1936: E. STATE AT MONTGOMERY

There's a strange emotional reaction that I get as I view these incredible Duke University Library Maxwell photos of yesteryear. This photo was taken when I was only 3 years old and I never got to see that Orpheum sign. By the time I was old enough to go "downtown with my Mom," it had changed to the Mayfair. Thanks to the extraordinary features of Photoshop, I was able to lighten all those buildings in the left foreground from the Orpheum sign the edge of the photo. This is a zoomed in extract of the original photo which appears in an earlier post.

1934: THE ORPHEUM AND STACY THEATERS, E. STATE STREET

How I love this photo! The clarity is remarkable. Years ago, many professional photographers used the classic "Graflex" camera, and I would be that these Maxwell photos were produced by that camera. I have an intense interest in photos of old Trenton, and when theaters appear in the photos, I am completely fascinated. For those too young to know, the old Orpheum theater was replaced by the Mayfair; one of Trenton's first run theaters. I remember going there as a boy with my father to see "Destroyer" with Glenn Ford and Edward G. Robinson. I was completely overwhelmed with the blue mirrors that lined the walls as you entered that beautiful theater.

1938: TRENTON'S STACY THEATER

I have zoomed in on the original R.C. Maxwell photo and zeroed in on the Stacy Theater. When you open this file, click on the "+" magnifying glass and it will open in all its full glory. You will be standing on East State Street and heading toward a Saturday night movie at the Stacy featuring Warner Baxter! This photo will also be posted on "It's a Trenton Thing" on Facebook, but you will not be able to enlarge it as can be done on www.glover320.blogspot.com.

1938: STACY AND STATE THEATERS

Warner Baxter is the name on the marquee at the Stacy when this photo was taken in 1938. A bit of tweaking has brought out the N.J. Bell Telephone building in the distance. Most of these photos were taken with a very high quality camera; I would bet that it was a "Graphlex."

1937: THE STACY THEATER

One of the more extraordinary things one can do with the computer is to merge two items out of time; in this case, 1937. The above exquisite photo of Trenton's Stacy Theater as it looked in 1937 when it was featuring one of those great old Dick Powell movies, "On the Avenue." A bit of extra research reveals that "Avenue" was released in 1937, ergo, the photo of the Stacy Theater as it looked back then. Out in the boondocks, we had the Gaiety theater on South Olden Avenue, along with its twin  the Centre, these two could never feature "First Run" motion pictures; usually it was "Last Run." Downtown Trenton had its share of movie theaters that took the back seat to the more popular RKO Trent, Capitol, Orpheum (Later the Mayfair), the Lincoln. As I recall, the State, Stacy, Garden, and Palace theaters were among the theaters who got the movies after they were distributed to the first run theaters.

1936: EAST STATE AND MONTGOMERY STREET

A REMINDER TO NEWCOMERS: RIGHT CLICK ON THE GRAPHIC, CHOOSE "OPEN LINK IN A NEW WINDOW," LEFT CLICK ON THE MAGNIFYING GLASS.

Remember Sam's Shoe Shop?" Here's another visit to the Trenton during her golden years. The clarity of these R.C. Maxwell/Duke University Archives photos is absolutely incredible. For those who are in the younger generation, the "Orpheum" theater in the photo, was ultimately the location of the "Mayfair;" one of my favorite downtown theaters. I still remember those blue mirror tiles they had at the entrance. The Mayfair was an upscale Trenton theater.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM...YOU REALLY HIT THE JACK POT TODAY FOR MEMORIES OF MY DELIVERING MAIL DURING THE 50'S TO ALL THE SECTION YOU'RE DISPLAYING TODAY. WHO CAN FORGET THE COMFORT STATION ON THE CORNER OF STATE AND MONTGOMERY AND THE OLD POST OFFICE AND FEDERAL BUILDING ON THE SAME CORNER. THE ORPHEUM WAS ONE OF GEORGE B. TEN EYCK'S THEATRES ALONG WITH THE GAIETY ON SOUTH OLDEN AVENUE WHERE HE LET THE KIDS IN FREE ON SAT. MORNINGS DURING THE DEPRESSION.

Once again, Ralph, an interesting insight from a guy who was there!

Tom Glover

Blake Bolinger said...

Tom - These R.C. Maxwell photos are terrific, and you enhancements make them so vivid. Thanks so much for posting (and thereby preserving) these.

Tuesday, March 06, 2012