Lee Theater
Lemoine Avenue,
Fort Lee,
NJ
07024
Lemoine Avenue,
Fort Lee,
NJ
07024
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Grand opening ad:
Lee Theatre opening Tue, Oct 23, 1951 – 35 · The Record (Hackensack, Bergen, New Jersey, United States of America) · Newspapers.com
Mike: Maybe this was the day you saw “The Birds” at the Lee.
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Very young I remember seeing “Hollywood or Bust”, “That
Touch of Mink” and “A Summer Place” A little later I saw “The Birds” and after it was over there were pigeons on Main Street and I was scared to leave the theater. In high school it seems like I went to the Oritani more often. It must have shown a more lowbrow selection.
Mike Steuer
(THS ‘67)——Hi Helaine
I know The Godfather played the Lee for the longest time in 1972, does anyone recall The Godfather playing at the Linwood Theater also.
Listed as part of B.S. Moss Theatres in the 1970 FDY.
Thank you all! The Lee Theater an icon of my Teaneck childhood, my parents' favorite destination, most likely for the comfortable seating. Find us in the balcony, left side facing the screen, about three rows back from the rail. Always bought candy ahead at paper stand a couple of doors down (dad: goobers; mom: raisinettes). This was the “Pal Joey” era. “The Bridge on the River Kwai,” “The Joker is Wild” (all 1957) among the nights out for this lucky 8 year old. Also, Mister Roberts (1955), Ocean’s Eleven (1960), Advise and Consent (1962).
Warren, do you know if Roche & Roche connected to modernist Kevin Roche?
Now I am a historic preservation professional. Even teach it! Could the Lee’s sad story be why?
Helaine Kaplan Prentice
(THS ‘67)
Thanks, TC, for that great picture of the Lee. When I’d go there as a 7-year-old in 1962, it always seemed very futuristic-looking to me. The funny thing is, it still does!
1953 photo:
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Another great classic that played the Lee:
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This is an ad from the Bergen Record in March 1969, when my all-time favorite movie played at the Lee:
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Listed in the 1951 FDY as having 1750 seats.
No. The Grant-Lee, a long time adult theatre which later turned to commercial fare as the Sharon Cinema (before closing in the late 1980s), was located at 815 Abbott Blvd. in the Palisade section of Fort Lee. The theatre building still exists as the home to several local retailers and service providers.
There was a Grant-Lee Theatre which became The North Jersey Playhouse, a legitimate theatre owned by Robert Ludlum, who later found fame as an author. Is this the same building as the Lee?
I also have very fond memories of the Lee, an attractive theatre. I remember seeing “Diamonds are Forever” there. One scene has James Bond being shut in a casket to be incinerated, and the next scene he’s fine. I was always puzzled by this when I realized a few years ago that they must have left out a reel of the movie. Otherwise, a wonderful place to see movies and part of my childhood and teen years.
Not just the theatre, but most of the whole neighborhood was demolished in the 70s for no apparent reason. There are still no definite development plans in place. No theatres are left in Ft. Lee, an early center of film production. Closest ones are in Tenafly, Edgewater and Teaneck. The Linwood Theatre was converted into a CVS about ten years ago.
I remember both the LEE and the LINWOOD. I recall the LEE’s huge flat marquee. Saw IN LIKE FLINT there and probably scores of other films.
The LINWOOD was walking distance from where I lived and used to let me into R rated movies when I was in high school. I remember seeing such 70’s classics as CISCO PIKE, I WALK THE LINE, and I think MIDNIGHT COWBOY there. Didn’t realize it too had been razed, and I don’t remember the colored light show….
I missed the old PLAZA THEATER in Englewood and hate the modern makeover of the facade when it became the JOHN HARMS CENTER. The ticket takers' name was Freida RAGAZZI and she had facial hair.
Does anyone recall the old Linwood Theater in Fort Lee? I did not see that one listed here. The whole building is now a CVS. During the time between films they had this strange image on the screen that looked like colored liquid bubbles, sort of oval shaped going across horizontally. This was years and years before computer screen savers but that’s what it looked like.
I’ve passed what I thought was the original site where the Lee stood many times on the way to Callahan’s (where you can get the best hot dogs in New Jersey). Is it still a vacant lot, still empty after more than 30 years? Hard to believe, as if the theater was torn down for no reason at all.
Thanks, Damien, for posting the link to that picture of the Lee. I saw “Pinocchio”, “Spartacus” and “The Dirty Dozen” there, to name a few. I always loved that theater. Now if only I could make out the name of the movie on the marquee in the picture. I will keep trying …
An image of the theater can be found at this site:
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The Lee Theater closed and was razed in 1973, after a successful engagement of “The Godfather” just a year earlier. The theater was located on Lemoine Avenue, between Main Street and “S. Marginal Road” (since renamed). It was one of three theaters to have operated in Fort Lee and the first to close.