Bergen Performing Arts Center
30 N. Van Brunt Street,
Englewood,
NJ
07631
30 N. Van Brunt Street,
Englewood,
NJ
07631
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Grand opening ad:
Plaza theatre in Englewood opening Mon, Nov 22, 1926 – 15 · The Record (Hackensack, Bergen, New Jersey, United States of America) · Newspapers.com
Not to forget an often (and often willfully) overlooked period in the Plaza’s history: as a youngster the Plaza was THE place to go for essential trash cinema of the day. I can recall with fondness seeing Larry Cohen’s IT’S ALIVE there when it was playing its initial run in the early 1970’s, dragging my grandmother with me there to see GODZILLA VS. MEGALON (she hated it, no taste), the American – International releases of many of the Hammer horror films played there, and I am still in proud possession of the vomit – bag that was given out with admission to the Hallmark release of the infamous MARK OF THE DEVIL to which my pals and I were gladly admitted despite being waaaaaaaay underage for such mayhem. The Plaza was like a direct outlet from the pages of Famous Monsters of Filmland to the screen in those days, along with being MUCH safer than having to go to 42nd st in NYC. Heck, it was walking distance!
Many years later I took in a wonderful Lyle Lovett show there when I believe it was still the John Harms Center for the Arts, and it truly boggled my mind to walk through that lobby once again. I haven’t been back to Englewood since.
Listed as part of Skouras Theatres Corp. in the 1961 Film Daily Yearbook.
Listed as a UA Theater in the 1970 Film Daily Yearbook.
In the late 70’s there used to be a small theatre in the loft upstairs from the main concert hall. We saw some terrific stage plays there. I remember specifically seeing The Threepenny Opera there and was amazed at the quality of the production. Does anyone remember this ? And what happened to that Company ? Thanks for this site .
Nice to see this on here. My wife and I went to see comedienne Rita Rudner here in the late 90’s. Though the renovations were still being done, the place looked fantastic. We read about the Center’s financial problems and hoped that something could be done to keep this splendid place open and free of the wrecking ball. Glad to see it’s still up and running.