Comments from dallasmovietheaters

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dallasmovietheaters commented about RKO Reade's Trent Theatre on May 19, 2025 at 4:45 am

The theater closed for renovations in 1929 reopening with sound and “Rio Rita” on November 9, 1929. It closed again for renovations following “They Drive By Night” on Sep. 1, 1940. It re-emerged Feb. 22, 1941 with a shocking streamline moderne look with “Andy Hardy’s Private Secretary.”

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dallasmovietheaters commented about RKO Broad Theatre on May 19, 2025 at 12:37 am

The new-build Broad Street Theatre opened with a live stage play on Oct. 16, 1911. The theatre was designed as a Colonial venue with an impossible to fill 2,300 seats. It belly flopped big time.

In 1919, it got a major refresh including a $25,000 pipe organ as it converted to vaudeville and movies as the South Broad Street Theatre. It launched October 1, 1920 for George B. Ten Eyck with Dorothy Phillips in “Once to Every Woman.” B.F. Keith took it on as B.F. Keith’s South Broad Theatre. It was briefly relabeled in the sound era as Keith’s Broad Street Theatre on March 30, 1929 when it transitioned to sound films.

It soon became the RKO Broad Theatre (catching up with the Keith-Albee-Orpheum transition to Radio-Keith-Orpheum - RKO - moniker that was created late in 1928). The RKO Broad became the lower tier venue in the 1950s neither converted to widescreen projection nor having a functioning air conditioning system. It was closed for the Summer of 1959. It closed again for the season on May 17, 1960 with “Heller in Tights” and “The Rebel Breed.“ The second of two, 20-year leasing periods ended during the summer with RKO moving on. It was made into a gym / youth center created by the Catholic Youth Organization in 1962 likely to greatly reduce the property’s taxing responsibility.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Garden Theatre on May 18, 2025 at 7:21 pm

The Garden Theatre opened on June 13, 1913 with sound accompanied films. It played films on a continuous, grind policy from 10 a.m. to midnight. Charles Hildinger and Milton Hirshfild - operators of city’s second Bijou Theatre, the Rialto, the Berkley, the Victory, the Royal, the Majestic, the Jefferson, and the Strand - all in Trenton. The theatre was not wired for sound and is used rarely for live events.

New operators took on the venue on November 21, 1930 under the name of The Little Cinema with “The Unholy Tree.” The theater immediately switched to German language films. Diversifying under the name of The Little Cinema Theatre in 1931, it programmed Italian, Yiddish, German and Hungarian language films. The Danceland dance hall opened above the theater. The name was shortened to the Little Theatre closing in 1936.

On November 18, 1937, the “New” Garden Theatre opens under Mercer Entertainment Circuit with the exploitation film, “Human Wreckage.” It plays other exploitations titles including, “Lash of the Penitentes” and “Smashing the Vice Trust.” The theater became an African American venue into 1960 with an end date hard to pinpoint. It then became Teatro Puerto Rico showing Spanish language films. In the 21st Century, it was a live music hall with the theater intact in the 2020s with the Beach nameplate restore and replaced when it became a nightclub.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Olden Theatre on May 18, 2025 at 6:51 pm

George B. Ten Eyck’s Gaiety Theatre contracted with architect W.W. Slack & Son for a new vaudeville and moviehouse to join his Broad and Orpheum houses. Ten Eyck’s Gaiety was built by contract William Ehret after a groundbreaking on May 23, 1925. Ten Eyck’s Gaiety launched with 1,200 seats - wisely dialed down from the 2,000 seats in the original drawing - on November 9, 1925 with “The Unholy Tree.”

Reachable by both the Hamilton Avenue and the Esate State Street trolley lines, the Gaiety represented an early attempt at “stadium seating” in a movie house. People were impressed by the 50 foot blade signage containing 2,800 bulbs. The theater opened to capacity its first day with the house on a grind policy from late morning to day’s end.

The theatre transitioned to sound to remain viable. In January of 1950, it got a new marquis and name becoming the Olden Theater.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Stacy Theatre on May 18, 2025 at 2:05 pm

The St. Regis closed on June 16, 1923 with a double feature. It then cost $30,000 to refresh it as the Stacy Theatre reopening on October 6, 1923 with Hope Hampton in “The Gold Diggers.“ The Stacy converted to sound to remain viable. It then suffered a major fire on January 15, 1952. The Stacy underwent demolition on May 14, 1957.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Strand Theatre on May 18, 2025 at 1:32 pm

The Strand launched with “The Final Judgment” on February 7, 1916. It appears to have closed with “Jessica” and “Escape from Alcatraz"on January 6, 1963.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Strand Theatre on May 18, 2025 at 1:28 pm

The Strand launched with “The Final Judgment” on February 7, 1916.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Majestic Theatre on May 18, 2025 at 1:23 pm

Opened April 29, 1912. April 16, 1919 after Ethel Barrymore in “Our Mrs. McChensey,” the Majestic closed becoming a garage.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about City Square Theatre on May 18, 2025 at 12:49 pm

