Lincoln Theater

The theatre organ that was removed from the Lincoln & installed in the War Memorial auditorium IS NOT A WURLITZER. It is an M.P. MOLLER, manufactured in Hagerstown, Md. As a former resident of NJ & member of the GSTOS, I have seen, heard & played this organ. It is not a Wurlitzer! Please correct your records.

Larry Grove

The RKO Lincoln Theatre was located at 25 N. Warren Street.

I worked at the Lincoln as a projectionist from 1970-72. I counted 75 steps from the lobby to the booth! There were three Super Simplex projectors & Ashcraft Superpower carbon arc lamps. We had a Hall & Conelly spotlight. I once saw Bolton Holmes play on a Sunday afternoon. We had some great R&B concerts featuring James Brown, The Stylistics, The Staple Singers, and the Delphonics. I was sick when they tore it down. I also worked at the RKO Trent, Mayfair, Brunswick, Greenwood, and also many theatres in Atlantic City. Crazy Bob.

The theatre was demolished in 1976.

per "The sounds of city's theater organs long silent"
The Times of Trenton, June 4, 2000

The architect for the Lincoln Theatre was EUGENE DeROSA. There was a near twin of this theatre built in the New York City area by the same architect (the name and location escapes me, though I have seen the photos).I saw "The Robe" here in 1953 in Cinemascope. The mighty Moeller organ was played before the feature. This was the the major film theatre in Trenton.

A Moller theater organ opus 5198 size 3/16 was installed in the Lincoln Theater in 1928 at a cost of $16000.

12/31/1936 ticket:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df01b3127cceb49395f8600600000026108IZsW7Zwzc-

Old interior photos:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d637b3127ccec4b45f7d253200000040O08IZsW7Zwzcg9vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8d637b3127ccec4b593b484e100000040O08IZsW7Zwzcg9vPgQ/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D480/ry%3D320/

The second photo of the interior of the Lincoln Theatre as posted by TC on Aug 16, 2008 is presently for sale on Ebay. However, This is NOT the stage and proceenium view of the Lincoln. This pic shows a very square peoceenium, while in actuallity it was very much rounded. I practically grew up in this theatre as we lived in Allentown, NJ and always went to the movies here in the 50's and 60's. I once recorded Bolton Holmes playing the Moller TPO (with his kind permission). I wrote the seller of this phto on Ebay and he said he could not be totally positive, but the words on back of photo made the claim. The first phto looking towards the balcony does look like it as I remember it. bgwsound

I remember a large round dome in the middle of the auditoium ceiling. It was lighted, & had spotlight ports. I used to get bored, & go on the catwalks inside the ceiling. I looked out into the theatre through the port holes. I remember seeing a huge motor & belt running the air conditioning system back there. I couldn't hang out for more than 15 minutes, or I'd miss my change-over!

We also used to play the organ, & go into the pipe chambers, & the dressing rooms below the stage.

The photos listed on 8/22/08 by "bgsound" are not those of the RKO Lincoln in Trenton, NJ. I attended this theatre many times and have photos of its interior. "Crazy Bob" is correct about the round domed ceiling. I saw many films at this theatre including "The Guns of Navarone"; "The Cardinal"; "Irma La Douce"; and Hitchcock's "The Birds". It was a grand movie palace for Trenton.

From Boxoffice magazine, November 1947:

James Conklin, manager of the Lincoln Theater, Trenton, N.J., attracted plenty of attention to his date on "Mother Wore Tights" by capitalizing on the current long v. short skirt controversy. Conklin had a number of young women picket the Lincoln with signs reading: "Unfair-If Mother Wore Tights-Why Can't We Wear Short Skirts?" The stunt resulted in local newspaper breaks and provoked word-of-mouth comment from passersby.

More National Enquirer material.