1941: THE NEW RKO TRENT THEATER

How I love these full page features! Unfortunately they do not reproduce full size on Facebook due to the graphic size limitations of that social media site. However, here at the Hamilton Library Local History web site, you get the full page in all its glory. Here's a fabulous 1941 view of the 75 year old event that gave birth to the legendary RKO Trent theater.John Taylor's original Taylor Opera House stood on this site, and the building shown in the upper left of the photo shows the Trent theater building that was the original opera house. How unfortunate it was leveled and replaced by the modern structure shown to the right of the above page. The original Taylor Opera House is shown below:

1937:ZEROING IN ON THE GARDEN THEATRE

I never attended this theater but remember seeing the listing in the daily edition of the local press. This is an extracted segment from a high definition photo of North Broad street looking north,

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.

1937: THE GARDEN THEATRE:

There it was all those years in the 20th century. It was a "second run" theater that folded with the destruction in the 1960's. The great old theater ended up as a sex-oriented theater before it closed. It was located on North Broad Street just north of Academy Street.

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.

1935: A GREAT DEPRESSION SATURDAY NIGHT

The above is a somewhat re-organized placement of the ads as found on the original page from the Trenton Times. It gives a good idea of the economic situation in the area as the financial ravages of the Great Depression began to subside and certain members of society had more money in their pockets to spend a night at one of the many local night clubs, restaurants and theaters. I added the 2 1935 Hudson "Terraplane" autos to enhance the spirit of '35.

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.

THE CENTRE THEATER, CENTRE STREET TRENTON

Lew and Isaac Levy built the old theatre on Centre Street way back in 1913. It served the community for many years before Trenton's landscape changed due to civil upheaval, white flight, and redevelopment of the downtown Trenton area in the 1960's. I took the above photo back when I was a Eucharistic Minister at Sacred Heart Church and ministered to the shut ins at the old Stokeley Plant on Lalor Street. That section of South Trenton has a fascinating history from it early years as Bloomsbury, Lamberton, and far far back to the ferry (Ferry Street) in Colonial times. I wonder if the Levy brothers have a relationship to my friend who had the Greenwood Theater, Edgar Levy. Perhaps another of our knowledgeable South Trentonians can enlighten me.

1936: A TRENTON SATURDAY NIGHT DURING THE GREAT DEPRESION

I tried doing this graphic in color, but I exceeded the size limit allowed and had to convert it to gray scale mode. It is an interesting representation of what the Trenton area had to offer those who were affluent enough to end their work week with a rousing venture into the very lively Trenton area of 1936. Unfortunately, the size constraints makes reading the details a bit daunting; but if my 80 year old eyes can see some of the ads, how about yours?

1911 AND 1914: THE BROAD STREET THEATRE

As can be seen in the articles above, the early version of Trenton's famous "Palace" theater had a very shady past. As I read the articles and the "vulgar" behavior which was part of the programs during the theater's burlesque oriented years, I moved forward nearly 100 years to the present where such behavior would be seen on prime time television for our youngsters to see. Mayor LaBarre shut the old Broad Street Theatre down during that spring of 1914, and it reopened a few weeks later with a change in format to music and musical movies. Back then, societal behavior was by majority rule. Enough citizens complained about the bawdy and sometimes obscene that the Mayor acted.

1937: NORTH BROAD STREET AND THE GARDEN THEATER

They say if you wait long enough and are patient, you will ultimately find one or more of the many things you search for. So it is with this photo. I have been after a photo of Trenton's Garden Theater for many years. I stumbled upon it quite by accident and am happy to post it herewith. The Garden was one of the "economy" theaters back in the day, as were the Gaiety and Centre, The theater had an inglorious end when X rated movies were featured.

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.