The City Square Theatre opened as an open-air venue and was demolished after the 1914 season to make way for the new-build hardtop venue, the City Square Theatre. It launched on August 28, 1915 with “The Unbroken Road.” Pearson H. Hume was at the helm. Charles Hildinger, operator of city’s second Bijou Theatre, the Rialto, the Berkley, the Victory, the Royal, the Majestic, the Jefferson, the Garden, and the Strand - all in Trenton. It was offered for sale and doesn’t appear to have been converted for sound following its closure and sale ad in June of 1932.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about City Square Theatre on May 18, 2025 at 12:47 pm

The City Square Theatre opened as an open-air venue and was demolished after the 1914 season to make way for the new-build hardtop venue, the City Square Theatre. It launched on August 28, 1915 with “The Unbroken Road.” Pearson H. Hume was at the helm. Charles Hildinger, operator of city’s second Bijou Theatre, the Rialto, the Berkley, the Victory, the Royal, the Majestic, the Jefferson, the Garden, and the Strand - all in Trenton.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Centre Theatre on May 18, 2025 at 11:38 am

The Centre Street Theatre opened October 24, 1913 as a southside neighborhood house showing third tier films for a nickel. It closed in 1929 unable to make the transition to sound. W.C. Hunt Theatre Circuit took on the venue as Hunt’s New Centre Theatre relaunching on July 10, 1931 with the independent Chesterfield Pictures film, “Lawless Woman.”

The theatre’s interior is gutted by a 1945 fire. It reopens twice as an African American theatre becore being repositioned as a church in 1959 likely to reduce its taxing liability. It is later converted for retail purposes.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Rialto Theater on May 18, 2025 at 5:38 am

The Park opened on June 9, 1911 by John W. Westell as an open air venue operating for two seasons. Charles Hildinger took on the Five Points venue building a permanent structure to the plans of William B. Thines. Hildinger Theatre Enterprises Circuit also operated the city’s second Bijou Theatre, the Berkley, the Victory, the Royal, the Majestic, the Jefferson, and the Strand - all in Trenton. The “new” Park Theatre opened on October 1, 1912 with “The Inter-State Fair.” This was Trenton’s first new-build neighborhood venue specifically designed for motion pictures and Hildinger would claim it as the entire City’s first new-build venue designed for the art of exhibiting movies.

The Park was totally refreshed including the installation of a Kimball Orchestral Pipe Organ in 1917. Hildinger changed names on December 24, 1917 from the Park to the Rialto with “Heir to the Ages” and “Gloria’s Romance.” The venue converted to sound to remain viable. In 1955, it upgraded to widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles. The theatre closed in 1960 and became home to the Trenton Evangelistic Center in 1961 likely to substantially reduce the building’s tax liability.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Bijou Theater on May 18, 2025 at 5:04 am

Charles Hildinger Theatre Enterprises Circuit built the city’s second Bijou Theatre. Joesph McClurg officially opened the venue here on April 18, 1909 with the Selig Polyscope film, “Brother Against Brother.” Hildinger would also operate the Berkley, the Rialto, the Victory, and the Strand in Trenton.

The venue added sound to remain viable. The last ad for the Bijou appeared on January 13, 1952 showing “Lost Continent” and “Highly Dangerous. There’s a chance it continued in operation but the listed as vacant property was taken over by the City of Trenton in March of 1959.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Bijou Theater on May 18, 2025 at 4:58 am

Charles Hildinger Theatre Enterprises Circuit built the city’s second Bijou Theatre. Joesph McClurg officially opened the venue here on April 18, 1909 with the Selig Polyscope film, “Brother Against Brother.” Hildinger would also operate the Berkley, the Rialto, the Victory, and the Strand in Trenton.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Berkley Theater on May 18, 2025 at 4:46 am

The Paul Avenue Theatre launched at 72 East Paul Ave. New operators took it on renaming it the Berkley Theatre on June 7, 1916. The Hildinger Theatre Enterprises Circuit too it on December 29, 1916. Hildinger would also operate the Bijou, the Rialto, Victory, and the Strand in Trenton.

Hildinger, the third and final operator here, dropped the venue within short order. The location was converted to a stationery store followed by the K-City Laundry. The lot was offered in a tax auction for $250 by the City of Trenton. The diminutive Rossi Park marks the former silent theater venue. Status: demolished.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Wilbur Palace Theatre on May 18, 2025 at 4:24 am

This was undoubtedly an African American theatre formally known as the Wilbur Palace to distinguish it from Trenton’s Palace Theatre. It should likely be an “also known as” the Palace Theatre - likely its more known name to the neighborhood. And its desultory nickname is provided above.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Victory Theatre on May 18, 2025 at 3:59 am

The Crescent Theatre opened in November of 1914 at 802 S. Chestnut. The theatre was sold by Crescent Theatre Corp. to Hildinger Theatre Enterprises Circuit reopening with the more patriotic Victory Theatre moniker opening on May 30, 1919. Hildinger also operated the Bijou, the Rialto, and the Strand in Trenton. The Victory would add a Hope Jones Pipe Organ for an improved experience. The neighboring Doggie Stand and Confectionery was the venue’s de facto concession stand. A long-running pool hall was located in its basement from 1914 to 1930.

