Strand Theatre
202 N. Hermitage Avenue,
Trenton,
NJ
08618
202 N. Hermitage Avenue,
Trenton,
NJ
08618
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Associated Theaters of Trenton
Functions: Library
Nearby Theaters
The Strand Theatre was a small neighborhood movie theatre, located in the West End district of Trenton which opened around 1916. Seating was on one floor with no balcony.
It closed in 1963 and after laying empty for a few years was taken over by the Trenton Free Library and used as a branch of the library. A report in 1979 stated that the lobby floor was still visable, reminding library users of the building’s previous use.
Contributed by
KenRoe
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Recent comments (view all 32 comments)
MikeRa: Thanks for the information on AMC. I was aware that AMC bought GCC, Loews and Magic Johnson. The way they are advertised in the NY Times leads me to believe that Loews and possibly Johnson still has some interest as the theatre names are hyphenated. I was not aware of the Cineplex Odeon (I assume Canada)or the Star deals.
I’ve heard of Star but I don’t know where they operated. I assume it was a western US circuit? Are you active in the business or are
you getting your information from the trades?
Mikeh.
MikeH: The Cineplex Odeon chain that is in Canada is a seperate company from AMc Theatres. The Cineplex Odeon name on theatres in the US are on theatres that, at least in NY/NJ area, are from the former RKO Century Warner theatre chain. Most newspapers advertise Cineplex Odeon as “AMC Loews”. i have a feeling that AMC may eventually drop the Cineplex Odeon name alltogether.
The Star name is on theatres in Detroit, Mi that were bought originally by Loews/Sony Theatres.
I work at a AMC Theatres in the Philadelphia, PA area. 2 of AMC’s Philadelphia theatres were from the old Budco Theatres chain.
Old program ca 1915
cover
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inside:
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MikeH —
Thank you for the information about Trenton theaters. I’ve been to most them, and the Strand was my neighborhood theater. (We actually have a connection — I lived on General Greene Avenue, and your sister-in-law Frances was my best friend in elementary school.)
Future of this building is uncertain as the city of Trenton has proposed closing all four of its branch libraries for budgetary reasons.
Built by the James H. Morris Company. Morris, a local Mason, also built city hall, the Masonic Temple and Hamilton High School.
http://www.mercer50.com/Mercer%20History.pdf
Here is the library site:
http://tinyurl.com/y8t2nvg
I’m not from Trenton, but Charles Hildinger was my husband’s great-uncle and I have done a lot of research on him. The Strand was originally built about 1916 by the Strand Theatre Company owned by C Hildinger (50 shares) and the Philip & Marie Papier (50 shares). In June, 1915 they filed papers as incorporators" to build the Strand. In 1925 there was a major renovation costing $100,000. “One of the outstanding features…the pipe organ. An instrument costing $7,500 has been installed. It is of such mammoth size that it was necessary to extend the rear of the building in order to accommodate the organ.” (all info from news articles)
Additionally, as to David Johnston, he was Charles Hildinger’s brother-in-law (and my husband’s great-grandfather)and he actually lived on Edgewood Avenue & worked at several of the theater’s as a manager including the Strand for a time. He also rented out rooms in his home to organists and other theater workers.
Although the threat to close Trenton’s branch libraries (including this one) eventually came true, after a few months they were reopened as “learning centers” with no circulation of books and reduced hours.