Paramount Theatre
195 Market Street,
Newark,
NJ
07102
195 Market Street,
Newark,
NJ
07102
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Here is a 2004 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y8a77br
Does anyone have contact info for Morris Shasho? I’m trying to dig it up but to no avail.
Thanks!
Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/leebs3
I was at the Rock recently for an afternoon event. You can get a good clear elevated view of the Paramount from inside the glass walled concourse.
Here is a 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dkon8y
Here is the link to that story:
View link
In todays Star Ledger, there is an article about a gentleman who purchased this theatre for 2 million dollars and wants to bring it back to its former glory. He said however that he is not against putting all retail in it if his plans for a theatre fall through.
It shows him standing under the marquee.
I just attended the Tina Turner concert at The Prudential Center. I took the PATH from Manhattan to Newark Penn Station and walked to the arena which was about a 7 minute walk. Newark is showing a much better face though there is still so much more to do. Just past the arena on Market Street I could see the Marquee of the old Paramount sticking out of a forlorn stretch of this boulevard. I was thinking……..Just as people come to The Rock to attend events, they could just as easily come to a renovated Paramount. That is, if there is enough there to renovate. At under 2,000 seats, the Paramount could cater to shows too small for either the Rock or NJPAC and it would be boost to Market Street which I couldn’t make out (since it was dark) but looked like it was in need of a lot of help! A Lot!
I don’t see the fact that no seats are remaining would be a hindrance to resotring this theater. Many of the old theater seats are too small for today’s rather larger patorns and need more legroom so it would be better if the seats were replaced even if the originals were still there.
This theater appears better situated than the Adams to be Newark’s “Theater” but Newark still has work to do to make itself more inviting and welcoming. Cory has his hands full, but I applaud his efforts and wish him luck. In the right hands, Newark will have a bright future as the oil crisis forces people and businesses to live and work in areas that have superior access to mass transit as Newark does.
Heh, the 1922 postcard that TC links to above is the same one I got off eBay. Here’s a better look at it (I removed the rubber stamp, but if you prefer the original, that’s right behind it in my Flickrstream):
View link
I have a hard time figuring out which building is the theater, as it doesn’t look like the Newark in the older postcards, nor like anything in the photos. Feel free to add a note to the picture.
Only twice? Newark must have improved since the last time I was there.
Ken, was there Sunday and the new signage is correct for the furniture store. The doors were open and I walked in, up the incline to almost the back of former lobby, lots of noise but did not see anyone, I was gonna brave a walk to the auditorium area but decided against it and retreated, was panhandled twice before I hit the street.
There are some photos of the theater towards the bottom of this page. An internet search shows Paramount Furniture at this address, but I can’t confirm that the furniture store has replaced the army-navy store:
http://tinyurl.com/2h4tw7
What a shame to let this place rot…was in the store a few years ago and you can see how in the outer lobby they just cut the brass poles out of the floor leaving an inch or two sticking up and cracked tiles. You would think with Newarks “renaissance” the Bears stadium, NJPAC,Pru arena that a million would have brought the Paramount back as some sort of entertainment venue. Any takers? call me.
1922 postcard:
View link
What a shame that no seats exist. With the opening of the Prudential Arena 2 blocks away, I had visions of this grand old palace coming back to life to entertain folks once more. I guess it was just wishful thinking.
We went to the former Paramount one week ago and they are doing work on the shops that occupies the former lobby (no closing anyway).
The friendly manager accepted us to take a quick look thru orchestra floor (no remaining seats) to the auditorium which is not in too bad shape, even if there are some holes in the ceiling. The architectural style inside is pretty classic, painted red and white and not art deco like the façade.
Then I guess his name is only part of this theatre’s history.
So sad that this former Thomas Lamb theatre is now an Army Navy store.
A postcard view of the Newark Theatre from the turn of century; late 1890’s – early 1900’s:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/438989707/
Jerry Lewis worked at the Newark Paramount theater as an usher before his later successes.
Bryan: Many thanks! BTW, I’m enjoying Dean and Me very much.
I am reading Dean and Me by Jerry Lewis and a Paramount Theatre was mentioned along with the Roxy Theatre. Is this Paramount the one or was there a Paramount on Manhattan in the 40’s? Dean and Me is a wonderful read and a wonderful tribute to Dean, Jerry’s partner of 10 years from 1946-1956.
Here’s a bit better photo that TC linked to above.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tsmyther/45525695/