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.
Interior photo:
View link
Modern photo here (3rd photo):
http://www.cart66pf.org/66caravan/roadlog31.htm
Nice color photo (as Daly’s) here:
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Nice recent B&W photo:
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Photo at this link:
http://www.sandynpat.com/Kona2003/03kona_367.htm
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:
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2002 photo:
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Old image of the Paramount:
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Old images:
http://www.oldnewark.com/busind/theatre/newark.htm
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photo:
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Newer photo:
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Small view of the RKO Proctor’s sign in this vintage postcard:
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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.