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 October 1972, the same day they closed the RKO Lincoln Theatre. It 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
tc
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Recent comments (view all 37 comments)
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
The above advertisement is from 1962.
Why is listed as RKKO Reade? Was it jointly owned with Walter Reade theaters
I see it listed as RKO Reade’s
A little bit of research provides the answer- back in the 1920’s it was known as Reade’s Trent theatre- so that name was on long before the formation of the Walter Reade company.
Walter Reade, Sr owned theatres, mainly in Asbury Park, NJ -so that could be the Reade in the name- but it was before the formation of the company.