Paramount Theater

do you have any info on a old theater
rossevelt theater located at 794 clinton ave newark, nj

The Paramount Theatre is located at 195 Market Street and it seated 2003 people.

The Roosevelt Theatre at 794 Clinton Ave. seated 1714 people.

The theatre was originally known as the Newark, and first opened in 1895 with vaudeville. In 1917, architect Thomas W. Lamb transformed the interior into an Adamesque movie palace. In 1932, the owners, who also operated the downtown Adams Theatre, made a management deal with Paramount-Publix and changed the name of the Newark to the Paramount. At the same time, the theatre was again renovated, with a new art deco lobby and a "modernized" auditorium that covered most of Lamb's decor with flat paint. When the Paramount later reverted to its owners, they kept the name rather than go to the expense of changing the marquee and vertical sign.

There is a small color photo in the book "Backroads, New Jersey" by Mark DiIonno (2002) ISBN 0-8135-3133-0

Appears to house two businesses: Paramount Market and Paramount Jewelry.

Old images:
http://www.oldnewark.com/busind/theatre/newark.htm
http://www.oldnewark.com/busind/images/theatres/newark/newark02.jpg

Old image of the Paramount:
http://www.oldnewark.com/busind/images/theatres/paramount/paramount%202002js.jpg

Is that great marquee and vertical still there?

"Newark's last two movie houses, the Paramount and the Adams went dark in 1986 when their insurance rates increased 500 percent. Newarkers seeking mainstream popular movies had to go elsewhere."

The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), Sept 26, 1996 p004

The Paramount went dark on April Fools day. Here is a photo:
http://www.oldnewark.com/busind/images/theatres/paramount/paramount01.jpg

On page 41 of Greetings from New Jersey: A Postcard Tour of the Garden State, there is a promotional card for a movie the theater. On the front is a photo of the star Julian Eltinge. On the rear it reads:

A H Woods presents Julian Eltinge in "The Fascinating Widow" Newark Theatre Newark, N.J. Week com. Mon., April 28th Matinees Wed. & Sat.

This movie was released in 1925.

I think you'll find that "The Fascinating Widow" at the Newark Theatre was a stage play, not a movie. It was one of Julian Eltinge's most famous vehicles. He did it on Broadway in 1911, and then toured in it off-and-on for decades.

Listed as a Negro Theater in the 1951 FDY.

The 1951 listing of this as a "Negro Theater" seems open to debate. In that period, the Paramount was one of four major first-run cinemas in downtown Newark, along with Loew's State, RKO Proctor's, and the Branford. They divided all the mainstream Hollywood movies between them. I don't understand why the Paramount should be designated "Negro" while the others were not. Perhaps it's an error. I also don't know what constitutes a "Negro Theater." One that has an all-black clientele, or is situated in an all-black area? Or that runs programs designed only for black audiences?

Beautiful close up photo, notice the lion in the background:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tsmyther/40586185/

On closer examination, it may not be a lion. Any help here?

The link is "currently having a massage," so I can't try to answer your question until I'm able to see the photo.

i attended this movie house a few times as a child. my sister and i use to spend our summer vacation in newark. i vaguely remember a movie with diana lynn and eddie bracken playing the part of a singer.

Here's a bit better photo that TC linked to above.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tsmyther/45525695/

I am reading Dean and Me by Jerry Lewis and a Paramount Theatre was mentioned along with the Roxy Theatre. Is this Paramount the one or was there a Paramount on Manhattan in the 40's? Dean and Me is a wonderful read and a wonderful tribute to Dean, Jerry's partner of 10 years from 1946-1956.

Patsy, the theater referred to in the book is the Paramount Theatre in Times Square (see the postings on that page about Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin appearing there).

Bryan: Many thanks! BTW, I'm enjoying Dean and Me very much.

This is another photo of the former Paramount Theater.

Jerry Lewis worked at the Newark Paramount theater as an usher before his later successes.

A postcard view of the Newark Theatre from the turn of century; late 1890's - early 1900's:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/438989707/

Mae West brought her Hollywood stage revue here for a week in March, 1939, and set a new boxoffice record for the theatre. West's show grossed about $25,000 for the week, which was $3,000 more than the previous record of $22,000 set by clarinetist Artie Shaw and his band. The booking followed a disappoointing week for West in her native Brooklyn at the downtown Fox. Though the Fox was twice as large as the Newark Paramount, West's show grossed only $22,000. Variety reported that "In Newark, Miss West is playing to standees at every show. She did six performances on opening day, seven on Saturday, five on Sunday, and six shows every day for the balance of the week." After Newark, West was booked for theatres in Atlanta, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. For those engagements, her deal would be 40% of the gross, and 50% if the gross topped $25,000, according to Variety.

