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,

1940: AT THE MOVIES 75 YEARS AGO ON MARCH 23!

What memories these movie pages from the Trenton Times and Trenton State Gazette bring! Here's what was playing 75 years ago when I was a 5 year old and hadn't yet experienced the thrill of going to a real movie theater; and did Trenton have movie "theatres!"

1933: SOUTH BROAD STREET - PALACE THEATOR AND VAN SCIVER

I only went to the Palace theater once during my early years. I do recall that on the day I went there, a little novelty store was nearly next door with all kinds of kid stuff. Exploding cigars, that little thing you put in your hand and when you reached out your hand to handshake your buddy, a spring actuated a little gizmo on your buddy's hand. Ahh the joys of childhood! By the way, the telephone pole is obscuring the view of the PALACE sign.

1931: THE CAPITOL THEATER FIRE

 

The Capitol was the location of my very first date with my high school sweetheart and wife of 59 years, Judy Britton. I took her to see "SHOW BOAT;" a musical which has songs that take me back to the years when I courted Judy. As can be seen in the photos above, the building was destroyed as a result of that horrendous fire.

1934: RKO CAPITOL MOVIE-VAUDEVILLE PROGRAM

It took quite a bit of scanning and Photoshopping to bring this interesting RKO Capitol theater July, 1934 program into the 21st century. Wheeler and Woolsey were two very popular motion picture comedians during the 1920's and 1930's. Pay particular attention to the "Vaudeville" page, especially "The Great Gretonas; 'Sensational Feats on the High Wire." Fascinating!

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM...WE HUNG AROUND THE CAPITOL THEATRE QUITE OFTEN IN THE EARLY 30'S. ON ONE OCCASION A PERFORMER OFFERED ME 50 CENTS IF I WOULD APPEAR WITH HIM ON STAGE. AS I RECALL THE ONLY THING I HAD TO DO WAS STAND THERE. 50 CENTS WAS A LOT OF MONEY TO A KID IN THOSE DAYS. IT WAS BETTER THAN SELLING PAPPERS FOR 2 CENTS A COPY. BEST REGARDS.

Friday, February 10, 2012

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

1938: CONTROVERSIAL MOTION PICTURE AT TRENTON'S VICTORY THEATER

There was a controversy back in the late 1930's when Hollywood released a Hedy Lamar movie by the name of "Ecstasy." Hedy's heavenly body was seen in all of it's blurred glory in a scene in which she was seen swimming completely nude. A number of visitors over the past few years have asked about the location of the "VICTORY" theater. Now you (and we) know.

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Ralph Lucarella said...

HI TOM.....I RECALL GOING TO THE VICTORY THEATRE IN THE LATE 1920S. MY BROTHER LOU'S WEDDING RECEPTION WAS BEING HELD DOWN THE STREET AT THE HUNGARIAN HALL. THEY HAD A MOVIE AND A SMALL STAGE FOR VAUDEVILLE. I BELIEVE THE ADMISSION WAS 10 CENTS ON MATINEES. THEY SHOWED OLDER MOVIES AND WEREN'T OPEN TOO LONG. REGARDS.

1939: THE STACY THEATER

It certainly wasn't a "first run" theater, but they always seemed to book some of the best movies that appealed to the masses. I think I attended the Stacy maybe 2 or 3 times. When I was a boy, the nearby Gaiety and Greenwood were the theaters of our neighborhood, with an occasional walk to the RKO Broad or the Bijou (By the way, when that latter theater was named, it was supposed to have been referred to as the "BEE-ZHOO," but all my contemporaries called it the "BY-JOE;" remember?

rayfromvillapark said... Hi Tom, Love this photo. The two parked cars in the photo are a 1939 Plymouth on the left and a 1940 Chevrolet on the right. The movies played at the Stacy are what I think was referred to as B movies. Anybody agree with terminology? Did the Stacy have a balcony?

