Towne Cinema

619 Atlantic Avenue,
Atlantic City, NJ 08401

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Frank Theatres

Previous Names: Libery Theatre, Astor Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Towne Cinema

Located far uptown on Atlantic Avenue. Opened prior to 1914 as the Liberty Theatre. From May 16, 1931 it was known as the Astor Theatre opening with Jack Holt in “The Last Parade” & Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in “Another Fine Mess”. It was operated by Sam Shapiro until it closed in 1968. It reopened as the Towne Cinema on March 26, 1969 which closed on September 7, 1970. It reopened on July 30, 1971, but was closed on November 9, 1971 with Frank Morgan in “A Stranger in Town” & Tony Anthony in “The Stranger Returns”. It was destroyed by fire on July 29, 1975.

Contributed by RickB

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

Crazy Bob Madara
Crazy Bob Madara on September 7, 2006 at 3:03 pm

It was on Atlantic Ave, Between New Jersey & Delaware Aveenues. I believe that Al & Barbera Frank acquied it in the late sixties. They changed the name from Astor to Towne Cinema. They were following the same trend that the Charles did. It was their entry into the Atlantic City Market. When in Oct. 1969, they opened the brand new Towne Twin located next to the Atlantic Drive-in, near Pleasantville, The Towne Cinema lost it’s luster in a hurry. In 1971 “The Franks” leased the Towne Cinema to Luis Hernandez. He ran as a discount 3rd run house showing old James Bond 007 films. I was helping him learn to run the equipment. The Union looked the other way. The Booth equipment was Simplex E-7’s, Peerless Magnars’s & Motor Generator. The E-7’s were moved to the Margate when it became a twin in 1973. The Towne Cinema was closed by then.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 22, 2011 at 3:15 pm

I guess I didn’t go uptown much in those days. I don’t recall this place.

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on March 15, 2015 at 4:32 pm

In 1914 the Liberty Theatre is listed at 617 Atlantic Ave. Possibly a previous name for this theatre.

Robert21
Robert21 on March 25, 2015 at 7:28 pm

This theatre was located on the north side of Atlantic Avenue between Connecticut and NJ Avenues. It was torn down around 1977; a 7-11 was built on the site. That’s the 7-11 building next to AC Home Furnishing store in the above picture; I’m not sure when 7-11 closed.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 8, 2023 at 3:39 am

Reopened as Towne on June 30th, 1971, and its listings ended in late 1971. Ad posted.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 8, 2023 at 5:33 am

Closed as Astor in 1968

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on March 9, 2023 at 1:51 pm

The theater had beautiful murals on the ceiling. The fireman comment the day after the fire that it was horrible watching the beautiful ceiling collapse

rivest266
rivest266 on March 12, 2023 at 7:55 am

The Liberty theatre opened on July 5th, 1913. Grand opening ad posted.

RickB
RickB on April 30, 2023 at 10:53 am

First reopening as the Towne Cinema was March 26, 1969 with “The Fixer;” listings stop on September 7, 1970 with “Watermelon Man” and “The Liberation of L.B. Jones.” After the June 1971 reopening, the final listing in the Press was November 9, 1971, with “A Stranger in Town” and “The Stranger Returns.” Date of the fire was July 29, 1975.

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