Fabian Theatre
45 Church Street,
Paterson,
NJ
07505
45 Church Street,
Paterson,
NJ
07505
9 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 111 comments
Rhett, If this theater gets restored then Paterson will have no choice but to put pressure on the owner of the hotel to speed up his restoration project and then will get the fabian office building goins as well. The cosden building across the street was refurbished recently as well. It will bring theater groups in and in turn will leave Paterson no choice but to prioritize the safety and rebuilding of this area. Hey if Newark did it we can too
Joseph…I’ve written numerous letters to “The Record” regarding saving the Fabian from the wrecking ball. I know a Paterson cop who’s been in there and said the theater is intact, save for the separation walls, but it’s dilapidated. 2 big problems with saving this former palace:
1) Paterson is a $#%@hole, who’ll go there once it’s fixed up? It’s next to the crackden known as the Alexander Hamilton Hotel
2) MONEY
..I’m with you though, I’d hate to see the Fabian destroyed. It’s bad enough they tore down the Plaza.
Does anybody have the guts to try to save this once great theater? I do. If you have the desire to see this theater return to glory, then help me form a group to try and save it. The Friends of the Fabian Theater is what I am calling this and I welcome any and all who want to help. There is plenty to do and God knows this would be a huge undertaking but we have to try. Please if you have any contact information for the owner (s), or any helpfull information at all contact me. I would like to get together with people who want to save this theater. If we bring enough light on this , there are Angels out there that would help, Joseph Caiola 973-341-4740
WOW I remember seeing Rambo and JAWS3D in the Fabian.. It was a good theatre back then.. It had a local feel to it.. Its a SHAME how a place as grand as the Fabian, could deteriorate like it has. I understand comapanies must do what they can to make profit. And that the BOE can make use of it as well.. How can we save the Fabian, and still make good use of it? Very Easy. LEase/sell it to PCCC. Maybe they can make a better use of it for their students. Parking wont be much of an issue because its for them. Maybe a few years from nowwe can go sit at the Fabian and see shows or student films, etc..
Hello I am also from Paterson I rember the Fabian The Garden US theater ect Sure do miss them all I moved from PAterson in 1978 and havent been back since I rember the Garden lol i was a ticket girl ther in the mid 60s Any one want to chat about old times in Paterson drop me a line thanks Dotty
I was born in the Barnet Hospital in 1935. I have many fond memories connected with my having spent the early years of my life in the area near East Side Park.
Recently, on my 70th birthday, I decided to return to the old neighborhood. I had not seen the place for over 20 years. I was pleased to find that nothing had changed. The big yellow house where I grew up on East 39th Street still looks beautiful. People’s lawns are still beautifully maintained, my neighbor’s houses are equally spiffy and the flowers in the month of June are even more beautiful than I remembered. When I say that nothing has changed, I really mean nothing…except for the color of the people’s skin, who now live in the area.
I then biked through the rest of the city, and there too, found that Paterson seemed to be fixed in time. The public buildings are as impressive as they were. Of course, the Fabian theatre and the Alexander Hamilton hotel next door are in a very sorry state. But, hopefully, their facades will be upgraded in connection with their being recycled by new people with different purposes in mind. To me, it is as if the whole city has, for that matter, been continually recycled. Paterson is like an old Italian hill town which having passed its prime, still serves sufficient needs of those who inhabit it to have escaped being changed or destoyed. The discerning visitor will discover the most quintessential mill town in all of America
Arcadia Publishing, “Paterson”, p. 95 has a nice photo of the theater from 1954.
Guess this never happened….
The Record (Bergen County, NJ), Feb 19, 2002 pL1
SCREEN GEM; FORMER LANDMARK CINEMA MAY GIVE WAY TO SCHOOL BOARD OFFICES. (NEWS) Eman Varoqua.
Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2002 North Jersey Media Group Inc.
By EMAN VAROQUA, Staff Writer
PATERSON – Plans are in the works to convert the abandoned Fabian building, once home to an opulent theater, into the Board of Education’s central office complex. The 77-year-old theater that adjoins the structure could be demolished by this summer.
“This was the great movie palace of the 1920s,” said Passaic County Historian Edward A. Smyk, admitting that he doesn’t think the building at Church and Ellison streets would qualify for historical designation.
