Just desserts: Munch U. team searches out Jersey’s sweet spots
“The Dessert Plate, Somerville
Remember the late, great Cort Theater in Somerville? Lee Van Cleef was most likely a patron; the hard-boiled star of many westerns was born in Somerville. We don’t know about bad and ugly, but you’ll find good cakes, scones and the like in The Dessert Plate, located where the Cort once stood."
Notice another name for the theater – Red Pony Movie Theater
Premiere of Blairstown’s Nous Theatre a hit
Slugline NOUS0612 web
Publication
Date June 14, 2005
Section(s) Web – Local News
Page
Byline
Brief Premiere of Blairstown’s Nous Theatre a hit
By JEANETTE CALO
Herald Staff Writer
BLAIRSTOWN — Imagine enjoying an intimate performance of Mozart’s most personal and impassioned work, featuring world renown performers — just minutes away from your home.
By JEANETTE CALO
Herald Staff Writer
BLAIRSTOWN — Imagine enjoying an intimate performance of Mozart’s most personal and impassioned work, featuring world renown performers — just minutes away from your home.
Patrons of Nous Theatre experienced just that at opening night of the theater on Main Street, recently revamped by Blairstown residents Howard and Laurie Hain.
During the sold-out premiere performance on June 4, guests were entertained by The Baroque Orchestra of North Jersey, the Masterwork Chorus and several featured soloists.
“We’re so fortunate not to have to go to Philly or New York to get a performance of this caliber,” said patron Cynthia Dalton, a 20-year resident of Blairstown.
The brightly painted blue building, which stands out on Blairstown’s small Main Street, is considered a welcome addition by many residents.
“It really caught my eye the first time I saw it,” said Kate Skeffington, a resident of Blairstown for 12 years who came to performances when it was a regional theater. “It’s grown on me.”
The Hains purchased the theater, formerly Roy’s Hall, in January, and have since created a theater with a removable orchestra pit that can seat 185 people and features a gallery space to display the work of local artists.
“What (the Hains) have done is phenomenal,” said Kira Schneider, a former Fredon resident who has lived in Blairstown for a year. “There’s nothing dull about this.”
The show began with a performance of Hebrides Overture by Felix Mendelssohn, performed by 27 members of the Baroque Symphony Orchestra of North Jersey, founded and directed by Conductor Robert Butts.
Tenor Gay Pate, a member of the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York City, sang a solo of Giacomo Puccini’s Nessun Dorma, accompanied by the orchestra.
Pianist Sohyun Ahn, Korea’s Best Performer of the Year in 2002, followed with Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2, also accompanied by the orchestra.
Guest enjoyed wine during the intermission, complimented by free gourmet chocolates provided by Antionette Chocolatier, an Internet company based in Hope.
“I think having a theater in Blairstown is a great idea,” said owner Antionette Little, who will make chocolates for the next two performances, “and nothing goes better with wine than chocolate.”
Following the intermission, the back of the theater was opened to accommodate 119 members of The Masterwork Chorus, a volunteer chorus directed by Andrew Megill. Accompanied by the orchestra, the chorus sang Mozart’s Requiem, the last work written by the composer. The performance featured four soloists: tenor Pate; soprano Olivia Lynch, mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Moulton and bass Kevin Pruner.
“It was divine if I may say so myself,” said Howard Hain, theater owner and director. “We were very pleased. There was a spiritual quality about the whole evening that we were very in touch with.”
The Hains chose the name nous (pronounced “noose”), the Greek word for mind or reason, because it is their responsibility to bring truth and beauty to the community.
“Based on the response of the community tonight we see a tremendous responsibility,” Howard Hain said of the premiere.
On the opening night, Hackettstown resident Ed Palmer recalled being in the building as a child when it was the Red Pony Movie Theater. The building, which was constructed in 1913, was reopened as a silent movie house in 1917 after a fire. It was later used as an auction house until Dirk Swaneveld, principal of Belvidere High School, renovated the building and used it as a playhouse.
His daughter Kim Swaneveld, was the stage manager for the opening-night performance.
The Hains dedicated the opening performances to Swaneveld, for bringing the building back from a shell and providing utilities.
“For his generosity and integrity we thank Dirk Swaneveld,” the Hains' inscription read. “Without your vision and perseverance, we’d have no tonight.”
With some minor technical adjustments, Howard Hain anticipates performances of equal strength for the next two shows, scheduled for Saturday and June 25. The third show was scheduled due to popular demand, as the second is already sold out.
“The only downside about pursuing perfection is once in a while you get close,” Howard Hain said, “And now we have to top it.”
Thanks B O B. Penn, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Harvard & Brown all have great art houses nearby and I was confident that something existed near Cornell.
Can’t wait to see your posts.
I visited this theater on 8/21/05. The horizontal marquee has been stabilized but is still home to a few pigeons. The lobby is still being cleaned up from the asbestos. Looks like a lot of work to be done but the exterior appears very stable. Wonder if they plan to restore the vertical marquee, which is not currently attached to the building. Love the hot green accents, which can’t be seen too well in the posted links.
