From the city’s website:
“In the 1930s through the 1950s Union City was home to the world-famous Hudson Burlesque Theater and many other theaters featuring movies and live entertainment and several of the ‘'burlesque queens” who were featuring at the Hudson Theater came back to ride a float in the parade."
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
NEW JERSEY, GLOUCESTER COUNTY, Green’s, G.G., Block, 108 S. Broad St., Woodbury, 01000769, LISTED, 7/25/01
Article published Jul 31, 2006 the dailyjournal.com
Showtime in Woodbury
y TIM ZATZARINY JR.
WOODBURY — In the vacant hulk of the G.G. Green Block Building, Tim Kernan and Bob Melvin see the city’s future — as well as their own.
The owners of Melvin/Kernan Development Strategies, an urban planning firm in West Deptford, last month signed an agreement to buy the former opera and movie house at Broad and Centre streets from its private owner for $500,000.
They’re not the first developers who have taken a shot at bringing back to life the 126-year-old building in the heart of Woodbury, which has long been seen as a catalyst for revitalizing the city’s struggling downtown.
But Melvin, 47, and Kernan, 42, say their plan can work because they won’t be absentee landlords.
They’ll move their growing planning firm, as well as Kernan’s civil engineering firm, Kernan Consulting Engineers, into the building’s second and third floors, bringing with them roughly 40 employees. The first floor would house a restaurant, retail space and a performing arts center.
“Our firm tries to promote bringing people back to walk-able communities, and if we’re going to try to convince other clients, it makes sense for us to locate in one of those communities,” Melvin said.
One hurdle the duo must clear is getting approval for a $1.5 million grant from the state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority for renovations.
In November 2004, the authority awarded the grant to the building’s previous developer. But since Melvin and Kernan have a new plan, they had to repeat the application process. They’re scheduled to meet with the authority next month.
Without the grant, they say, they can’t move forward. They estimate it will cost $6 million for renovations.
Parking is another potential obstacle.
The city has a tentative agreement to buy a nearby parking lot owned by Verizon that would provide an additional 32 to 36 spaces for the Green building, Mayor Leslie Clark said. The details should be ironed out by September, she said.
“We’re doing everything we can from the city’s side to make this project happen,” said Clark, who added she’s confident the pair will be successful.
HISTORY
• The G.G. Green Block Building was built in 1880 by Woodbury’s first industrial magnate, George G. Green.
• The building originally housed five stores and Green’s Opera House, with seating for 1,000 on the second floor.
• The opera house later was converted into the Rialto Theater, which closed in 1955. The building’s first floor became a clothing store that remained in business until January 2001.
• In November 2004, the state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority approved a $1.5 million grant for renovation.
• In November 2005, Philadelphia-based Teres Holdings LLC announced it would not renew its option to buy the building because it couldn’t find a tenant willing to open a restaurant for the first floor.
• In June 2006, Bob Melvin and Tim Kernan, owners of Melvin/Kernan Development Strategies in West Deptford, signed a $500,000 agreement to buy the building from its private owner.
“Paulsboro was now changing from a residential town to an industrial town. The first movie was shown on the second floor of the Bailey Building. Movies were shown in the "Auditorium” twice a week. Friday was dance night and the young men brought in girls from the surrounding areas because there was a shortage of girls in town. A law was passed stating that movies weren’t allowed on the second floor and Mr. Bailey built a movie house which opened to the public on April 29, 1915.“
from the history tab of http://www.paulsboronj.org/
Originally opened as the Apollo Theatre in 1919. Had a Moller organ. Renamed King Theatre in 1939 at which time the Moller was replaced with a Wurlitzer.
Images of America: South Jersey Movie Houses, Page 33
From the city’s website:
“In the 1930s through the 1950s Union City was home to the world-famous Hudson Burlesque Theater and many other theaters featuring movies and live entertainment and several of the ‘'burlesque queens” who were featuring at the Hudson Theater came back to ride a float in the parade."
1926 program:
View link
1907 postcard of the Opera House:
View link
Listed in the 1944, 1951 & 1956 Film Daily Yearbooks.
Old postcard:
View link
1939 postcard – Strand is on the left:
View link
Nice article:
View link
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
NEW JERSEY, GLOUCESTER COUNTY, Green’s, G.G., Block, 108 S. Broad St., Woodbury, 01000769, LISTED, 7/25/01
Here is the link to the original article & photo, don’t know how long it will be active:
View link
Article published Jul 31, 2006 the dailyjournal.com
Showtime in Woodbury
y TIM ZATZARINY JR.
