Regent Theatre
12 Veterans Place,
Paterson,
NJ
07505
12 Veterans Place,
Paterson,
NJ
07505
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Related Websites
Passaic County Historical Society -- The Birth and Early Development of the Motion Picture
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fabian Theaters, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Architects: Fred Wesley Wentworth
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The first theatre in the county built exclusively for showing motion pictures was the Regent Theatre at 12 Union Street, Paterson, NJ (later renamed Veterans Place). This beautiful, modern amusement house was conceived and erected by Jacob Fabian of Paterson (his first theatre) who officially opened it to the public on August 24, 1914 with Robert Edeson in “The Call of the North”. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 2 manual 7 ranks organ. Believing that its huge cost would prove to be a great liability to Mr. Fabian, it was frequently referred to as “Fabian’s Folly” during the early days of its existence. In 1923 the Wurlitzer organ was replaced by a Griffith-Beach 3 manual organ. On March 27, 1926 this was replaced by a Wurlitzer 2 manual 7 ranks organ.
By 1941 the Regent Theatre was operated by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp. It was still open in early-1956, but was closed and almost immediately demolished on May 21, 1956. The site is now a parking lot.
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Listed as part of Stanley Warner Corp. in the 1956 Film Daily Yearbook.
Images of America: Downtown Paterson has a photo on page 62. It states that the site is now a parking lot.
1915 program cover:
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A Mighty WurliTzer Theater Pipe Organ, Opus 40, a 2 Manual/7 Rank was shipped to this theater on July 10, 1914. It is no know what happened to that organ.
A Griffith-Beach Pipe Organ 3 Manual, with echo. went to this theater in 1923. It is not know what happened to that organ.
Another WurliTzer, Opus 1304, another 2/7 was shipped to this theater on March 27, 1926. It is not know what happened to that organ.
If you know anything about any of these organs, please email us!
“Gee Dad, it was a WurliTzer/Griffith-Beach/WurliTzer!”
Click here for a photograph of the Regent Theatre taken in 1929 by George Mann of the comedy dance team, Barto & Mann.
The Union Street on which the Regent Theatre was located had its name changed to Veterans Place ages ago. Google Maps will not find this downtown location unless the street name Veterans Place is used in the address field.
Paterson, by Philip M. Read, attributes the design of the Regent Theatre to architect Fred W. Wentworth, who later designed several more theaters for Jacob Fabian.
On Friday 9 February 1951, Bela “Dracula” Lugosi presented his in person Horror and Magic Stage show at the Regent. Currently I am conducting research on all things Lugosi; if anyone out there actually saw this show and/or has memorabilia (poster, handbill, photos) related to this show, please contact Bill at lovingkindnessmusic@yahoo.com Thanks in advance for any assistance!
This opened on August 24th, 1914
Regent theatre opening Thu, Aug 20, 1914 – 12 · The News (Paterson, New Jersey, United States of America) · Newspapers.com
This is the first theatre in what became the Fabian theatre chain.