Philip Rabinowitz, a partner in the architectural firm that bought the building, W & C Properties, said he could break ground on the $22 million project in June if he receives local and state approval.
Supporters say the renovation of the non-theater portion of the building might help jump-start downtown development. The neighboring Alexander Hamilton Hotel was also purchased by Rabinowitz’s firm and will be converted into senior assisted living. The firm recently acquired the Pruden building across the street from the Fabian, which will be converted into a restaurant and office space.
“As an old Patersonian, I’d love to see this historic district once again bustling,” Rabinowitz said. “I hope it becomes like a domino effect – and other sites become revitalized one by one.”
For three decades the Fabian Theater served as the premier movie palace in the city and a cultural mecca that attracted its share of celebrities. It was the site of vaudeville shows and premieres of Abbott and Costello movies, and had Turkish baths in its basement.
Jacob Fabian opened the silent-movie theater in 1925 with the movie “We Moderns,” with Warren Yates on the Fabian Mammoth Organ. The theater had a 2-ton chandelier with 500 light bulbs, paintings on the walls, and ornate gilding.
Like much of the city, the 1960s were not kind to the Fabian. Riots drove out middle-class residents, scared off suburban shoppers, and left the theater struggling to fill its 2,500 seats.
It was turned into a multiplex in the 1970s. Still, it couldn’t compete with suburban theaters, and it finally closed in 1993. It’s been vacant since.
The remodeled building would house 250 employees on nine floors. A four-story garage would be built next to the complex and hold 190 parking spaces. The project would increase the building from 57,000 to nearly 100,000 square feet.
As proposed, the Board of Education would commit to a 30-year lease on the building. The terms are under negotiation, but it is estimated the lease would top $1 million annually. The move would put all administrative offices in one building for the first time, said Pat Chalmers, district spokeswoman. After the lease, the board would have an option to buy the building.
“It can only be beneficial to have the administration under one roof,” Chalmers said. “We’ll also be able to consolidate our leases.” Chalmers could not provide the amount the board currently spends on leasing.
The board rents space from Rabinowitz for its main offices, 33 and 35 Church St. Administrative offices are also on Ellison Street and at various schools.
Chalmers said Superintendent Edwin Duroy is in favor of the move and is working out the amount of the annual lease.
School board Vice President Juan “Mitch” Santiago wants the district to buy the building.
“If we can work out a price that matches around what we pay now, then why not?” Santiago said. “I can’t see how anyone would have a problem.”
Board member Joseph Atallo does not support the idea of a central complex, calling it frivolous.
“I need a lot more information before I make a 30-year commitment with Paterson’s money,” Atallo said. “I feel our priority should be building schools and providing classroom space to our overcrowded district. Educating our students comes before building a Taj Mahal office building.”
Instead, Atallo would like to see the board buy a building and develop it. “We should invest in a building instead of paying rent,” Atallo said.
Over the years, various city leaders have talked of reopening the theater and Passaic County Community College contemplated buying it as part of its expansion plans.
Property owners and real estate appraisers said the $10.50-a-square-foot price tag paid by the developers, or $598,500, is to be expected for a building that is vacant and will need a lot of work. Commercial space in Paterson rents for $12- to $18-a-square-foot, more depending on its age and location, they said. If the school board pays $1 million annually for the building, that will be about $10 a square foot.
Michael Seeve, the president of Mountain Development Corp., which owns 100 Hamilton Plaza in the city’s downtown, said he looked at the Fabian but felt it needed too much work.
“To get somebody in the Fabian building, you’re talking about a major investment before you could even get someone to walk in the door,” Seeve said. “That sort of impacts the value. We were daunted by the required work. It’s a great structure and isn’t a bad location. But it wasn’t jumping out at us.”
Last year, W & C introduced plans to restore the theater, but city officials shot it down, saying the area could neither attract crowds nor compete with multiplexes. The latest plan appears to have strong support, despite the concerns by historians and critics on the board concerned with the cost.
Despite the theater being demolished, Rabinowitz said he would keep much of the remaining building’s historic integrity. He said he is convinced that his vision for the Fabian will be a boon for the downtown.
But he also warned that he would walk away, should the Board of Education reject his plans.
