Newark Paramount Theatre Explained

Newark Paramount Theatre
Former Names:H.C. Miner's Newark Theatre
Address:195 Market Street, Newark, NJ 07102
Type:Vaudeville house, movie theater
Opened:1886
Expanded:1917, 1923
Closed:1986
Architect:Thomas W. Lamb
Publictransit:Newark Penn Station

The Newark Paramount Theatre is an abandoned vaudeville house turned "movie palace" film theatre in the Four Corners Historic District in Downtown Newark, New Jersey.[1] [2]

History

The theatre opened in 1886 and closed in 1986.[3] [4] The owner retained Scottish-born American architect Thomas W. Lamb to expand and renovate the house into an ornate movie palace in the early 20th century.[5] [6] [7] [8] The interior of the theater still stands, albeit dilapidated, and the marquee and signage remain intact.[9] The comedian Jerry Lewis worked as an usher at the theater in his youth.[10] [11] It took the name "Paramount" circa 1930.[12] Billie Holiday performed there.[13]

The theatre's facade, slightly adjusted during production to read "New Art," appeared as the movie theater in front of which Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck worked as an advertising clown in the 2019 Todd Phillips film Joker.[14] [15] [16]

The theater's roof collapsed in 2021.[17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Paramount Theatre in Newark, NJ - Cinema Treasures. cinematreasures.org.
  2. Web site: Newark's Downtown Theatres. newarkmemories.com.
  3. Web site: Vintage photos of movie theaters in N.J.. Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance. Media. March 5, 2020. nj.
  4. Web site: The Drama of the Newark Concert Halls… and the Theaters That Were Left Behind. Jersey. Digs. May 3, 2023.
  5. Web site: Polychrome Terra Cotta Buildings in Newark, New Jersey. Michael. Padwee. November 1, 2015.
  6. Web site: The Newark Paramount Theatre. September 28, 2011.
  7. Web site: New Renderings Released of 241-Unit Project Involving Newark’s Paramount Theater Site. Jared. Kofsky. September 8, 2021.
  8. Web site: Jewels of Newark: The Old Paramount Theater. Martyn. Mendyuk. September 10, 2015.
  9. Web site: PARAMOUNT THEATRE: TEAR IT DOWN OR FIX IT UP? PART II -. September 20, 2022.
  10. Web site: Paramount Theater owner looks to restore venue's glory. Philip Read/The. Star-Ledger. April 10, 2009. nj.
  11. According to one source, Lewis may have been additionally, or to the contrary, an usher at the Adams Theatre at 28 Branford Place, under common ownership for a period and likewise abandoned in 1986. See this article from 2012
  12. Movie Houses of Greater Newark by Philip M. Read (2013, Hardcover)
  13. Web site: One man's fight to save The Paramount | Di Ionno. May 8, 2016. nj.
  14. Web site: How Newark Was Transformed into Gotham for the Movie Joker [Photos]]. Michelle. Young. October 10, 2019. Untapped New York.
  15. Web site: Film locations for Joker, in New York and New Jersey, including Arthur Fleck's apartment and the 'Joker steps' in the Bronx; 'Arkham State Hospital' in Brooklyn; 'Ha-Ha's' office in Harlem; 'Wayne Manor' on Long Island; 'Wayne Hall' and the clown riot in New Jersey, and more.. The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations.
  16. Web site: Movie Poster of the Week: The Posters in "Joker". January 31, 2020. MUBI.
  17. https://jerseydigs.com/newark-theaters-concert-halls-history/

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