State Theatre
61 Van Houten Street,
Paterson,
NJ
07505
61 Van Houten Street,
Paterson,
NJ
07505
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This reopened as the State theatre on April 11th, 1936. Grand opening ad posted.
For many years the outsde wall of the building had the Orpheum name on it. (in the 50’s)
Indeed today this buidling houses a mosque called Masjid Jalalabad
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My grandfather, John Van Rensalier (1881-1943) was an accomplished black pianist, organist and vaudville entertainer will know in Paterson, NJ who also played at the ORPHEUM THEATER for silent films and burlesque in the early 1900s. I would be very interested in contacting “Uncle Floyd” about those rare photos he found. Any help is most appreciated.
On page 68 of Images of America: Downtown Paterson there is a photo of the wall in the main description. The caption confirms my suspicion that the Orpheum later became the State Theatre. The building is now owned by the Islamic Foundation of New Jersey. A Google search puts that Foundation at 61 Van Houten Street.
This 1913 photo shows the Orpheum. It is the light colored building partially blocked by the left most beam.
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The handwritten description states “Market Street”. Depending on the configuration of the station and the local streets at that time, it may have been possible to view Van Houten street from the Market Street station.
TC;
53-39 Van Houten Street, Paterson, NJ. 07505, does map out on Mapquest. I think you are correct in saying that the Orpheum Theater became the State Theater which is listed as having 1,184 seats.
The only other theatre I have a record of on Van Houten Street is the Lyceum Theatre at 123 Van Houten Street.
The 1951 FDY doesn’t have a listing for the Orpheum. It lists a State theater at 53-39 Houten Street. Houten street doesn’t show up on Mapquest. Could this possibly be the same theater as the Orpheum?
The Orpheum is located on Van Houten Street. It was built by Billy Watson who broke from his partnership with Ben Leavitt as operators of the West Street Bijou. At the Orpheum, Watson conducted a burlesque and picture theatre.