I CAN'T HONESTLY RECALL WHETHER THERE WAS A BALCONY OR NOT, RAY. I'M SURE THERE WILL BE A RESPONSE AT SOME POINT.
TOM

1911: FROM THE BROAD STREET THEATER TO THE PALACE THEATER

One of the more popular subjects referred to on this blog is recalling those great theaters we had in Trenton all during the first half of the 20th century. The Mayfair, Orpheum, Stacy, Trent, Lincoln, Garden, Gaiety, Greenwood, Rialto, Victory, Princess, Centre, Strand, and the late, great, RKO Palace Theater which was located on South Broad Street in the Mill Hill section of Trenton. This post contains three separate graphics, illustrating the transition of the "BROAD STREET THEATER" from the first decade of the 20th century up to the "RKO PALACE" theater which will be familiar to most of my generation as being a viable and well-attended theater. It was a custom back in the 30's and 40's for two theaters to feature the same movies. The Gaiety and Centre always had the same movies on the same date. Likewise, the RKO Lincoln and RKO Palace shared the same movies at the same time. The golden age of the Trenton movie theaters is long past. Unlike many towns across America, not one of those old movie houses survive today; most having been demolished.

GREAT MEMORIES FROM RAY PASZKIEWICZ:
RAY: I TYPED THAT LAST NAME HOPING I GOT THE SPELLING CORRECT. DID I?

rayfromvillapark said...

Hi Tom, I want to add a couple of theaters to your list. The State, just east of the Stacy on the opposite side of State St. They played mostly double feature Western movies.
The Park Theater on Anderson and Washington. Correct me on the name, if I am wrong, but the location is correct, across from the Casino Restaurant.
The Orpheum became the Mayfair, and the Gaiety became the Olden in my day.
As young kids me and my friends spent Saturday afternoons at the Bijou. Two features, news, cartoons, a serial (two I remember distinctly; Batman and Robin and The Vigilante). I almost forgot, hang on to your ticket stub, because at intermission, they gave away a set of Depression Glass dinnerware, all for a quarter. While in Junior School (Junior 2) Friday nights were spent at the Olden with our girlfriends. Then it was Tomato Pies at Marucas, just up the street. The Victory and Princess were before my time. I believe the Princess was on Princeton Ave. just up from the Battle Monument. The Victory was on Hudson and Broad. The last movie I saw in downtown Trenton, was the "Hindenburg". at the RKO Lincoln. Can't remember the year.

1940: "Personally my dear, I don't give a damn."

Here is a set of ticket stubs which were in the little envelope below which was probably a set of complimentary tickets to the premier showing of one of the greatest motion picture classics of all time.

1979: TRENTON'S RKO CAPITOL THEATER

Here's a photo that will warm the heart of many of us who remember Trenton's "glory years" when theaters dotted the downtown like today's banks and drug stores. As I looked at this photo I was taken back to the early 1950's when I had my very first date with Judy Britton, my dear wife of 55 years. We went to the RKO Capitol and saw "Show Boat" with Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson. Ahh, such sweet memories! I bet you have memories of your own. Share them with us!

2009: REMEMBERING THE CENTRE THEATER

I took this photo this morning on my way to bring communion to the folks at South Village on Lalor Street and Stokeley Avenue. I have saved the original in 10 megapixel size which results in a HUGE image. The original is so large it reveals minuscule parts of the photo which are not
visible in lower resolution. However, it is far too large to post and I saved its "little brother" which still has beautiful resolution (thank you, Kodak!) I would bet that there is at least one or two visitors to this website who have fond memories of their visits to the Centre theater. The Centre was the twin of the Gaiety. I have never been able to figure out whether they were under the same management or not. However, their ads in the newspapers were always consolidated as one.

THIS RECEIVED FROM FELLOW HAMILTON HIGH "HORNET" DON NUGENT, A NATIVE OF SOUTH TRENTON WHO ATTENDED WESLEY CHURCH AND ALSO RECALLS THE HAPPY TIMES SPENT AT THE CENTRE THEATRE. MANY THANKS, DON!

DON NUGENT WRITES:
I remember many a Saturday matinee at the Centre Theatre. I lived in South Trenton until I was 12 years old. Mom would give me a quarter and admission was 15 cents, a bag of popcorn 10 cents. There would be a double feature, a cartoon, and newsreel. There were also, as I remember, "dish nights" at various times, where they would give away dishes to the ladies who came.

I lived on Third St., went to Mott School, and Wesley Methodist next door for Sunday School. I have many fond memories of those places.

Don Nugent HHS class of '60
GO HORNETS!!!

