The 1951 FDY doesn’t have a listing for the Orpheum. It lists a State theater at 53-39 Houten Street. Houten street doesn’t show up on Mapquest. Could this possibly be the same theater as the Orpheum?
Thanks for the interesting history on this theater. I have viewed movies here and thought from the decor that the theater was from the 1970s. I normally support older theaters but this one really needs to be replaced. I suspect this will happen soon with the new Home Depot and Applebee’s right next door. I am glad that the proposed theater for nearby Clnton got shot down; the highway exit there is not well designed and already clogged. This theater has a good central location but the crazy jughandle would need to be reconfigured.
The theater is currently owned by local movie buff and entrepreneur
Steve Kalafer, who also owns numerous car dealerships on Rt. 31/202.
I suspect that American Place Movies is his operating company for the theater.
Purchased in February 1998 by Jesse Sayegh, president of CJM Entertainment of Cedar Grove. The businessman purchased the movie theater from Cineplex Odeon, the company that owns cinemas at Menlo Park Mall in Edison and Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City.
Sayegh, who purchased the Rialto movie theater in Westfield in 1997, expanded the twin-screen Cranford Theatre to five screens, poured $600,000 to $700,000 worth of improvements into the cinema. The theater, built in the 1920s, was closed during the renovations.
teecee
commented about
Cinema 9on
Mar 22, 2005 at 4:15 am
Attached article puts the closing date as March 2003 and the opening date around 1980: View link
When Bob Jaspan bought the Elmora Theater in Elizabeth in 1986, he initially planned to relocate his hardware store there.
But a cry from residents convinced Jaspan, now a city councilman representing the Elmora section, to keep the silver screen and try to make a go of the former vaudeville stage.
Over the years, he ran two-for-one specials, held giveaways, reduced ticket prices to $3 and held monthly free screenings for senior citizens.
Jaspan stopped showing movies in 1995 and then rented to another church (Evangelistic Hispanic Church) before selling the theater.
After a $1 million restoration two decades ago, the theater hosted legendary performers such as Ray Charles and Johnny Cash.
Woody Allen used its distinctive black marquee as a backdrop in his film, “Sweet and Lowdown.”
Nice recent B&W photo:
View link
Photo at this link:
http://www.sandynpat.com/Kona2003/03kona_367.htm
2002 photo at this link:
View link
The 1951 FDY doesn’t have a listing for the Orpheum. It lists a State theater at 53-39 Houten Street. Houten street doesn’t show up on Mapquest. Could this possibly be the same theater as the Orpheum?
Nice story Vincent. Here is a complete text link:
http://www.homestead.com/biffsboards/Guiliano.html
Listed as open in the 1951 FDY.
Listed in the 1951 FDY.
Listed as the Rex in the 1951 FDY.
Not listed in the 1951 FDY.
Listed as open in the 1951 FDY.
Jim – thanks for all of your recent postings of NJ theaters.
Recent photo from 2003:
View link
2002 photo:
View link
Old image of the Paramount:
View link
Old images:
http://www.oldnewark.com/busind/theatre/newark.htm
View link
photo:
View link
Newer photo:
View link
Small view of the RKO Proctor’s sign in this vintage postcard:
View link
You can see the side of the building on the right of this old photo:
View link
Thanks for the interesting history on this theater. I have viewed movies here and thought from the decor that the theater was from the 1970s. I normally support older theaters but this one really needs to be replaced. I suspect this will happen soon with the new Home Depot and Applebee’s right next door. I am glad that the proposed theater for nearby Clnton got shot down; the highway exit there is not well designed and already clogged. This theater has a good central location but the crazy jughandle would need to be reconfigured.
The theater is currently owned by local movie buff and entrepreneur
Steve Kalafer, who also owns numerous car dealerships on Rt. 31/202.
I suspect that American Place Movies is his operating company for the theater.
Very small old photo at this link:
http://www.harkinstheatres.com/timeline.asp
Very small old photo at this link:
http://www.harkinstheatres.com/timeline.asp
Purchased in February 1998 by Jesse Sayegh, president of CJM Entertainment of Cedar Grove. The businessman purchased the movie theater from Cineplex Odeon, the company that owns cinemas at Menlo Park Mall in Edison and Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City.
Sayegh, who purchased the Rialto movie theater in Westfield in 1997, expanded the twin-screen Cranford Theatre to five screens, poured $600,000 to $700,000 worth of improvements into the cinema. The theater, built in the 1920s, was closed during the renovations.
Attached article puts the closing date as March 2003 and the opening date around 1980:
View link
When Bob Jaspan bought the Elmora Theater in Elizabeth in 1986, he initially planned to relocate his hardware store there.
But a cry from residents convinced Jaspan, now a city councilman representing the Elmora section, to keep the silver screen and try to make a go of the former vaudeville stage.
Over the years, he ran two-for-one specials, held giveaways, reduced ticket prices to $3 and held monthly free screenings for senior citizens.
Jaspan stopped showing movies in 1995 and then rented to another church (Evangelistic Hispanic Church) before selling the theater.
After a $1 million restoration two decades ago, the theater hosted legendary performers such as Ray Charles and Johnny Cash.
Woody Allen used its distinctive black marquee as a backdrop in his film, “Sweet and Lowdown.”