I was born and grew up in passaic {corner of myrtle ave and madison street} in the 1960’s and early 70’s. I recall going to the montalk theater as a small child before it turned bad. Was a beautiful theater with an elabotate lobby. I also recall elaborate couches and vanities in the ladies room. Brennnan’s Ice cream parlor was next door and even had its own entrance into the lobby of the montalk. if I recall correctly there was also an entrance across the lobby to the bus station whos front faced henry street, which sold tickets for the nyc line. the lincoln hotel occupied the whole corner of henry and main with its restaurant being on the ground floor, most likely until it closed sometime in the early 50’s. I do know the nj dept of welfare’s office occupied the old restaurant space facing main street in the 1960’s. I also went to the movies often at the central. remember seeing some good sci fi stuff in the early 70’s there. the central was an awesome theater, I remember the facade of the theater gray black and white. the golden coach diner was next door also lost to the wrecking ball. Not many know that the famous beat poet Allan ginsburg was a frequent customer at the diner along with friend passaic born artist and writer Robert smithson whos tag was “ passaic boys are hell” . He wrote “ the monuments of passaic” as well as taking some awesome black and white photos of the passaic area in the 1960’s. I left the passaic area in the mid 1970’s but go back often to take pictures. I wont allow the rough element to intimidate me and keep me from a place that I once called home. Shame whats happend to passaic, good thing for fond memories of what once was.
hello.
I was born and grew up in passaic {corner of myrtle ave and madison street} in the 1960’s and early 70’s. I recall going to the montalk theater as a small child before it turned bad. Was a beautiful theater with an elabotate lobby. I also recall elaborate couches and vanities in the ladies room. Brennnan’s Ice cream parlor was next door and even had its own entrance into the lobby of the montalk. if I recall correctly there was also an entrance across the lobby to the bus station whos front faced henry street, which sold tickets for the nyc line. the lincoln hotel occupied the whole corner of henry and main with its restaurant being on the ground floor, most likely until it closed sometime in the early 50’s. I do know the nj dept of welfare’s office occupied the old restaurant space facing main street in the 1960’s. I also went to the movies often at the central. remember seeing some good sci fi stuff in the early 70’s there. the central was an awesome theater, I remember the facade of the theater gray black and white. the golden coach diner was next door also lost to the wrecking ball. Not many know that the famous beat poet Allan ginsburg was a frequent customer at the diner along with friend passaic born artist and writer Robert smithson whos tag was “ passaic boys are hell” . He wrote “ the monuments of passaic” as well as taking some awesome black and white photos of the passaic area in the 1960’s. I left the passaic area in the mid 1970’s but go back often to take pictures. I wont allow the rough element to intimidate me and keep me from a place that I once called home. Shame whats happend to passaic, good thing for fond memories of what once was.