1941: THOSE SATURDAY MOVIE MATINEES

This week's column in "THE TIMES" was a complete joy to write. The column seemed to write itself! I think I wrote it in a little over an hour. Memories of the concession stand at the Gaiety theater, previews of coming attractions, and all the other unforgettable memories of a trip to the movies for a Tuesday or Saturday matinee came to my aging memory in brilliant technicolor. I'm sure my many visitors can relate to the experience of a matinee. Write and tell us about your memories of the silver screen.
This week's "Those Long Forgotten Saturday Matinees" column can be read by clicking on the link to the right. Enjoy! And while you're there, read THE TIMES; it's a great newspaper and the oldest daily in Trenton.

THANKS FOR THIS FROM RALPH LUCARELLA:

Hi Tom: I was a big fan of Mickey Rooney in those days. They called him Mickey Mcguire and his team of poor kids always beat the rich kids led by Stinky Davis. Also popular were the Cowboys horses, Tom Mix had Tony, Roy Rogers horse was famous, so was Hoot Gibson, Buck Jones and Ken Maynard. I mentioned earlIar that the Gaiety let the kids in free on Sat. mornings during the 30s.
Regards, Ralph

1940: LINCOLN THEATER TRENTON PINOCCHIO AD CAMPAIGN

Fresh from the RKO Radio Pictures (Radio-Keiths-Orpheum) home office, this letter to the manager of Trenton's late, lamented Lincoln theater, regarding the publicity campaign for the Disney motion picture, "Pinocchio." That letterhead is beautiful, isn't it?

1914: LUXURIOUS ST. REGIS THEATER PLANNED FOR TRENTON

Any Trenton theater historians out there? It would be interesting to know what happened to the St. Regis Theater. Perhaps it morphed into the State, Stacy, Orpheum, or the Orpheum turned Mayfair.

1922: TRENTON'S STATE THEATER

The State Theater was one of the many theaters that were once located in downtown Trenton. This 1922 photo of the re-furbished theater is an introduction to a mini chronology of the theater as seen in the post that follows.

1904 - 1909 Trenton's State Street Theater

The 6 articles in the above graphic is an interesting timeline illustrating the progress of the "moving picture" enterprise in the city of Trenton. I have found that there are many local historians and history buffs who are very interested in the many theaters that once dotted the Trenton cityscape. There are numerous theater articles in the Hamilton Library's Local History Collection, and they will be posted as time permits.

1916: STRAND THEATER, TRENTON

This beautiful photo came from a 1916 edition of Fitzgerald's trenton City Directory." Exquisite photo!

I received this note from Sally Gilman this morning. Sally was a native of the Edgewood Avenue area and has bittersweet and nostalgic memories of growing up in the area where the Strand stood proud and tall. Thanks for the interesting look back, Sally.

Sally wrote:

===========================================
Hi Tom: What a great photo of the Strand Theatre. When I was a kid I would walk to the Strand from Carteret Avenue and spend a wonderful Saturday or Sunday afternoon. I would get my little box of Black Crows and sit in the center and watch the movies. Then I would go across Edgewood and get a quart of hand-packed ice cream from The Artic and rush back home. My family, including my grandmother, would have it for dessert that night. I loved that picture and often tell my family how lucky I was to have such a wonderful movie theater within walking distance. It was safe and my parents never gave it a second thought when I took off on my own. What wonderful days. Thanks, Tom, for the memories. Sally Logan Gilman

1911: The Broad Street Theater

Not to be confused with the RKO Broad Theater which was also on South Broad Street, the original Broad Street Theater is illustrated above in a graphic I created especially remembering the late, lamented RKO Palace Theater which replaced the Broad Street Theater. I remember there was a little novelty shop across the street from the Palace when I was a boy. It was filled with all types of inexpensive novelties: magic tricks, cap guns, fake ink blots, fake broken glass, and other "junk store" stuff that we kids loved. The Palace? I was only there once, way back in the late 40's.

1922: TRENTON'S "STATE THEATER"

It wasn't nearly as sumptuous as the Mayfair, Lincoln, Capitol, or Trent, but I attended many
"second run" (as opposed to "first run") movies at the State and the Stacy. It's strange, but many old time Trentonians approach me whenever I write about the theaters which were scattered around Trenton in the 30's and 40's, and recall their attendance at a theater I may have neglected to mention. Does anyone know anything about the "Majestic" theater? I just uncovered an old faded newspaper photo of the place, and without checking my Trenton City Directories, I wondered where it was located.