Cranford Theater
25 North Avenue W,
Cranford,
NJ
07016
25 North Avenue W,
Cranford,
NJ
07016
6 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Cranford Theater (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Carmike Cinemas, Cineplex Odeon, Digiplex Destinations, NewVision Theatres, RKO, RKO Century, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Previous Names: New Branford Theatre, Digiplex Cranford, Carmike Cranford, New Vision Theatres Cranford Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The New Branford Theatre was opened on November 29, 1926 with Noah Berry in “Padlocked” It had 1,300 seats and a Wurlitzer 2 manual 8 ranks pipe organ. In 1927, the name was changed to Cranford Theatre. By 1941 the Cranford Theatre was operated by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Listed in the 1951 FDY as having 1,209 seats, the theatre was twinned by RKO on March 31, 1978. In 1987 RKO Century were taken over by by Cineplex Odeon and they operated it into the 1990’s. In 1998, it was taken over by an independent operator and was divided into five screens, and screened first run movies. Operated by Digiplex Destinations, it was taken over by Carmike Cinemas in 2014. Taken over by NewVision Theatres in March 2017 it was renamed Cranford Theatre again. It was closed on September 4, 2019. It was taken over by a new operator and reopened November 8, 2019.
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Recent comments (view all 36 comments)
great theater saw lots of movies there from the 90s till now. i remember being a twin cinema. I happen to see the last movie when they had only 2 screens twin cinema in 1998 before it closed to turn into a 5 screen theater and reopen in july 1998. I was there when it reopen in july 1998. Its a nice theater one of my favorites!
New vision has rebranded this theater as “New Vision Theatres Cranford Theatre”
Was in town visiting a boyfriend and i mention to him what a nice town he said theres even a ‘'theatre’‘ thats all it took and had him drive me by and there it was it a nice gem in a town thats preserves places like this how wonderful CRANFORD is ;)
Theatre closed as of Wednesday the 4th. Same issue that closed the Rialto in Westfield NJ.
I Can’t believe they started moving things out while there were still patrons in the theatre for a special showing of “Fried Green Tomatoes”
A local article about the closing can be read here, the “tapinto” link within will lead to a picture of an employee on a ladder changing the marquee to read “closed.”
A final note on the Cranford’s Wurlitzer: an old comment mentions it was opus 1468, installed October 10, 1926. Adding to that, it was a 2 manual style 190, with 8 ranks.
I saw on facebook this morning a local article that the theatre will reopen in November with new seats and carpet. Did not state the name of the company who will run it.
The Cranford Theater was a few towns over from where I lived. I saw a few movies there but Alien is the only one I remember. A nice single theater that eventually went the way of the ‘split’.
https://www.cranfordtheater.com/ Looks like they went under independent ownership.
Please update, it was twin March 31, 1978 by RKO Theatres. No Grand opening ad. Cineplex Odeon bought RKO Century in 1987. Please add RKO and RKO Century as previous owners
This is a very nice well run downtown movie theater. The new owners really did a good job with the renovations. The seats are very comfortable the screens are of a good size. They have classic movies once a month at other special events. Good restaurants and shops in the area on the main street and in other areas of Cranford. Definitely support and come to this downtown movie theater. We have been losing too many downtown movie theaters across the country in recent years. If you don’t come and support an independent Theatre. All the business will go to the multiplexes. Don’t sit home and watch streaming movies or go to the local Multiplex AMC. Come down to the Cranford theater you’ll be glad you did