Thanks Irv. I wasn’t aware that they were showing movies. The movies are buried in their homepage. The 25th won’t work out for me but I’ve been trying to see Amadeus on the big screen for quite some time…..
Hopefully I’ll get some interior photos and post them here.
A classic scene
Beach Cinema turns 80 with retro flicks and real butter on the popcorn
Friday, December 16, 2005
BY BETTE SPERO
Star-Ledger Staff
When it opened 80 years ago, the Bradley Theater, now the Beach Cinema in Bradley Beach, screened “The Goose Woman,” a silent melodrama with a notable performance by Louise Dresser as an alcoholic ex-opera diva who implicates the son she resents in a murder.
This weekend, in celebration of that Dec. 26, 1925 opening, current owner John Esposito is programming “White Christmas,” the Three Stooges and Mr. Magoo for $2 a ticket.
It’s an old-fashioned programming trio — feature (“White Christmas,” 1954 with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen), short (“Three Little Beers” with the Stooges), and cartoon (“Bon Bon Parade” with Mr. Magoo).
“We want everything to be nostalgic,” Esposito said. “I’ve kept the theater very traditional, similar to going to the movies in the 1940s and ‘50s.”
The single screen, 550-seat theater draws an older audience in their 40s and up who like “classy, not trashy,” Esposito said.
Esposito, 61, lives in Bradley Beach, near the theater. He was 16 when he got his first job as an usher at the Baronet Theater in Long Branch. He recalls his “military style” light blue uniform with gold epaulets on the jacket and dark stripes down the trouser sides. The first movie for which he ushered was “By Love Possessed” with Lana Turner.
He worked his way up to assistant manager and manager at various movie theaters in Monmouth County. In 1977 he took over Beach Cinema (newly renamed after having been The Palace for many years). Four years later he and the late Al Schoenfeld bought the theater.
The 12 mostly part-time employees (except for full-time projectionist Gary S. Crawford of Neptune) wear simple uniforms, such as white shirts with black vests or green and white shirts with the theater’s logo.
Films play there after first runs elsewhere. The theater is open seven days a week. Prices are $3.75 to $4.75 for admission and $1 to $4 for refreshments. Popcorn is popped daily in the lobby just before show time and drizzled with real butter, Esposito said.
“Don’t you love that smell? It drifts right into the theater. We’re like a living museum here.”
Much improved; however, if I hit the “Next Button” when the most recent theaters list is on the screen, the site is very slow to move to the next page.
As you can see, I didn’t add these photos directly to Cinema Treasures. There are numerous free photo sharing sites out there. Pick one, upload your photos (scan if necessary) and then post the link here.
Flemington — The Planning Board is still hearing testimony on a proposed Walgreens drug store which would be located in the former Hunterdon Theatre, most recently Coat World, on Route 31 at Church Street. Roger Howard, managing partner of Roho LLC, said companies that had been interested in leasing the space felt it was unusable. Howard said he wishes there was an alternative to razing the building but his “pockets are getting shallow.” He said the plan he is presenting to the board is after years of negotiating with Walgreens. Roho is seeking relief for numerous ordinances including a front yard set back from Route 31, building height, floor area ratio, signs on the building, free-standing signs and lighting.
from the online version of the Hunterdon Democrat, 12/8/05
Paul – I really enjoy your insightful postings on various NJ theaters. As far as the sadness of seeing a glorious single screen hacked into small theaers no bigger than a closet, remember “Tis better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.” Many of the younger CT members don’t even have first hand experience of a single screen viewing.
Flemington — The former Hunterdon Theatre, which was more recently a coat store, may be razed if a preliminary site plan is approved. Roho LLC of Florham Park wants to build a 14,820-square-foot Walgreens drug store there at Route 31 and Church Street. When the Planning Board began hearing testimony on Nov. 22, Roho’s architect told the board it is seeking two variances. The first, for building height, would allow Roho to maintain a “traditional Walgreens look.” Architect Chuck Dietz said that includes an entrance tower on a flattened corner of the building. Above the entrance would be a large glass window with an illuminated sign of a mortar and pestle. The borough ordinance allows for 25 feet and Roho is asking for 3 more. The theater is 31.6 feet tall. The second variance is for signs. The borough allows 100 square feet total, and one per faade. Roho wants 510 square feet and more than one sign per faade. The hearing will continue at the board’s next meeting, Monday at 7:30 p.m.
The paper version even went so far as to put a color “picture” of the new store in contrast to the current site.
1942 postcard:
View link
Thanks Irv. I wasn’t aware that they were showing movies. The movies are buried in their homepage. The 25th won’t work out for me but I’ve been trying to see Amadeus on the big screen for quite some time…..
Hopefully I’ll get some interior photos and post them here.
Looks like it was a live performance theater during the 1920s. See ticket on this link:
View link
Old postcard:
View link
Old postcard ca 1918 from the movie “Tinsel” on the right side ad:
View link
Old postcard from ca 1940:
View link
Opening night program (8/24/1950):
View link
Postcard from 1921, showing “new” theatre:
View link
I believe that the theater is the building with the awning near the sidewalk level.
