Loew's Jersey Theatre
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
98 people
favorited this theater
Showing 576 - 600 of 1,501 comments
Movie534: The absolute worst part when Bob Eberenz (who was 67 at the time) and I started on the booth was the lack of heat or running water. It was mid-winter and actually colder in the theater than outdoors! After cleaning dead pigeons and their crap from everything, we had to go next door to C.H. Martins in order to wash up.
The volunteers working up there now have no idea how easy they’ve got it!
Hi Bob, congrats on being the 1000th comment for the Loews Jersey. On a seperate note, a mutual friend of ours, Bernie A. told me the horror stories you guys had when work first started years ago. I can relate. I remember the first time I walked into the projection room at the Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth N.J. Dead birds, junk, etc. I worked for months cleaning it up. Now the place is for sale, but the booth isnt finished. It makes me sick when I read of how all these old palaces are treated and let to rot.
Mahermusic: Isn’t the room under the booth identified on the blueprints as “Publicity Room?”
We spent SO much time chasing the pigeons out of there and cleaning up their mess, it’s a shame that an un-repaired broken window has allowed them to move back in.
Yuck!
GabeDF:
There is a basement (where the never-built lounge would’ve been in the front) Also included on this floor is what I call the “Powerhouse”… most of the mechanicals in the front, the two ushers rooms down at the base of the staircase, upper dressing rooms, including the chorus' girls (Chester Hale Girls') dressing room, Organ blower room.
Down a flight brings you to the sub-basement. Only the rear is actually “finished”. This is the area that includes a 2nd set of dressing rooms (almost exactly matching the upper rooms except for the chorus room), the rehearsal hall, and a sewage pump room. There is a small ladder that leads down from the “Powerhouse” section in the front… but it’s mostly dirt… and runs back to the rear of the theatre. There’s a considerable amount of coal ash down there as well. Two old gigantic air conditioning compressors live there as well. Apparently the original ones failed within a year or two of the opening of the Jersey, and instead of removing them, they opened a hole down to the sub-basement, and dropped them down there, where they can be seen with a flashlight, still painted red, sitting there all these years.
Your other questions:
The staircase down to the never built section is directly underneath the main staircase on the left. There is a single door there, which the employees/volunteers use to get down to the Powerhouse. If you ever peer inside, you’ll notice an ODD look to the area. It is gigantic with VERY high ceilings. Instead of a grand staircase down, there’s a less-wide metal staircase (that looks odd) built in its place.
Yes, the fire escape on the right side is internal, and we call it the “fire tower”.
The room under the projection room was the “Production Room”, where they made advertising posters for the lobby, and such. It’s also used to access the roof over the Grand Lobby to get to the clock.
Basement under the lobby is divided up into about 5 rooms. Not oval shaped. That’s the Powerhouse area.
Theoretically, the lower lounge COULD be rebuilt, but in some places, there’s low head clearance for return blower ductwork.
I don’t know about the heights of the lobby or auditorium.
Hmm, maybe this link will work?:
View link
P.S. That broken pediment is WAY too wide. It breaks all the rules, but what a room! It’s the cat’s pajamas!
Ok, I’m done for today.
Who couldn’t love a place that looked like this (The Roxy):
View link
I’ll bet the columns in the Loew’s Jersey are taller.
Isn’t the Loew’s Jersey land site amazing? It looks like it was built on a cliff. How many sub basements does it have? Three?
To LuisV: I have the utmost respect for “The Book” by Lamb, even though I have never seen it. The day when I do get to see it will be truly special.
To mahermusic: where was the planned grand staircase to the lower lounge that was never built? Also, I guess the auditorium has internal an internal fire escape on the right side; and what is was in that huge room under the projection room. Is the basement under the lobby oval shaped? or is it all divided up into little rooms? Could that lower lounge be built someday (in my wildest dreams)? What is the maximum height of the auditorium and lobby?
To Ziggy: Yes we should meet—at least on-line. I worship the Roxy Theatre—even though the architecture was questionable at best—but it sure did wow them, didn’t it. The 1920s theatres remind me of the huge casinos in Vegas today. And there is a very strong carnival/amusement park aspect to the 1920s theatres as well. I always found it odd that you’d have these Roman/Greek/Baroque/Mandarin temples, and in front of them were the carnival running lights. It is a little odd when you think about it with fresh eyes. Can you picture the Parthenon or Paris Opera with running lights?
