Ritz Theatre
100 Passaic Street,
Garfield,
NJ
07026
100 Passaic Street,
Garfield,
NJ
07026
2 people
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Liggett-Florin Booking Service
Functions: Workshop
Previous Names: Garfield Auditorium
Nearby Theaters
Opened by 1929 as the Garfield Auditorium. Listed as the Ritz Theatre and open by June 1931. It was closed and given a refresh around 1951, reopening on November 5, 1953 with William Holden in “Stalag 17” & Johnny Sheffield in “Safari Drums”.
In recent years the building was used as a printers and they had moved out by 2012 and the building was ‘For Sale’. By 2016 it was occupied by a company named Acolyte Systems, manufacturing LED lighting fixtures.
Contributed by
tc
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
Old movie program from 12/31/1949:
Cover:
View link
Inside:
View link
The Ritz theatre held a contest when they opened to get married on the stage of the theatre and all of the local businesses donated rings, the dress,home furnishings, etc. My grandfather and all of his friends entered their names as a joke, and my grandfather won! He was seeing my grandmother on the sly back then, her parents were right off the boat from italy and didn’t want her dating, but he asked her if she wanted to get married anyway and she said yes! They got msrried on the stage on June 2, 1931. I know it was in the local papers back then and I would love to see any information if anyone has any, on the contest or the wedding
I am a born and raised Garfield boy of Italian descent. I used to know a Larry Luterzo … any relation? I’d love to see a photo of the Ritz when it was open … If you’d like, my email is ; Id love to hear from you.
Here is a 1947 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/kkyy9n
This theatre was at one time apparently called the Garfield Auditorium as that is what is engraved on the peak in the front as you can see in the street view.
This item datelined Garfield, New Jersey, appeared in the November 4, 1953 issue of Exhibitor: “The Ritz, a closed house that has been refurbished and redecorated, will have a gala opening on Nov. 5 with local city, church, and veteran groups cooperating. The opening attraction will be ‘Stalag 17’ and ‘Safari Drums.’ Deon De Titta, former chief projectionist, 20th-Fox home office, will manage the 800-seat house for Marjoel, Inc., of which L. Nocerino is president. Liggett-Florm will buy and book. The Holy Name Cadet and Bugle Corps, Garfield Post, American Legion, five times national champions, is scheduled to help out with the festivities.”
I wonder if the photo we have depicts that event?
CinemaTour gives the aka’s Garden Theatre and Garfield Auditorium for this house. I haven’t found any references to Garden Theatre, but Garfield Auditorium was the site of boxing matches in 1929. Garfield has nothing listed in the FDYs for 1926 or 1928, and I don’t think this house was a movie theater at that time. The façade of the building is clearly quite old, perhaps even 19th century, and it’s a bit frustrating being unable to find any references to the place earlier than 1929.