Montauk Theatre
715 Main Avenue,
Passaic,
NJ
07055
715 Main Avenue,
Passaic,
NJ
07055
9 people
favorited this theater
Showing 151 - 175 of 180 comments
My uncle, Harry Stein, owned the block along Main Ave from Henry St to Madison St. He demolished the old Montauk and opened the new theater in 1927. Next door, was the Ritz Restaurant (closed in mid 1960’s) and on Henry ST. side was the Hotel Lincoln and upstairs the Ritz Ballroom. When he died in 1952, the Passaic Herald News listed him as Passaic’s largest taxpayer. The family sold the building about 1966-67. As far as the cicuit, Uncle Harry was associated with the Stanley-Warner circuit in the 1920’s. He also owned the Rialto Theater(later named the Lincoln) on Lexington Avenue.
I attended Number 11 School, in the Second Ward, perhaps the closest school to the Passic movie district including the Montauk Theater. Now, this is the 1950’s, I am talking about. In the middle of one block of Monroe Street near Myrtle Avenue was a gas station with a tall billboard facing #11’s playground. I will not go so far as to say that every ad on that billboard advertised a movie to us kids, but I only remember movie advertisements in that super spot for movie advertisements. Whoever in the movie industry placed those ads there was an advertising genius. Errol Flynn, saber in hand, dressed and posed as a dashing pirate comes to mind.
I GREW UP IN PASSAIC PARK IN THE 50’S. BRENNAN’S ICE CREAM PARLOR WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE THEATRE W ACCESS. ON THE LEFT WAS THE NY BUS TRANSIT TICKET OFFICE. AROUND THE CORNER ON HENRY ST WAS THE BALLROOM ENTRANCE, THE LINCOLN HOTEL,LINCOLN BARBER SHOP AND LINCOLN BAR & GRILL. MY DAD OWNED THE BARBER SHOP. HAIRCUTS WERE A BUCK. ACROSS THE STREET WAS BLACKMANS (UPSTAIRS) POOL HALL, JACKS TV, AND A JEWISH DELACATESSEN ON THE CORNER THAT MADE THE BEST PASTRAMI & RYE SANDWICHES YOU COULD IMAGINE. BUS RIDE WAS A DIME. WENT TO THE MONTAUK, CENTRAL, & CAPITOL THEATRES ALL THE TIME. CARTOON 1ST, THEN FEATURE SHOW. 25 CENTS OR SO. ERIE LAKAWANA TRAIN TRACKS RAN THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF MAIN AVENUE (WHERE THE CURRENT PARKING IS).
PASSAIC WAS THE BEST,AND VERY SAFE. THE MONTAUK HAD A RED DESIGN CARPET UP A SLOAPING ENTRANCE THROUGH BRASS & GLASS DOORS. IST CARTOON I REMEMBER WAS CHICKEN LITTLE & THE SKY IS FALLING WITH HENNY PENNY & LOOSEY GOOSEY. OLD YELLER THE IST MOVIE. MONTAUK WAS HUGE INSIDE. MISS IT.
In the 80s, the balcony consisted of a small dark room in the center, some stools along the wall, and a small restroom for men at the top of the back stairs. Around 1992 or so they renovated the other bathroom, at the top of the front stairs, that had always been locked, and that revealed beautiful marble stalls, with a small lounge at the entrance. They converted the dark room into a small video room with chairs and screened male porn, while the downstairs main theater showed straight porn. A few years ago, I heard they installed booths upstairs, so that may be why they are prohibited from opening the balcony.
I grew up in Passaic in the 1950s and at that time we had five thriving movie theaters: the central theater district had the
Capitol, Central, Lincoln, and Montauk, while the Palace was in Dundee. Movies changed weekly. Two new movies a week. With
one admission you could stay as long as you liked. I went every
Saturday. Most memorable movie at the Montauk was, in 3D, The
Charge at Feather River (or something like that). More about
the great days in Passaic at
http://www.extremecrossword.com/hoops/hoops4.html
CConnolly;
Thanks for that advise. Looks like I will be taking dave-bronx advise and take the #190 NJ Transit bus from Port Terminal
To Robt: Passaic has certainly seen better days. While it’s appearance is tired, it’s not quite a hell hole. The downtown area where the Montauk is located is at least USED by people. On a Saturday afternoon, the downtown area is packed. Yes, it’s more like downtown Brooklyn and such but the point is that it’s NOT a ghost town at all.
