![Cinema Treasures](/images/app/logo.png?1726509117)
Loew's Jersey Theatre
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
98 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Friends of the Loew's, Inc. (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Loew's Inc.
Architects: George W. Leslie Rapp
Firms: Rapp & Rapp
Styles: Baroque, Italian Renaissance
Previous Names: Loew's Jersey City Theatre, Loew's Jersey City 1-3
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
201.798.6055
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Oct 22, 2014 — 'The Shining' - Movie and Masquerade at Loew's Jersey Theatre
- Oct 8, 2014 — Of Monsters & Haunted Houses
- Sep 13, 2014 — 3 Classic Movies About the Movies at Loew's Jersey Theatre
- May 14, 2014 — Imagining the Future On The Big Screen
- May 10, 2014 — Tug of war over the Jersey
- Apr 24, 2014 — NY on screen at the Loew's Jersey - starting April 25
- Oct 27, 2013 — Major investment leads to Loew's Jersey
- Oct 22, 2013 — 3 Classic Horror Films on the Big Screen - Loew's Jersey Theatre
- Sep 17, 2013 — Three films that Cut to the Chase
- Sep 7, 2013 — Cutting To The Chase - On the Big Screen - Loew's Jersey Theatre
- May 21, 2013 — Sci-Fi and Ray Harryhausen at the Loew's Jersey
- Apr 23, 2013 — 'M*A*S*H' with Sally Kellerman In Person
- Apr 12, 2013 — Refractions of War - On Screen - Loew's Jersey Theatre
- Feb 9, 2013 — Tough Guys Playing (or Directing) For Laughs
- Jan 12, 2013 — Who-Done-It? at the Movies - 3 Very Different Takes On The Classic Genre
- Nov 20, 2012 — Movies, Music, & Santa at Loew's Jersey Theatre
- Nov 13, 2012 — 'Wings', 'Stairway to Heaven' and Don Murray & Keir Dullea in person - Loew's Jersey Theater
- May 26, 2012 — Fantasy weekend at the Loew's Jersey
- May 21, 2012 — 'The Producers' & 2 screwball comedies at the Loew's Jersey Theatre
- Jun 12, 2011 — New Photo Page!
- Apr 8, 2011 — Classic Sci-Fi at the Loew's Jersey
- Oct 15, 2009 — 3 Classic Horror Films at Loew's Jersey Theater - Oct. 23-24, 2009
- Jul 1, 2009 — Classic Film Theaters in New Jersey and New York?
- May 11, 2009 — 'The General' with live organ accompaniment - also 'It Happened One Night' and 'Dinner At Eight' - Loew's Jersey Theater
- Mar 20, 2009 — 3 Classic Ghost Films at the Loew's Jersey Theater - March 27-28, 2009
- Mar 20, 2009 — Loew's Jersey call for restoration volunteers - Saturday, March 21
- Feb 20, 2009 — 4 Classic Noir Films at the Loew's Jersey Theater
- Jan 22, 2009 — Loew's Jersey looking for volunteers
- Oct 20, 2008 — Horror at Loew's Jersey Theater (with live organ accompaniment)
- Sep 24, 2008 — Live Theater Organ Weekend featuring 'Flesh and the Devil'
- Sep 17, 2008 — 3 Classic Marlene Dietrich Films at the Loew's Jersey Theater
- Jun 9, 2008 — King Kong, Planet of the Apes, Mighty Joe Young at the Loew's Jersey Theater
- May 6, 2008 — Clockwork Orange, The Terminator, Blade Runner: The Final Director's Cut - all on the big screen
- Apr 10, 2008 — W.C. Fields, Laurel and Hardy, 'Duck Soup' and The Three Stooges
- Apr 4, 2008 — 'All About Eve' and Celeste Holm at the Loew's Jersey Theater
- Mar 11, 2008 — Classic Fantasy Films at the Landmark Loews Jersey Theater
- Mar 6, 2008 — Help Loew's Jersey Theatre get Hudson County Grant
- Jan 15, 2008 — Orson Welles Weekend at Loew's Jersey
- Nov 30, 2007 — Loew's Jersey Call for volunteer ushers(12/1)
- Nov 12, 2007 — Magnificent Morton Wonder Organ plays again at The Loew's Jersey
- Nov 9, 2007 — A November to Remember at Landmark Loew's Jersey Theatre
- Oct 8, 2007 — Landmark Loew's Jersey Theatre celebrates Halloween with Boris Karloff
- Sep 28, 2007 — Volunteer ushers needed at Loew's Jersey
- May 7, 2007 — East Meets West[ern] at the Loew's Jersey Theatre
- May 4, 2007 — 3 film screenings at the Loew's Jersey Theater in Jersey City, NJ
- Apr 17, 2007 — Classic Films - Timeless Romance at the Loew's Jersey
- Feb 16, 2007 — 3 Classic Films at Loew's Jersey in Jersey City, Feb. 23 and Feb. 24, 2007
- Apr 12, 2006 — Loew's Jersey presents: Films of Director John Ford
- Jan 26, 2006 — Saluting Animal Lovers and Lovers of Classic Film at The Landmark Loew's Jersey
- Dec 1, 2005 — Santa Returns to The Landmark Loew's Jersey!
