Strand Theater

The Frank theater chain ruined this theater like they did so many by chopping it up. Using the beautiful front as an arcade sucks.

Mr. Bender has some nice photos of the theater on his website:

http://www.robbender.com/gallery/shore_theaters/P8230291
http://www.robbender.com/gallery/shore_theaters/P8230293
http://www.robbender.com/gallery/shore_theaters/P8230295
http://www.robbender.com/gallery/shore_theaters/P9050300
http://www.robbender.com/gallery/shore_theaters/P9050299
http://www.robbender.com/gallery/shore_theaters/P9050297

For those familiar with New Jersey, these pictures depict a very typcial boardwalk (love it or hate it) at night.

History & old photos:
http://www.funchase.com/Images/Theatres/Strand.htm

Thats an interesting link TC. I didn't know that there was another Strand Theater located on the same site prior to this Strand Theater or I would have mentioned it in the description above. There are a few other theaters on that website like the Blaker, Regent, Casino and Ocean which I don't believe are listed on here. I did mention the Blaker Theater in the Shore 4 Theater description but didn't add it. Anyone looking for some theaters to add?

I already listed the others, except for the Ocean, which didn't have a history narrative yet.

Thanks for adding those theaters TC. Cinematour gives an address of 2700 Boardwalk for the Ocean Theater. If that address is correct, the Ocean Theater is closed because an address search shows a Bella Villa Pizzeria & Restaurant located at that address today.

Small current photo at this link:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/travel/beaches/65361,0,229536.location?coll=bal-artslife-travel

Was in Wildwood this past weekend. Actually i'm there a lot since i have a place in Diamond Beach. Anyway, we stopped at our friends restraunt on Pacific ave. just around the corner from both the Strand and The Shore 4. While discussing all the "changes" in regards to realestate, new construction and the overall rebirth of Wildwood it was brought up by "long time" buisness owners of Wildwood that the MOREY'S and for those of you who don't know, the Morey's are to amusements along with too much to list other "intrest" in Wildwood like Trump is to New York City and Atlantic City. Get it? Anyway, word is they the Morey's are on a buying spree and on the list is THE STRAND and no not for knocking down and making condo's but restoring back into its original theatre size...Atillis Gym will be gone however. So keep em crossed and lets hope for the best not just for The Strand but The Shore 4

But the Shore 4 also!

When this theatre was rebuilt in 1947, it was the largest theatre constructed in the US since World War II began.


In 1952, 20th Century Fox selected the Strand for the world premiere of "What Price Glory" starring James Cagney. In 1958, the Mickey Mouse Club visited the theatre.

In 1953, Hunt spent $25000 to purchase the first stereophonic sound system in NJ and the first RCA Synchro Panoramic screen in the world for the Strand.

Two old postcards:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf27b3127cce951249a2788200000016108IZsW7Zwzc-

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf27b3127cce951249a0788000000016108IZsW7Zwzc-

Listed as part of Hunt's Theatres, Inc. in the 1970 FDY & 1976 International Motion Picture Almanac.

Here is another photo of the Strand Theater.

1973 program:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7dd25b3127cce82dc8152295a00000016108IZsW7Zwzc-

Here is a 1947 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2sba98

1955 Photo shown below- scroll down a bit

http://www.angelfire.com/nj/wwbysea/HUNT/huntstheaters.html

The name of this theater should be Strand 5 Theater and the screens updated to five. Here is their website.

Saw some fun movies here

Batman
Bird on a Wire
Natural Born Killers
The Nutty Professor

Hunt Theatre Enterprises intended to build their new Strand Theatre on the same site as their previous Strand, according to an item in Boxoffice Magazine of October 13, 1945. The architect's rendering of the facade of the proposed house published in the magazine matches the photos linked above quite closely. The architect of the new Strand was William H. Lee, of Philadelphia.

This is a recent night photo.

Photo of the Strand Theatre courtesy of Nick's Classic American Theatres.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s254/Pavy1/StrandTheaterWildwoodNJ.jpg