Criterion Theater
32 S. Laurel Street,
Bridgeton,
NJ
08302
32 S. Laurel Street,
Bridgeton,
NJ
08302
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Franklin Theater Co.
Architects: William F. Wise
Previous Names: Moore Opera House
Nearby Theaters
Moore Opera House was built by Ed B. Moore in the 1880’s. In 1901 it was refreshed to the plans of architect William F. Wise and reopened as the Criterion Theater on October 10, 1901 with the play “When We Were 21”. In 1913 Edison projectors were installed and it became a movie theatre. It was destroyed by fire on June 13, 1949. The final film to be screened was “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” starring Frank Sinatra.
The theater was quickly replaced by the Laurel Theatre, built at the same location in downtown Bridgeton (it has its own page on Cinema Treasures).
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
On July 2, 1921, 358 people gathered at this theater to listen to the live radio broadcast of the Dempsey-Carpentier heavyweight bout. This was the largest live radio broadcast audience to date and inspired many people to purchase radios for home use, rather than having to go to a public hall for listening.
The date of the fire was 6/15/49.
Here is a 2009 newspaper story about the fire. According to the story the theater was built circa the 1880s as Moore’s Opera House. “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was the last feature shown before the fire.
Per the Facebook group, “Things that aren’t there anymore - South (New) Jersey edition this theater was at 32 South Laurel Street, Bridgeton, NJ. 08302. This Laurel theater was the last theater built in Bridgeton. It showcasted Spanish languaged (sic) films to cater to the farmhands that migrated to the area (to work the crops). In 1979 the theater closed.”
The March 23, 1907 issue of The Moving Picture World had this news about the Criterion Theatre in Bridgeton:
The venue opened as Moore' Opera House by Ed B. Moore. In May of 1901, the building was closed for a refresh as Moore decided to drop the “opera house” moniker. It was reimagined by architect William F. Wise as the Criterion Theatre. The roof was removed and the entire house redone. It reopened as the Criterion on October 10, 1901 with the live play, “When We Were 21.” In 1913, Edison projectors were installed as movies became part of the show. It would make the transition to full time movies; in 1928, sound was added. The Criterion’s final show was “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” on June 13, 1949 - the theatre burned down the next night.