On this page we will look back at life in the city during the war years. Here we will provide the visitor with the stories making the news, what was happening in sports and entertainment, city politics, the social scene and the prominent people at the time. We will also recount the events occurring in the war on that day. So, check back each day for new editions.
To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com
TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1916
The strange, almost spring like temperatures continued today with the high reaching 56° and the low 42°. However, the Weather Bureau is predicting another cold wave will sweep down from Canada tomorrow night dropping the mercury considerably. The grip epidemic seems to be easing. The Bureau of Health issued its weekly mortality report today showing 627 deaths in the city this week, a substantial drop from the 895 reported last week. Of the deaths this week, 111 were attributable to the grip which is 23 less than last week.
Jimmy Patton has an admirer and her name is Elizabeth Drake. Miss Drake is 7 years old of 23rd & Washington Avenue. Mr. Patton is 17 and lives at 1142 South 23rd Street. Yesterday the neighborhood children built a bonfire at 26th & Wharton Streets. During the excitement little Elizabeth was accidently pushed into the flames. Jimmy Patton was across the street and heard the screams. He plunged into the fire and pulled the girl out. He then rolled with her in the mud to extinguish the flames. Elizabeth was badly burned on her face, head and hands and remained unconscious until this morning when she woke and asked for her hero, Jimmy. Jimmy is also in the hospital with burns to his back and will visit Elizabeth as soon as he is well enough.
On the sports scene today there is something for everyone. In high school basketball Catholic High meets Morris Guards in Atlantic City, Moravian plays St. Joseph’s, Northeast visits Bethlehem Prep., Central takes on West Chester Normal and LaSalle goes to Villanova Prep. A number of good soccer matches are scheduled for this afternoon. In the American League, Disston Sawmakers take on the Rangers at the Tacony ball park. In Industrial League action Cresson Morris Engineering meets David Lupton Sons, Co. at Chelton Avenue & Magnolia Street. And in the Allied League the Wanderers face the Puritan Y.M.L. at 3rd Street & Lehigh Avenue. In shooting 4 local clubs will stage matches today, the Mt. Moriah Gunning Club of West Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Electric club, The Philadelphia Gun Club and the Eagle Association. Three of the clubs will utilize clay targets while the Eagle Association will target pigeons.
In entertainment, at the Lyric, Broad and Cherry Streets, the musical spectacular “The Passing Show of 1915” will be on stage at 2:15pm and 8:15pm. At the Forrest Theatre, Broad & Locust Streets, Julian Eltinge (shown below) stars in “Cousin Lucy” a musical comedy which provides him many opportunities to exhibit his amusing “feminine wiles” and appear in his remarkable gowns.
Julian Eltinge
On the motion picture screen tonight, at the Plaza, Broad & Porter Streets, William Farnum stars in “A Soldiers Oath”. At the Belmont, 52nd & Market Streets, Dorothy Donnelly stars in “Madame X” and at the Rialto, Germantown & Tulpehocken Street, Edna Mayo stars in “The Misleading Lady”.
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