Introduction
Grand Theater, 207 Broadway, circa 1945.
The Grand Theater was located at 207 Broadway, just south of Mickle Street and adjacent to one-time Camden Mayor Roy R. Stewart’s men’s wear store. The 1911 City Directory shows Abram Greenberg operating a theater at this address. The Grand remained a popular spot into the early 1950s, when television and a lack of parking caused attendance to fall. By 1959 the theater had closed. The October 1959 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory’s Yellow Pages lists only six theaters in Camden. By the early 1920s only two would remain open, and not for long.
The Grand was razed and retail stores took its place on Broadway. Around 1990 Broadway Eddie Warhoftig expanded his record shop to include the site of the former theater. The Warhoftig family remains in business on Broadway under the Broadway Eddie’s name in 2004.
Advertising Handbill
Week of
GRAND — Broadway and Mickle St. — Noon to 11 P.M.
Here Entire Week NOVEMBER 5th — FIRST TIME IN CAMDEN
“UNCLE TOM’S CABIN” — Produced at a Cost of $2,000,000
AN ABSOLUTE NEW PICTURE — FIRST TIME AT OUR PRICES — An Outstanding Achievement
Send the Children to the Matinees
—
WHERE TO GO! A Complete List of Camden’s Principal Amusement Attractions — (Stanley Company Theatres)
GRAND — Broadway and Mickle St. — PRESENTING FIRST RUN PHOTOPLAYS At Popular Prices
DON’T MISS SEEING THIS WONDERFUL PICTURE
At the GRAND — Week of November 19 — “KING OF KINGS” — The #2 Show at Our Popular Prices
Harry Langdon in Three's a Crowd
Camden Courier-Post —
GRAND — Bwy. & Mickle. — 1st, S. Jersey Screening
Harry Langdon in THREE’S A CROWD
Three’s a Crowd — But Harry’s a Riot! Here’s a Real Comedy Classic.
BIG SURROUNDING BILL. — COMEDY — LLOYD HAMILTON IN “AT EASE”; “Curiosities”; Kinograms
Honeymoon Hate
Camden Courier-Post —
B’way and Mickle — First South Jersey — GRAND — See Them First at Grand
HERE MONDAY — AND WHEN I HATE YOU IT’S ‘CAUSE I LOVE YOU
FLORENCE VIDOR in “HONEYMOON HATE” — a Paramount Picture
Now Playing — ESTHER RALSTON in “The Spotlight” — Comedy: “Hot, Papa”; Kinograms; Topics
Direction Stanley Company of America
Camden Courier-Post —
Theatre Beautiful
First S. Jersey Showing
Noon to 11 P.M.
ADOLPHE MENJOU
Serenade
On the STAGE
HELENA MARSH
Metropolitan Opera Co.
COMEDY SMITHS MODISTE SHOP
Stanley News
Va[?]! King of Sports
OVERTURE MORNING NOON & NIGHT
A CAMDEN INSTITUTION
Broadway & Pine
Keith Vaudeville
Stanley Photoplays
5 BIG KEITH ACTS
Headed by the Big Time Feature Act
BOBBY O’NEIL & CO.
In a miniature musical comedy in live scenes
GRAPE-JUICE
Extra Attraction—First South Jersey Screening. Feature Photoplay.
SILK LEGS
Extra! Extra!
TONIGHT IS GUEST NIGHT
Loads of Fun for All.
TOWERS
A CAMDEN INSTITUTION
Broadway & Pine
Keith Vaudeville
Stanley Photoplays
SPECIAL EXTRA ATTRACTION TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, THURS., FRI., SAT.
Camden’s Most Beautiful Girl
WITH HER LATEST
SPORT MODEL FORD CAR
Guess Who She is and Receive a Free Gift
FORD CAR—COURTESY OF CRAMER & MYERS INC., FORD AGENCY, 780 WRIGHT AVE.
GRAND
Continuous Noon to 11 P. M.
Broadway and Mickle; First South Jersey Screening.
OLIVE BORDEN
In a story of a girl who was indiscreet.
“Come to My House”
COMEDY “A FOOL AND HIS MONEY”
TRAVELOGUE KINOGRAMS
The Wiser Sex
Camden Courier-Post —
GRAND — 15c Till 1:30 P.M.
Claudette Colbert — William Boyd in “THE WISER SEX”
The Crowd Roars
Camden Courier-Post —
EXTRA! EXTRA! — TODAY — At only Grand and Princess — Motion pictures of School Students Flag Day Parade.
GRAND — 15c Till 1:30 Today!
“The Crowd Roars” — JAMES CAGNEY — JOAN BLONDELL
Mayor Stewart Helps Capture Burglar, 17, in Cellar of Theatre
Camden Morning Post —
Mayor Roy R. Stewart early today aided in capturing a youthful burglar who broke into the Grand Theatre, next door to his home.
The mayor heard a noise in the theatre and notified detective bureau. Detectives Walter Smith and John Trout discovered a side door broken open and found Willard Bishop, 17, of 405 Liberty street, hiding in the cellar of the theatre. He had a flashlight, table knife and bicycle wrench.
He told detectives a companion was with him. He had escaped before the officers arrived. They believe the youths were attempting to break open a candy vending machine in the lobby when the mayor heard them.
Freshman Love
Camden Courier-Post —
GRAND — B’WAY and MICKLE — SUNDAY AND MONDAY
“FRESHMAN LOVE” With FRANK McHUGH — PATRICIA ELLIS — WARREN HULL
LAST DAY • Ronald COLMAN • “Tale of Two Cities”
Trapped by Television
Camden Courier-Post —
GRAND B’way and Mickle SUNDAY & MONDAY
TRAPPED BY TELEVISION
STARTLING AS ITS TITLE!
LYLE TALBOT · MARY ASTOR · NAT PENDLETON
Last Day—Kay Francis as “The White Angel”
She Knew All the Answers
Camden Courier-Post —
HEALTHFULLY AIR-CONDITIONED — GRAND — Broadway and Mickle — Starts TOMORROW
“SHE KNEW ALL THE ANSWERS”
JOAN BENNETT • FRANCHOT TONE
with John HUBBARD • Eve ARDEN • William TRACY — WESTERN DAZE • NEWS • SAIL-HO-SPORT
Look Who's Laughing
Camden Courier-Post —
GRAND B'WAY & MICKLE Starts TOMORROW
Now THEY'RE ON THE SCREEN!
Radio's reigning roisterers in a riotous rampage of roars!
Fibber McGEE and MOLLY Edgar BERGEN and Charlie McCARTHY Lucille BALL
Ninety Nifty Minutes in whooping Wistful Vista
LOOK WHO'S LAUGHING
Produced and Directed by ALLAN DWAN
LAST TIMES TONIGHT — "TARZAN'S SECRET TREASURE"
Photos
Broadway looking north at night, with the Grand Theater’s neon sign illuminated, circa 1942.
A Memory of the Grand
I Graduated in 1940 from Merchantville High and when my husband and I were dating went to Camden almost every night. Skated first at 4th & Federal and then at 7th and Cooper, then for movies Friday at the Grand, Saturday night at the Savar and Sunday at the Stanley for the stage show. Saw many of the big bands there— it was a wonderful time to be young.
— June Styron Formont, January 2004