Branford Theatre
11 Branford Place,
Newark,
NJ
11 Branford Place,
Newark,
NJ
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing all 24 comments
The only time I recall being in the Branford was in 1982. I was in downtown Newark with a couple of hours to kill, and it was about the only cinema still open. By then it had been cut up into a four-plex, the interior was coated in that ugly color scheme of dark red and blue that the Stanley-Warner chain was so fond of, and this once proud first-run movie palace was showing crap like “Drive-In Massacre.†How very sad.
1933 medal:
View link
Here are two more 1981 photos:
Photo1
Photo2
Here is a 1981 photo. It looks like there were four screens at that time:
http://tinyurl.com/c8vuzm
Here is a 1942 news story from the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette:
http://tinyurl.com/8qfvam
Thanks Bob, I’ll look those theaters up on CT. Is there any hope (or desire) on anyone’s part in Newark to restore those theaters? Is there anything to restore? It seems things are finally starting to look up in Newark.
The RKO Proctor’s, Paramount and Adam’s Theaters are still standing, but have been closed for MANY years.
What an incredible marquee! The “upgraded” marquee posted by TC on 7/10/07 is also handsome, but IMO, doesn’t compare to the original plus what must have been a beautiful Blade. Another shame for Newark that it appears that none of its palaces was able to survive whereby “lowly” Jersey City was able to keep two.
The direct link to the photo posted above on 3/10/08 has been changed to: View link
The October 17, 1933 issue of weekly Variety reported that the Branford Theatre was “topping everything in town” with WB’s “Footlight Parade,” but “the tilted price scale, going to 55 cents and 65 cents weekdays, is meeting resistance. Balcony is jammed at all times, but the orchestra was only partially filled during matinees. Nights filled, but no big holdouts. Film greatly liked and might pull a grand $22,000 in opening week, with seven shows daily.”
A 1932 image including the Branford’s original marquee and the bottom letter of the vertical sign. The entrance’s poster display is what used to be called a “flash front.” I doubt that you would find its equal today: www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/branford32.jpg
The April 2nd, 1930 issue of Variety reported that Warner Brothers would build a new Newark theatre costing $2 million on a plot encompassing the addresses of 878 through 880 Broad Street and 12 through 32 Lafayette Street. Eberson & Eberson would be architects. This project was apparently aborted by the Depression.
Old photo:
View link
Listed as part of RKO-Stanley Warner Theatres, Inc. in the 1976 International Motion Picture Almanac.
RKO only became involved with the Branford when the company merged with Stanley Warner, which had operated the Branford from opening day. Prior to the merger, RKO’s primary Newark showcase was Proctor’s, which also had an upstairs theatre that operated sporadically over the years.
I have the original book keeping records, photos and several of the RKO seats from this theater. Could anyone tell me where I can get more info and history?
The Brandford started as a single screen but then was turn into a four screen. I use to go in the early 80’s and they were still playing double features. I would spend almost all day sneaking from one room to another.
The Branford was not built in 1941, and its architect was Fred Wentworth, whose credits also include the Stanley in Jersey City. But it seems possible that some modernization of the Branford took place in 1941 with Zucker & Steiner as supervising architects. The theatre was at least twenty years old by that time.
A Wurlitzer organ, opus 863, was installed in this theater on 7/21/1924.
“These included the Branford, the city’s largest and most elegant house which seated 3,100. Built in 1941 by Emil Zucker and Herman Steiner, it was named for one of the Connecticut towns that original Newarkers came from in 1666.”
The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), Sept 26, 1996 p004
this contradicts the main listing for this theater.
What a great marquee.
photo:
View link
This is a quote from View link
And then there was also the Branford theatre, with the long cobble stoned alley entrance directly on Market Street, also next to a mens' clothing store, Larkey’s I think it was called. You could also exit the Branford Theatre, on Branford Place, down the street from the Adams Theatre. As of the late 1950’s, one already did not venture to risk a late night feature show at the Branford, if one had to exit via the alley entrance, for you risked being held up, at the very least, unfortunately.
There are several pictures of this movie theater on eBay right now… might have been a barn inside but looks real ornate outside.