Re the Roxy: “let’s stick a 6 foot tall gilded vase on top of that 40 foot tall twisted column! Sure, why not!” Ah—the Roaring ‘20s.
Still and all, I love the old palaces (the Rivoli’s and Tivoli’s) with a great passion.
Hello GabeDF. Since we have such similar interests, we should find a way to meet, or get in touch.
You’re right, no two 1920’s theatres are exactly alike (to my knowledge), but there are a few that are very similar. Shea’s Buffalo, though not a copy of the Uptown in Chicago, did borrow a lot of decorative items from it. There are the Fox theatres in Detroit and St. Louis. The Loew’s State in Syracuse, the 175th Street theatre and the 72nd Street Theatre (both in Manhattan) obviously used the same plaster molds. There was also a theatre, I think in Scranton Pa., which was as direct a copy of the original Rialto Theatre in Times Square as I think circumstances would allow.
Remember also that, as seriously as we take theatres, there were many architects and architecture critics in the 1920’s to whom american theatre architecture fell somewhere between an embarassment and a joke.
Anyway, let us know what you find out.
GabeDF:
What would you be interested in exactly with the original blueprints? If you have something specific, I’d be happy to look at them for you.
Those of you that know the Jersey might be interested in why it only has public bathrooms on the Mezzanine level… as per the blueprints, over a week in May, 1928, it went through a few cost-cutting procedures, including removing marble edging from some of the upper staircases, and the REMOVAL OF AN ENTIRE LOUNGE AREA IN THE BASEMENT!!!
Today, you can see, in the plenum under the orchestra section, the outline of where the original lounge was supposed to be. As per the blueprints, two telephone booths and a coat check room were removed. Originally, there was only a “Male Usher’s Room” (What was eventually built were two rooms for the ushers, one for male, and one for female… yes, it actually says “Female Usher’s Room” on the B-prints.)
Also, there was a room for Mat Storage… although this may be short for Materials storage.
My thinking was that the foundation was already being built along the sides of the PATH (then H&M tracks), in May of ‘28, when the changeover was ordered, blueprints re-drawn. (Both copies… the before and after, are included in the original blueprints).
Neat stuff!
Hey GabeDF, I appreciate you’re enthusiasm and I’m looking forward to your post once you’ve had an opportunity to the check out “the book”.
Ok, ok. I’m definitely in the minority here. I have to keep an open mind. I will make a trip to NYC and look at Lamb’s “job book.” If the Loew’s Jersey isn’t in it, I’ll surrender. Even if Lamb didn’t have a hand in it, the Loew’s Jersey’s “company” ain’t (sic) bad: The Chicago Theatre, The NY Paramount — not shabby by any means.
I have also studied architecture as an amateur since I was 17 or so (that’s a long time ago now, and I’m glad to know I’m not the only person who has done so), and in my experience no two 1920s theatres are ever exactly alike.
That said, I’m not impartial. I grew up in Loew’s Jersey. I know the place like the back of my hand. So perhaps my Lamb theory is just wishful thinking, but Rapp & Rapp is right up there, isn’t it?
I just wanted to add to my comment above. If one compares a photograph of the chapel at the palace of Versailles with a photograph of the lobby of the Tivoli in Chicago you’ll have a perfect example of how architects back then were able to adapt ideas from other architects and buildings. Rapp and Rapp basically transplanted the chapel to Chicago, changed some detail, and “voila” one of the most beautiful theatre lobbies of all time is born!
Hello GabeDF. I’ve studied architecture, as an amateur, almost all my life, especially the architecture of the 1920’s, and I can tell you that architects of that period were quite comfortable copying from each other. They didn’t see it as plagarism (nor do I) as much as incorporating someone else’s good ideas. In fact, if an architect had an exceptionally good idea then it was considered ridiculous not to copy it. Also, remember that architecture based on classic styles, such as the style of the Loew’s Jersey, is based on a broad but limited “vocabulary” of forms and there are only so many combinations that are possible. This is why many buildings of the period bear a strong resemblance to each other.
As far as making sure that all three firms getting equal billing, I doubt it was an issue. If you look at opening day ads and publicity for any movie palace (including the 5 wonder theatres), it’s very rare that an architect gets any mention at all.