A classic scene
Beach Cinema turns 80 with retro flicks and real butter on the popcorn
Friday, December 16, 2005
BY BETTE SPERO
Star-Ledger Staff
When it opened 80 years ago, the Bradley Theater, now the Beach Cinema in Bradley Beach, screened “The Goose Woman,” a silent melodrama with a notable performance by Louise Dresser as an alcoholic ex-opera diva who implicates the son she resents in a murder.
This weekend, in celebration of that Dec. 26, 1925 opening, current owner John Esposito is programming “White Christmas,” the Three Stooges and Mr. Magoo for $2 a ticket.
It’s an old-fashioned programming trio — feature (“White Christmas,” 1954 with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen), short (“Three Little Beers” with the Stooges), and cartoon (“Bon Bon Parade” with Mr. Magoo).
“We want everything to be nostalgic,” Esposito said. “I’ve kept the theater very traditional, similar to going to the movies in the 1940s and ‘50s.”
The single screen, 550-seat theater draws an older audience in their 40s and up who like “classy, not trashy,” Esposito said.
Esposito, 61, lives in Bradley Beach, near the theater. He was 16 when he got his first job as an usher at the Baronet Theater in Long Branch. He recalls his “military style” light blue uniform with gold epaulets on the jacket and dark stripes down the trouser sides. The first movie for which he ushered was “By Love Possessed” with Lana Turner.
He worked his way up to assistant manager and manager at various movie theaters in Monmouth County. In 1977 he took over Beach Cinema (newly renamed after having been The Palace for many years). Four years later he and the late Al Schoenfeld bought the theater.
The 12 mostly part-time employees (except for full-time projectionist Gary S. Crawford of Neptune) wear simple uniforms, such as white shirts with black vests or green and white shirts with the theater’s logo.
Films play there after first runs elsewhere. The theater is open seven days a week. Prices are $3.75 to $4.75 for admission and $1 to $4 for refreshments. Popcorn is popped daily in the lobby just before show time and drizzled with real butter, Esposito said.
“Don’t you love that smell? It drifts right into the theater. We’re like a living museum here.”
Much improved; however, if I hit the “Next Button” when the most recent theaters list is on the screen, the site is very slow to move to the next page.
As you can see, I didn’t add these photos directly to Cinema Treasures. There are numerous free photo sharing sites out there. Pick one, upload your photos (scan if necessary) and then post the link here.
Flemington — The Planning Board is still hearing testimony on a proposed Walgreens drug store which would be located in the former Hunterdon Theatre, most recently Coat World, on Route 31 at Church Street. Roger Howard, managing partner of Roho LLC, said companies that had been interested in leasing the space felt it was unusable. Howard said he wishes there was an alternative to razing the building but his “pockets are getting shallow.” He said the plan he is presenting to the board is after years of negotiating with Walgreens. Roho is seeking relief for numerous ordinances including a front yard set back from Route 31, building height, floor area ratio, signs on the building, free-standing signs and lighting.
from the online version of the Hunterdon Democrat, 12/8/05
Another view with a perspective of the entire block:
View link
Paul – I really enjoy your insightful postings on various NJ theaters. As far as the sadness of seeing a glorious single screen hacked into small theaers no bigger than a closet, remember “Tis better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.” Many of the younger CT members don’t even have first hand experience of a single screen viewing.
From the Hunterdon Democrat online version:
Flemington — The former Hunterdon Theatre, which was more recently a coat store, may be razed if a preliminary site plan is approved. Roho LLC of Florham Park wants to build a 14,820-square-foot Walgreens drug store there at Route 31 and Church Street. When the Planning Board began hearing testimony on Nov. 22, Roho’s architect told the board it is seeking two variances. The first, for building height, would allow Roho to maintain a “traditional Walgreens look.” Architect Chuck Dietz said that includes an entrance tower on a flattened corner of the building. Above the entrance would be a large glass window with an illuminated sign of a mortar and pestle. The borough ordinance allows for 25 feet and Roho is asking for 3 more. The theater is 31.6 feet tall. The second variance is for signs. The borough allows 100 square feet total, and one per faade. Roho wants 510 square feet and more than one sign per faade. The hearing will continue at the board’s next meeting, Monday at 7:30 p.m.
The paper version even went so far as to put a color “picture” of the new store in contrast to the current site.
Brief marquee shot in the recently released “Walk the Line”.
This looks like the same building from 1907:
View link
Go to this link and type in “Strand” in the search box.
The photo titled “Ticket Line” is from 1929:
View link
Two old postcards:
From 1931 – note the mini golf right near the theatre
View link
View link
Another old postcard:
View link
Here is a photo from 12/24/1944:
View link
Two old postcards:
View link
View link
Circa 1961 postcard with “The Naked Edge” on the marquee:
View link
1960s postcard:
View link
Cover of 1912-1913 theatre program:
View link