CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY

The STANLEY Theater
Northwest Corner of Broadway & Market Street

The Stanley Theater at Broadway and Market Street, built and operated by the Stanley Corporation of America, and costing in excess of $1,000,000, was first opened to the public February 19, 1926.  For years the most prestigious theater in Camden, the Stanley was razed in 1965 to make way for a Holiday Inn that was never built.

Besides movies, the Stanley was reknown for live entertainment. Philadelphia in those days had a ban on Sunday entertainment, and the Stanley would get top acts. Click here for a page about a typical Stanley live show.

The Stanley was torn down in the mid-1960s to make room for a Holiday Inn that was never built. The lot has stood vacant for many years. 

1926 Advertisement 

January 2, 1928

January 7, 1928

Camden Courier-Post
January 24, 1928

By this time the Stanley Corporation was running four of Camden's theaters.

January 27, 1928

January 27, 1928

March 29, 1932

Joe E. Brown
Fireman Save My Child
Evelyn Knapp
Lilian Bond

Warner Baxter - Man About Town - George Burns - Gracie Allen
The Babbling Brook - Sky Devils - Spencer Tracy - Ann Dvorak

June 7, 1932

Sky Devils
Spencer Tracy
Ann Dvorak

S.S. Van Dine
Murder in the Pullman

Camden Courier-Post
June 8, 1932

Walter Stanton

Peggy Shannon - Society Girl - Spencer Tracy - James Dunn
Andy Clyde - Boudoir Butler

June 18, 1932

Tenderfoot
Joe E. Brown
Ruth Etting - A Mail Bride
Mills Brothers - I Ain't Got Nobody

Watch The Mills Brothers
in
I Ain't Got Nobody

MOVIE FANS IN PHILADELPHIA TRAVEL FREE TO CAMDEN

Hundreds of Philadelphians were attracted to Sunday movies here yesterday when Public Service double deck buses carried riders free between the two cities. Theatre interests chartered the buses,

The first bus left Philadelphia at 1.15 p. m. with 52 passengers for the Stanley Theatre. The driver re­ported he left 150 standing on the streets for the next bus. They were operated on 30-minute schedule and made 20 trips, according to Joseph E. Murdock, theatre manager. 

"It was only an experiment and exceeded our expectations," he said.

June 4, 1933

Camden Courier-Post - June 9, 1933

STORES WILL JOIN IN BARGAIN PERIOD
Merchants' Association Announces Plans for Three-Day Event

A committee of the Merchants' Cooperative Association, headed by Harry A. Moran, secretary and manager of the the Hurley Store, has announced a three-day co-operative promotion which will be known as Camden's Co-operation Days. 

All merchants of this city have been invited to participate in the event which will be outlined in newspaper and radio announcements. City and store decorations and entertainment features which may include the personal appearances of stage, radio, sports and screen stars are being arranged.

The whole event has been arranged because of recent disclosures, resulting from investigation made by the local publishers proving that local industrial employment and business conditions have shown a decided upward trend in the city within the past several months.

The committee includes Charles Gates, Camden manager of Sears, Roebuck & Company; J. B. Van Sciver, Jr. of J. B. Van Sciver; C. A. McGrew, manager of J. C. Penney; Lester Abrahamson of Lester's; S. Savage of Western Auto Supply; William Rothman of Barrett's Tire Shop; Leonard R. Baker of Baker-Flick; Samuel Auerbach of Auerbach's; N. Futernick of Futernick's; Max Peck of the Fashion Shop; Simon Abrahamson of Simon's; Michael LaSala of DiJulio-LaSala; Joseph Murdock, manager of the Stanley Theatre; W. L. Tushingham, business manager, and F. J. Kinsella, advertising director of the Courier-Post newspapers.

Camden Courier-Post - June 9, 1933

Protests Boost In Sunday Theatre Prices

TO the Editor:
                     Sir, 
It didn't take long for the Stanley Theatre to break faith with the people. The second Sunday on which they were permitted to open they added five acts of cheap vaudeville and raised the price of admission from 40 cents to 60 cents. It would be interesting to know if they raised the salary of their employees proportionately. 

The Courier-Post Newspapers cajoled the people of this community into voting for an open Sunday. Now see if they'll editorialize on keeping the admission the same as on weekdays. If I remember aright, one of the highlights in your vigorous campaign for Sunday movies was a touching appeal on behalf of the people who worked six days and were without amusement on the seventh. 

JAMES P. LYNCH.

Deputy U. S. Marshal George Winner told Don Basenfelder who in turn relayed to us the fact that there is an amusing sign in front of the Camden Stanley Theatre advertising the current photoplay .... In large letters one reads' "Hell Below" .... In smaller type on the wooden frame is the theatre's legend: "Always Comfortable and Cool" ... 

About
Toby Wing

August 1936

August 13, 1936

February 24, 1938

1930s

The photo was taken by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration.
My best guess is that this was taken around South 2nd Street, below Mickle Street.

Click on Image to Enlarge

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

The
Stanley Theater,
the
Camden Trust,
and the
Savar Theater

Click on Image to Enlarge

1955

Note that air conditioning had been installed after the 1952 picture had been taken. 

The Stanley would be closed and gone the following year. In the days before cable television, major sporting events would be broadcast by closed circuit television to theaters. I saw Muhammad Ali fight on closed circuit at the old Cherry Hill Arena back in the 1960s.-

        Phil Cohen
September 13, 2005

1964

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