Victory Theatre
802 S. Broad Street,
Trenton,
NJ
08611
802 S. Broad Street,
Trenton,
NJ
08611
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The Crescent Theatre opened in November of 1914 at 802 S. Chestnut. The theatre was sold by Crescent Theatre Corp. to Hildinger Theatre Enterprises Circuit reopening with the more patriotic Victory Theatre moniker opening on May 30, 1919. Hildinger also operated the Bijou, the Rialto, and the Strand in Trenton. The Victory would add a Hope Jones Pipe Organ for an improved experience. The neighboring Doggie Stand and Confectionery was the venue’s de facto concession stand. A long-running pool hall was located in its basement from 1914 to 1930.
The Hope Jones organ was sold in 1931 as the venue switched to sound films to remain viable. The venue specialized in Polish and Yiddish films as well as exploitation films during various points in the 1930s struggling to remain viable. The Victory declared defeat following a vaudeville show on June 29, 1941. The property owners appear to have abandoned the building during a taxation squabble and is described as vacant in 1943 when a minor fire occurs.
Looking at daily listings, this venue was definitely at 802 S. Broad and was never the Majestic Theatre.
The building at 818 S Broad St is listed as the Majestic Theatre in the 1920 city directory.
The Victory was another Hildinger Theater. From the Trenton Times, June 2, 1919, “The Victory Theatre, formerly the Crsecent, at South Broad and Hudson Streets, which was formerly opened Memorial Day, will begin its first full week this afternoon…..
Walt Hoffman, who was the businees agent for local 359 at the time, told me that there was once a small theatre on south Broad street, what at the time was known as “Kudra Furs”. I believe that it was a few blocks south of the CYO. I past it everyday in the early seventies. It was a dark red building.
“Crescent” is also listed, without an address, in the 1923 Trenton City Directory. By 1925, the Victory Theatre is listed at 736 S. Broad. However, in the 1936 edition, it is listed at 800 S. Broad.
In the 1917 Trenton City Directory, page 126 under “Moving Pictures”, a theater named Crescent Theatre is listed at S. Broad & Hudson. Is this a previous name for the Victory?
Listed in the 1944 Film Daily Yearbook with 501 seats. It is not listed in the 1951 or 1956 FDYs which leads me to believe that this theater shut down some time in the 1940s.
This theater was popular in the 1930s with the local Italian immigrants. It was located at the corner of Hudson Street.
Vibrant Life: 1886-1942 Trenton’s Italian Americans (1986) by Erasmo S. Ciccolella, p. 132