Strand Theatre
202 N. Hermitage Avenue,
Trenton,
NJ
08618
202 N. Hermitage Avenue,
Trenton,
NJ
08618
2 people
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Associated Theaters of Trenton
Functions: Library
Nearby Theaters
The Strand Theatre was a small neighborhood movie theatre, located in the West End district of Trenton which opened on February 7, 1916 with Ethel Barrymore in “The Final Judgment”. Seating was on one floor with no balcony.
It closed on January 6, 1963 with Maurice Chevalier in “Jessica” & Clint Eastwood in “Escape from Alcatraz”. After laying empty for a few years was taken over by the Trenton Free Library and used as a branch of the library. A report in 1979 stated that the lobby floor was still visible, reminding library users of the building’s previous use.
Contributed by
KenRoe
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Recent comments (view all 34 comments)
Old program ca 1915
cover
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inside:
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MikeH —
Thank you for the information about Trenton theaters. I’ve been to most them, and the Strand was my neighborhood theater. (We actually have a connection — I lived on General Greene Avenue, and your sister-in-law Frances was my best friend in elementary school.)
Future of this building is uncertain as the city of Trenton has proposed closing all four of its branch libraries for budgetary reasons.
Built by the James H. Morris Company. Morris, a local Mason, also built city hall, the Masonic Temple and Hamilton High School.
http://www.mercer50.com/Mercer%20History.pdf
Here is the library site:
http://tinyurl.com/y8t2nvg
I’m not from Trenton, but Charles Hildinger was my husband’s great-uncle and I have done a lot of research on him. The Strand was originally built about 1916 by the Strand Theatre Company owned by C Hildinger (50 shares) and the Philip & Marie Papier (50 shares). In June, 1915 they filed papers as incorporators" to build the Strand. In 1925 there was a major renovation costing $100,000. “One of the outstanding features…the pipe organ. An instrument costing $7,500 has been installed. It is of such mammoth size that it was necessary to extend the rear of the building in order to accommodate the organ.” (all info from news articles)
Additionally, as to David Johnston, he was Charles Hildinger’s brother-in-law (and my husband’s great-grandfather)and he actually lived on Edgewood Avenue & worked at several of the theater’s as a manager including the Strand for a time. He also rented out rooms in his home to organists and other theater workers.
Although the threat to close Trenton’s branch libraries (including this one) eventually came true, after a few months they were reopened as “learning centers” with no circulation of books and reduced hours.
The Strand launched with “The Final Judgment” on February 7, 1916.
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.