John McGowan operated The Rio, at North Twenty Seventh Street and River Road. The Rio was later acquired by the Savar Theatre Corporation, owned by Samuel and Joseph A. Varbalow
John:
Thanks for your excellent post. I wish we could clone you and put you in all 50 states! Wow 207 theaters, and we only have 25 posted here. Keep us all up to date on your book release.
I had hoped to have more information before submitting this theatre. And it came last night in the mail. In the March 2005 issue of Hunterdon Life magazine (a local freebie), the theatre is featured in the centerfold. And what a centerfold she was. The photo is timeless. Although “On Golden Pond†is shown on the marquee, at a quick glance the photo could easily be from the 50s or 60s.
The theater was built by Alvin Sloan, partner is St. Cloud Amusement Corp. The company owned the St. Cloud theater in Washington DC and about a dozen others in NJ. There was a shortage of steam beams during WWII, so the curved roof is supported by laminated wood beams. The architect who came up with this idea was Edwin Weed.
Sloan didn’t like the smell of popcorn, so the theatre didn’t sell any until 1946, when Brandt Theaters began to lease the theatre. They leased it for the next 25 years. In 1969, the 100 seat smoking loge was added and the ventilation system upgraded. The theatre officially closed its doors on September 16, 1993, after a 9:30 pm showing of The Fugitive. As previously reported, Coat World, part of Flemington Furs, leased the building immediately thereafter until about 2001. The current owner is Eagle Properties.
Today, that infamous curved roof is painted aquamarine.
Great history and photos at this link:
http://www.dvrbs.com/CamdenNJ-Movies-Grand.htm
The RIO has for many years been the FAITH HOLY TEMPLE
CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST. Photos at this link:
http://www.dvrbs.com/CamdenNJ-MovieTheaters.htm
Had served as a Union Hall in the mid 1970s.
In recent years it has been the home of the
MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH
Photo at this link:
http://www.dvrbs.com/CamdenNJ-MovieTheaters.htm
The Camden web link that someone posted states that this theater was previously known as the Garden.
Samuel Varbalow and family owned the Savar Movie Corporation, which owned the Victoria, among others.
John McGowan operated The Rio, at North Twenty Seventh Street and River Road. The Rio was later acquired by the Savar Theatre Corporation, owned by Samuel and Joseph A. Varbalow
John:
Thanks for your excellent post. I wish we could clone you and put you in all 50 states! Wow 207 theaters, and we only have 25 posted here. Keep us all up to date on your book release.
Photo at this link:
View link
After opening, “X” out of the print screen.
State Register listing:
View link
I had hoped to have more information before submitting this theatre. And it came last night in the mail. In the March 2005 issue of Hunterdon Life magazine (a local freebie), the theatre is featured in the centerfold. And what a centerfold she was. The photo is timeless. Although “On Golden Pond†is shown on the marquee, at a quick glance the photo could easily be from the 50s or 60s.
The theater was built by Alvin Sloan, partner is St. Cloud Amusement Corp. The company owned the St. Cloud theater in Washington DC and about a dozen others in NJ. There was a shortage of steam beams during WWII, so the curved roof is supported by laminated wood beams. The architect who came up with this idea was Edwin Weed.
Sloan didn’t like the smell of popcorn, so the theatre didn’t sell any until 1946, when Brandt Theaters began to lease the theatre. They leased it for the next 25 years. In 1969, the 100 seat smoking loge was added and the ventilation system upgraded. The theatre officially closed its doors on September 16, 1993, after a 9:30 pm showing of The Fugitive. As previously reported, Coat World, part of Flemington Furs, leased the building immediately thereafter until about 2001. The current owner is Eagle Properties.
Today, that infamous curved roof is painted aquamarine.
Homepage:
http://www.wyomovies.com/theatreinfo.php?id=15
Homepage (movie times only):
http://www.wyomovies.com/theatreinfo.php?id=3
Homepage:
http://www.spinellicinemas.com/
Homepage:
http://www.spinellicinemas.com/
Homepage, only has movie listings:
http://www.glentheater.com/
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/fltocal
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/fltskyd
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/aztglen
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/txtbeld
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/altblue
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/matpine
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/catcirc
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/kstmidw
Make your donations here!
http://www.cityofglasgow.org/plazaseat.htm
Torn down in the 1970s. http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/njttroy