Blaker Theatre
Atlantic Avenue & E. Cedar Avenue,
Wildwood,
NJ
08260
Atlantic Avenue & E. Cedar Avenue,
Wildwood,
NJ
08260
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Built around 1900, the theatre was initially a vaudville house and was located on a pier owned by Gilbet Blaker. William C. Hunt leased the theatre and then purchased it in 1925. The theatre operated for many years before combining with the Shore Theatre to become the Shore 4.
Both theatres have been demolished.
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
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
Old postcard:
View link
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.
Listed as part of Hunt’s Theatres, Inc. in the 1970 FDY & 1976 International Motion Picture Almanac.
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.
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.
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.
This webpage shows some pictures of what was the Blaker prior to the demolition of the combined Shore/Blaker: View link
I guess i saw Jaws at the Blaker.
What did tyhey put in place of the theaters?