I took some exterior photos that I’ll post shortly.
Not sure Patsy. I was in Ithaca on 8/21/05. No information is posted on the building, which is a bit surprising and disappointing at the same time. I couldn’t get inside. You have to imagine that Cornell has some funds that it could contribute to a full restoration. I also notice that there aren’t any art houses listed on CT as open in Ithaca, also disappointing for an Ivy League college town. This theater is in a prime location just feet from the main pedestrian shopping plaza and could easily thrive as a full time movie theater.
Look at my comments on the Smith Opera House in nearby Geneva, which is located in a much smaller town. They did it right. A great mixture of live performances and movies and a fantastic restoration. Let’s hope that some badly needed exterior restoration is done soon to the State and serious consideration given to opening it as a movie theater.
An absolute treasure. I saw Madagascar there on 8/20/05. Good crowd. Very big screen and updated sound system. Exquisitely restored. I took numerous interior & exterior photos that I’ll post shortly.
I attended a showing of Must Love Dogs on 8/22/05 in the original single screen theater. This theater is technically now a TWIN and could be updated as such.
http://www.mtpleasantpa.com/theater.html
Previously known as Cox’s Theater & restaurant.
Just desserts: Munch U. team searches out Jersey’s sweet spots
“The Dessert Plate, Somerville
Remember the late, great Cort Theater in Somerville? Lee Van Cleef was most likely a patron; the hard-boiled star of many westerns was born in Somerville. We don’t know about bad and ugly, but you’ll find good cakes, scones and the like in The Dessert Plate, located where the Cort once stood."
Star Ledger 8/26/05
http://thedessertplate.com/
This article implies that the Cort has been demolished. Note the address of the bakery is listed as 34 E Main Street.
A Wurlitzer organ, opus 159, was installed in this theatre on 12/24/1917.
A Wurlitzer organ, opus 1159, was installed in this theatre on 9/19/1925.
A Kilgen organ (opus 3733)was installed in this theatre in 1927.
Informaton on the status of the Wurlitzer organ:
http://www.pstos.org/instruments/or/dallas/fox.htm
Newspaper articles from the opening and 60th anniversary of the Palace Theater(be sure to click all links at the top):
View link
The orchestra from the Winter Garden theater provided entertainment at this grand opening in 1923.
Newspaper articles from the opening and 60th anniversary (be sure to click all links at the top):
View link
PS The Wintergarden has been recently posted on CT.
Old photo, appears to be from the 1940s from the cars:
http://www.walkeastwood.org/photos4.html
Site of a recent film festival:
http://www.syrfilmfest.com/news/palace.htm
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/general/n038267.jpg
old photo from the early 1940s
never heard of Patient 14, but here is the imdb posting:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0345777/
Bigger photos:
View link
View link
View link
View link
Notice another name for the theater – Red Pony Movie Theater
Premiere of Blairstown’s Nous Theatre a hit
Slugline NOUS0612 web
Publication
Date June 14, 2005
Section(s) Web – Local News
Page
Byline
Brief Premiere of Blairstown’s Nous Theatre a hit
By JEANETTE CALO
Herald Staff Writer
BLAIRSTOWN — Imagine enjoying an intimate performance of Mozart’s most personal and impassioned work, featuring world renown performers — just minutes away from your home.
By JEANETTE CALO
Herald Staff Writer
BLAIRSTOWN — Imagine enjoying an intimate performance of Mozart’s most personal and impassioned work, featuring world renown performers — just minutes away from your home.
Patrons of Nous Theatre experienced just that at opening night of the theater on Main Street, recently revamped by Blairstown residents Howard and Laurie Hain.
During the sold-out premiere performance on June 4, guests were entertained by The Baroque Orchestra of North Jersey, the Masterwork Chorus and several featured soloists.
“We’re so fortunate not to have to go to Philly or New York to get a performance of this caliber,” said patron Cynthia Dalton, a 20-year resident of Blairstown.
The brightly painted blue building, which stands out on Blairstown’s small Main Street, is considered a welcome addition by many residents.
“It really caught my eye the first time I saw it,” said Kate Skeffington, a resident of Blairstown for 12 years who came to performances when it was a regional theater. “It’s grown on me.”
The Hains purchased the theater, formerly Roy’s Hall, in January, and have since created a theater with a removable orchestra pit that can seat 185 people and features a gallery space to display the work of local artists.
“What (the Hains) have done is phenomenal,” said Kira Schneider, a former Fredon resident who has lived in Blairstown for a year. “There’s nothing dull about this.”
The show began with a performance of Hebrides Overture by Felix Mendelssohn, performed by 27 members of the Baroque Symphony Orchestra of North Jersey, founded and directed by Conductor Robert Butts.
