Franklin Theater
57 Main Street,
Franklin,
NJ
57 Main Street,
Franklin,
NJ
2 people
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Opened in 1914 with a roller rink in the basement and 500 seats. At the time, it cost 35 cents to see a motion picture and 1 dollar to see a vaudeville show.
It closed in the 1970s. The lobby and projection room were converted into apartments. The stage and auditorium remain intact, though dilapidated. On 11/24/04 a fire caused by unattended cooking severely damaged the building.
Star Ledger, 11/25/04, page 58
Contributed by
TC
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
According to my dad, a Franklin native, this was not originally a movie theater. It was a playhouse, and, in fact, my grandmother performed there. The tiny theater became a movie theater probably in the mid-30s.
My father’s cousin Raymond Hyde owned the Franklin Theater at some point, and my aunt Peg ran the ticket booth when she was in high school.
My dad says the theater had maybe 20 rows, and it had a balcony.
Dad says the theater was nothing fancy — no special decoration but lovely draperies.
Still open per the 1976 International Motion Picture Almanac. Listed under Brandt Theatres.
A Wurlitzer organ, opus 1363, was installed in this theatre on 6/12/1926.
current owner is in process of restoring theater.
1926 postcard:
View link
I’m from New Orleans and I lived in Franklin, NJ in lat 2005 and all of 2006. The owner was in the process of renovating the theater while I was there. Any information about it now? (2009)