Paramount Theatre
195 Market Street,
Newark,
NJ
07102
195 Market Street,
Newark,
NJ
07102
14 people
favorited this theater
Opened on October 11, 1886 as H.C. Miner’s Newark Theatre. It was originally a vaudeville house managed by Hyde & Behman Amusement Co., a Brooklyn based theatre management company. After H.C. Miner’s death in 1900, his surviving relatives retained ownership of the theatre for several years until its sale in 1916 to Edward Speigel, the owner of the nearby Strand Theatre. Speigel also purchased the building next to the theatre with intent to use the space to expand the theatre. To accomplish this he hired famed theatre architect Thomas W. Lamb to do the alterations. In 1917, Thomas Lamb remodeled the theatre in an Adam style.
The former Paramount Theatre still boasts the vertical ‘Paramount’ sign, as well as the ‘Newark’ marquee. The Paramount Theatre was closed on April 1, 1986.
Although a retail store operated out of the former lobby until around April 2011, a store employee confirmed that behind the drop ceilings and walls remains much of the old theatre, complete with stage area and balcony seating intact.
Contributed by
Marty Nartinez
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Recent comments (view all 71 comments)
Was just in Newark working at the arena 2 weeks ago. Walked by all 3 of these theatres. Such a shame how they just sit there and rot away.
Can’t believe this nor how the Adams looks! Is anything being done to restore these historical sites?
Patsy, you think these two are bad, you should see the pictures of the Proctors Theatre in Newark.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/one_mans_fight_to_save_the_paramount_di_ionno.html#incart_river_index
I doubt the theater will be saved, but it’s nice to see someone cares.
The Paramount is one of the 24 theaters in my new book, “After the Final Curtain: The Fall of the American Movie Theater,” which is available on Amazon or your local bookstore
I was just in Newark today for a job interview and while I was taking a selfie of myself in front of the marquee…I was berated by local denizens “is that your welcome sign?”. I am educated and have no idea what they were saying…but it is such a shame that this place is not open. I have a certain cinephilic thirst for movie palaces…I have been told that it is tragically in horrible shape internally :( Apparently, they haven’t had anything inside for 30 years or better…
This article covers the Paramount and all the other vacant Newark theatres.
http://www.messynessychic.com/2017/12/19/in-neward-nj-the-number-of-abandoned-theatres-lying-around-is-kind-of-a-problem/
Mixed-use project in the planning stages, that would preserve the facade with a new building behind it.
https://jerseydigs-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/jerseydigs.com/redevelopment-plan-moving-forward-paramount-theater-newark/amp/
though both the Paramount vertical blade sign and the Newark letters on the marquee are iconic of the city of Newark, the renderings show those words replaced by Pharmacy!
Ha, I didn’t catch that. Had my contacts in for 10 hours…