Ormont Theatre
508 Main Street,
East Orange,
NJ
07018
508 Main Street,
East Orange,
NJ
07018
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It would have been an honor to have attended a film showing at this incredibly beautiful theater.The new theaters popping up have no class and certainly no comparable architecture to boast of for the most part.There is a reason why it was called the “Golden Age Of Cinema” from the films on down to the actors,actresses and movie palaces.Thanks to all for the memories,photos and hats off to this wonderful Cinema Treasures site!!
Here is my blog post about the early days of The Ormont building: http://stocktonschool.blogspot.com/2012/12/east-orange-buildings-early-20th-century.html
I had been looking for pictures of the beautiful Ormont for years! Great photos jojo!! My mom worked at Paris In The Sky on Harrison St. in East Orange in the 1950s. She talked of going to the Ormont. When she went back to the city in the 80s, it wasn’t the place she remembered, obviously. You wonder how a beautiful structure like that could be torn down. It still looked great but didn’t serve a purpose in modern times. Very sad because a hellhole like East Orange doesn’t have much going for it. Loved the blue glass window panes. Progress?
wow never thought i would see this theater again.glad i found it here again.Here is my story it was around 1970 i was a projectionist for the union in Newark i just graduated high school i worked at the paramount and also the Hollywood theater in orange and the treat theater in Newark i always liked to work at the Ormont as it was always so old school and i loved that i was friends with the manager his name was this was a time when automation was coming into it’s own the manager at the time was MR.Pavlick a nice guy and smart manager.I am in the process of writing a book on my 50years of being a projectionist and i will be including the Ormont to the list i have some very funny and interesting things to tell about the Ormont keep in the loop with cinema treasures remember Projectionists never die,they just change over.peace joe matteo
The McGovern for President headquarters opened in 1971 next door, at the corner of 512 Main Street, East Orange, and stayed open through November, 1972. Hundreds of us went through those offices, beside the mighty Ormont.
When did they tear this beauty down? So sad.
Listed in the 1970 FDY as part of Brandt Theatres.
Old postcard:
View link
Originally known as the Lyceum. Built in 1910. Arcadia Press “East Orange Postcards”, p. 76 has a nice old postcard of the theater.
Is this theater currently used for peforming arts? This singer has performed at the “Ormont Theater” in the tri-state area. I can’t find any additional information on the theater.
http://www.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/Cobbertt,_Deborah/
Did this ever show XXX fare? It was also not unusual to see “arthouse” theaters from the 1950’s era convert to “adults only” sex films booking in the 1960’s and then XXX by about 1973.
Also, was there any resistence from the Masons over the “racier” fare?
March 10, 1972 the Ormont was playing a double bill of racy adult films. These soft core flicks were what led many neighborhood houses to go hard core. The main feature was “Swedish Fly Girls” rated R from American International paired with “Dagmars Hot Pants” rated X. This same combo was also playing in a bunch of General Cinema drive-ins across Jersey.
Listed in the 1951 FDY at 508 Main Street with 900 seats.