Hello Lugosi Research,
For whatever it’s worth, Bela presented his Horror and Magic show at the RKO Capitol on Broad Street in Trenton (NJ) around that time. Google it as I believe I read about it in the Trenton Times newspaper.
Good luck.
Who painted the Mission Drive-in sign? I have the hanging one – about 1 foot by 8 feet long. It hangs beautifully over my car each night when I pull it in. Great memory.
Hondo59
That was me in NJ. I saw Josey and Chino at the Cornell. There was a pretty good size crowd that night. My parents and I were driving around the country in August of 1976. We stayed at a motel closeby (almost across the street) and we had a free evening so we took in two of our favorite actors. I have the ticket stubs to this day. I can’t believe it’s so long ago. I was sad to see a K-mart or something like that in its place. Double features were common then at the 2nd run theaters. What a way to catch up on movies! I hope you enjoyed the Wiltern. I’m sorry we didn’t get to go there as I know it’s a beautiful building.
In the 1970s and the early 1980s the Park was still a single theater. It did not have a balcony – it was what they call today stadium-type seating. The entrance into the auditorium was in the center with the stadium seating/loge on either side. The aisles were in the center and on both sides. It was a wide theater.
It had a large ornate, circular relief in the center ceiling where there was probably once a large chandelier. By the time I saw this place, it ran double features for a dollar and later two dollars. I saw many good double bills here and I remember the Park fondly. Not much money was put into maintenance which meant some sticky floors, broken seats, and beatup restrooms painted in odd colors.
There were several leaks in the ceiling ornamentation which resulted in water-damaged plaster. Years later I returned to see it when it was quad-ed. It was cleaner and a lot more expensive but it had lost its charm.
hondo59
commented about
Movieson
Jun 24, 2010 at 3:32 pm
This theater is clearly seen in the motion picture “The Florentine.” I believe it is Chris Penn who is seen walking in front of it.
The seats and equipment were removed and sold several years ago. I think that the owners had planned on making it a banquet hall. It is art deco on the outside and rather plain on the inside. It seems to me that 35mm film reels were used as wall sconces in the auditorium.
Also, the permanent seating was removed in the 1960s and the floor leveled by constructing wooden platforms over the original floor.
The buidling facade is somewhat in a colonial style as is the boxoffice and lobby area. The shell of the auditorium is made of cinder block. Oddly enough, the interior decor and color scheme is clearly art deco.
The Colonial Playhouse has been open for the past 25 years as the Off Broad Street Theater. It operates as a dessert theater featuring live theater such as musicals, plays, and children’s shows.
It is located at 5 South Greenwood Avenue in downtown Hopewell next to the post office and across from the borough hall.
Status should be changed to open.
The motion picture equipment was removed in the 1960s.
A Pep Boys Auto Store sits on the site of the Prince 3 today. This was an undistinguished building on Route 1 outside of the Princeton town limits. I believe that the theater building was expanded on its “western” side in the 1970s while the original auditorium was twinned.
It was a Budco theater and it sometimes ran X-rated films as pointed out above. The last film I saw here was Die Hard.
It was running porn in the end and I believe the city of Trenton foreclosed on the property while it was still operating! I think I recall headlines in the two local papers declaring that the city was operating a porn theater. Does any else remember this?
Hi Dirck,
You must be a relative of Don Van Lieu of Hopewell. Don and I spoke many times about the building of the Hunterdon. Didn’t your family have something to do with Barn, Belvidere, and Clinton Point? I’m afraid that all of Don’s belongings (and clippings/memorabilia) were thrown out after his passing in September, 2006. He loved the old movie houses.
The site is a new building (Walgreen’s) and across highway 31 (old house that was torn down for a steak house) is a new gas station. Across Church Street is another pharmacy and a bank. Poniatowski Brothers site was torn down for a WAWA which recently vacated to the new place directly across the Hunterdon. Things change…
Modell’s Sporting Good occupies the Premiere Theater space. If you walk to the rear of the store, notice the angled diagonal walls leading to the former screen.
Thank you for those who provided a listing of movies that played Radio City. There are many entries here and perhaps I missed something but I remember seeing “The Blue Max” (June 1966) and “The 7% Solution” (October 1976). In fact, I have the program for “Solution.”
I have the Mission Drive-In wooden sign hanging in my garage in New Jersey.
My parents and I stopped in San Juan and the Mission Drive-In during a cross-country trip in August 1976. We were tired and on our way back from a visit to San Diego when we saw the screen off of I-5 (The 5). However, we all fell asleep during a mediocre double feature – FREEBIE AND THE BEAN and GATOR – and woke up alone at 4 am.
I have the ticket stubs.
Several years ago, much to my amazement, I came across the sign over the internet. A fellow had it in his back yard in Long Beach CA was trying to find a home for this piece of memorabilia. We struck a deal to have it sent to NJ.
Cary Grant fell ill here on November 29, 1986 while preparing for his one-man show entitled “Conversations with Cary Grant.” He died later that night at St. Luke’s Hospital.
The GCC Somerville Circle Theater (Triplex) was completely torn down. A PC Richards electronics store was built in its place and pretty much in the same configuration. Seats and all went to the landfill.
Hello Lugosi Research, For whatever it’s worth, Bela presented his Horror and Magic show at the RKO Capitol on Broad Street in Trenton (NJ) around that time. Google it as I believe I read about it in the Trenton Times newspaper.
Good luck.