“If this doesn’t work, then that’s it,” Rabinowitz said. “I’m not going to do anything with the building.”
Staff Writer Eman Varoqua’s e-mail address is
The “gays"essentially saved two theaters on Lincoln Rd.Maybe they can save the Fabian.Make Paterson the new Miami Beach!
Yeah, Paterson’s awesome in a very rough and tumble way. I love driving around the city. Every block, especially around the downtown area, has something unique to look at. And every time my nephews come to the area, they insist we take them to the Great Falls.
Location wise, it’s an ideal town with I-80 so close (but NOT tearing through the heart of it like in other downtowns) and the Main Line train service into NYC.
The Fabian may be too far gone for restoration though. Only time will tell.
As I said in my earlier post – based on the Fabian’s condition of a few years ago, the interior is too far gone. It’s been butchered by scavengers, and would require a LOT of money to restore.
With the various portions of the fake auditorium ceiling loose from the water damage, you can easily see the intact proscenium and it’s absolutely beautiful. This could have been a grand venue for this once great city.
As a resident of VA,but who works for a Paterson headquartered company,I’ve often marveled at the potential of Paterson.It has so many beautiful,classic structures.Saving this theater should be mandatory if there is any soul to be saved here.
Paterson IS regentifying. Most of it is now concentrated on the Eastside which always seemed “different” from the rest of the city. There used to be a set of horrible looking factories on the Passaic River just over one of the bridges from Fair Lawn. This weekend I ventured over to Paterson and was SHOCKED to see that these factories had been completely converted into fantastic looking condos! I mean, these things looked amazing. And talk about a great location. There’s a Home Depot going up farther north on Route 20 near the Fair Lawn Ave bridge that I will definately use.
It’s a matter of time before the rest of the city begins to change as well. The reason I think it’s going to happen is that house prices in ALL the areas around Paterson are going sky high. You can still get a palace in Paterson for nothing. And I KNOW people who are moving into the city for just that reason. They want to be in Northern NJ and Paterson is the most affordable.
But as pread states, by the time regentrification really takes off, the Fabian may be so far gone that it’s hopeless.
I kind of agree with cconnelly. I wrote “Paterson,” one of Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series (www.bn.com) in 2003. I drove to the Danforth Library and spent time there 5 weekends in a row. I’ve been on the Eastside Neighborhood Tour several times. In doing the book, I realized that much of century-old Paterson is still standing, ripe for revival. Much of Newark has been taken down, it’s architectual beauty lost forever. If you’re serious about saving the Fabian, contact the town’s old elite, Sen. Frank Lautenberg and ask him if he can muster a group of monied individuals who’d like to gamble and try reading from the Jersey City Loews lesson and see if it can fly. Ask them to pony up the first gifts in a fund-raising drive. Hey, Clifton parents a few years ago raised $100,000 plus for band uniforms in a few weeks; seems there’s enough resources connected to good old Paterson.
anything new about the proposed demolition of the Fabian?
I live right near Paterson and I drive into the city to look around.
I’m shocked at how people outside of the city depict it now. Honestly, it’s not that bad especially around the City Hall area. The East Side is getting to be very nice thanks to the influx of Gays who are renovating the HELL outta those fantastic old mansions there. And East Side Park gets better looking every year.
Paterson will be rediscovered. It’s a PRIME location. It’s got Route 80 just to it’s south (what’s good is that the interstate doesn’t cut through the heart of the city but close enough to make it convenient). Plus, it’s got a major rail line into NYC.
Add to that some truly unique and marvelous architectural elements including The Fabian. But I don’t think time is on the poor theater’s side. By the time Paterson starts to really regentrify, I believe The Fabian will be long gone. It’s sad but true.
Hello,
My name is Hector Torres, I’m a 1977 Eastside High School Graduate who was born in New York and raised in Paterson, and I too grew up going to the Fabian Theatre. Although I departed the city of Paterson over 25 years ago, I still visit family and friends periodically and would love to see that historical landmark preserved and refurbished. The city of Paterson is an essential part of our nation’s history (especially the east coast) and it should be preserved, regardless of how bad the neigorhood is.