If one wants to go there, I must emphasize NOT to take NJ Transit RAIL to get there. Though there is a stop on what is called the MAIN line to Passaic, the train stop is actually very far west in the city in an area called Passaic Park. IF you got off at that stop you’d think everyone got it wrong saying how decrepit Passiac is. It’s a beautiful area in Passaic that is mostly home to Hassidic Jews. They’ve maintained this lovely area splendidly. BUT it’s quite a hike to the downtown Passaic area where the Montauk is.
Just giving some advice…
It must have been completely stripped down to the frame and rebuilt. Above it mentions the entrance used to be on Madison St., but from the looks of the building and shape of the roofline now, I’d say the Madison St wall is probably the stagehouse.
Another comment: I wrote above that the building complex went through a renovation in the twenties. It’s more accurate to say it went through a restructuring, hence the on-line note about it dating from 1924. Someone else told me 1926. I’m just piecing all this together.
KenRoe,
Glad to pass on information about this cinema treasure. In my last post: “If someone wants to go in there…” I was refering to the theater, not the balcony. The manager was friendly to me and a very smart guy. I don’t think he’ll let people up to the balcony, though. He clearly loves the Montauk.
Robt;
Many thanks for your description and observations. This makes me even more determined to visit this theatre on my next visit to NYC. The manager sounds like he’s a helpful and friendly guy?. I will purchase my admission ticket, then chat to him and he may allow me access to the balcony area? I hope so, this really sounds like it’s my kinda theatre!
The Montauk Theater is housed in a building complex that spans the block between Henry St. and Madison St. on Main Ave. in Passaic. In addition to the theater, the building complex includes stores along Main Ave., unoccupied office space above the stores, a small hotel, and an unused, very old ballroom that was converted into a disco in the 80’s. The Montauk Theater, circa 1905, had its original entrance on Madison St. Currently this face of the theater is bricked off. The theater’s marquee and entrance is now on Main Ave. toward the Henry St. side. There is also currently a service entrance to the Montauk on Henry St. which used to be the theater’s main entrance at another point in its history, not sure exactly when.
The building complex, which has two architectural design segments along Main Ave., went through a renovation in the mid-twenties. According to the manager of the Montauk Theater, who is the source for my historical information, the current theater is the original vaudeville theater, spanning from Madison Ave. to Henry St. It has had renovations over the years, exactly when he is not sure. The rest of the details I have observed for myself.
The Montauk has been reopened for just over a year, and in accordance with many new restrictions, it is closely video and security guard monitored and shows straight porn only. The balcony is closed. If someone wants to go in there to see the theater as a paying customer, no one is going to bother you. It is not identified as a gay theater. The town itself is run down, but you can easily park in the center section of Main Ave. right in front of the theater in metered-type parking for up to two hours before you have to put in more quarters. Like I said, this is one to see.
According to a website on the history of Passaic, NJ http://www.tccweb.org/passiac.htm (article by City Historian; Mark S. Auerbach), the original Montauk (vaudeville) Theatre located on the corner of Madison St and Main Ave was replaced by the current Montauk Theatre which was built in 1924.
I live in northern NJ and older neighbors told me that during the 50’s, downtown Passaic (and Paterson) were wonderful. They were THE places to go and even more amazingly, to live.
Weird to think that only 10 or so short years could pass and area can decline so quickly.
And there was the Palace on Market Street, which is still standing.
The Montauk is the least of downtown Passaic’s problems. I used to go there all the time in the late sixties/early seventies, and it was just starting to go downhill. The Central was the theater I often visited, and they had a mix of black exploitation, kung fu and horror movies. McDonalds now occupies that site.
Thanks Dave, It will have to be the bus, being I don’t drive (no need for a car here in London).
