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     extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 298 Registered: 6-2001 |
In the Roman Gourmet there is a framed letter that has an old advertisment from the Maplewood Theater with it. It is just a drawing of the old marquee... and I have been unable to locate a legible photograph of this building before it was modernized... All of this is from News Record microfilms at the library I did find out tons of information for people interested in thier surroundings March 15, 1927 Maplewood Theater opened. 107ft on Maplewood ave, 191ft deep. Leased to Maplewood Amusement Co. Owner was Isadore Portnoff of Newark. Architect of William Lehman (designed several houses in South Orange) Cost $300,000+. White terracotta in Spanish renaissance 28ft wide lobby. First picture The Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse with Rudolph Vanentino. Matinee was 30 cents, evening show was 40 cents. 36ft ceiling. 7 trusses. 175 tons of steel. Manager was Walter Hoffman. Newpaper had multi week run up to opening where there was a front page survey of the format--- Photoplay with Organ, Photoplay with Organ and Orchestra, Photoplay and presentations with Organ and Orchestra, , Photoplay and Vaudeville with Organ and Orchestra. You were expected to vote what you wanted the theater to show. The Lions Club apparently favored a mixed format. Maplewood News, Special Theater Edition from March 11th, 1927: Roth Maplewood A Theatre of beauty in which the acme of real comfort is reached The Roth Maplewood theatre was especially designed and built for the community it is to serve. Everything that taste, experience and culture can conceive to ate it attractive and comfortable had been provided by the owners. The Roth Corporation specializes in building theatres for communities of the highest type. They are all of the same style and arrangement and no expense is spared on them. The programs are prepared for a selected clientele. The materials that entire into the theater construction will not deteriorate but will grow more beautiful with age. The facade of the building is of a specially selected terra cotta which will look just as nice twenty years from now as it does today. The decorations of the theater are restful and beautiful. In the center is a large oval dome in the preparation of which twelve thousand leaves of gold were used by skilled decorators from New York. The chandelier with its beautiful clusters of cut glass prisms is a duplicate of the one so much admired in the large new theater in Irvington. Pompeian colors are used throughout the auditorium, which is oval shaped and without a gallery. A real novelty has been introduced by the use of old Spanish stone pilasters to bring out the gold, greens, blues and reds that are the dominating tints in the auditorium. The proscenium arch is a remarkably effective example of oriental work done by the New Jersey Plastering Company, under the supervision of Harry Pearce, supervising foreman. It is decorated in green carrying red tint. Red and blue prevail on the side walls, green and gold in the dome and ceiling. The lobby is decorated with a beamed ceiling in colors imitating wood on an inlaid design The doors are finished in Roman gold. The lobby is practically a repetition of the Sanford theatre. The total cost of the theatre is said to exceed $300,000. Its seating capacity is 1,600. Mr. Mumford, the manager, is an experience an of a most attractive personality who will be a great help in arranging functions and benefits which are so necessary to the success of the work of the many civic, charitable, and social organizations in Maplewood; his judgement and care will also help to assure the right kind of programs for Maplewood. A Wurlitzer organ costing $30,000 with all the latest novelty effect and specially built to please the most exacting of musical critics, is one fo the featers of the new amusement palace. An orchestera of high quality will supplement. Attend the opening of this beautiful new Roth Theater in Maplewood on Tuesday night and satisfy yourself that our community had a theatre equal in beauty and value to any in the land. The building is fireproof, throughout. “The exterior gives but faint idea of the beautiful interior” Found out later from Cinema Treasures--- William Lehman designed at least the following: Adams Theatre Newark, NJ 28 Branford Place, Newark, Still standing Count Basie Theater in Red Bank Still open ‘ Oritani Theatre Hackensack, NJ 300 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 Lobby still stand, auditorium is a parking lot Proctor's Palace Yonkers, NY 53 S. Broadway, Yonkers, NY Converted in retail and office space Sanford Theater of Irvington 1269 Springfield Avenue Irvington. I think this one is gone but it could have been used as a seniors center until recently. | ||
| extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 299 Registered: 6-2001 |
Perhaps its bad form to post on your own thread... but if you go into the very last theater alllll the way in the back down front by the screen they have a pile of old seats. Some are reassembled onto plywood boards and have post-it notes on them "SOLD"... This leads me to believe that if you want your very own pair of Maplewood Theater seats (circa 1960's or 50's) with red velvet covers... they are available. John | ||
| extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 300 Registered: 6-2001 |
Said seats-  | ||
| Rebecca Raines Citizen Username: Robin_realist Post Number: 182 Registered: 10-2003 |
A few years ago when they put in new seats, they sold dozens of the old ones. I knew several local families that bought some to use in their TV rooms, etc. The ones in better condition(from the front rows, probably) went first and all that's left are the really bad ones. Some will probably be appearing in garages sales eventually. R | ||
| extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 677 Registered: 6-2001 |
BUMP- To go with a new topic on Cheryl Crawford. |