- Mar 18, 2005 — Glorious Black & W-I-D-E At Loew's Jersey - April 1&2
- Mar 1, 2005 — Four of the Best of Oscar's Best At The Loew's Jersey Theatre
- Nov 16, 2004 — Free Event at Loew's Jersey This Sunday
- Sep 28, 2004 — Loew's Jersey Update - Lease Has Not Yet Been Signed
- Jun 9, 2004 — Mayor To Sign Lease To Friends of the Loew's Tomorrow
- Apr 21, 2004 — Today's Newsreel
- Apr 13, 2004 — Some "Friends of" Groups
- Jan 9, 2004 — Paramount Center for the Arts Begins Renovations
- Oct 21, 2003 — Friends of the Loews Seeks Permanent Lease, Greater Role In Future Of Theater
The Loew’s Jersey Theatre was the 4th of five Loew’s ‘Wonder Theatres’ to open in the New York City area, opening just two weeks after the Loew’s Paradise Theatre, Bronx and the Loew’s Kings Theatre, Brooklyn, which had both opened on September 7, 1929. The Loew’s Jersey Theatre opened September 28, 1929 with Ruth Chatterton and Lewis Stone in “Madame X”. On stage were Ben Black and his Rhythm Kings plus “Cameos” direct from the Capitol Theatre, New York featuring Chester Hales Girls. In the orchestra pit were the Loew’s Symphony Orchestra and the mighty Robert Morton ‘Wonder’ organ which had 4 manuals and 23 ranks. Resident organist for many years was Ted Meyn. The building had cost $2 million to build and the wonderful Baroque style façade still boasts the mechanical clock of George & the Dragon, a companion piece to the one (now lost) on the top of the façade of Loew’s Paradise Theatre, Bronx.
The opulent Italian Renaissance style auditorium with its 50 foot wide proscenium is reached by passing through a dramatic three-storey lobby rotunda, supported by jade-green columns. In the music gallery above the entrance on the first floor, a grand piano was played to entertain waiting patrons. As was the case in all big movie palaces, the 35 foot deep x 82 foot wide stage was put to good use in the early years with artistes such as Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, The Ritz Brothers, Jackie Coogan, Russ Columbo and His Band and many others appearing. The orchestra pit (which is on an elevator) was boarded over in 1949.
Later in January 1975, two additional screens, each seating 524, were placed in the orchestra seating area beneath the balcony, leaving the main screen in the balcony, with a seating capacity of 1,078. The Robert Morton ‘Wonder’ organ was removed at this time and now resides in the Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara, California. The Loew’s Jersey Theatre closed on Thursday August 21, 1986 with “Friday the 13th Part VI:Jason Lives”.
In April 1987 it was sold to a private company for demolition, but preservationists saved the theatre from becoming an office building and the theatre was purchased by the city in 1993. The Friends of the Loew’s had been formed and they embarked on an ongoing renovation/restoration project beginning in 1995. The wall dividing the rear orchestra seating into two screens was removed, and the theatre was re-opened to the public in 2001 (albeit in the beginning using only a fraction of the seating area in the orchestra level). Regular monthly screenings of classic and revival films began during fall, winter and spring, and as work by the dedicated team of volunteers has progressed over the years, the program expanded to also presenting occasional live performances and concerts.
The Garden State Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society acquired a ‘sister’ identical Robert Morton ‘Wonder’ organ that had been originally installed in the Loew’s Paradise Theatre, Bronx. After several years extensive work on the instrument, it was ready for its debut in its new home at the Loew’s Jersey Theatre in late-2007.
The Loew’s Jersey Theatre has become the centerpiece of the Journal Square renaissance, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It was closed at the end of 2021 for a full refurbishment/restoration to be completed by 2023. But, renovations only began in earnest in Fall of 2024, and now an expected reopening will be 2026.
![Subscribe](/images/app/subscribe.gif?1726509117)
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 1,512 comments)
Hi Theatrefan,
Perhaps I’m just getting a bit cynical but it seems to me the Loews just can’t seem to get a break! First, quite a few years ago Jersey City seemed to be talking about tearing it down, then FOL stepped in. Now the building has been sitting dormant for (what is it,) two to three years? And finally the possibility of a “renovation” cost of 70 mil. being raised to nearly 100 mil.? (If I have my figures straight?). What really is the “bottom line” here? Politics? Greed? Apathy? Mis-information? (all of the above? I wonder if we’ll really know the “truth”?
After reading the article, it seems the venue will get remodeled at a much higher cost. To wait any longer would mean even higher construction costs in the future. The sooner things get done, the sooner they can reopen and entertain audiences again and make some $ and boost the local economy.
Very well-said, Jodar. I just hope Jersey City would be willing to “foot the bill”.
Renovation work started in earnest about three months ago. Photos and news are hard to come by, but the entire exterior is covered in scaffolding and the interior has been cleaned out. That’s all I know. They are still estimating next year to reopen.
Is it still a community volunteer project, or is it now corporate or municipal?
According to an article linked above, it’s being renovated and run by Devils Arena Entertainment, the Newark-based operator of the Prudential Center, as a major concert and event venue. They have a deal with the city.
I just wonder how the Loews would deal with large numbers of cars coming into the Journal Square area if it is converted into concert venue ala Bergen PAC and MAYO Pac. Do the promoters think the PATH train garage could handle such large numbers?
https://www.roi-nj.com/2024/12/12/lifestyle/how-restoration-of-historic-loews-jersey-theatre-will-reshape-journal-square-into-premier-arts-district/
No mention in that restoration article about showing movies…
The removable seats on the main floor remind me of the folding chairs in the lobby where the Friends of the Loew’s showed their first classic movie, “This Island Earth”.