Although renovations seem to have slowed down, I have faith that the Brook Theatre on Hamilton St in Bound Brook will one day rise again.
Gerry Appel has worked very hard to give this theatre new life.
The theatre’s capacity is now reduced to under 400, apparently because Gerry plans to focus heavily on workshops, and instructional programs, as opposed to blown-out performances.
SOME HISTORY:
During Prohibition the Brook was run by a gentleman named Meyer Cohen. Cohen also ran the Palace Theatre on Maiden Lane in Bound Brook in the 20’s,as well as a cozy little speakeasy located on the third floor of the Voorhees Building on Main St in Bound Brook.
My first living memory of the Brook was in the early 80’s when owner/operator Phil Petracca aka Phil Neri did large-scale music performances at the Brook, capacity 850, with some big names: Tony Bennett, Chuck Mangione,as well as countless large Heavy Rock acts. Neri then leased the space to Bob Roberts, operator of several other theatre-houses in NJ, who did mainstream movies, art flicks, and Rocky Horror. This would definitely be considered the “dark years” of the Brook, being that Roberts did no maintenance and let the space rot.
Hurricane Floyd came in Sept 99 and wiped Roberts out. Gerry Appel then took the initiative to form a non-profit and buy the theatre from Neri. Shortly after Gerry received the $2.5+Million grant and renovations began, and are ongoing.
The adjoining building, once known as the Morecraft Building, is now named the Petracca Building.
The Palmyra Tea Room that was a few storefronts down from the Brook Theatre is now the Hamilton St Cafe & Stage (capacity 287)(http://www.HamiltonSt.com), which currently runs all types of all-ages performances, and is available for private rental.
Hi This is Marc Calamaras and I renovated and operated the Palace Theatre as “The New Palace Performing Arts Center” from 1997-2000. In Sept 99, Hurricane Floyd put a hurting on the operation and I ended up selling my lease to a Latin production company who I think turned it into a church. I miss the space very much! I actually had my wedding in the Palace on New Years Eve 1999 and I will never forget it! I am always looking to operate another great old theatre.
If any one comes across any prospects, email me at
Great Post Card TC! Thanks for sharing!
Although renovations seem to have slowed down, I have faith that the Brook Theatre on Hamilton St in Bound Brook will one day rise again.
Gerry Appel has worked very hard to give this theatre new life.
The theatre’s capacity is now reduced to under 400, apparently because Gerry plans to focus heavily on workshops, and instructional programs, as opposed to blown-out performances.
SOME HISTORY:
During Prohibition the Brook was run by a gentleman named Meyer Cohen. Cohen also ran the Palace Theatre on Maiden Lane in Bound Brook in the 20’s,as well as a cozy little speakeasy located on the third floor of the Voorhees Building on Main St in Bound Brook.
My first living memory of the Brook was in the early 80’s when owner/operator Phil Petracca aka Phil Neri did large-scale music performances at the Brook, capacity 850, with some big names: Tony Bennett, Chuck Mangione,as well as countless large Heavy Rock acts. Neri then leased the space to Bob Roberts, operator of several other theatre-houses in NJ, who did mainstream movies, art flicks, and Rocky Horror. This would definitely be considered the “dark years” of the Brook, being that Roberts did no maintenance and let the space rot.
Hurricane Floyd came in Sept 99 and wiped Roberts out. Gerry Appel then took the initiative to form a non-profit and buy the theatre from Neri. Shortly after Gerry received the $2.5+Million grant and renovations began, and are ongoing.
The adjoining building, once known as the Morecraft Building, is now named the Petracca Building.
The Palmyra Tea Room that was a few storefronts down from the Brook Theatre is now the Hamilton St Cafe & Stage (capacity 287)(http://www.HamiltonSt.com), which currently runs all types of all-ages performances, and is available for private rental.
-Marc
Hi This is Marc Calamaras and I renovated and operated the Palace Theatre as “The New Palace Performing Arts Center” from 1997-2000. In Sept 99, Hurricane Floyd put a hurting on the operation and I ended up selling my lease to a Latin production company who I think turned it into a church. I miss the space very much! I actually had my wedding in the Palace on New Years Eve 1999 and I will never forget it! I am always looking to operate another great old theatre.
If any one comes across any prospects, email me at