Hi Enginecap,
Who painted the Mission Drive-in sign? I have the hanging one – about 1 foot by 8 feet long. It hangs beautifully over my car each night when I pull it in. Great memory. Hondo59
Hi Art,
That was me in NJ. I saw Josey and Chino at the Cornell. There was a pretty good size crowd that night. My parents and I were driving around the country in August of 1976. We stayed at a motel closeby (almost across the street) and we had a free evening so we took in two of our favorite actors. I have the ticket stubs to this day. I can’t believe it’s so long ago. I was sad to see a K-mart or something like that in its place. Double features were common then at the 2nd run theaters. What a way to catch up on movies! I hope you enjoyed the Wiltern. I’m sorry we didn’t get to go there as I know it’s a beautiful building.
In the 1970s and the early 1980s the Park was still a single theater. It did not have a balcony – it was what they call today stadium-type seating. The entrance into the auditorium was in the center with the stadium seating/loge on either side. The aisles were in the center and on both sides. It was a wide theater.
It had a large ornate, circular relief in the center ceiling where there was probably once a large chandelier. By the time I saw this place, it ran double features for a dollar and later two dollars. I saw many good double bills here and I remember the Park fondly. Not much money was put into maintenance which meant some sticky floors, broken seats, and beatup restrooms painted in odd colors.
There were several leaks in the ceiling ornamentation which resulted in water-damaged plaster. Years later I returned to see it when it was quad-ed. It was cleaner and a lot more expensive but it had lost its charm.
Hi Rick,
Any left (4-5 or them)? Thanks
Hondo59 (Frank)
This theater is clearly seen in the motion picture “The Florentine.” I believe it is Chris Penn who is seen walking in front of it.
The seats and equipment were removed and sold several years ago. I think that the owners had planned on making it a banquet hall. It is art deco on the outside and rather plain on the inside. It seems to me that 35mm film reels were used as wall sconces in the auditorium.
Also, the permanent seating was removed in the 1960s and the floor leveled by constructing wooden platforms over the original floor.
The buidling facade is somewhat in a colonial style as is the boxoffice and lobby area. The shell of the auditorium is made of cinder block. Oddly enough, the interior decor and color scheme is clearly art deco.
The Colonial Playhouse has been open for the past 25 years as the Off Broad Street Theater. It operates as a dessert theater featuring live theater such as musicals, plays, and children’s shows.
It is located at 5 South Greenwood Avenue in downtown Hopewell next to the post office and across from the borough hall.
Status should be changed to open.
The motion picture equipment was removed in the 1960s.
The Prince was razed completely so the status should be changed to closed/demolished.
A Pep Boys Auto Store sits on the site of the Prince 3 today. This was an undistinguished building on Route 1 outside of the Princeton town limits. I believe that the theater building was expanded on its “western” side in the 1970s while the original auditorium was twinned.
It was a Budco theater and it sometimes ran X-rated films as pointed out above. The last film I saw here was Die Hard.
It was running porn in the end and I believe the city of Trenton foreclosed on the property while it was still operating! I think I recall headlines in the two local papers declaring that the city was operating a porn theater. Does any else remember this?
Was this place completely torn down or is it part of an existing building – maybe Crate and Barrel?
I believe this is the theater seen in the Kurt Russell film “ Best of Times” during the parade scene.
Hi Dirck,
You must be a relative of Don Van Lieu of Hopewell. Don and I spoke many times about the building of the Hunterdon. Didn’t your family have something to do with Barn, Belvidere, and Clinton Point? I’m afraid that all of Don’s belongings (and clippings/memorabilia) were thrown out after his passing in September, 2006. He loved the old movie houses.
The site is a new building (Walgreen’s) and across highway 31 (old house that was torn down for a steak house) is a new gas station. Across Church Street is another pharmacy and a bank. Poniatowski Brothers site was torn down for a WAWA which recently vacated to the new place directly across the Hunterdon. Things change…
In the mid 1990s, the Capri house a clothing store.
Modell’s Sporting Good occupies the Premiere Theater space. If you walk to the rear of the store, notice the angled diagonal walls leading to the former screen.
RKO closed the State in New Brunswick, and the Lincoln and Trent in downtown Trenton, in October, 1972.
Thank you for those who provided a listing of movies that played Radio City. There are many entries here and perhaps I missed something but I remember seeing “The Blue Max” (June 1966) and “The 7% Solution” (October 1976). In fact, I have the program for “Solution.”
I have the Mission Drive-In wooden sign hanging in my garage in New Jersey.
My parents and I stopped in San Juan and the Mission Drive-In during a cross-country trip in August 1976. We were tired and on our way back from a visit to San Diego when we saw the screen off of I-5 (The 5). However, we all fell asleep during a mediocre double feature – FREEBIE AND THE BEAN and GATOR – and woke up alone at 4 am.
I have the ticket stubs.
Several years ago, much to my amazement, I came across the sign over the internet. A fellow had it in his back yard in Long Beach CA was trying to find a home for this piece of memorabilia. We struck a deal to have it sent to NJ.
Colon is the Spanish name for Columbus, the explorer. As indicated above, it is pronounced with the accent/emphasis on the second ‘o’ syllable.
Cristobal Colon is Christopher Columbus. There is also an accent in the first name – over the “o” so that’s where the emphasis is.
This theater was open as a movie house in 1976. It was a store when I last saw it in 1995.
Cary Grant fell ill here on November 29, 1986 while preparing for his one-man show entitled “Conversations with Cary Grant.” He died later that night at St. Luke’s Hospital.
If you look at the address using Google Earth satellite, you can see that this is a theater building.
The GCC Somerville Circle Theater (Triplex) was completely torn down. A PC Richards electronics store was built in its place and pretty much in the same configuration. Seats and all went to the landfill.
The current site of the Trent is the Roebling State Office Building.
Frank Cooper lived near the Ye Olde Washington Inn near the Crossing. He passed away some 10 years ago.