Tenor Gay Pate, a member of the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York City, sang a solo of Giacomo Puccini’s Nessun Dorma, accompanied by the orchestra.
Pianist Sohyun Ahn, Korea’s Best Performer of the Year in 2002, followed with Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2, also accompanied by the orchestra.
Guest enjoyed wine during the intermission, complimented by free gourmet chocolates provided by Antionette Chocolatier, an Internet company based in Hope.
“I think having a theater in Blairstown is a great idea,” said owner Antionette Little, who will make chocolates for the next two performances, “and nothing goes better with wine than chocolate.”
Following the intermission, the back of the theater was opened to accommodate 119 members of The Masterwork Chorus, a volunteer chorus directed by Andrew Megill. Accompanied by the orchestra, the chorus sang Mozart’s Requiem, the last work written by the composer. The performance featured four soloists: tenor Pate; soprano Olivia Lynch, mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Moulton and bass Kevin Pruner.
“It was divine if I may say so myself,” said Howard Hain, theater owner and director. “We were very pleased. There was a spiritual quality about the whole evening that we were very in touch with.”
The Hains chose the name nous (pronounced “noose”), the Greek word for mind or reason, because it is their responsibility to bring truth and beauty to the community.
“Based on the response of the community tonight we see a tremendous responsibility,” Howard Hain said of the premiere.
On the opening night, Hackettstown resident Ed Palmer recalled being in the building as a child when it was the Red Pony Movie Theater. The building, which was constructed in 1913, was reopened as a silent movie house in 1917 after a fire. It was later used as an auction house until Dirk Swaneveld, principal of Belvidere High School, renovated the building and used it as a playhouse.
His daughter Kim Swaneveld, was the stage manager for the opening-night performance.
The Hains dedicated the opening performances to Swaneveld, for bringing the building back from a shell and providing utilities.
“For his generosity and integrity we thank Dirk Swaneveld,” the Hains' inscription read. “Without your vision and perseverance, we’d have no tonight.”
With some minor technical adjustments, Howard Hain anticipates performances of equal strength for the next two shows, scheduled for Saturday and June 25. The third show was scheduled due to popular demand, as the second is already sold out.
“The only downside about pursuing perfection is once in a while you get close,” Howard Hain said, “And now we have to top it.”
Thanks B O B. Penn, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Harvard & Brown all have great art houses nearby and I was confident that something existed near Cornell.
Can’t wait to see your posts.
I visited this theater on 8/21/05. The horizontal marquee has been stabilized but is still home to a few pigeons. The lobby is still being cleaned up from the asbestos. Looks like a lot of work to be done but the exterior appears very stable. Wonder if they plan to restore the vertical marquee, which is not currently attached to the building. Love the hot green accents, which can’t be seen too well in the posted links.
I took some exterior photos that I’ll post shortly.
Not sure Patsy. I was in Ithaca on 8/21/05. No information is posted on the building, which is a bit surprising and disappointing at the same time. I couldn’t get inside. You have to imagine that Cornell has some funds that it could contribute to a full restoration. I also notice that there aren’t any art houses listed on CT as open in Ithaca, also disappointing for an Ivy League college town. This theater is in a prime location just feet from the main pedestrian shopping plaza and could easily thrive as a full time movie theater.
Look at my comments on the Smith Opera House in nearby Geneva, which is located in a much smaller town. They did it right. A great mixture of live performances and movies and a fantastic restoration. Let’s hope that some badly needed exterior restoration is done soon to the State and serious consideration given to opening it as a movie theater.
Should be listed as a single screen.
An absolute treasure. I saw Madagascar there on 8/20/05. Good crowd. Very big screen and updated sound system. Exquisitely restored. I took numerous interior & exterior photos that I’ll post shortly.
I attended a showing of Must Love Dogs on 8/22/05 in the original single screen theater. This theater is technically now a TWIN and could be updated as such.
The theater purchased the adjoining building, a former drug store, and converted it to an additional theater screen. Each screen has its own lobby. Both operate under the Glen Theater name. The new lobby matches the décor of the original theater’s lobby. The original theater has many old black & white photographs of movie stars in its lobby. The original auditorium has movie posters on its walls, which are painted white with hot pink accents. I took some interior and exterior photos that I’ll post shortly.
I was told by the ticket taker that the theater had been shut for 16 years before it was restored.
Looks like this theater has had its financial problems already:
View link
Newspaper article including photo & history:
View link
“The town (Secaucus) did not have a movie theater until Loews built in 1976 on Meadowlands Parkway"
hudson reporter 3/5/2000
A Wurlitzer organ, opus 55, was installed in the Opera House on ¾/1915.
A Wurlitzer organ, opus 1481, was installed in this theatre on 10/20/1926.
A Kilgen organ, opus 4148, was installed in this theatre in 1928.
A Wurlizter organ, opus 577, was installed in this theatre on 9/14/1922. Another Wurlitzer, opus 980, was installed on 12/31/1924.