The 1951 FDY doesn’t have a listing for the Orpheum. It lists a State theater at 53-39 Houten Street. Houten street doesn’t show up on Mapquest. Could this possibly be the same theater as the Orpheum?
Thanks for the interesting history on this theater. I have viewed movies here and thought from the decor that the theater was from the 1970s. I normally support older theaters but this one really needs to be replaced. I suspect this will happen soon with the new Home Depot and Applebee’s right next door. I am glad that the proposed theater for nearby Clnton got shot down; the highway exit there is not well designed and already clogged. This theater has a good central location but the crazy jughandle would need to be reconfigured.
The theater is currently owned by local movie buff and entrepreneur
Steve Kalafer, who also owns numerous car dealerships on Rt. 31/202.
I suspect that American Place Movies is his operating company for the theater.
Purchased in February 1998 by Jesse Sayegh, president of CJM Entertainment of Cedar Grove. The businessman purchased the movie theater from Cineplex Odeon, the company that owns cinemas at Menlo Park Mall in Edison and Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City.
Sayegh, who purchased the Rialto movie theater in Westfield in 1997, expanded the twin-screen Cranford Theatre to five screens, poured $600,000 to $700,000 worth of improvements into the cinema. The theater, built in the 1920s, was closed during the renovations.
teecee
commented about
Cinema 9on
Mar 21, 2005 at 8:15 pm
Attached article puts the closing date as March 2003 and the opening date around 1980: View link
When Bob Jaspan bought the Elmora Theater in Elizabeth in 1986, he initially planned to relocate his hardware store there.
But a cry from residents convinced Jaspan, now a city councilman representing the Elmora section, to keep the silver screen and try to make a go of the former vaudeville stage.
Over the years, he ran two-for-one specials, held giveaways, reduced ticket prices to $3 and held monthly free screenings for senior citizens.
Jaspan stopped showing movies in 1995 and then rented to another church (Evangelistic Hispanic Church) before selling the theater.
After a $1 million restoration two decades ago, the theater hosted legendary performers such as Ray Charles and Johnny Cash.
Woody Allen used its distinctive black marquee as a backdrop in his film, “Sweet and Lowdown.”
Built in 1913 as Gordon’s Hippodrome, a vaudeville theater, it soon became one of the top movie houses in the city. The theater was one of the last big screens standing when the multiplexes arrived, but it was eventually subdivided and turned into a four-screen X-rated movie house. The final blow to its reputation was the death of four young people during a party in the unlicensed nightclub, El Balcon, on the second floor in 1994. Now, the Elizabeth Avenue building is undergoing an extensive renovation. The Christ Fellowship, an independent church with services in Portuguese, Spanish and English, expects to open the Liberty Center there by the middle of next year. The church will turn the theater into a community center, where religious services as well as live performances and movie screenings at discount prices will take place. Star Ledger 12/28/03
Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2004 Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News
By George Lyle IV, The Indianapolis Star Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Jun. 17—In 1976, the Rivoli Theater at 10th Street and Dearborn Avenue was suffering through an identity crisis.
On the one hand, the theater played host to stars such as Linda Ronstadt and John Mellencamp, back when he was known as Johnny Cougar. On the other hand, when the music stopped playing, the skin flicks came on, and the 1,500-seat Rivoli became a porn palace that drew viewers from out of state.
Before the porn, the Rivoli showed feature films from the time it was built in 1927 as a project of Universal Studios.
Forced by the city to close in 1992 because of indecency violations, its doors have stayed shut for 12 years.
Now a consortium of community organizations wants to make the Rivoli an Eastside attraction once again. At a news conference Wednesday, community leaders and project coordinators gathered during a downpour under the theater’s leaky marquee to announce the beginning of a study on how best to restore and use the 77-year-old theater.
Kathy Harlow, vice president of the Rivoli’s new board of directors, wouldn’t let the rain drown out the good news.
“The heavens are happy, too, because they’re providing copious tears of joy,” she said.
