RKO Lincoln Theatre
25 N. Warren Street,
Trenton,
NJ
08608
25 N. Warren Street,
Trenton,
NJ
08608
2 people
favorited this theater
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I remember seeing “movie preview video machines” outside of theaters when I was a kid in Trenton, around 1957. One would peer into them, and turn the handle on the side to view. I’ve been searching for an image of these without success. Does anyone else know what I’m talking about?
My grandfather, Frank Cook, worked as a projectionist at the Lincoln until he retired in 1972. He came to the Lincoln when the Bijou closed. His brother, Paul Cook, was a projectionist at the Trent. They’re both gone now. My grandfather passed away in 2009 at the age of 101! Like my mom, my sister and I grew up going to the movies. I still love the movies!
My grandMother Ethel Smith worked part-time as an organist for the theater playing for silent movies.
Hi, Jim! I sent the request tonight! I haven’t looked at this page since 10/1.
Bob, couldn’t friend you on facebook. Go to mine, OK?
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1641160923
This opened on April 24th, 1928. Grand opening ad posted here.
Jim, you or anyone can send a friend request on FB: http://www.facebook.com/crazybobdj
I worked at The Brunswick in 1973. Bob Barker was the manager. Other operators were Don Reynolds & Bill Smith, from down south. Super Simplex & Peerless Magnarcs. RCA tube sound. One of my favorite booths!
Hello Jim! I remember when you graduated from high school, & you got a new car, a Dodge Dart Swinger! Your Dad, Walt was my mentor! He always used the say “If you aunt had balls, she’d be your uncle!” He smoked those small plastic tipped cigars, up in the Lincoln booth. I almost dropped lens in the balcony, out the porthole, one night!
My friend Don Dingler, (deceased)use to play the big pipe organ after show! Bill Foley, the doorman with the hand, let’s us do it before he locked up the theatre. The other doorman was MR. Marsh. He told me that he was born in 1890. He gave out the Vomit Bags for “Mark Of The Devil”. ..I loved your dad & I believe he passed around 1979. I read it in my IA Bulletin.
I remember you working at the Lincoln & the Trent. Around the same time, I was breaking in a young guy named Sammy, at the Greenwood.
The Simplex XL heads from the Mayfair, are still in use at the Pike Drive-In, near Williamsport, PA. I’m retired from the US Postal Service, where I was a rural letter carrier for many years. My wife & I have Crazy Bob’s Harvest Moon Drive-in between Williamsport & Jersey Shore, PA. on US RT. 220. Come visit sometime!
The Brunswick did not close in 1972. I know because I worked there part-time until 1978 as a projectionist. I was only a kid (about 22) and my “main” job was at the Mayfair, which was downtown. That closed in March or April of 1978.
Crazy Bob, when did you work at the Lincoln? My dad was the Business Agent of the projectionists local, and I worked my way through college working at the Mayfair. I did my apprenticeship at the Lincoln and the Trent.
Once, when I was about 9 or 10, I played the organ at the Lincoln. Bolton Holmes had a weekly radio show on WTTM where he would play the organ on a Saturday morning before the theater opened for business. He let me play a song on it when the show was done. At the time, they said it was the largest theater organ east of the Mississippi still being used.
From Boxoffice magazine, November 1947:
James Conklin, manager of the Lincoln Theater, Trenton, N.J., attracted plenty of attention to his date on “Mother Wore Tights” by capitalizing on the current long v. short skirt controversy. Conklin had a number of young women picket the Lincoln with signs reading: “Unfair-If Mother Wore Tights-Why Can’t We Wear Short Skirts?” The stunt resulted in local newspaper breaks and provoked word-of-mouth comment from passersby.
The photos listed on 8/22/08 by “bgsound” are not those of the RKO Lincoln in Trenton, NJ. I attended this theatre many times and have photos of its interior. “Crazy Bob” is correct about the round domed ceiling. I saw many films at this theatre including “The Guns of Navarone”; “The Cardinal”; “Irma La Douce”; and Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. It was a grand movie palace for Trenton.
I remember a large round dome in the middle of the auditoium ceiling. It was lighted, & had spotlight ports. I used to get bored, & go on the catwalks inside the ceiling. I looked out into the theatre through the port holes. I remember seeing a huge motor & belt running the air conditioning system back there. I couldn’t hang out for more than 15 minutes, or I’d miss my change-over!
We also used to play the organ, & go into the pipe chambers, & the dressing rooms below the stage.
The second photo of the interior of the Lincoln Theatre as posted by TC on Aug 16, 2008 is presently for sale on Ebay. However, This is NOT the stage and proceenium view of the Lincoln. This pic shows a very square peoceenium, while in actuallity it was very much rounded. I practically grew up in this theatre as we lived in Allentown, NJ and always went to the movies here in the 50’s and 60’s. I once recorded Bolton Holmes playing the Moller TPO (with his kind permission). I wrote the seller of this phto on Ebay and he said he could not be totally positive, but the words on back of photo made the claim. The first phto looking towards the balcony does look like it as I remember it. bgwsound
Old interior photos:
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12/31/1936 ticket:
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The architect for the Lincoln Theatre was EUGENE DeROSA. There was a near twin of this theatre built in the New York City area by the same architect (the name and location escapes me, though I have seen the photos).I saw “The Robe” here in 1953 in Cinemascope. The mighty Moeller organ was played before the feature. This was the the major film theatre in Trenton.
The theatre was demolished in 1976.
per “The sounds of city’s theater organs long silent"
The Times of Trenton, June 4, 2000
I worked at the Lincoln as a projectionist from 1970-72. I counted 75 steps from the lobby to the booth! There were three Super Simplex projectors & Ashcraft Superpower carbon arc lamps. We had a Hall & Conelly spotlight. I once saw Bolton Holmes play on a Sunday afternoon. We had some great R&B concerts featuring James Brown, The Stylistics, The Staple Singers, and the Delphonics. I was sick when they tore it down. I also worked at the RKO Trent, Mayfair, Brunswick, Greenwood, and also many theatres in Atlantic City. Crazy Bob.
The RKO Lincoln Theatre was located at 25 N. Warren Street.
The theatre organ that was removed from the Lincoln & installed in the War Memorial auditorium IS NOT A WURLITZER. It is an M.P. MOLLER, manufactured in Hagerstown, Md. As a former resident of NJ & member of the GSTOS, I have seen, heard & played this organ. It is not a Wurlitzer! Please correct your records.
Larry Grove