Strand Theater
123 Albany Street,
New Brunswick,
NJ
08901
123 Albany Street,
New Brunswick,
NJ
08901
2 people
favorited this theater
Originally an 1840 church, it was converted to a theater around 1905. Located at the corner of George and Albany Streets, this theater is listed as operating in the 1951 FDY. It was demolished in 1965.
An old photo can be found on page 116 of the Arcadia Publishing book “New Brunswick”.
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tc
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
From the NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORY DEPARTMENT: ORAL HISTORY ARCHIVES OF WW-II, this theater appeared to be a house that attracted a questionable clientele:
“there was that shaky little place at the corner of George and Albany. In fact, in later years, the Douglass girls were not allowed to go near that place”
I’m not sure when the Strand closed, but it was not demolished. The Art Cinema (not listed here) was in business on the same location in the ‘70s. It was the place to go for Rocky Horror back then.
Minor correction: the Art Cinema was demolished along with the rest of the so-called Golden triangle during one of New Brunswick’s never-ending redevelopment projects.
A shot of the Strand in its Art Cinema incarnation, XXX days. You can just see the marquee to the left.
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Listed as open in the 1944 FDY. Listed as the Strand in the 1961 FDY as part of Triangle-Liggett Theatre Service.
In my Rutgers days late 50’s, the Strand was usually called “The Fleabox” but it showed second run pictures cheap usually double features, and (some) students would go there if the picture was good. The seats were old, not-too-sturdy wooden backed. It was not for Douglass students then.
The K, S & K Amusement Company purchased the German Reformed Church and renovated it into the original Strand Theatre.
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This is definitely the Strand, facing Albany Street. You can see the sign of the Rivoli on George Street. Beyond the Rivoli, crossing George Street, is the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad (now Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor Line).
Here is an earlier view of the same corner. What is to become the Strand is still a church. In the background the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad crosses the Raritan River.
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the art cinema on albany st in new brunswick was demolished late 1981 or early 1982 (i was 17), we were the last patrons to see the midnite rocky horor picture show . the manager said GO NUTS cause we’re tearing it down . i remember ripping the foam out of the seats and throwing it at the screen we also ripped the carpet up and ripped the chairs out of the floor
If anyone has any stories about going to/ working at this threatre in its adult days, I would love to hear them. I am chronicling the histories of adult theatres in the US. Please contact me at Thanks!