passed in 2007. Meeting her was best day of my life
I met my wife,the love of my life there in 1958. We married in 1960 and spent 54 years together before her death. Great memories of a great place. Boulevard Ballroom.
This is Bruce brock was a manager there build the tunnel meet my wife Debbie there still marry 45 yrs Harry blasting was the best boss
Hi Bruce, I remember you and that fast ass VW Wagon. My friends and I had great times at the pool and The Tunnel. I hope all is well with you!
Does anyone know anything about the Monte del rosa dance? (not sure if the name is correct) .
Thanks
Debra,
Do you mean the MOT in Frankford, where a dance was held on Fridays I believe.
Joan Buck would usually be there and she was so popular most males could not get a dance with her.
Joe H.
The late Joan Buck attended our Lincoln High.
She was in my class. She was a beautiful girl.
The dance was at Mater Dolorosa parish hall. I played for the “mot” baseball team.
Mater Della Rosa, was a big Catholic Church on the Boulevard near Harrison Avenue that also held a dance for mostly the high school crowd.
I spent my summers at the pools from ’65 to ’69, and every Friday night at the ballroom dancing the night away. Big part of my highschool years.
I met my wife at the boulevard dance on a Sunday night in 1962. She was with her GF and me and a buddy took them home. I got her number and called her the next day.
We married in 1965 and are still married after almost 60 years. We’re both now 80… Shame there isn’t places like that anymore.
Born in Mt Airy, I grew up in S Jersey and am now a history prof. Never went to this impressive place, but sure am familiar with major developer Blatstein. I have to note that there may be a shady side to the “private swim club” transformation: many privately-owned pools in PA & NJ were segregated, and when state civil rights laws began to appear, switched to a so-called “private club” model to keep excluding minorities. Bummer at the time.
At age 3, on August 1947, we moved from West Philly, and were the first family to move into 2931 Tyson Av. between Brous and Batterdby.
Were we the next block up from the Pools.
My upstairs bedroom faced the backyard. I could see and hear the fountain. During the month of July/Aug. Harry James would perform on weekends. March 1957, my Bar Mitzvah reception was held in the ballroom. My parents knew Harry Blatstein.
When we moved, in ’47, there was an Esso station on the NE corner of Tyson and the Blvd. During the mid 50s, a custard stand was built in place of the Esso station. Along Tyson they built a Putt Putt.
We moved to L.A. Jan.’62, during the middle of my senior year at Lincoln High.
A “pass to the pools” was something solid for a Mayfair kidin the 70’s. I got mine in 7th grade from my Evening Bulletin route. The lady at the booth would let me come back in, after I did my route cause I would give her a paper. Great times, great memories. That’s when America was great.