Very delightful photo from the R.C. Maxwell-Duke University Library showing the marquee of the good old Gaiety Theater on South Olden Avenue. What memories this photo brings! Tuesday summer time matinees with a cartoon carnival for all of us kids. As I recall admission was 11 cents, but that's open for question. Across the street was the Townsend Bakery where we often shopped (along with the Rowley Bakery) down on South Olden and Hobart Avenues. Marucca's had their tomato pie location in the row on the left, and there was a small Acme Supermarket to the right and out of the picture. I have a "long shot" of this are in my "TRENTON VIEWS" folder.
NOTE: DUE TO A GLOVER SENIOR MOMENT, THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LABELED AS NORTH OLDEN AVENUE AND OF COURSE IT WAS SOUTH OLDEN AVENUE, THE DIVISION BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH BEING STATE STREET. THANKS TO MIKE KUZMA AND A FACEBOOK VISITOR WHERE IT HAS ALSO BEEN POSTED, I STAND CORRECTED.
NOTE: DUE TO A GLOVER SENIOR MOMENT, THIS WAS ORIGINALLY LABELED AS NORTH OLDEN AVENUE AND OF COURSE IT WAS SOUTH OLDEN AVENUE, THE DIVISION BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH BEING STATE STREET. THANKS TO MIKE KUZMA AND A FACEBOOK VISITOR WHERE IT HAS ALSO BEEN POSTED, I STAND CORRECTED.
HI TOM....AND UPSTAIRS AT THE GAIETY THEATRE, WHICH WAS LATER CALLED THE OLDEN THEATRE, WERE 6 BOWLING LANES THAT MY BROTHER LOU AND I OPERATED IN THE EARLY 50'S DURING NIGHTS AFTER WORKING DAYS AT THE POST OFFICE AS LETTER CARRIERS. IN 1954 WE LEFT THE POST OFFICE TO BUILD THE HAMILTON BOWLING LANES ON ROUTE 33, ACROSS FROM TONY CALS CAFE. I RECALL THE GAIETY THEATRE LET THE KIDS IN FREE ON SATURDAY MORNINGS DURING THE 40,S. WHEN GEORGE TEN EYKE WAS THE OWNER. BEST REGARDS.
ReplyDeleteI MIGHT ADD TOM....I'M GONNA BE 94 YEARS OLD IN AUGUST AND CAN'T THINK OF ANY REASONS OTHER THAN HARD WORK AND SPORTS THAT HAVE KEPT ME ALIVE. MY FAITH IN GOD AND THE LOVE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WIFE FOR 58 YEARS MAY ALSO BE A FACTOR, MAY GOD BLESS HER. I THINK YOU HAVE A PHOTO OF ME ON AN ISLAND IN THE CORAL SEA IN 1945 THAT SHOWS THE MUSCLES OF HARD WORK. BLESS YOU ALL FOR THE MEMORIES THAT TOM HAS PROVIDED.
ReplyDeleteTom-
ReplyDeleteFinally a picture of my grandfathers Bakery sign! I believe by the time that this picture was taken, he had left the bakery business and had opened up a steamship travel agency/insurance company. Fred Tilton was running the bakery before he opened his own on Broad Street.
Thanks again for all you do!
Pam Townsend
Tom:
ReplyDeleteAm mistaken? Isn't Olden Ave, below State Street known as "South Olden Ave."? Like South Broad and South Warren below State St.
Lou's Tomatoe Pies was just above State St., and was always referred to as being on "North Olden Ave"?
Joe Nadler has his auot parts store in this block, as was the McKeever Brothers tavern
Help an old feeble guy out will you.
Mike Kuzma
Mike-
ReplyDeleteYou're correct. That's a picture of South Olden Ave. North Olden starts on the other side of Princeton Ave., I believe. But, I know my gf's bakery address was South Olden.
Pam Townsend
I lived in Lawrenceville NJ for only one year before moving back home, but during this time I became really interested in the history of Trenton when I lived close to the town. I thank you for this website, and I look forward to browsing through all of these sections.
ReplyDeleteJohn F. Crush says...
ReplyDeleteIn 1941 my mother was the cashier or the Gaiety Theater and my sister Evelyn and I spent our Saturdays there as a form of child sitting--I was 10. I spent many hours in the ice cream store on the corner or at the Fish and Chip Store getting lunch served on an old news paper. The theater manager was a John R.Bodley was a life time friend of our family. I got to see his office in the bowling alley above the stores and the movie. His office held endless magic devices and movie posters. He was recognized as a professional magician. Later as a teen I cleared and set pins at the alley. My wife Germaine, as part of a group, danced on stage often as part of the Saturday entertainment at the theater. A candy bar cost five cents. Adult movie cost was 15 cents and rose to 25 cents over the years I was
being amused by Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, Buck Rodgers and the Pearls of Pauline. Ah the good old days!