Grove Theatre
55 N. Broad Street,
Penns Grove,
NJ
08069
55 N. Broad Street,
Penns Grove,
NJ
08069
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Atlantic Theatres
Functions: Church
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Funhouse, Earle Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Opened by the Atlantic Theatres chain on August 16, 1940. This theatre was known to locals as the “New Movie”. It was renamed Funhouse on June 27, 1973 screening Burt Lancaster in “Scorpio”. It was closed on March 12, 1974. On September 11, 1974 it reopened as the Earle Theatre with Julie Andrews in “The Sound of Music” and had a reportory program, but that policy failed and it went over to screening adult movies. It was closed on November 17, 1974 with the X-Rated animation features “Fritz the Cat” & “Heavy Traffic”.
Since at least 2008 it has been occupied by a church and outreach center.
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
http://upnhistory.org/MerchantsBook10A.html
Specifically from the site just posted:
Grove Theater 55 North Broad Street, Frank Bolden, manager
Although, 53 worked better than 55 in Google maps.
The link is from the Penns Grove Historical Society and has some other info about their local theatres over the years.
Looks like they have a show clipping for this theatre, “Godzilla vs The Thing in Colorscope and Voyage to the end of the Universe”
Atlantic Theatres Inc. circuit launched the Grove Theatre on August 16, 1940 as a streamline moderne alternative to its existing Broad Theatre. The Broad was closed that night for a major streamline moderne refresh.
The theatre completed two 20-year leasing agreements. But the venue scuffled in the 1970s. It first became the FunHouse, a “Hooray Cinema” concept tried out in several local and aging movie houses. That started June 27, 1973 with “Scorpio” playing a discount run. That ended nine months later on March 12, 1974 with a discount double feature chopsocky/blaxploitation pairing “That Man Bolt” and “Trick Baby.” Hooray.
On September 11, 1974, the Grove reopened as the Earle Theatre playing repertory shows here with “Sound of Music.” When that failed to draw customers, they went X-rated fare which met with local displeasure. The Earle made it just two months closing November 17, 1974 with “Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat” and “Heavy Traffic.” Its entry certainly should remain the Grove Theatre.