Strand Theatre
1023 Boardwalk,
Atlantic City,
NJ
08401
1023 Boardwalk,
Atlantic City,
NJ
08401
3 people
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According to the Press of Atlantic City, the Criterion first opened on February 8, 1909.
The Criterion theatre was taken over by Loew’s on May 23rd, 1910. ad posted. Loews quits after the 1910 season ends.
Opened as Strand on March 22nd, 1925. Ad posted.
This theater had 1 brief summer as Talkies. It had always before and after been named the Strand and should be listed here as that.
1980 auction:
This was taken over by Frank theatres in 1970 and starts to show adult movies until 1972. It reopened as the Talkies theatre on June 16th, 1973, until 1974 and closed in 1979. 1973 grand opening ad posted.
Criterion Theater was apparently the original name prior to 1943. Previously managed by Edward J. Dougherty who died at 56 in 1943.
In the late 60’s and 70’s it was run by Apollo Circuit Theaters. When Frank theaters purchased the chain they did not get the Strand. In 1974 the named was changed to Talkies and showed old classics. In 1975 it was run by a gentlemen named Lero from Phila and changed back to the Strand. They ran The Towering Inferno all summer with a Fri and Sat midnight showing of the Divine flick Pink Flamingos. IN 1976 the theater changed hands again and operated until the late 80’s.
The Strand Movie theater was leased, run and operated by George R Perry and Perry Management. It was operated by him in the 70s at the time when the casinos were first opened. It was later sold by the owner (believe to be Charles Tannenbaum to the casino industry).
Here is the Strand and the Steel Pier in 1964:
http://tinyurl.com/25wz7xx
I think that’s the one in Ocean City.
I visited the booth around 1971, or 72. Al Greenwood was the operator. When he did a change over, the sound change was large wall mounted dial called a fader. It was made by Western Electric.
Super Simplex / Peerless Magnarcs.
Renewing link.
Thank you, Ken. Great perspective on the Strand and the late, great Steel Pier.
Here is a larger view of the 1939 postcard. I worked at the Planters store one summer in high school.
http://tinyurl.com/3zocxg
I wonder what the actual demolition date was? It was still around in the late 70s when I was in high school.
In the summer of 1961 the Strand had the Deborah Karr-Gary Cooper thriller (his final movie) “The Naked Edge.” The theater participated in a gimmick that United Artists encouraged all first-run theaters to use for “The Naked Edge.” No one was allowed top enter the theater during the final 13 (terrific) minutes. A long queue formed outside during evening performances while a flashing red lightbulb signaled that the climax of the picture inside was in progress. I loved the picture. Still do. Saw it one night at the Strand alone and then dragged my folks along the next night so I could see it again. I made a point of arriving early enough to participate in waiting and watching that red bulb. Fond memories. – Ed Blank
1970s postcard:
View link
Strand was built in 1925. At one time was known as the Criterion. (Ref: THS’s Marquee, 1980, v. 1)
The Strand was open on a seasonal basis. I have a picture of my mother and me standing in front of the theater in the winter of 1973. “A Touch of Class” was still on the marquee, but the theater was closed until Memorial Day. It was across from the Steel Pier. There used to be a Taylor’s Pork Roll stand next door. I think the Taj Mahal is there now.
1939 postcard – Strand is on the left:
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