I would bet the chandeliers hadn’t been lowered for cleaning or re-lamping in 50+ years. They would have had to go up in the catwalks and loosen the rigging to bring them down.
Are there any traces of the organ’s Echo Chamber in that photo posted by Jeff yesterday at 5:25? If it was above the projection booth, it’s gone.
Mikeymike: glad to share the clippings, wish they were better quality. Do you know if the chandeliers were salvaged? There’s a similar theater in Suffern, New York that could use them.
Alex, I agree with you. The theater had such a stigma from it’s 30+ years of porno, most people thought it was a sleazy dump! Little did anyone realize how intact and well maintained the interior was.
Oh man, the Passaic Book Center. Many a Saturday morning was spent there followed by a trip to the Central for a matinee. By time I was going, both the Capitol and Montauk were running porno so the Central was the only game in town.
I had never seen a single screen theater of this vintage in such great shape.
Stupid shortsighted fools.
From looking under the marquee into the outer lobby, it looks like the place was stripped. The ornate wooden poster cases were taken off the walls. I wonder if the stained glass survived? Were the chandeliers saved?
You walk around Passaic and see high school kids with baby carriages. The new immigrants are having lots of children at a rapid rate.
BUT – this rare surviving single screen theater should have been saved. With all the “junk” buildings in Passaic, they had to tear this down for a new school?
The Montauk is half gone. The balcony, projection booth and lobby are rubble. All that remain is the marquee, outer lobby, auditorium, proscenium and stage. You can see the remains from the street and it was in great shape.
Interesting post, but “Scared to Death” was in 2 color Cinecolor and was Lugosi’s only starring color feature. I restored it and released it on laser disc many years ago.
In the early 1950’s, the organ from this theater was purchased by Leon Berry and installed in his basement. One of the very first stereo album releases was “Leon Berry at the Giant Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, volume 3” released March 31, 1958 on Audio Fidelity records – AFSD, 5844.
To me, it lost all it’s charm when it was cut up. I live less than a mile away and used to go quite often when it was a single. Since the dividing, I’ve gone once!
Wasn’t CALAMITY JANE the last feature film/stage show combo at the Paramount? I believe there were occasional stage attractions after that, but this ended the weekly combo shows.
In 1954, audio pioneer Emory Cook recorded an album in binaural stereo at the Hudson Theater. It featured a complete burlesque performance including the lobby barker and comedy sketches. Segments can be heard on this site:
I’m pretty sure there are still some Nickelodeon locations in Passaic, New Jersey, about 12 miles west of New York City. I have the addresses and can check out the buildings this weekend, if you’d like.
I wish they would show these films in the intended theatrical aspect ratio. THE BLOB is protected for 1.37 academy, but intended for 1.85 widescreen. That’s why some of the effects shots are hard-matted.
I would bet the chandeliers hadn’t been lowered for cleaning or re-lamping in 50+ years. They would have had to go up in the catwalks and loosen the rigging to bring them down.
Are there any traces of the organ’s Echo Chamber in that photo posted by Jeff yesterday at 5:25? If it was above the projection booth, it’s gone.
Mikeymike: glad to share the clippings, wish they were better quality. Do you know if the chandeliers were salvaged? There’s a similar theater in Suffern, New York that could use them.
January 29, 1924: bottom
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January 29, 1924: top
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Terrific shot Jeff, thanks for sharing.
My earliest movie going memory was seeing “Planet of the Apes” at the Montauk in 1968 so I caught the tail end of the good years.
Alex, I agree with you. The theater had such a stigma from it’s 30+ years of porno, most people thought it was a sleazy dump! Little did anyone realize how intact and well maintained the interior was.
Oh man, the Passaic Book Center. Many a Saturday morning was spent there followed by a trip to the Central for a matinee. By time I was going, both the Capitol and Montauk were running porno so the Central was the only game in town.
Mikeymike: I’m SO glad you took the pictures that you did while the theater was still intact. Thank you!
Here’s a reminder of what was lost:
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I had never seen a single screen theater of this vintage in such great shape.
Stupid shortsighted fools.
From looking under the marquee into the outer lobby, it looks like the place was stripped. The ornate wooden poster cases were taken off the walls. I wonder if the stained glass survived? Were the chandeliers saved?
You walk around Passaic and see high school kids with baby carriages. The new immigrants are having lots of children at a rapid rate.
BUT – this rare surviving single screen theater should have been saved. With all the “junk” buildings in Passaic, they had to tear this down for a new school?
The Montauk is half gone. The balcony, projection booth and lobby are rubble. All that remain is the marquee, outer lobby, auditorium, proscenium and stage. You can see the remains from the street and it was in great shape.
Nice going, Passaic.
Somehow selling out a 50 seat theater is NOT that impressive! The Allwood was a nice single screen neighborhood house, but since then?
Interesting post, but “Scared to Death” was in 2 color Cinecolor and was Lugosi’s only starring color feature. I restored it and released it on laser disc many years ago.
I knew someone that attended one of these shows and said the theater was only about 40% filled.
In the early 1950’s, the organ from this theater was purchased by Leon Berry and installed in his basement. One of the very first stereo album releases was “Leon Berry at the Giant Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, volume 3” released March 31, 1958 on Audio Fidelity records – AFSD, 5844.
Boy, Dean and Jerry sure got around!
Tinseltoes: you always post such fascinating and important information. Thank you SO much for sharing!
To me, it lost all it’s charm when it was cut up. I live less than a mile away and used to go quite often when it was a single. Since the dividing, I’ve gone once!
Wasn’t CALAMITY JANE the last feature film/stage show combo at the Paramount? I believe there were occasional stage attractions after that, but this ended the weekly combo shows.
In 1954, audio pioneer Emory Cook recorded an album in binaural stereo at the Hudson Theater. It featured a complete burlesque performance including the lobby barker and comedy sketches. Segments can be heard on this site:
View link
Students of comedy may recognize the voice of Joe DeRita in the sketches. Within a few years, he was a member of the 3 Stooges!
I’m pretty sure there are still some Nickelodeon locations in Passaic, New Jersey, about 12 miles west of New York City. I have the addresses and can check out the buildings this weekend, if you’d like.
TIME MACHINE was shown widescreen in the standard 1.85 ratio.
That old tube equipment sells for mega bucks in Japan.
I wish they would show these films in the intended theatrical aspect ratio. THE BLOB is protected for 1.37 academy, but intended for 1.85 widescreen. That’s why some of the effects shots are hard-matted.
The Montauk opens: January 30, 1924.
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