When the Montauk was on vaudeville, did it belong to a major circuit? If it was it could have been designed by a major architect! Therefore it could be a candidate for historic listing?
KenRoe:
You can get to Passaic by car, about a half-hour ride (Lincoln Tunnel /I-495 to Rt. 3 west to Rt. 21 north. Or from the Port Authority get the NJ Transit 190 bus.
Have you ever been to Passaic NJ?? The city honchos, in in their infinate wisdom, closed the theatre claiming it drew a bad element from other NJ towns and even NYC. Whatever was or was not going on there at the Montauk was INDOORS and out of sight of the general public. Meantime, they have done nothing about the prostitutes, junkies and gangs, who are residents of the town and not customers the theatre, wandering aimlessly around the streets harrassing passers-by, breaking into cars and area houses. They were still hanging around after the theatre was closed, thereby shooting down the theory that the town would improve if only they could get rid of that damn porno theatre. It always amazes me that the pols ignore the obvious when it comes to ‘civic improvement’. I’m sure they’re still scraching their pointed little heads wondering why Passaic did not blossom into a ‘new Upper Saddle River’ after the theatre closed. All that was accomplished by closing the Montauk was they chased away what few visitors that town had managed to attract. Perhaps they have reconsidered, or more likely, they need the tax revenue….
I have no objection to the present use of the Montauk. It’s certain that porn has been a factor in keeping hundreds of theaters standing years after they might otherwise have met the wrecking ball. Here’s an ironic thought, though: I would love to see the interior of the Montauk, but I’m afraid I’m not broad-minded enough to attend a gay porn theater. If only they could have an occasional “open house” event with a mainstream or oldie film. Meanwhile I hope that the gay community continues to patronize it —– it IS a treasure.
This sounds like if it was restored it would be a real treasure.
I will be over in New York City in June and hope to go along to the Montauk Theatre. Not knowing the area, can anyone tell me please if it is far to travel to Passaic from NYC? and is it accessable by public transport by train or bus? I hope it is still open so I can get inside.
Anyone know who the architect was? It sounds like its a most interesting building.
The Montauk Theater is currently open but possibly not for long. Check it out even if you don’t like pornography which it now shows. The Montauk is a 100 year old vaudeville theater that was top of the line for its day and still features a marble lobby with bronze doors, deco wall sconces, marble Corinthian columns, silk wall covering, a sunken orchestra pit with balastrade, and an arched, ornate ceiling with central chandelier. It has graceful dimensions and concert hall quality acoustics. Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor and all the vaudeville greats performed there. Catch it while you can!
Theatrebuff;
You have my full support and I empathize with your feelings totally, as possibly many others on this site do too? I have just added many former gay male porn cinemas in New York, Florida and San Francisco to the site. Some of course were former regular movie theaters like the Montauk once was. This is a better use for an old theater than being carved up into yet another drug store etc or demolition.
42nd St and the Times Sq area has certainly ‘lost it’ as far as I’m concerned. It used to be the heart of NYC which gave it the edgy feel which made it an exciting place to visit. Now its about as exciting as a ride on the horse drawn street car on Main St, Disneyland!
Keep on supporting the Montauk, your $$’s MAY make all the difference to the future of the building. I will be doing the same when in West Hollywood in a couple of weeks time at the Tomcat Theatre (former Monica Theatre)
Happy New Year to All Theatre and Cinema Treasures enthusiasts.
I hope this board isn’t run by a bunch of close-minded homophobes:
I for one was a very happy customer when this place was showing porn,
and I’m very happy to hear that they’re back in business.
See, I’m gay, I love old theatres, and I love watching porn on a big
screen and getting to meet other guys too.
I think it’s truly sad that the radical christian fundamentalists want to
suppress sexuality, and it’s about time that some smart business person
takes an interest in this grand old theatre and brings the porn back.
I’m heading over there for the first time in years and hope that this
place offers some relief from the predictable, sex-starved sterility that
the NY-NJ metro area has degenerated to in the era of Bush and Giuliani.
I saw Mary Poppins at the Montauk along with a Jerry Lewis movie, can’t recall the title.