Towne Cinema
619 Atlantic Avenue,
Atlantic City,
NJ
08401
619 Atlantic Avenue,
Atlantic City,
NJ
08401
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Frank Theatres
Previous Names: Libery Theatre, Astor Theatre
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Located far uptown on Atlantic Avenue. Opened prior to 1914 as the Liberty Theatre. From May 16, 1931 it was known as the Astor Theatre opening with Jack Holt in “The Last Parade” & Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in “Another Fine Mess”. It was operated by Sam Shapiro until it closed in 1968. It reopened as the Towne Cinema on March 26, 1969 which closed on September 7, 1970. It reopened on July 30, 1971, but was closed on November 9, 1971 with Frank Morgan in “A Stranger in Town” & Tony Anthony in “The Stranger Returns”. It was destroyed by fire on July 29, 1975.
Contributed by
RickB
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
It was on Atlantic Ave, Between New Jersey & Delaware Aveenues. I believe that Al & Barbera Frank acquied it in the late sixties. They changed the name from Astor to Towne Cinema. They were following the same trend that the Charles did. It was their entry into the Atlantic City Market. When in Oct. 1969, they opened the brand new Towne Twin located next to the Atlantic Drive-in, near Pleasantville, The Towne Cinema lost it’s luster in a hurry. In 1971 “The Franks” leased the Towne Cinema to Luis Hernandez. He ran as a discount 3rd run house showing old James Bond 007 films. I was helping him learn to run the equipment. The Union looked the other way. The Booth equipment was Simplex E-7’s, Peerless Magnars’s & Motor Generator. The E-7’s were moved to the Margate when it became a twin in 1973. The Towne Cinema was closed by then.
I guess I didn’t go uptown much in those days. I don’t recall this place.
In 1914 the Liberty Theatre is listed at 617 Atlantic Ave. Possibly a previous name for this theatre.
This theatre was located on the north side of Atlantic Avenue between Connecticut and NJ Avenues. It was torn down around 1977; a 7-11 was built on the site. That’s the 7-11 building next to AC Home Furnishing store in the above picture; I’m not sure when 7-11 closed.
Reopened as Towne on June 30th, 1971, and its listings ended in late 1971. Ad posted.
Closed as Astor in 1968
Reopened as Astor on May 16th, 1931.
The theater had beautiful murals on the ceiling. The fireman comment the day after the fire that it was horrible watching the beautiful ceiling collapse
The Liberty theatre opened on July 5th, 1913. Grand opening ad posted.
First reopening as the Towne Cinema was March 26, 1969 with “The Fixer;” listings stop on September 7, 1970 with “Watermelon Man” and “The Liberation of L.B. Jones.” After the June 1971 reopening, the final listing in the Press was November 9, 1971, with “A Stranger in Town” and “The Stranger Returns.” Date of the fire was July 29, 1975.