A spring near Mineral Wells, called the Crazy Woman Well, produced mineral water containing salts with natural laxative properties. In the 1920s and ‘30s the salts were sold as a cure-all called “Crazy Water Crystals,” and apparently the “Crazy” theme was very big in the town—thus the name of the theater.
The tall tower in the aerial photo is City Hall, which is still there. The building with the large dome is the old Camden County courthouse, which was torn down in the ‘50s and replaced by a Lit Brothers department store, which closed in the '70s and was renovated into office space for Camden County.
The flea market was shut down last month after an unexpected hazard was discovered: WWII-vintage shells buried on the site. Turns out the Army used the site for testing during the war, including lobbing howitzer shells from Philadelphia across the Delaware River to land in Palmyra. Philadelphia Inquirer story here and a small picture from 1985 here.
The story says the drive-in opened in 1957 and closed in 1986.
“Red and Blue” was not the theater’s name, but I think the two screens were designated as the “red” screen and the “blue” screen.
The marquee in the flea market picture is not the one that was visible from Route 73 when the theater was in operation; it looks like it is set up inside the entrance, and may have been used to direct customers to their desired screen.
This was a National Amusements drive-in; their other drive-ins in South Jersey were the Starlite in Gloucester City and the Atco in Atco. In the ‘80s or '90s they were planning an indoor multiplex for this site but never did build it.
Following up on one of the posts from 2006: if memory serves the Indian-film venture from the late ‘70s used the name “Bharat Cinema.” The building had signage with that name but also a sign calling it the Vic—probably a leftover from the porn operation.
I’m pretty sure this was open before 1966—I remember my mother taking me here to see Mary Poppins first-run before that (incredibly long box-office line, we almost get to the front—SOLD OUT! They sold us tickets for the next show, we went home and came back).
Duplicate listing of theater #18363—on here as Frank Theatres Towne Stadium 16 under Pleasantville. The actual mailing address is now Egg Harbor Township (not to be confused with Egg Harbor City) but the area had a Pleasantville ZIP code for many years.
And not too long after Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Cinema 19 had months-long runs of two movies that showed just how things were changing in the industry—I Am Curious (Yellow) and Easy Rider.
“The itch” or a “scratch house” was a theater with a low standard of cleanliness—one that might be infested with fleas, body lice or other bugs that would make patrons itchy.
For what it’s worth, several web pages give the completion date of the Xerox Center as 1980—meaning that the Monroe would have been gone some time before then.
This theater is being renamed the Fillmore Philadelphia by operator Live Nation. The new name becomes effective as of April 27, with a show by Todd Rundgren. Press release here.
Per a recent article in Tempo (a publication of the Princeton Packet in New Jersey), the theater was built in 1831 as Newtown Hall and reconstructed in 1883. The first film screening was in 1906 and the building has remained in use as a movie theater ever since; it is asserted to be the oldest continuously operating movie theater in the United States. The Community Welfare Council of Newtown bought the building in 1953. In 1972 projectionist Amos Farruggio leased the theater from the Council; after he died in 1980 his widow, Marjorie, took over operations. The Farruggios' son John replaced his mother upon her passing in 2005.
A spring near Mineral Wells, called the Crazy Woman Well, produced mineral water containing salts with natural laxative properties. In the 1920s and ‘30s the salts were sold as a cure-all called “Crazy Water Crystals,” and apparently the “Crazy” theme was very big in the town—thus the name of the theater.
The tall tower in the aerial photo is City Hall, which is still there. The building with the large dome is the old Camden County courthouse, which was torn down in the ‘50s and replaced by a Lit Brothers department store, which closed in the '70s and was renovated into office space for Camden County.
The flea market was shut down last month after an unexpected hazard was discovered: WWII-vintage shells buried on the site. Turns out the Army used the site for testing during the war, including lobbing howitzer shells from Philadelphia across the Delaware River to land in Palmyra. Philadelphia Inquirer story here and a small picture from 1985 here.
The story says the drive-in opened in 1957 and closed in 1986.
Originally a Budco theater. First feature shown here was “Goodbye Columbus.”
You could almost make a book out of that!
A nice 2007 exterior photo here.
“Red and Blue” was not the theater’s name, but I think the two screens were designated as the “red” screen and the “blue” screen.
The marquee in the flea market picture is not the one that was visible from Route 73 when the theater was in operation; it looks like it is set up inside the entrance, and may have been used to direct customers to their desired screen.
This was a National Amusements drive-in; their other drive-ins in South Jersey were the Starlite in Gloucester City and the Atco in Atco. In the ‘80s or '90s they were planning an indoor multiplex for this site but never did build it.
Another shot of the Star marquee may be found here.
Here is a shot of the Kent marquee, long after closing.
Following up on one of the posts from 2006: if memory serves the Indian-film venture from the late ‘70s used the name “Bharat Cinema.” The building had signage with that name but also a sign calling it the Vic—probably a leftover from the porn operation.
The State-Lake building makes the news as a driver crashes a minivan into the WLS-TV studio during a newscast. Video here.
The attraction boards have been taken off the north side of the marquee. Don’t know if it’s for repair or what.
I’m pretty sure this was open before 1966—I remember my mother taking me here to see Mary Poppins first-run before that (incredibly long box-office line, we almost get to the front—SOLD OUT! They sold us tickets for the next show, we went home and came back).
Duplicate listing of theater #18363—on here as Frank Theatres Towne Stadium 16 under Pleasantville. The actual mailing address is now Egg Harbor Township (not to be confused with Egg Harbor City) but the area had a Pleasantville ZIP code for many years.
And not too long after Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Cinema 19 had months-long runs of two movies that showed just how things were changing in the industry—I Am Curious (Yellow) and Easy Rider.
The building was used for live theater under the Abbey Stage Door name in the late ‘60s and '70s.
“The itch” or a “scratch house” was a theater with a low standard of cleanliness—one that might be infested with fleas, body lice or other bugs that would make patrons itchy.
“Citi Wang” would be bad enough, but “Wang Citi” would be even worse…
For what it’s worth, several web pages give the completion date of the Xerox Center as 1980—meaning that the Monroe would have been gone some time before then.
RiisPark may be thinking of the Berwyn Theatre, which is described on its page here as having had a fire.
With yesterday’s announcement that Bank of America will be acquiring LaSalle Bank, it looks like this theater will get another new name…
Did the Essex ever have another name? I’m not finding much about it here, or elsewhere.
This theater is being renamed the Fillmore Philadelphia by operator Live Nation. The new name becomes effective as of April 27, with a show by Todd Rundgren. Press release here.
“* January 11, 1974 became an French adult theatre called Le Pigalle. It was shortly renamed Eden and shown English adult movies.”
Waitaminit. There are people who care what language their porn is in?
Per a recent article in Tempo (a publication of the Princeton Packet in New Jersey), the theater was built in 1831 as Newtown Hall and reconstructed in 1883. The first film screening was in 1906 and the building has remained in use as a movie theater ever since; it is asserted to be the oldest continuously operating movie theater in the United States. The Community Welfare Council of Newtown bought the building in 1953. In 1972 projectionist Amos Farruggio leased the theater from the Council; after he died in 1980 his widow, Marjorie, took over operations. The Farruggios' son John replaced his mother upon her passing in 2005.