The Hope Jones organ was sold in 1931 as the venue switched to sound films to remain viable. The venue specialized in Polish and Yiddish films as well as exploitation films during various points in the 1930s struggling to remain viable. The Victory declared defeat following a vaudeville show on June 29, 1941. The property owners appear to have abandoned the building during a taxation squabble and is described as vacant in 1943 when a minor fire occurs.

Looking at daily listings, this venue was definitely at 802 S. Broad and was never the Majestic Theatre.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Fenway Theater on May 17, 2025 at 12:28 pm

Like many small town theaters, the Fenway was reduced to weekend operation only. The venue closed with “The War Wagon” on March 3, 1968 likely at the end of a second 20-year leasing period. Plans to reopen it in the Fall of 1968 do not appear to have materialized and the venue’s 280 seats were sold off in 1970/1.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about National Theatre on May 15, 2025 at 2:11 pm

The National initially closed in 1930. Warner Brothers rewired the venue for Vitaphone sound playing German language films beginning on December 3, 1931. That turned out to be a dud closing after six weeks on January 19, 1932 playing the German film, “Die Lindenwirtin vom Rhein.” That is its final screening.

The last showing at the National Theatre was scheduled as a four-wall for April 1, 1933 of “Mad Moments of Youth.” That was halted by the local police. So the venue’s last call was in 1932. The venue was listed as “abandoned” before being used for storage.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Majestic Theatre on May 15, 2025 at 1:58 pm

The Majestic Theatre closed on May 13, 1935 as a third-tier, sub-run house. It was allowed to sit empty for 10 years by the Fred Klein Estate and Jersey City Amusements. They sold the theatre outright. The venue then ends up on a delinquent tax roster. There’s no indication that it ever had a show past 1935.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Danforth Theater on May 15, 2025 at 1:47 pm

Appears to have closed in late 1933.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Palace Theatre on May 15, 2025 at 1:35 pm

It closed on May 19, 1968 with “Hour of the Wolf.”

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dallasmovietheaters commented about UA State Theatre 4 on May 15, 2025 at 1:16 pm

The UA State Theatre 4 closed on December 2, 1990 with “Rocky V,” “Predator 2,” “Misery” and “Rescuers: Down Under” splitting a screen with “Child’s Play 2.”

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Rialto Theatre on May 15, 2025 at 11:07 am

The last advertised showtimes were on July 6, 1952 with “Joe” and “Kangaroo.”

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Roosevelt Drive-In on May 15, 2025 at 10:45 am

Drive-Ins were often built by land speculators who wanted to lease land for low-risk ventures that could be demolished at any time, especially when the land value increased. The drive-in that led to the highest dollar project ever in the history of drive-in theater replacements is found right here on the waterfront of the Hackensack River: the Roosevelt Drive-In.

The exceedingly large - space for 2,000 cars - Roosevelt Drive-In Theatre came in on July 13, 1955 by Richard A. Smith’s Smith’s Management (later General Drive-In and, yet later, General Cinema Corp.) with “Strategic Air Command” & “Shotgun” playing in CinemaScope. In 1972, the Drive-In business had changed and it was raided in the porno chic era for showing “School Girls Growing Up” for alleged obscenity. The site was extensively photographed by the district attorney’s office at that point because underage folks were seen outside of the venue getting free looks - a concern for locals. It wasn’t the last time the drive-in would be heavily photographed.

The Roosevelt returned to R and PG exploitation double-feature fare going out of business following a shark-infested double-feature with “Tintorera” and “Shark’s Treasure” on August 27, 1978. The City bought the land to develop the property with a reboot as early as the start of the 1980s. A funny thing happened, however, when toxic waste housed in barrels was dumped on the site leading to a slight delay in the project - four decades - and a massive clean-up bill to remove the toxic hazard that was New Jersey’s Roosevelt Drive-In site.

The barrels turned out to be only a tiny fraction of the problem as toxic “hexavalent chromium” (in response to the question above) had seeped into the waterway turning it green. Two photographers captured the toxic green ooze that was the Hackensack River with the abandoned Roosevelt Drive-In prevalent in many of those shots (see photos). The dystopian art display made the art circuit rounds. Meanwhile, the question became, “Who would pay for this mess?” By the time the clean-up was ostensibly completed - to the best of anyone’s knowledge - the project had surpassed $500 million. That’s before any project could even be built on the property.

So the answer to the question, “What’s the highest dollar project ever at a former drive-in theatre?” It is clearly the Roosevelt Drive-In Theatre in Jersey City, New Jersey.