RKO Palace Theatre
179 S. Broad Street,
Trenton,
NJ
08608
1 person favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: RKO, Walter Reade Theatres
Architects: Paul J. Henon, Jr., William H. Hoffman
Firms: Hoffman-Henon Co.
Previous Names: Broad Street Theatre, Grand Theatre, Reade's Palace Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Originally opened as the Broad Street Theatre on February 17, 1912. By 1917 it had been renamed Grand Theatre. It possibly went through a renovation and re-opened on April 29, 1923 as Reade’s Palace Theatre. In 1937, it was taken over by RKO. Listed as open in the 1951 Film Daily Yearbook, this theatre probably closed in the late-1960’s or early-1970’s. It has been demolished and a courthouse was built on the site.
From MikeH’s post on the Trenton Strand:
“The last downtown RKO theatre was several blocks further south on S. Broad Street which was called the RKO Palace Theatre. It wasn’t an important first-run house but it was fairly big and ornate. It also had one of those big marquees. Here again, I don’t remember ever having been in this theatre but I could have”.
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Original name was the Grand Theatre.
trentonhistory.org
“Grand Theatre, (Benjamin Levine & Joseph Levine), 179 S Broad”
listing in the 1920 Trenton City Directory as hosted by trentonhistory.org. I belive that the Levines were the managers.
Per philadelphiabuildings.org, architect was Hoffman-Henon Co. They prepared plans on 3/17/1920 for the Stanley Co. of America for a new movie theater (not named) at Broad & Warren Streets.
Listed as the Grand Theatre on page 126 of the 1917 Trenton City Directory under “Moving Pictures”. Address is given as 181 S. Broad.
By the time the 1923 Trenton City Directory was published, it was called Reade’s Palace.
Broad and Warren Streets do not cross in Trenton.
The Trent Theater was a few doors from the intersection of State and Warren, and the Lincoln was next to the Trent…
This opened on April 24th, 1923. Grand opening ad posted here.
Reopened on October 1st, 1937, ad posted here.
An archival drawing of the the theater as the Broad Street/Grand Theater: View link
There is a very old picture of the RKO Palace as the Broadstreet Theatre on this webpage. It is below the pictures of the Majestic and will enlarge if clicked upon.