Newark Cinema One

With the loss of revenue as a result of the extended closing of the Auditorium Theatre, this large modern full-sized cinema was built and opened in late-summer of 1969 with its first feature being Arthur Penn’s “Alice’s Restaurant”. The cinema used the two-projector system with carbon arc lamphouses and was equipped with a large wide screen that could show anamorphic prints in their full glory. This became a first class venue for films like “Patton” and a return engagement of “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Its large seating capacity well served later blockbusters such as “The Godfather”, “The Exorcist” and “Jaws”. Plans were made to extend the building and add a second, smaller, auditorium. Competition from a multiplex in Heath ended those plans. The Newark Cinema One was later purchased by the exhibitor then running the Heath Cinema 4 (the deal required them to buy The Midland Theatre as well).

The neighbor, State Farm Insurance Operations Center would later want to expand their property so Newark Cinema One was purchased and demolished. In 2021, State Farm moved their Operation Center out of Newark and the buildings and property, including the area where the Newark Cinema One once stood, were purchased by the Newark City Schools.

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