Hollywood Theatre

1525 Atlantic Avenue,
Atlantic City, NJ 08401

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Additional Info

Architects: David Supowitz

Previous Names: Myers Music Hall, Empire Theatre, Theatre Royal, Royal Theatre, Aldine Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Located on Atlantic Avenue at the intersection with Kentucky Avenue, next to the smaller Colonial Theatre (later renamed the Center Theatre). Originally a live theatre it operated as Myers Music Hall, then Empire Theatre followed by Theatre Royal and from June 18, 1910 as the Royal Theatre. On December 24, 1925 it was renamed Aldine Theatre which closed at the end of 1933. The Aldine Theatre was gutted to the walls, and was designed to the plans of Philadelphia based architect David Supowitz. Inside there were murals depicting Arabian Nights.

The Hollywood Theatre opened on November 2, 1934 with 5 acts of vaudeville headed by Georgie Price and Lee Tracy in “I’ll Tell the World” on the screen. It operated as a last run theatre, owned by Harry Waxman. The marquee and vertical were both huge, and brilliantly lit with neon. A 1936 photograph shows the marquee advertising ‘Stage Presentation Revue’ and ‘De Luxe Stage Shows’ and ‘Pops and Louie’, ‘The Danwills’, Hickey Bros', Al Verdi & Co' and then on three lines ‘Mary Astor’ in “Lady from Nowhere” with ‘Charles Quigley’. From 1973 to 1975 it screened adult movies.

The Hollywood Theatre closed in 1977, the weeks after Memorial Day weekend with “King Kong” as its last feature. It has since been demolished.

Contributed by Bryan, Howard B. Haas

Recent comments (view all 13 comments)

RickB
RickB on December 11, 2004 at 7:54 pm

Status can be made Closed/Demolished. This block of Atlantic Avenue is now occupied by a strip mall and its parking lots.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 9, 2006 at 5:07 pm

Here is another photo of the Hollywood, from 1951:
http://206.103.49.193/odds/nj/htm/acs39.htm

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 11, 2008 at 6:53 pm

Here is a blurb from Boxoffice magazine, April 1950:

Harry Waxmann is remodeling his Hollywood Theater in Atlantic City, so that the house will be in tip-top condition when the summer season begins.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 24, 2010 at 4:17 am

A January 6, 1951, Boxoffice item about Harry Waxmann says that the Hollywood Theatre opened as the Royal in 1930, was bought by Waxmann in 1934 and remodeled. It doesn’t give the year of remodeling but it was certainly the 1936 project by David Supowitz, which is one of four remodeling projects illustrating an article by the architect in Boxoffice of July 25, 1936.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 8, 2023 at 5:47 am

Adult movies 1973-1975.

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on March 8, 2023 at 3:13 pm

Yes in the summer of 69 they played I Am Curious Yellow which was x rated and they had a cop stationed outside.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 9, 2023 at 11:42 am

The Hollywood Theatre opened on November 2nd, 1934, with Georgie Price on stage. Grand opening ad posted.

Hollywood Theatre openingHollywood Theatre opening 02 Nov 1934, Fri Press of Atlantic City (Atlantic City, New Jersey) Newspapers.com

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