RKO Reade's Trent Theatre
17 N. Warren Street,
Trenton,
NJ
08608
17 N. Warren Street,
Trenton,
NJ
08608
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: RKO, Walter Reade Theatres
Architects: John Bailey McElfatrick
Firms: J. B. McElfatrick and Sons
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Trent Theatre
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Sep 21, 2009 — Remembering Cinerama (Part 41: Hartford)
The Trent Theatre opened December 7, 1903. It was closed in 1929 to allow renovations and install sound, reopening on November 9, 1929 with Bebe Daniels in “Rio Rita”. It was closed again on September 1, 1940 when it was given a Streamline Moderne style makeover, reopening on February 22, 1941 with Micky Rooney in “Andy Hardy’s Private Secretary”. This theatre was closed by RKO in 1972 and was demolished in 1976. It was replaced by parking and a part of a realigned Hanover Street and by 2008 the Roebling State Office Building had been built on the site.
From MikeH’s post on the Trenton Strand:
“About two doors closer to State Street (the main street of Trenton) was the Trent Theatre. Much smaller than the Lincoln Theatre, no balcony like the Lincoln Theatre, but a very nice house none the less. I’d guess maybe 900 to 1,000 seats. It was RKO’s #2 first run house, had a good run of product and was a successful theatre for years. I’d have to go back and look to see if the buildings are still there”.
Contributed by
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Recent comments (view all 34 comments)
I used to visit Frank Copper & his wife at his home, near Washington’s crossing. I think that he lived in Titusville?
Frank showed me how to make “carbon savers” from tin.
Wow, Tin Carbon Savers. That’s a new one for me. I know that theatre owners were cheap but saving a few bucks by making Tin butt savers is incredible. Did he actually use tin or aluminum foil? Tin has a very low melting point and I would question its use but only from a theoretical point of view. Seriously I’d like to know how to construct a Tin Butt Saver. The machined Butt Savers were very good and not that expensive. The thumb screw for locking the butt to the copper plating was quick and easy. I can remember my manager (Jack Kosharek) raising hell about long butts in the sand filled butt discard can. This may be selfish but I’d love to see more postings from ex-projectionists. Perhaps a “projectionist” thread?
Frank Cooper lived near the Ye Olde Washington Inn near the Crossing. He passed away some 10 years ago.
The current site of the Trent is the Roebling State Office Building.
I recently completed writing the biography of my great uncle, Bee Ho Gray. He was a Western performer from Indian Territory. He performed at the Trent Theatre during the week of January 27, 1916.
More information about him can be found at www.beehogray.com
Thanks,
Clark Gray
I grew up at the Lincoln and the Trent, as my Dad worked there from about 1962 until they closed in 1972. I also went to HS at Cathedral HS, which was a block away. I remember the entire school was taken to see Bullitt at the Trent or Lincoln (I can’t remember which) when I was a freshman in the spring of 1969.
I’m trying to confirm that Ted Healy (the founder of the Three Stooges), possibly under his birth name of Ernest or Lee, Nash, appeared at the Trent June 12 & 15, 1921. Please email me at Thanks, Frank Reighter
Wonderama was shown starting on April 8th, 1964, an knock-off of Cinerama.
The theater closed for renovations in 1929 reopening with sound and “Rio Rita” on November 9, 1929. It closed again for renovations following “They Drive By Night” on Sep. 1, 1940. It re-emerged Feb. 22, 1941 with a shocking streamline moderne look with “Andy Hardy’s Private Secretary.”
Wonderama
Wonderama opening 08 Apr 1964, Wed The Times (Trenton, New Jersey) Newspapers.com