Levoy Theatre
126-130 N. High Street,
Millville,
NJ
8332
126-130 N. High Street,
Millville,
NJ
8332
5 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 29 comments
First year of operation seen as a success. Philly.com story here.
The correct link to the theater is www.levoy.net. Lots of construction photos, as well as the theater’s history story is on the site.
The new marquee and facade restores the look of the LeVoy of 1925.
The Levoy also has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LevoyMillville
The rebuilt theater reopens August 3 with The Music Man on stage. A full schedule of live entertainment follows. On Sept. 9, 2 silent short films are shown with live accompanyment by The Peacherine Orchestra.
I was a volunteer with Joe Pierce, back in 1998. I thought that we were going to restore the theatre. But when the city & state kicked in millions of dollars in grants, ..you guessed it the lawyers & politicians, who knew nothing about running a theatre, took over, & demolished the place!
Ogren Construction, the firm responsible for the Levoy Theater construction/restoration project has been cited by OSHA for “not properly supporting the structure and digging too low.” Story here: http://www.nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2011/07/ogren_construction_cited_by_os.html
Rebuilding has begun, news story here: View link
I asked the Levoy Preservation Society if the theater’s facade was going to be rebuilt like the original. Here is their answer: “yes Scott, the facade will look like the original 1920’s version. The Levoy had multiple face lifts over the course of the last century, and early on the design team and the board of directors chose to reconstruct the facade in the exact likeness of the one from a 1927 photo we have.”
The marquee had been removed during construction. Not sure where is was stored or if it sustained any damage, though.
Thanks for you photo ken mc
Great looking theater. Did they loose the marquee in the collapse?
Here is a photo taken in 2009 by Seth Gaines.
In this photo a 1958 Edsel is parked in front of the theater:
http://tinyurl.com/467taee
My mother sent me an article about this from the AC Press. Very sad.
Additional articles about the incident:
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The above was from the Levoy Millville’s Facebook page. It is heartening to note that 65% of the structure remains intact and they say they will go forward.
To all of our Friends & Supporters:
IN light of the speculation and rumors that pervade the internet, We would like to give you what REAL information we do have regarding the partial collapse of the Levoy Theatre this past Monday. We are very fortunate to have escaped this collapse with one one injury and thank the first responders and other concerned citizens who aided during the situation.
While there are preliminary reports as to what the cause of the collapse may have been, no conclusions have been reached and dozens of professionals have been (and will be) examining the site for answers. Knowing the cause may help to relieve some of our curiosity, however, it will not provide any solution for moving forward, and so we must take that upon ourselves.
The Levoy is insured for many things, including catastrophes such as collapse. We have high hopes for a successful claim on this front, and anticipate that there will be no net affect to the cost of the project.
In the interest of the community at large, the City of Millville, and the thousands of donors and supporters of this project, the Levoy Board has chosen to pursue completion of the project with the full support of the City. Current status includes inspections of the collapse by engineers, insurance adjusters, city officials and more – to determine the feasibility and best course for removal of the collapsed portions of the building. Further studies will indicate what, if any, damage may have occurred to the remaining 65% of the structure. Safety is our foremost concern, therefore removal of debris and securing the building (and adjacent properties) to avoid further collapse is our priority. This phase should commence as soon as the inspections are concluded.
The Levoy Gala on February 12, 2011 is still on and we look forward to seeing you there with more news. Please see our Events page for more information if you would like to contribute or attend.
Once we have more information available to us, we will pass that along to you.
View link
It collapsed yesterday. Looks like a total loss.
Interior demolition and excavation are proceeding; the current target date for reopening is summer 2011. Bricks from the interior are being donated to the reconstruction of the Palace of Depression in nearby Vineland. Press of Atlantic City story here; NJ.com/Bridgeton News stories here and here.
According to the article above and the official website, renovations started in 2010 with opening planned for first quarter of 2011!
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1914 postcard of the Levoy
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From Boxoffice magazine, January 1938:
Harry Orlow, manager of the Arcadia Theater, was assigned last week to take charge of the Levoy Theater at Millville, N.J., a 1,526-seat house. Orlow and his family have left for Millville, where he has assumed his new duties.
i emailed the theaters web page about film operations i currently run the broadway in pitman and would love to help bring this place up and running
I was up in the booth in 1998. It was still as it was left in 1974. There was a pair of Super Simplex 35mm projectors, with Ashcraft cabon arc lamps. The sound system RCA tube type.
Films could be running in no time, with some simple upgrades & an oilcan!
do they have the ability to show films or is it live theater
Joe Pierce Jr. gave me a tour in 1998. Wow! what a neat theatre right in my own hometown. I was doing volunteer work to help clean it up. I was cleaning up old plaster on the balcony floor when my left leg went right though the balcony floor right to my hip. I quickly pulled my leg back up and saw though the hole in the floor a bunch of people looking up with plaster on their heads! The booth equipment was Super Simplex projectors & Ashcraft Suprex arc lamps. The calender on the wall said December, 1974. I think that was when the Levoy closed.