1938: THE STACY AND THE RKO STATE THEATRES

How I love these R.C. Maxwell area photographs! Here's an excellent view of E. State Street with the marquees of the Stacy and RKO State theatres in view. Note that my spell checker has questioned the "res" rather than "ers" spelling. The former was in vogue back in the 1930's and I'm staying with it.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM.....HE STATE THEATRE WAS VERY POPULAR WITH US KIDS CAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY MOVIE HOUSE WITH 3 FLOORS. FOR A DIME WE SAW A STAGE SHOW, OTHER FEATURES AND A FEATURE PICTURE. WE CALLED IT HEAVEN AND THEY EVEN FEATURED LOCAL PEOPLE ON THE STAGE. I RECALL SEEING YOUNG TERRY, A LOCAL PRIZE FIGHTER AND LEWIS MACK IN ONE OF THEIR STAGE PRODUCTIONS. IMAGINE SEEING THEIR SHOW AND LATER HAVING A HOT DOG AND ROOT BEER, ALL FOR 25 CENTS. GOD BLESS THE OLDEN DAYS.

Friday, June 22, 2012

2012 THE LAWRENCE DRIVE IN THANKS TO CAM CAMERON!

I have been a "nostalgia merchant" for well over 60 years, so PLEASE, I ask you to refrain, indeed, spare me of your story of 2, 3, or more people hiding in the trunk of your car and gaining access to the wonderful world of what we all knew as the "PASSION PIT." For years I have been searching for a graphic showing that late, great movie venue. Lo and behold, here's a view from the Duke University Library R.C. Maxwell Collection. As usual, the photo is a pristine view of a U.S. Route 1 before it became busier than 5th avenue and 42nd street in the big apple.

JUST LOOK AT THE RURAL COUNTRYSIDE!

SO THERE I WAS, VERY HAPPY TO FIND THE ABOVE GRAPHIC FROM THE R.C. MAXWELL COLLECTION, AND ALONG COMES CAM CAMERON WITH THE FOLLOWING BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS OF THE LAWRENCE DRIVE IN DATING BACK TO OPENING NIGHT,
AUGUST 23, 1949. I HAVE DELETED THE EARLIER POST ON THE LAWRENCE AND ADDED CAM'S OFFERING. CAMERON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THESE EXCELLENT PHOTOS FOR OUR CURRENT VISITORS, AND FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO VISIT IN THE FUTURE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE LAWRENCE THEATER MAP WAS PROBABLY TAKEN WITH A DIGITAL CAMERA AND THE DETAIL IS LOST, BUT IT STILL GIVES AN IDEA OF THE LAYOUT OF THE LAND.

Anonymous said...

Tom you mention rural; in 1960 we would play a game on trips with Dad. After a jaunt to Vermont and getting off the Parkway, there were only three or four traffic signals till home in Trenton. The object was to not stop at a red light. I loved that stretch especially for the Swifts or Clarksville Diner or the Stewarts Root Beer.

Passing the Drive In meant you were home.

Ed Millerick

Monday, June 11, 2012

Anonymous said...

Sorry Tom; allow me a last comment. What amazed me was how straight and true US 1 was. From the high point of Sand Hill in South Brunswick you could see that straight concrete line right to Lawrence. It was like an arrow. Question? Why did they call the intersection at Princeton on US 1 ... "Penn's Neck Circle" ??

Ed M

Monday, June 11, 2012

Anonymous said...

Correction: "Dutch Neck Circle" .. oops.

1949: THE LAWRENCE DRIVE IN

I have been a "nostalgia merchant" for well over 60 years, so PLEASE, I ask you to refrain, indeed, spare me of your story of 2, 3, or more people hiding in the trunk of your car and gaining access to the wonderful world of what we all knew as the "PASSION PIT." For years I have been searching for a graphic showing that late, great movie venue. Lo and behold, here's a view from the Duke University Library R.C. Maxwell Collection. As usual, the photo is a pristine view of a U.S. Route 1 before it became busier than 5th avenue and 42nd street in the big apple.

