Blaker Theater

Wildwood, NJ

Atlantic Avenue & E. Cedar Avenue

, Wildwood, NJ 08260 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	754
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Unknown

Built around 1900, the theater was initially a vaudville house and was located on a pier owned by Gilbet Blaker. William C. Hunt leased the theater and then purchased it in 1925. The theater operated for many years before combining with the Shore Theater to become the Shore 4. I have listed this theater as closed as it appears to have been incorporated into the Shore Theater.

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Blaker Theatre

Contributed by tc

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The main history link doesn't explain that Hunt was forcibly evicted by Blaker after a dispute over the rent. Must have felt great for Mr. Hunt to turn around and eventually buy the theatre from Mr. Blaker.

source: Wildwood by the Sea by David W. Francis, page 57

posted by TC on Aug 7, 2005 at 9:33am

Old postcard:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5ce34b3127cce9493a484a4a500000016108IZsW7Zwzc-

posted by TC on Oct 15, 2005 at 7:59am

The Blaker auditorium and tiny lobby to the surprise of many still exists (rotting away that is) and is by far the oldest remaining theatre in Wildwood, starting over 100 years ago as a vaudeville house. The smallest of the local Hunt's Theatres, it was perfect for raucous movies like "Woodstock" where the crowd danced in the aisles. It was divided into 2 screens long after its heyday, and bizarrely re-opened for a last hurrah (or guffah may be a better term) circa 1997.

posted by ILLUMINO on Oct 31, 2005 at 7:20pm

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

posted by TC on Mar 2, 2006 at 1:27am

Scroll down a bit on this site
http://www.angelfire.com/nj/wwbysea/HUNT/huntstheaters.html

and you can see some great photos of the exterior of the Blaker

posted by hdtv267 on Jun 12, 2007 at 5:13am

My 1967 FDY lists the Hunts Theaters at that time as follows: Cape May - Beach, Liberty. Stone Harbor - Harbor, Park. Wildwood - Blaker, Casino, Ocean, Shore, Regent, Starlight Ballroom, Strand.

posted by ken mc on Sep 10, 2007 at 6:49pm

Does anyone remember which theater in Wildwood NJ had the big green screen that looked like an underwater scene with lots of fish on it? I remember it opening and closing at the start and end of the movie.

posted by zwazz on Nov 3, 2007 at 8:10pm

Wasn't the Hunt, the one that was equipped for Sensurround.
I'm sure I saw Earthquake there.

And I know I saw Jaws at the Shore theater.

posted by whotony on Oct 16, 2009 at 4:54pm

This webpage shows some pictures of what was the Blaker prior to the demolition of the combined Shore/Blaker: http://www.funchase.com/Images/Theatres/TheCurtainFallsPg5.htm

posted by CWalczak on Nov 27, 2009 at 12:18am

I guess i saw Jaws at the Blaker.

posted by whotony on Nov 27, 2009 at 5:54am

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