Having visited several theatres by Rapp and Rapp (including the Jersey), and by Lamb, I can tell you that I would be amazed if it turned out that Lamb designed the Jersey’s auditorium. Even when similar styles are used, different buildings bear the stamp of their different designers and the Jersey is obviously by Rapp and Rapp, and equally obviously not by Lamb.
Thanks for that information. Here’s more:
http://eng.archinform.net/arch/73578.htm
C.W. Rapp — died 1926. Geo. L Rapp — died 1918. Thomas White Lamb — died 1942. The Loew’s Jersey wasn’t completed until late 1929, and I doubt if it was on the drawing boards in 1926.
BTW, I’d give my eye teeth to see the blueprints.
The original blueprints have, in the lower right corner:
“C.W. & Geo. L. Rapp – Architects – 190 N. State St. Chicago – Paramount Bldg. New York”
Hope this helps.
Yes, the problem and the virtue of Wikipedia is that anyone can edit it. So one may find facts there that are hard to find anywhere else; and at the same time, one must take everything on Wikipedia with a grain of salt. Quite frustrating. However, you can bet if the subject is a well known one, the information at Wiki is not bad. But when you get into who designed a 1928 atmospheric theater, how many people know the answer to that question now? I might be more trusting of a University website, but even there, did they just “lift” it from Wiki? Who knows.
I’m not getting involved in the argument, but……I would never use Wikipedia as a source document. Anyone with a mouse can update that. Now, if you were to say Britannica…….
Does that even still exist? :–)
Re: Lamb and the Loew’s: I know it in my bones, but I don’t have the time or the funds to research the matter. Look closely enough and one can just tell. Some people can tell a Picasso without having to refer to a book. I am almost certain the Rialto (Joliet), Chicago, and NY Paramount auditoriums are by Rapp & Rapp; and that the Fox in San Francisco, the Midland in Kansas City, and the Loew’s Jersey are by Lamb. Lamb’s theatres are generally more well thought out and refined. There is a certain sense of unity about them that one doesn’t find in other such auditoriums. Re: Eberson and the Stanley — the reference is on Wikipedia under both the Stanley Theatre and John Eberson entries. It is also on the New Jersey City University website.
Also, where’s the proof/citation as to Eberson and the Stanley?
No evidence that Lamb worked here. Architects, and their associates, saw what other architects were doing, and perhaps emulated. As to the Stanley, it is a church and like most others (United Artists in downtown LA, Loews 175th etc) it doesn’t show movies. The Loews Jersey does and for that, we are all fortunate.
Yes, the firm of Rapp & Rapp designed the theatre, but who was the architect? I suspect that there was a consulting architect for the auditorium and that he was Thomas W. Lamb. If it looks like a Lamb, and acts like a Lamb, is it a Lamb? Agreed that the lobby is most definitely Rapp & Rapp. It looks very similar to the Rialto in Joliet. (Too bad the lower lounge never got built at the Loew’s Jersey.) But that Jersey auditorium, from the proscenium cameos down to the orchestra floor damask walls, looks for all the world like Loew’s Midland and The Fox Theatre, San Francisco, two theatres by Lamb, in my opinion.
I used to wonder the same thing about the Stanley across the street. I thought to myself, this looks A LOT like an Eberson auditorium, even though the theatre was designed by Frank Wentworth. Come to find out, years later, that Eberson was in fact a consulting architect for the Stanley. I also wish that more was done with the Stanley, another truly great American theatre. It has been beautifully restored but would a movie hurt it so much now and then? Why can’t it be used for its original purpose even once a year? Just a thought. The Stanley is as great or greater than that other vast atmospheric, the Fox Theatre, Atlanta. Sorry to go off topic, but I did so in order to make my point about Eberson.
No, this is definitely designed by the firm of Rapp and Rapp. It’s a documented fact. The style is similar to some of Lamb’s theatres which might be what’s confusing you.
Was this really designed by Rapp and Rapp? It sure looks like Lamb. I’m probably wrong, but just take a look.
That makes me made that Universal has an inferior transfer of FMTW on DVD when there’s better elements out there, but I guess in their greed they’ll ask us to buy it on Blu-ray next year or something.