South Philly native Mario Lanza will always be known as one of the best tenors the world has ever seen. And a continuous effort forges forward to make sure he won’t be forgotten. Now in its fifth home in Philadelphia, the Mario Lanza Institute and Museum is open for business at its new location at 1214 Reed St. in Passyunk Square. Photos, movie posters, gold records, outfits and all kinds of rare memorabilia line the walls of the newly renovated building. 

Mario Lanza’s memory is alive and well in South Philadelphia. “This place is perfect,” said Bill Ronayne, president, treasurer and publicity director of the Mario Lanza Institute. “It’s a nice-size room. It had to be renovated so we did some fundraising over a two-year period. This was basically a garage for trucks.”