Throughout my successful the completion my 21 year naval career and college years, I’ve had the unfortunate opportunity of observe the unfolding of Paterson’s deteriatiation, block by block over the years. Law biding citizens that understand the importance of historical preservation for the sake of our nation, should take every possible action to preserve the Fabian Theatre and other landmarks in Paterson, NJ of historical interest.
No, I am not related to Joey Torres but I do know him. But we did lived in the same neighborhood and went to school together. As a matter of fact, my sister has been the Mayor’s Executive Secretary for over 25 years. So if there is anything I can do to help, please let me know. I can’t make any guarentees by I will give it my best shot.
Article on this website today makes it sound like The Fabian’s days are numbered.
I drove into Paterson about a month ago to see where this is. Though I wouldn’t say the downtown area is a shambles (it’s really not THAT bad…) the theater doesn’t look good from the outside.
Can anyone tell me when they feel Paterson officially “hit-the-skids”? A poster above remembers seeing “The Godfather” at The Fabian in 1972 and it was still a good area. The woman that I bought my home from in Northern NJ told me that she was born and raised in Paterson. Even after she got married, she lived on the Eastside in a luxury apartment building. She said the area was fine through the 60’s BUT around 1972, she noticed that it was no longer desirable even on the Eastside. She got out of there in 1972.
I always find it fascinating to hear people talk of areas like Paterson and when it was nice and then how seemingly quickly the area turns. To many, it seems like it’s overnight.
Hello – my name is Ed Franks and I publish The Patersonian in Paterson. On Saturday, March 5, 2005 we are having a 99th borthday party for Lou Costello. Mayor Torres and several members of the Costello family will be there including Chris (Lou’s youngest daughter). Check out www.happybirthdaylou.com
Ed Franks
If anyone cares to join me, I will be asking Mayor Torres myself what if anything can be done to this theater. I need as much help as possible with putting a commitee together to help preserve this site. If enough voices are heard and enough deeds are done we can save this, WE CAN DO THIS IF WE ALL HELP THIS CAUSE, Joe Caiola 973-341-4740
Yes Larry, the Fine Arts (Lincoln) was directly across the street from the Central. We used to go to Bittman’s Camera Shop on Lexington Avenue all the time. The Fine Arts played “adult” fare in the mid to late sixties, and eventually burned down. After that, we used to cut through the empty lot to go to the Central.
Does anyone remember the Fine Arts Theater in Passaic which was originally the Lincon Theater? I think it was on Lexington Avenue.
Does anyone remember the Regent Theater in Paterson? Had an very long and large lobby as I recall because there were two entrances from different streets.
Bob,
We must be on the same page. I attend the Lafayette every week since the Bigscreen Classics started (I think I missed just 1 last season) I love that theater and the way they present the films. I’ll be there next week also (although maybe not for all of them) and the following week for “Caine Mutiny”. I’m kind of lost when the series ends. That theater is the last one that is a throwback to the good ole days. A small world huh?
My childhood memories are of The Plaza Theater in paterson. I practically lived there. I’m on my way now to the Film Forum, NYC to see some Godzilla movies to re-live the old days. I never been to the Montauk for the same reasons as you, but I’d love to see the interior to see what it looked like. it must be something as it seated over 2000 people…but I won’t pay to go in there now, you know what I mean.
I really want to attend the Loews Jersey City but the showtimes for me are not that good. Too many weekend shows at night. I wish they’d show more early matinees.
Let me know if you get those pics scanned, would love to see them.
Thanks Bob
I’ll see if my friend can scan them, and try to post them on this site.
Growing up in the late 60’s/early 70’s, I practically lived at the Central in Passaic. My friends and I were there it seems every weekend for the latest horror film. I occasionally went to the Clifton and Allwood, but never to the Montauk or Capitol. They were showing porno by that time.
I’ve been in many area theaters since, and I’ve posted my accounts of seeing the deteriorating interiors of Paterson’s Orpheum, Passaic’s Palace, Newark’s Proctors and Adams, etc.
I’m proud to say that I played a big part in helping to save the Loew’s Jersey from the wreckers ball. My film events in the lobby generated a tremendous amount of positive press, and came at a crucial time when the building was up for demolition.
My latest efforts have been with the fabulous Lafayette in Suffern, and I’ll be there for the big science-fiction event next weekend. If you’re in the area, don’t miss it!