The theater is now the centerpiece of a new not-for-profit organization, the Rivoli Theater and Concert Hall Inc. Pending the outcome of a feasibility study, the theater will become a multiuse community arts center and is slated to become the centerpiece of a revitalized East 10th Street district. Also participating in the revitalization efforts are the Near East Side Community Organization, the East 10th Street Civic Association and the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana.
The Rivoli’s owner, Charles Chulchian, said the theater is an important piece in the rebuilding of the Eastside.
“This neighborhood needs something important, and this building is important,” he said. “This venue is vital to the growth and rebirth of the Eastside.”
Despite the optimism at the press conference, the arts center plan is still not a done deal.
The Efroymson Fund, a local philanthropic organization, donated $15,000 to fund a study to determine what the Rivoli will need to become useable again. Citizens Gas & Coke Utility donated $6,000 to fund a business plan to determine the most efficient use of the theater’s space.
However, the two studies will only help determine how much money it will take to turn the theater into a community destination — they are not a part of any reconstruction funding. The Rivoli board has not begun to raise money for remodeling.
Rivoli board member Mark Dollase said he is optimistic, but costs are a definite concern.
“I think that’s something to look at, balancing the costs of stabilization versus what you’re going to get out of it,” he said.
Whatever the final bill is, Christina Blair said she would be happy to see the Rivoli revitalized. A bartender at the Ten-De Club across the street, Blair said a community center would work wonders for the neighborhood.
“I think it’s good, because you’ve got a lot of kids out here, and you need to keep them out of trouble.”
Chulchian said he hopes that the community will respond to the new and improved theater.
“It was a packed house, and I’m sure it will be packed again,” he said.
To see more of The Indianapolis Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.IndyStar.com
2002 photo at this link:
View link
The 1951 FDY doesn’t have a listing for the Orpheum. It lists a State theater at 53-39 Houten Street. Houten street doesn’t show up on Mapquest. Could this possibly be the same theater as the Orpheum?
Nice story Vincent. Here is a complete text link:
http://www.homestead.com/biffsboards/Guiliano.html
Listed as open in the 1951 FDY.
Listed in the 1951 FDY.
Listed as the Rex in the 1951 FDY.
Not listed in the 1951 FDY.
Listed as open in the 1951 FDY.
Jim – thanks for all of your recent postings of NJ theaters.
Recent photo from 2003:
View link
2002 photo:
View link
Old image of the Paramount:
View link
Old images:
http://www.oldnewark.com/busind/theatre/newark.htm
View link
photo:
View link
Newer photo:
View link
Small view of the RKO Proctor’s sign in this vintage postcard:
View link
You can see the side of the building on the right of this old photo:
View link
Thanks for the interesting history on this theater. I have viewed movies here and thought from the decor that the theater was from the 1970s. I normally support older theaters but this one really needs to be replaced. I suspect this will happen soon with the new Home Depot and Applebee’s right next door. I am glad that the proposed theater for nearby Clnton got shot down; the highway exit there is not well designed and already clogged. This theater has a good central location but the crazy jughandle would need to be reconfigured.
The theater is currently owned by local movie buff and entrepreneur
Steve Kalafer, who also owns numerous car dealerships on Rt. 31/202.
I suspect that American Place Movies is his operating company for the theater.
Very small old photo at this link:
http://www.harkinstheatres.com/timeline.asp
Very small old photo at this link:
http://www.harkinstheatres.com/timeline.asp
Purchased in February 1998 by Jesse Sayegh, president of CJM Entertainment of Cedar Grove. The businessman purchased the movie theater from Cineplex Odeon, the company that owns cinemas at Menlo Park Mall in Edison and Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City.
Sayegh, who purchased the Rialto movie theater in Westfield in 1997, expanded the twin-screen Cranford Theatre to five screens, poured $600,000 to $700,000 worth of improvements into the cinema. The theater, built in the 1920s, was closed during the renovations.
Attached article puts the closing date as March 2003 and the opening date around 1980:
View link
When Bob Jaspan bought the Elmora Theater in Elizabeth in 1986, he initially planned to relocate his hardware store there.
