Palace Theatre
121 Market Street,
Passaic,
NJ
07055
121 Market Street,
Passaic,
NJ
07055
1 person
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Additional Info
Architects: Abram Preiskel
Functions: Storage
Styles: Adam, Greek Revival
Nearby Theaters
The Palace Theatre is located on Market Street in Passaic. It has a fairly large exterior, and the theatre name is still visible at the top of the facade.
It opened on October 13, 1922 on the site of a previous Palace Theatre which had been destroyed by fire. By the 1950’s it was playing sub-run double features. In the mid-1960’s, it became a church, while still playing Spanish movies. They also had a weekly bingo night. In the 1970’s, it became a full-time gospel church, and seemed to be very popular. At that time, they still had the original marquee, and I can remember lots of neon, although I never saw it lit.
The church moved out, and the building sat abandoned for many years. We were able to finally see the interior in the mid-1990’s when they were gutting it. There looked to be extensive water damage, and one entire wall was completely stripped of plaster and was down to the bare cinder blocks. The projection booth was still intact, and we found a pair of 1956-vintage SuperScope lens attachments, as well as original 1953 film leader from a 3-D print of Columbia’s “Man in the Dark”. On one side of the proscenium, there was a huge neon clock with the Palace Theatre name across the top.
The booth was permanently sealed off with concrete. The balcony was removed, and the floor leveled. The building is now used as a storage warehouse.
Contributed by
Bob Furmanek
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
I just learned that this theater had 1400 seats.
Listed in the 1951 FDY at 121 Market Street.
This theater was built and operated by Harry Hecht who died in May, 1951 in Passaic.
Listed as part of Independent Theater Service, Inc. in the 1956 Film Daily Yearbook.
Six photorgaphs of the Palace Theatre I took in June 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228541942/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228542711/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228543927/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228546119/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228546873/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/228547733/
Here is part of an October 1999 article concerning the current occupant:
http://tinyurl.com/ycc6w65
The style of this theater’s architecture is Adam/Greek Revival. I was able to talk some of the employees into seeing the warehouse inside, which was actually the main auditorium. The balcony has been leveled and turned into additional storage. As mentioned, the floor was leveled. The proscenium and stage are still intact, and there is a prominent acoustical dome above the stage area.
The original Palace Theatre launched September 3, 1918 with “The Reason Why.” A spectacular fire beginning in the projection booth totally destroyed the Palace in December 24, 1921. Architect Abram Preiskel drew the new plans with the theatre built in the same spot. The new theatre launched October 13, 1922. Not sure why 1925 is significant in the description above.
Cause of September 3rd, 1918 fire:
Grand opening ads posted.