Collingswood Theatre
843 Haddon Avenue,
Collingswood,
NJ
08108
843 Haddon Avenue,
Collingswood,
NJ
08108
6 people
favorited this theater
The Collingswood Theatre opened in 1920 with “The Riddle Woman”, and was originally operated by Handle and Rovner. It was an active movie venue until about 1962. By the early 1970’s it was being used as a photography studio. In the 1990’s the Philadelphia Orchestra occasionally used it as a recording studio. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Contributed by
Rick Burger
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
Some color photos of the Collingswood Theatre’s artwork and front of the building itself.
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/4/colling4.jpg
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/4/colling2.jpg
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/4/coling3.jpg
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/4/colling1.jpg
United States Pipe Organ Company rebuilt and enlarged the 1920 Moller organ in 1929 as their opus 161. I am the current owner of the console from the 1929 rebuild. Does anyone know what happened to the rest of the organ?
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982
Collingswood Theatre (added 1982 – Building – #82003269)
843 Haddon Ave., Collingswood
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Wonsetler,Charles, Supowitz,David
Architectural Style: Mission/Spanish Revival
Area of Significance: Performing Arts, Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade
Current Sub-function: Business
TerryN,I recently spoke to one of the guy’s who back in the early 1970’s helped with removing the balcony section in preperation for the theatre’s new use as a photography studio. Again, this was early 70’s. I had asked if he remembered seeing the old organ during the demolition and he said from what he could remember “there was just pieces of it (organ)laying there”. He said most likly those “pieces” ended up in the dumpster with the rest of the balcony.
I actually live in this theater! I moved into my apartment in 2004, and I love it here. My apartment stretches across the top front of the building (the ornate marble that says “Collingswood”) and the other two apartment go towards the back of the building.
I have a trap door in my living room floor that houses the wires of the now-defunct marquee.
I always catch people looking up or taking pictures, probably having no idea that it is now an apartment and someone lives up here! My landlord was a photographer in the 60’s and 70’s and converted the actual theater portion of the building into a photography studio. It is now a business.
There was a local Collingswood guy who used to rent that apt. beck in the early 80’s. We all would hang up there from time to time. Boy, if those walls cold talk!!! LOL
Here is a recent photo.
Up until fairly recently, the Phila Orchestra used to record in the auditorium of the building. My father-in-law plays with the Orchestra and said that the theater was well-known for its acoustics. About 10 years ago or so, Michael Crawford (Broadway’s original Phantom) recorded portions of a record there. It’s cited in the liner notes.
I really miss the great old historic marquee of The Collingswood with it’s “photoplays”…
I wonder where it ended up and wonder if it’s still intact somewhere?
Photos of the Collingswood Theatre.
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