A Hutchings theater organ was installed in a Newark (Paramount) Theater in 1915.

So sad that this former Thomas Lamb theatre is now an Army Navy store.

I don't know the name of the theatre's original architect, but it wasn't Thomas Lamb. He only did the 1917 renovations that turned it into a combination house (movies and vaudeville).

Then I guess his name is only part of this theatre's history.

We went to the former Paramount one week ago and they are doing work on the shops that occupies the former lobby (no closing anyway).
The friendly manager accepted us to take a quick look thru orchestra floor (no remaining seats) to the auditorium which is not in too bad shape, even if there are some holes in the ceiling. The architectural style inside is pretty classic, painted red and white and not art deco like the façade.

What a shame that no seats exist. With the opening of the Prudential Arena 2 blocks away, I had visions of this grand old palace coming back to life to entertain folks once more. I guess it was just wishful thinking.

1922 postcard:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8df01b3127cceb49394f6209000000026108IZsW7Zwzc-

What a shame to let this place rot...was in the store a few years ago and you can see how in the outer lobby they just cut the brass poles out of the floor leaving an inch or two sticking up and cracked tiles. You would think with Newarks "renaissance" the Bears stadium, NJPAC,Pru arena that a million would have brought the Paramount back as some sort of entertainment venue. Any takers? call me.

There are some photos of the theater towards the bottom of this page. An internet search shows Paramount Furniture at this address, but I can't confirm that the furniture store has replaced the army-navy store:
http://tinyurl.com/2h4tw7

Ken, was there Sunday and the new signage is correct for the furniture store. The doors were open and I walked in, up the incline to almost the back of former lobby, lots of noise but did not see anyone, I was gonna brave a walk to the auditorium area but decided against it and retreated, was panhandled twice before I hit the street.

Only twice? Newark must have improved since the last time I was there.

Heh, the 1922 postcard that TC links to above is the same one I got off eBay. Here's a better look at it (I removed the rubber stamp, but if you prefer the original, that's right behind it in my Flickrstream):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pulp-o-rama/2428028978/in/set-72057594129975085/

I have a hard time figuring out which building is the theater, as it doesn't look like the Newark in the older postcards, nor like anything in the photos. Feel free to add a note to the picture.

I don't see the fact that no seats are remaining would be a hindrance to resotring this theater. Many of the old theater seats are too small for today's rather larger patorns and need more legroom so it would be better if the seats were replaced even if the originals were still there.

This theater appears better situated than the Adams to be Newark's "Theater" but Newark still has work to do to make itself more inviting and welcoming. Cory has his hands full, but I applaud his efforts and wish him luck. In the right hands, Newark will have a bright future as the oil crisis forces people and businesses to live and work in areas that have superior access to mass transit as Newark does.

I just attended the Tina Turner concert at The Prudential Center. I took the PATH from Manhattan to Newark Penn Station and walked to the arena which was about a 7 minute walk. Newark is showing a much better face though there is still so much more to do. Just past the arena on Market Street I could see the Marquee of the old Paramount sticking out of a forlorn stretch of this boulevard. I was thinking........Just as people come to The Rock to attend events, they could just as easily come to a renovated Paramount. That is, if there is enough there to renovate. At under 2,000 seats, the Paramount could cater to shows too small for either the Rock or NJPAC and it would be boost to Market Street which I couldn't make out (since it was dark) but looked like it was in need of a lot of help! A Lot!

This was the Paramount in 2001.

In todays Star Ledger, there is an article about a gentleman who purchased this theatre for 2 million dollars and wants to bring it back to its former glory. He said however that he is not against putting all retail in it if his plans for a theatre fall through.

It shows him standing under the marquee.

Here is the link to that story:
http://www.nj.com/news/mustsee/index.ssf/2009/04/paramount_theater_owner_looks.html

Here is a 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dkon8y

This is another 1981 photo.

I was at the Rock recently for an afternoon event. You can get a good clear elevated view of the Paramount from inside the glass walled concourse.

Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/leebs3