JUST LOOK AT THE RURAL COUNTRYSIDE!

1903 AND 1920'S; TRENTON'S LEGENDARY TRENTTHEATRE

As I page through the thousands of pages on this site, I am more and more firmly satisfied that the extra time spent re-formatting, lightening , re-setting the focus, intertwining related graphics and other Photo Shop graphic modifications has ended up giving me the satisfaction that present and future generations who visit this website will be happy to download and save them in their own personal computer files. The above graphic is an example of "intertwining related graphics." There is the exquisite photo on the right of the RKO Trent (then known as "Reade's Trent"), along with the equally exquisite engraving of the U.S. hotel building as it looked during the transition to a motion picture theater and vaudeville palace. This is what local history and this website is all about.

1946: TOM SAWYER CONTEST AT THE STACY THEATER

Back in the pre-television era, local motion picture theaters were doing a brisk and lively business. Weekly giveaways of glassware, kitchen utensils and other attractive premiums were the norm. The graphic above illustrates the Stacy theater management's attempt to lure Trenton area citizens into their East State Street theater.

1914(Ca.) VERY EARLY TRENTON MOVIE THEATRES

I find these graphics to be absolutely fascinating. Trenton theaters has been one of the most requested subjects in my years as a historical researcher here at the Hamilton Library. Long before there was an RKO Trenton, Capitol, Broad, Princess, etc, there were numerous entrepreneurs who saw the possible profitability of establishing a "moving picture" theater. My research thus far shows that the Market Street Theatre at Market and Union Streets in South Trenton never got into the movie business due to union problems. numerous articles indicate that the building was used for meetings. During World War I, the area "Home Guard" held weekly meetings in the building.

Broad Street Park historian Jim Colello and I have been researching a movie theater that was supposedly located in Broad Street Park, but as of the present time we have been unsuccessful.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM....I CAN RECALL GOING TO THE THEATRE ON MORRIS AND CHESTNUT WITH MY MOTHER IN THE EARLY 20'S. IT WAS CALLED THE BB'S AND SHOWED MOSTLY ITALIAN MOVIES. IT WAS VERY BORING AS I RECALL. REGARDS.

Wednesday, September 07, 2011

Tom Glover said...

VERY INTERESTING, RALPH. WAS THE BUILDING I PUT THE "?" MARK ON THE SAME BUILDING?

TOM GLOVER

Wednesday, September 07, 2011

1950'S: DRIVE IN THEATERS-"HOW DO I MISS THEE? LET ME COUNT THE WAYS!"

OK, before you comment on how you popped 3 or 4 (or more) kids in the trunk and got free admission to your local drive in theater, let me remind you that every time the subject of the now nearly extinct Drive Ins comes up, some one in the group is sure to re-tell that tired old legendary but true story. But what fun it was to go to the drive in! Especially with that special someone who didn't mind sitting close and sharing.......uhh, her popcorn! How did we ever survive with that tinny speaker that hung on our car door?

Anonymous said...

If my memory serves, two thing happened that made survival difficult for one drive in. The Dix Drive In opened just about the same time as did the Bordentown Dump. As a kid I remember my sister checking the weather if her husband wanted to go to the Dix. I started driving in the mid 60's and being from North Trenton it was a coin toss between the Ewing or Lawrence but I think in the long run the Lawrence was better. That Everly Brothers song "Wake Up Little Susie" will always have a bit of special meaning for me. Skip

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Whoa, Skip.....'sounds like you were "in trouble deep!"

Tom Glover The Lawrence" was our drive in of choice back before U.S.1 became the traveler's nightmare.

Gary Lippincott said...

The Trenton Drive-In, Glenn Munson would borrow his brother Gerry's Chevrolet Corvair (trunk in the front)we could only stuff two in there. I know guys that used to go in the trunk on $1.00-a-carload night, just to do it.

Monday, August 01, 2011

Mack said...

