Loew's Jersey Theatre facts for kids
Facade seen from across Journal Square July 1, 2006
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| Address | 54 Journal Square Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Public transit | Journal Square Transportation Center |
| Owner | Jersey City |
| Operator | Devils Arena Entertainment |
| Capacity | 3,021 |
| Current use | Revival house films and performing arts center |
| Construction | |
| Opened | September 28, 1929 |
| Architect | Rapp and Rapp |
The Loew's Jersey Theatre is a famous old movie theater in Jersey City, New Jersey. It first opened its doors in 1929. This theater was one of five special "Wonder Theatres" built by the Loew's company. These were huge, fancy movie palaces in the New York City area.
The theater was designed by a company called Rapp and Rapp. They used a beautiful, detailed style called Baroque and Rococo. After many years, the theater closed in 1986 and stayed dark for a long time.
In 1993, Jersey City bought the theater. Since then, a group of volunteers called the Friends of the Loews has helped run it. The theater became a New Jersey Registered Historic Site in 2009. This means it's an important building from the past. A big project started in 2022 to restore the theater, making it even better for the future.
Contents
A Look Back: The Theater's History
When the Loew's Jersey Theatre was built in 1929, it cost about $2 million. That was a lot of money back then! The theater was huge, with room for 3,021 people to watch movies or shows.
The theater was added to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places in 1985. This list helps protect important places. Later, in 2022, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Why the Theater Closed
The Loew's Jersey Theatre closed its doors in August 1986. The very last movie shown there was Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. The company that owned the theater sold it. The new owners thought about tearing it down to build something new.
Bringing the Theater Back to Life
Luckily, volunteers stepped in to save the theater after the city bought it. They worked hard to restore it and keep it from being torn down.
A special group called the Garden State Theatre Organ Society found a pipe organ that was like the one originally in the Loew's Jersey. They started working to install and fix this amazing musical instrument.
What Happens at the Theater Today?
The Loew's Jersey Theatre is a popular place for filming movies and taking photos. For example, the lobby of the theater was used as a disco in the movie The Last Days of Disco. You might have also seen it in a Geico commercial with their gecko character.
In 2011, the band The Strokes filmed a music video there. It was for their song "Under Cover of Darkness" from their album Angles. They used the main lobby, the promenade, and the stage for the video.
Today, the theater is also used for many other events. People hold fundraisers, company events, and even weddings there. It's a busy place that brings the community together.
See also
- New Jersey music venues by capacity
