We ventured into the Apollo around 1975…..like going into 1920…this old vaudeville like stage that curved out in the middle with bulbs along the edge…also old nouveau like candelabra on the walls…or at least I think it was the Apollo….that and the Strand I believe were the only theatres running. A great many theatres were still open in the late 60’s, we would catch 2 or 3 films a day if the weather was bad, being from a small town when we came to A.C. there was much to choose from. So I think by 1975 A.C. was in rough shape already before the casinos opened and had lost most of its movie palaces…..the casinos just finished off the old sites for development along with other old A.C. memories.
I believe sometime in the late 90’s I heard a news blurb from A.C. that a portion of an old building had collapsed (no injuries) and they said it was part of the old Apollo auditorium….could this be
correct?
Its been wonderful reading all these posts on the Roxy. Probably the best memories of my father were to be had when we visited New York from Penna. (usually on business), stayed at the Taft Hotel, and attended the Roxy at night. He was always enthused about what a special place it was. This was mainly in the late 50’s, and I remember being awed by The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (?) and also I remember seeing L'il Abner, tainted by some ominous talk about how “it might be one of the last shows”, and I couldn’t later believe some place like that would cease to exist, even at that young age. Not long after its demise we stopped coming to New York.
If you haven’t been down there lately, many of the motels have bit the dust as well as long-standing restaurants and private homes. Its sickening. Much more is due to fall.
The Blaker theatre was located on the nw corner of this block, not behind or connected to the Shore, which was on the sw corner. The “Shore 4” experience was walking between the theatres, which most people didn’t realize if they weren’t familiar with the situation.
Artifacts from this landmark occasionally pop up in the area. A great double-sided neon script sign (probably added in 1950’s) was in some guys warehouse near Southern/Military, but those buildings were recently flattened. Wonderful that the structure still exists and they light it up.
Yeah, we’ve been to the new “City Place” (actually a “Dangerous Place”), paid the outrageous concession prices, and had to deal with often blaringly loud audio or audio seeping through from another screen. They run the movies too late for such threatening neighborhoods nearby. We have friends who purchased condos within the complex, lived under seige, and sold quickly. Give me the old Paramount or Lake Theatre please. Better peace of mind than faux atmosphere.
The Blaker auditorium and tiny lobby to the surprise of many still exists (rotting away that is) and is by far the oldest remaining theatre in Wildwood, starting over 100 years ago as a vaudeville house. The smallest of the local Hunt’s Theatres, it was perfect for raucous movies like “Woodstock” where the crowd danced in the aisles. It was divided into 2 screens long after its heyday, and bizarrely re-opened for a last hurrah (or guffah may be a better term) circa 1997.
Let me add these were FORMER Hunt’s Theatres. After the Hunts left the picture in the 80’s (no pun intended), their theatres and boardwalk holdings faded into oblivion.
The remaining days of this theatre and the nearby Blaker are short. Both are overdue for demolition, long stripped of their decor save vintage moldering seats in the Shore balcony (green leather) and Blaker floor (red felt). Full information on all the Hunt’s Theatres can be found at the Boyer Museum in downtown Wildwood.
These theatres briefly re-opened in 1996-97 and were quickly panned due to leaking roofs, falling ceiling tiles and no a/c! At times they just let you in to have some patrons. We were in Wildwood for a month and the whole town seemed to be sleeping except for the bars.
At the recent 50’s week-end a section of the Shore sign along with other signs were lit up in the convention hall. The neon collectors there said about 60 more neon signs have been saved from being ruined. Save-a-sign number was (609)? 9725008.
Another of the building plans here now call for a movie complex just offshore of Wildwood in Rio Grande.
We are glad to see this theatre listed here. We’ve attended severaltimes, its worth the drive from 30 mi. north…we’ve seen 1st run as well as cult films in this intimate setting…you can park literally right outside and walk in…the owner is always personable and a lover of film. Its open all year now. The shame is the locals, especially the movers & shakers of the new Wildwood, don’t support it. (Who said they had TASTE?).
The old boardwalk entrance to this theatre and original lobby was finally closed in last year as several discount shops expanded into those spaces. The auditorium still serves as storage and upstairs offices & camera rooms still exist. It actually re-opened for 1996-97, 98? (along with the Shore & Blaker!) but was criticized for lack of amenities. Several sections of the stainless marquee with the neon elements were saved as were the neon signs, (signs were 90’s reproductions of the original.). Just this past week a 25-story high rise building was proposed for the large parking lot behind this boardwalk block of stores.
I believe it was the Shore Theatre that served as Wildwood’s year-round theatre, not the Casino. Could be wrong though.
Just prior to demolition I was able to get into the building, which was thoroughly gutted. The steps up to the original projectionists loft were still there, and so was the restroom. This restroom was untouched and the violet tiles (the shade of those on the front of the building) still shined like 1940.
Another note….some of the neon marquee letters were removed in the 80’s and still exist in storage in Florida…I’ve been told.
I was at the Yeadon Theatre once in 1975 (lived far away)and I definitely remember Mrs. Friedman. Such a nice encounter. Also the movie was $1.00. Does the neon sign (letters) still exist? I can restore it, etc.
