Majestic Theatre
273 Madison Avenue,
Perth Amboy,
NJ
08861
273 Madison Avenue,
Perth Amboy,
NJ
08861
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Partially visible in a photo on page 46 of the Arcadia Publishing book “Perth Amboy”.
Alas, Erwin, I cannot help you with the Amboy Avenue locations. It’s been 59 years since I lived in Perth Amboy and I can’t even remember exactly where was Route 1. (Actually, at the end we lived in Metuchen). I do remember the Majestic well, though. By lavish appointments, I mean the chinoiserie in the internal architecture: elaborate columns, reminiscent of St. Peter’s in Rome, the lush ceilings and wall decorations. Everything was geared toward imparting a palatial feeling — as though one were entering an exotic temple. The other movie houses in town — the Crescent or the Roky (was there also another?) — were much more ordinary. Still, it was in the Crescent that I saw the most memorable movie of my adolescence: “Dawn Patrol,” starring Errol Flynn. It was the first film I ever saw in which the hero died. This was stunning. I figured I must have missed something, so I stayed in my seat and watched the movie again. Errol died again. I walked out of that movie five years older than when I walked in.
Ernie…Can you elaborate any further on the “lavish appointments” of the Majestic?
Also you appear to be familiar with the Perth Amboy area and you might be able to answer a question. A number of years ago when I was driving along Amboy Avenue toward Perth Amboy from Route 1,I passed a closed movie theater on the right side called the Royal. Further on, there was another closed theater on the the right side but situated on a side street. It was obviously a rather large ex-vauldeville house, as it had the usual stage housing in the rear.
Do you recall any information on either of these theaters?
Do
Disappointing news, Erwin. She’s gone, I guess. I had hoped the new tenants would have reveled in the lavish appointments which I recall. Ah, well. It’s the American way.
Ernie Nagy
Was in the Perth Amboy area several weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon and located the former Majestic. Fortunately, it was open for an afternoon church service and I gained access. Unfortunately, the Majestic bears very little resemblance to what it must have looked like in its heyday of vaudeville and movies as described by my mother who was a frequesnt patron in the 1930’s. All ornamentation has been removed both on the interior and the exterior. All surfaces have been modernized. However, one can still identify the general design of a theater on the exterior and the lobby, balcony, boxes and the proscenium arch on the interior. For a picture of the Majestic of yore, go to the following website and type in the word Majestic in the search box. View link
The Majestic was not as lucky as the Stanley in Jersey City or any number of other theaters, which were restored to their original splendor when taken over by a church organization.
Since I worshipped the movie classics at the Majestic in the late 30s and the 40s, I’m happy to know that it is still a house of worship.
Does anyone know whether it is an independent church or part of a larger denomination?
Ernie Nagy
“In April 1992, Cathedral International moved into its present location, the beautifully renovated, 1,500-seat Majestic Theater on Madison Avenue. Once a location for vaudeville entertainers, and in later years, an adult movie house, the ragged relics of the Majestic Theater is now a spectacular house of worship known as Cathedral International.”
http://www.thecathedral.org/
On July 2, 1921, 250 gathered at this theater to listen to the live radio broadcast of the Dempsey-Carpentier heavyweight bout. This was the largest live radio broadcast audience to date and inspired many people to purchase radios for home use, rather than having to go to a public hall for listening.
I can quote two different seating capacities for the Majestic Theater from the Film Daily Yearbook 1941; 2,100 seats, 1950 edition; 1,840
I remember the Majestic as a truly majestic movie house. I can only imagine that, if it has been properly maintained, it serves as a superb venue for a church. After all, the Majestic (which I recall to be a ‘Walter Reade’ theater), was a temple of cinema as were so many magnificent movie houses throughout the country. Alas, most of them, like the wonderful Paramount in Times Square, have fallen victim to the American mania for tearing stuff down.
Incidentally, when I frequented the Majestic, during the war years of the ‘40s, smoking was restricted to the balcony.
Ernie Nagy
it became a porno theatre in the ‘70s,dont know when it closed.
Does anyone have any information about this theater?