U.S. Theatre

284 Main Street,
Paterson, NJ 07505

Unfavorite 2 people favorited this theater

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Stanley-Warner Theatres

Previous Names: Paterson Opera House, U.S. Photo Play Theatre, United States Theatre

Nearby Theaters

News About This Theater

U.S. Theatre

The Paterson Opera House was opened on April 2, 1866.In 1900 it was severely damaged in a fire. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1901. In 1914 another fire caused some damage and following renovations it reopened as the U.S. Photo Play Theatre on March 6, 1916 with the film “Battle Cry of Peace”. It was listed in 1930 as the United States Theatre with a 2,000 seat capacity and equipped with an RCA sound system. It was operated by the Stanley Warner chain and was closed in September 1967.

The building was sold and demolished in 1969.

Contributed by ROBERT NEIL

Recent comments (view all 42 comments)

moviekid
moviekid on April 22, 2007 at 1:12 am

Rhett39, No photos but did you go to the Plaza? I managed the Plaza for a few years? I understand it’s now some retail store.

moviekid
moviekid on March 9, 2009 at 8:38 am

Hi all who have been involved in the information for the U. S. Theatre, Paterson, New Jersey. I have a long history with this theatre. My father was the manager for many many years and I also worked as an usher. This old movie palace was really my second home. I’ve been trying to locate photos of the U. S. without much success. If all of you feel a bit investigative and would like to help moviekid with some photos, I’d be very apprecitive. As the years fly by, there will be less of us with knowledge of one of Paterson’s fine theatres. Thanks for your help!!! Moviekid

jaz
jaz on April 19, 2009 at 1:57 pm

While the Plaza was within walking distance Brooks-Sloate my favorite was the U.S..

My dad knew a Plaza manager(?) named Mosca(?) and we used to get in for free a lot.

I think I remember one Plaza usher. Rich Waywell.
One of my vivid memories was leaving the lit Plaza on dark, wintry, Saturday nights and seeing the news vendors hawing thier piles of Sunday newspapers.

moviekid
moviekid on September 28, 2010 at 8:53 am

Yes, Bill Mosca was my assistant manager at the Plaza Theater

moviekid
moviekid on September 28, 2010 at 8:55 am

We are trying to locate any old photos of the U.S.Theatre, 284 Main Steet, Paterson, New Jersey.

Would love to hear from you because of history with the theatre throughout my entire life until it was taken down to be a parking lot.

moviekid
moviekid on October 5, 2010 at 1:02 pm

Are my movie friends from Paterson all napping? Havn’t heard from any of you for a long time. We all have new or old thoughts that may have popped into our minds again about this old grand movie palace, the U.S. Theater, Main Steet, Paterson, NJ. Or any of the other grand movie houses, The Majestic, Rivoli, Regent, State, Orpheum, Garden, Fabian. Imagine, 9 movie houses all within blocks of each other, all playing different distributor films (ie) Paramount, U.A. Fox, etc. and lines out the door each weekend. Those were the days!

lfreimauer
lfreimauer on December 23, 2010 at 10:52 am

Those were the days!

atmos
atmos on April 4, 2017 at 9:17 pm

Theatre closed Sep 1967.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on February 26, 2019 at 6:25 pm

The Paterson Opera House launched April 2, 1866. A 1900 fire caused most of the venue to be extensively rebuilt relaunching in 1901. Another fire in 1914 caused more remodeling and led to a name change. The opera house became the U.S. Photoplay Theatre on March 6, 1916 with the film, “The Battle Cry of Peace.” The theatre converted to sound and finally, under the Stanley Warner Circuit, the theatre closed in 1967. It was sold in 1969 and was razed for a parking lot.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 1, 2019 at 1:56 pm

March 6th, 1916 grand opening ad posted.

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.