We ventured into the Apollo around 1975…..like going into 1920…this old vaudeville like stage that curved out in the middle with bulbs along the edge…also old nouveau like candelabra on the walls…or at least I think it was the Apollo….that and the Strand I believe were the only theatres running. A great many theatres were still open in the late 60’s, we would catch 2 or 3 films a day if the weather was bad, being from a small town when we came to A.C. there was much to choose from. So I think by 1975 A.C. was in rough shape already before the casinos opened and had lost most of its movie palaces…..the casinos just finished off the old sites for development along with other old A.C. memories.
I believe sometime in the late 90’s I heard a news blurb from A.C. that a portion of an old building had collapsed (no injuries) and they said it was part of the old Apollo auditorium….could this be
correct?
Its been wonderful reading all these posts on the Roxy. Probably the best memories of my father were to be had when we visited New York from Penna. (usually on business), stayed at the Taft Hotel, and attended the Roxy at night. He was always enthused about what a special place it was. This was mainly in the late 50’s, and I remember being awed by The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (?) and also I remember seeing L'il Abner, tainted by some ominous talk about how “it might be one of the last shows”, and I couldn’t later believe some place like that would cease to exist, even at that young age. Not long after its demise we stopped coming to New York.
If you haven’t been down there lately, many of the motels have bit the dust as well as long-standing restaurants and private homes. Its sickening. Much more is due to fall.
The Blaker theatre was located on the nw corner of this block, not behind or connected to the Shore, which was on the sw corner. The “Shore 4” experience was walking between the theatres, which most people didn’t realize if they weren’t familiar with the situation.
Artifacts from this landmark occasionally pop up in the area. A great double-sided neon script sign (probably added in 1950’s) was in some guys warehouse near Southern/Military, but those buildings were recently flattened. Wonderful that the structure still exists and they light it up.
Yeah, we’ve been to the new “City Place” (actually a “Dangerous Place”), paid the outrageous concession prices, and had to deal with often blaringly loud audio or audio seeping through from another screen. They run the movies too late for such threatening neighborhoods nearby. We have friends who purchased condos within the complex, lived under seige, and sold quickly. Give me the old Paramount or Lake Theatre please. Better peace of mind than faux atmosphere.
The Blaker auditorium and tiny lobby to the surprise of many still exists (rotting away that is) and is by far the oldest remaining theatre in Wildwood, starting over 100 years ago as a vaudeville house. The smallest of the local Hunt’s Theatres, it was perfect for raucous movies like “Woodstock” where the crowd danced in the aisles. It was divided into 2 screens long after its heyday, and bizarrely re-opened for a last hurrah (or guffah may be a better term) circa 1997.
Let me add these were FORMER Hunt’s Theatres. After the Hunts left the picture in the 80’s (no pun intended), their theatres and boardwalk holdings faded into oblivion.
The remaining days of this theatre and the nearby Blaker are short. Both are overdue for demolition, long stripped of their decor save vintage moldering seats in the Shore balcony (green leather) and Blaker floor (red felt). Full information on all the Hunt’s Theatres can be found at the Boyer Museum in downtown Wildwood.
These theatres briefly re-opened in 1996-97 and were quickly panned due to leaking roofs, falling ceiling tiles and no a/c! At times they just let you in to have some patrons. We were in Wildwood for a month and the whole town seemed to be sleeping except for the bars.
At the recent 50’s week-end a section of the Shore sign along with other signs were lit up in the convention hall. The neon collectors there said about 60 more neon signs have been saved from being ruined. Save-a-sign number was (609)? 9725008.
Another of the building plans here now call for a movie complex just offshore of Wildwood in Rio Grande.
We are glad to see this theatre listed here. We’ve attended severaltimes, its worth the drive from 30 mi. north…we’ve seen 1st run as well as cult films in this intimate setting…you can park literally right outside and walk in…the owner is always personable and a lover of film. Its open all year now. The shame is the locals, especially the movers & shakers of the new Wildwood, don’t support it. (Who said they had TASTE?).
The old boardwalk entrance to this theatre and original lobby was finally closed in last year as several discount shops expanded into those spaces. The auditorium still serves as storage and upstairs offices & camera rooms still exist. It actually re-opened for 1996-97, 98? (along with the Shore & Blaker!) but was criticized for lack of amenities. Several sections of the stainless marquee with the neon elements were saved as were the neon signs, (signs were 90’s reproductions of the original.). Just this past week a 25-story high rise building was proposed for the large parking lot behind this boardwalk block of stores.
I believe it was the Shore Theatre that served as Wildwood’s year-round theatre, not the Casino. Could be wrong though.
Just prior to demolition I was able to get into the building, which was thoroughly gutted. The steps up to the original projectionists loft were still there, and so was the restroom. This restroom was untouched and the violet tiles (the shade of those on the front of the building) still shined like 1940.
Another note….some of the neon marquee letters were removed in the 80’s and still exist in storage in Florida…I’ve been told.
I was at the Yeadon Theatre once in 1975 (lived far away)and I definitely remember Mrs. Friedman. Such a nice encounter. Also the movie was $1.00. Does the neon sign (letters) still exist? I can restore it, etc.