Introduction
The newly renovated Liberty Theatre, Mount Ephraim Avenue and Everett Street, August 1936.
The Liberty Theater on Mount Ephraim Avenue at Everett Street served the predominantly Polish Whitman Park Community from the 1920s through the 1950s. In its early days, the theater featured both movies and live vaudeville acts. By 1936 the building was co-owned by Abraham M. Ellis, Martin Ellis, and Louis Rovner, who also had interests in other theaters. Abraham M. Ellis was the owner of the Broadway Amusement Company, which owned the Broadway Theater, while Louis Rovner was a principal in the Handle & Rovner Amusement Enterprises, which in the 1920s had controlled five theaters in Camden; the Star, the New Lyric, the Garden, the Plaza, and the Colonial, and six other theaters in suburban South Jersey.
The Liberty was remodeled during the summer of 1936. It remained a popular spot into the early 1950s, when television and a lack of parking caused attendance to fall at the Liberty. 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.
John Okulicz had operated a furniture store at 1508–1510 Mount Ephraim Avenue in the 1940s. He acquired the Liberty and the building at 1506 by 1959, selling furniture and major appliances. In the 1960s the Okulicz store was acquired by the Pulaski Furniture House Inc., which traded under the Okulicz name. By 1970 the business had consolidated and only occupied the Liberty Theater building. The building remained a furniture store with various owners into the early 1990s, when a Korean businessman purchased the building and renamed it the Cambridge Discount Plaza, selling a variety of merchandise.
Weekly Program
Camden Courier-Post —
Liberty Theatre — MT. EPHRAIM AND EVERETT
TODAY: KEN MAYNARD in “DEVIL’S SADDLE” — VAUDEVILLE
MONDAY AND TUESDAY: RICHARD DIX in “SHANGHAI BOUND”
WEDNESDAY: LEWIS STONE in “LONESOME LADIES” — VAUDEVILLE
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY: RAMON NAVARRO in “ROAD TO ROMANCE”
SATURDAY: CHARLIE MURRAY in “LOVE OF MIKE” — VAUDEVILLE
Ken Maynard in Arizona Terror
Camden Courier-Post —
Named: LIBERTY, MT. EPHRAIM AND EVERETT, and Ken Maynard in “ARIZONA TERROR”.
Joan Bennett in Careless Lady
Camden Courier-Post —
Named: LIBERTY, Mt. Ephraim and Everett St., and Joan Bennett in “Careless Lady”.
Two Big Features
Camden Courier-Post —
LIBERTY — MT. EPHRAIM & EVERETT — 2 BIG FEATURES
SALLY EILERS in “ALIAS MARY DOW”
HOOT GIBSON in “RAINBOW’S END”
Liberty Theatre Reopens Tonight After Renovation
Camden Courier-Post —
Renovated throughout and with new and modern equipment, the Liberty Theatre, Mt. Ephraim avenue and Everett street, reopens tonight. The feature picture will be the currently popular “Fury,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production starring Spencer Tracy and Sylvia Sidney. Only the outer brick walls of the structure remain unchanged, and the theatre is now one of the finest in South Jersey. It has accommodations for 750 patrons.
A. M. Ellis, president, Martin Ellis and Louis Rovner are owners. G. L. Ruch, manager of the theatre prior to its closing for alterations on July 6, continues in charge.
The architectural pattern and designing was by David Supowitz, a specialist in the field. S. Levy Company, local contracting firm, constructed the job, and in many ways the Liberty is similar to the Broadway Theatre, also altered by the Levy firm.
Lighting Elaborate
Walls and ceilings have been altered to improve acoustics. Murals have been arranged throughout the structure to enhance the pleasing environment without interfering with proper sound control. Indirect and elaborate lighting effects have been installed.
Hand-painted murals were the work of the Brodsky Decorating Company, who fashioned them in the modernistic vein. A specially prepared paint of the type used in Hollywood sound studios enables unusual effects to be obtained through manipulation of the color and brightness.
The Liberty Theatre
Camden Courier-Post —
View of the newly renovated Liberty Theatre, Mt. Ephraim avenue and Everett street, reveals the modern trend of architecture which is used throughout the building. The theatre is under management of Ellis and Rovner.
Renovated Theatre Enhanced in Beauty
Camden Courier-Post —
Hailed as one of South Jersey’s foremost playhouses, the Liberty Theatre, recently renovated at Mt. Ephraim avenue and Everett street, is attracting not only motion picture enthusiasts but also is proving a Mecca for lovers of architectural beauty.
Architects retained only the outer walls of the popular house in outlining their designs for an ultra-modern structure for A. M. Ellis and Louis Rovner, co-owners.
The newly designed building provides seats for 750 patrons. The remodeling was done by all local labor with S. Levy Company as contractors.
David Supowitz, one of the region’s leading architects, created the designs for the new structure. Walls and ceiling were improved to provide perfect acoustics. Indirect lighting illuminates the playhouse.
Walls are decorated with beautiful murals to enhance the pleasing environment. A special type of paint similar to that used in Hollywood enables the house to provide novel effects from lighting.
Columns between the murals are coated with a natural wood finish. The stage is provided with a luxurious curtain and drapes. A Western Electric System sound device and a white screen to replace the outmoded silver type furnish the latest in show styles. Streamlined seats in the house were designed to give the maximum of comfort.
Bing Crosby in Rhythm on the Range
Camden Courier-Post —
Liberty — Mt. Ephraim & Everett — South Jersey’s Most Beautiful Theatre
BING CROSBY in “Rhythm on the Range”
SUNDAY — 2 BIG FEATURES — 2
“36 Hours to Kill” with BRIAN DONLEVY
“Crash Donovan” with JACK HOLT
Photos
The former Liberty Theater building, operating as Cambridge Discount Plaza, October 3, 2003. The original art deco brickwork is visible above the storefront.
A Memory of the Liberty
Heard a story today about Liberty theater. It seems that years ago, kids, as they did everywhere, used to sneak in to the movies. You know the drill. One pays, then inside they crawl across floor to emergency exits, open the exit door and other kids come in and scatter.
Well, this time they hadn’t checked playbill. It was a Wednesday night and all the movies were in Polish!!! Surprise! Nobody understood Polish.
— John Ciafrani, June 28, 2006