WOODBURY — In the vacant hulk of the G.G. Green Block Building, Tim Kernan and Bob Melvin see the city’s future — as well as their own.
The owners of Melvin/Kernan Development Strategies, an urban planning firm in West Deptford, last month signed an agreement to buy the former opera and movie house at Broad and Centre streets from its private owner for $500,000.
They’re not the first developers who have taken a shot at bringing back to life the 126-year-old building in the heart of Woodbury, which has long been seen as a catalyst for revitalizing the city’s struggling downtown.
But Melvin, 47, and Kernan, 42, say their plan can work because they won’t be absentee landlords.
They’ll move their growing planning firm, as well as Kernan’s civil engineering firm, Kernan Consulting Engineers, into the building’s second and third floors, bringing with them roughly 40 employees. The first floor would house a restaurant, retail space and a performing arts center.
“Our firm tries to promote bringing people back to walk-able communities, and if we’re going to try to convince other clients, it makes sense for us to locate in one of those communities,” Melvin said.
One hurdle the duo must clear is getting approval for a $1.5 million grant from the state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority for renovations.
In November 2004, the authority awarded the grant to the building’s previous developer. But since Melvin and Kernan have a new plan, they had to repeat the application process. They’re scheduled to meet with the authority next month.
Without the grant, they say, they can’t move forward. They estimate it will cost $6 million for renovations.
Parking is another potential obstacle.
The city has a tentative agreement to buy a nearby parking lot owned by Verizon that would provide an additional 32 to 36 spaces for the Green building, Mayor Leslie Clark said. The details should be ironed out by September, she said.
“We’re doing everything we can from the city’s side to make this project happen,” said Clark, who added she’s confident the pair will be successful.
HISTORY
• The G.G. Green Block Building was built in 1880 by Woodbury’s first industrial magnate, George G. Green.
• The building originally housed five stores and Green’s Opera House, with seating for 1,000 on the second floor.
• The opera house later was converted into the Rialto Theater, which closed in 1955. The building’s first floor became a clothing store that remained in business until January 2001.
• In November 2004, the state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority approved a $1.5 million grant for renovation.
• In November 2005, Philadelphia-based Teres Holdings LLC announced it would not renew its option to buy the building because it couldn’t find a tenant willing to open a restaurant for the first floor.
• In June 2006, Bob Melvin and Tim Kernan, owners of Melvin/Kernan Development Strategies in West Deptford, signed a $500,000 agreement to buy the building from its private owner.
A Wurlitzer organ, opus 1753, was deliverd to “3RD AVE & BELLEVUE TH” on 10/11/1927. Must have been for this theatre.
A Wurlizter organ, opus 238, was sold to S H WRIGHT on 6/22/1927.
“Paulsboro was now changing from a residential town to an industrial town. The first movie was shown on the second floor of the Bailey Building. Movies were shown in the "Auditorium” twice a week. Friday was dance night and the young men brought in girls from the surrounding areas because there was a shortage of girls in town. A law was passed stating that movies weren’t allowed on the second floor and Mr. Bailey built a movie house which opened to the public on April 29, 1915.“
from the history tab of http://www.paulsboronj.org/
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
Old postcard:
View link
Old postcard:
View link
A Wurlitzer organ, opus 479, was installed in the Ironbound Theatre on 10/31/1921.
“There was the Ironbound Theater, where from 1930 on, only foreign films were shown.” excerpt from View link
This one goes back to the 1920s. Here are three old lobby cards from 1929 when this theatre was known as the Fox Empire:
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Old movie program from 12/31/1949:
Cover:
View link
Inside:
View link
I guess that this theatre didn’t have air conditioning:
Fan front:
View link
Fan back:
View link
Note the proprietor’s name is different from Mr. Fox. Probably a subsequent owner.
Old photo:
View link
The Moller was opus 2662 and the Wurlitzer 874. Interestingly, the Wurlitzer is shown with a delivery date of 7/1/74.
Opened in 1920 at 509 Washington Street. Razed for construction of the Washington Street Mall.
Images of America: South Jersey Movie Houses, page 66
Originally opened as the Apollo Theatre in 1919. Had a Moller organ. Renamed King Theatre in 1939 at which time the Moller was replaced with a Wurlitzer.
Images of America: South Jersey Movie Houses, Page 33
Yep, CT
http://cinematreasures.org/news/14893_0_1_0_C/