Glassboro Theatre
100-108 E. High Street,
Glassboro,
NJ
08028
100-108 E. High Street,
Glassboro,
NJ
08028
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 20 comments
T he project began in planning as the Delsea Theatre. Just two months prior to it announced opening, the owners were gone and the project stalled. I. Mayer picked up the project renaming it as the Roxy. The Roxy opened with “Glorious Betsy” on September 21, 1928. The operator quickly went bankrupt forcing a sheriffs sale. It reopened April 23, 1930 with sound, a new operator, and a new name: the Glassboro Theatre.
I found an article about this theater as well as how it looked when it was first built:
https://gmm.glassborohistory.org/items/show/229
The top information is not entirely correct. Maybe it was closed in the 70s for a while, but the Glassboro Theater was very much open for at least the first five years of the 80s, as an adult theater. I never went inside but it was open full time back then.
Status should be changed to DEMOLISHED.
Well, sad news for this one. Drove past a few nights ago and this classic theater was turned into a fenced-off pile of rubble. Great job, Glassboro!
I just can’t believe that, as close as they are to Rowan, it could not be turned into a viable theater is beyond me. A sad day.
This theater has sadly met its end…It was demolished on November 5, 2013. I added a picture of it being torn down
im looking for locations for a youth non profit organization to base out of im interested in purchasing the theater, anyone know how i would go about that?
This building is in serious disrepair, the roof has recently collapsed over the auditorium portion which can actually be seen in Ariel photographs. Someone has stolen all of the air conditioning components (For copper) on the side of the building (near the office complexes on the post office side)-which are now also vacant. The last remaining store “Naydene’s Accessories” was relocated in 2007. There are no longer tenants in the second floor apartments, and due to constant vandalism the front 1970’s doors had to be boarded over (so you cannot even peek inside anymore). Sadly, I have heard rumors that this plot is being slotted for modern development proposed by Rowan’s Universities downtown revitalization program.
Now for some less sad memories: – I remember up until 2006 it was used as a Christian church meeting hall and would be regularly open to the public, I used to be able to see into the lobby as I road my bike to work (nothing spectacular- just fluorescent lights and blue walls). -I also saw in a Glassboro historical record that the shop on the right side was the “Glassboro Electric Company” which is were, I guess you would go to pay your bill. -The property was for sale in 2000 for approx $145,000 and was purchased- used briefly. -It also hosted boxing matches in the late 1980’s- early 1990’s
I wonder if the carbon- arc projector is still in the building? With its antique electrical components.
Does anyone have a nice picture of this theater when it was open for business? My father used to run this business and the Pitman theater for Duffy. Duffy was like a father to him. My dad started working for Duffy when he was 12 yrs old or so. I would like to give him a nice picture of this theater or even a nice photo of Duffy. My dad hadn’t seen Duffy for many years because of him moving away and was not able to see him before he died. I have searched the internet for photos of this theater when it looked nice or photos of Duffy and have come up empty handed. Please help!!!
Here is a marquee photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ydsepqu
With the proximity of this theater to Rowan University, I am shocked that someone has not stepped up and make this work as a movie house. New/old/live/whatever. I saw a boxing match there a decade ago, and it looked OK then.
Looks like the Borough of Glassboro purchased this property on 4/20/2007 for $420k. Actual address is 100-108 E. High Street. This theater has been shuttered for years with the front entrance (sort of) boarded up and no signs of any real activity. The building appears solid and secure, but there is no telling what it looks like inside. There is an interesting remark on the record of a previous sale (on 11/7/2003 for $270k) that states “Usable”, which sends the imagination reeling with the possibilities. If anyone is interested in an up-to-the-moment picture of this property, please let me know (I drive past it all the time.)
any info on the condition of this location or who owns the space
Anyone know who owns the theater now or have any idea how one would go about getting a tour of the building?
I worked at this theater, as well as the Broadway theater in Pitman, during the mid 80s. Both at the time were operated by Duffy Platt. In fact, his mother had an apartment directly above the Glassboro theater. During my time there, 1985-1986, the theater went from showing X-rated Adult films, to second or third-run feature films. The movies were shown using an old carbon arc amp projector; the projectionist had to constantly, manually, adjust the rod, and it wasn’t unusual to have strips of film suddenly catch on fire
On a collector’s note: Duffy Platt had saved practically every movie poster, arranged alpahbetically, stacked in dusty crates, from the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. B-movies, Porn, Disney — you name it. I was astonished one night to discover, laying on the floor, collecting dust, a gigantic, oversized original Disney poster for Fanstasia — complete with original psychedelic design. Later, after he sold the theater, I heard that he sold his poster collection for one lump sum, probably completely unaware of its value.
This was a Milgram theater in the late sixties.
View link
View link
Recent photos
A recent small photo can be found on page 8 of this link:
View link
Movie program from 1933:
Cover:
View link
Inside:
View link