I did a recent post on my Blog with a list of 6 local drive-ins in 1964. I noted they were showing movies in december. That seems kind of rough with our weather even with possible action going on unrelated to the movie :)

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

1929: TRENTON'S THROPP THEATER

Trenton theaters of the past are included among the more interesting local history subjects. From the earliest years of vaudeville at the Taylor Opera House in the 19th and early 20th century, to the beautiful and ornate theaters that once graced the city of Trenton, there are myriads of fascinating stories to bring to light. The graphic above is an example. I would bet that only the true local theater historians would know that Trenton once hosted the Thropp theater. It only existed for a short time. It was located in the 200 block of East State Street (211). It was replaced by the State Theater and in the 1950's was demolished in order to make room for the new Nevius Voorhees store. There is one yet to be uncovered bit of history regarding this story. The Thropp replaced the old 1903 State Street Theater, and after the Thropp went belly up, the State Theater took its place. This will require some additional research and as time allows, I will dig it up eventually.

Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM... I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW KIND WORDS ABOUT THE STATE THEATRE. TO BEGIN WITH THEY HAD THREE FLOORS, WE CALLED THE THIRD FLOOR, HEAVEN. IT COST 10 CENTS AND GAVE ALL OF US POOR PEOPLE A CHANCE TO WATCH FIRST CLASS ACTS THAT WE COULD AFFORD. THEY HAD AN OUTSTANDING SHOWMAN CALLED LEWIS MACK AND HE PUT ON DIFFERENT SHOWS EACH WEEK, IN ADDITION TO A FEATURE PICTURE. I RECALL ONE WEEK WHEN HE HAD ON YOUNG TERRY, THE BOXER WHO WAS COMING UP IN THE RANKINGS AND CALLED THE SHOW, THE TRENTON BUZZ SAW. ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS ON MOTT ST. PLAYED IN THE BAND THAT PERFORMED FOR THE ACTS. BEST REGARDS.

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Very interesting addition, Ralph. Thanks very much.

Tom

rayfromvillapark said...

Tom, I think the State Theater was demolished to make way for the new Arnold Constable Department store. Nevius Vorhees was on the next block west, I believe, right next door to the Mayfair theater. Best regards, rayfromvillapark

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Anonymous said...

Tom - Is there some way to find a map of Trenton with ALL the theaters located? What a valuable piece of information this would be. Lakesdie Girl

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Anonymous said...

TOm: The Orpheum was the predecessor for the Mayfair Theatre With the entrance nestled between the famous Nevius Voorhees store, and it would later become the Mayfair, to the west was the Grayson's store, and beyond that was the Elegant and historic entrance to the Trenton Savings Fund Society" The Mayfair was operated by the Levy's Hildinger, and Henry families who owned several of the "movies" around town. Edgar Levy The famous tennis player managed one of them, the Greenwood. Eggs was my tennis partner for many years, and is still active at 92 living in Naples Florida. The"State" Theatre was located in the next block east from the Mayfair, and was next to Phil Prass's Hunter Restaurant. I certainly do recall the 3rd Balcony, and all the brass railing that adorned this edifice. Benny Morris was the manager, He lived a few doors away from us on Fall St. We would spend a whole day Saturday watching the double feature, the serials, the news, and the special attractions. My mother would go to Dr. Arthur Yetter the Pharmacist and father of the Hamilton Car dealer to have Dr. Yetter call Benny, find us in the Theatre and send us home. History was demolished to accommodate the Arnold Constable Store. They even took the Public bathrooms down in the middle of So. Montgomery St. during the "Urban Renewal" craze if the 50's. Great times, great memories. Regards from Virginia Mike, Eleanor, Ray and Ralph: 

THESE COMMENTS MAKE A GREAT ADDITION TO THIS POST! REALIZE THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL FIND THESE EXTRA COMMENTS TO BE VERY IMPORTANT AND ENLIGHTENING.

TOM GLOVER