But a cry from residents convinced Jaspan, now a city councilman representing the Elmora section, to keep the silver screen and try to make a go of the former vaudeville stage.
Over the years, he ran two-for-one specials, held giveaways, reduced ticket prices to $3 and held monthly free screenings for senior citizens.
Jaspan stopped showing movies in 1995 and then rented to another church (Evangelistic Hispanic Church) before selling the theater.
After a $1 million restoration two decades ago, the theater hosted legendary performers such as Ray Charles and Johnny Cash.
Woody Allen used its distinctive black marquee as a backdrop in his film, “Sweet and Lowdown.”
Built in 1913 as Gordon’s Hippodrome, a vaudeville theater, it soon became one of the top movie houses in the city. The theater was one of the last big screens standing when the multiplexes arrived, but it was eventually subdivided and turned into a four-screen X-rated movie house. The final blow to its reputation was the death of four young people during a party in the unlicensed nightclub, El Balcon, on the second floor in 1994. Now, the Elizabeth Avenue building is undergoing an extensive renovation. The Christ Fellowship, an independent church with services in Portuguese, Spanish and English, expects to open the Liberty Center there by the middle of next year. The church will turn the theater into a community center, where religious services as well as live performances and movie screenings at discount prices will take place. Star Ledger 12/28/03
Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2004 Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News
By George Lyle IV, The Indianapolis Star Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Jun. 17—In 1976, the Rivoli Theater at 10th Street and Dearborn Avenue was suffering through an identity crisis.
On the one hand, the theater played host to stars such as Linda Ronstadt and John Mellencamp, back when he was known as Johnny Cougar. On the other hand, when the music stopped playing, the skin flicks came on, and the 1,500-seat Rivoli became a porn palace that drew viewers from out of state.
Before the porn, the Rivoli showed feature films from the time it was built in 1927 as a project of Universal Studios.
Forced by the city to close in 1992 because of indecency violations, its doors have stayed shut for 12 years.
Now a consortium of community organizations wants to make the Rivoli an Eastside attraction once again. At a news conference Wednesday, community leaders and project coordinators gathered during a downpour under the theater’s leaky marquee to announce the beginning of a study on how best to restore and use the 77-year-old theater.
Kathy Harlow, vice president of the Rivoli’s new board of directors, wouldn’t let the rain drown out the good news.
“The heavens are happy, too, because they’re providing copious tears of joy,” she said.
The theater is now the centerpiece of a new not-for-profit organization, the Rivoli Theater and Concert Hall Inc. Pending the outcome of a feasibility study, the theater will become a multiuse community arts center and is slated to become the centerpiece of a revitalized East 10th Street district. Also participating in the revitalization efforts are the Near East Side Community Organization, the East 10th Street Civic Association and the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana.
The Rivoli’s owner, Charles Chulchian, said the theater is an important piece in the rebuilding of the Eastside.
“This neighborhood needs something important, and this building is important,” he said. “This venue is vital to the growth and rebirth of the Eastside.”
Despite the optimism at the press conference, the arts center plan is still not a done deal.
The Efroymson Fund, a local philanthropic organization, donated $15,000 to fund a study to determine what the Rivoli will need to become useable again. Citizens Gas & Coke Utility donated $6,000 to fund a business plan to determine the most efficient use of the theater’s space.
However, the two studies will only help determine how much money it will take to turn the theater into a community destination — they are not a part of any reconstruction funding. The Rivoli board has not begun to raise money for remodeling.
Rivoli board member Mark Dollase said he is optimistic, but costs are a definite concern.
“I think that’s something to look at, balancing the costs of stabilization versus what you’re going to get out of it,” he said.
Whatever the final bill is, Christina Blair said she would be happy to see the Rivoli revitalized. A bartender at the Ten-De Club across the street, Blair said a community center would work wonders for the neighborhood.
“I think it’s good, because you’ve got a lot of kids out here, and you need to keep them out of trouble.”
Chulchian said he hopes that the community will respond to the new and improved theater.
“It was a packed house, and I’m sure it will be packed again,” he said.
To see more of The Indianapolis Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.IndyStar.com