Ritz Theatre, Haddon Township

The Ritz Theatre is a historic theater located in Haddon Township, Camden County, New Jersey, United States. Built in 1927 by William E. Butler for an estimated $400,000 and designed by the architectural firm Hodgens and Hill, it opened on September 12, 1927, as a movie theater with 800 seats, named after the Ritz hotel in Paris. The building was constructed in a Classical Revival architectural style and originally hosted both films and vaudeville acts. Its auditorium features neo-classical canvas murals, gilt-trimmed columns, and velvet-draped balconies enclosed by classic carved balustrades. Over the decades, the Ritz changed hands and uses. After a ceiling collapse in the 1930s, seating was reduced to 600. By 1948 it was operated by the Peerless Corporation, and from March 1954 through the 1960s it showed fine art and foreign films. In the 1970s it became an adult movie theater and closed in early 1985. Later that year, a theater company led by producing artistic director Bruce A. Curless, Puttin' on the Ritz, Inc., rented the venue and renamed it the Ritz Vaudeville Theater, expanding the stage over seating and reducing capacity to 400. The company produced its first season beginning in January 1986 with The Boy Friend. In 1990, a production of Children of a Lesser God began a commitment to American Sign Language, later including Shadow Interpreters for annual Christmas shows and mainstage productions. In 2001, the board of directors purchased the 466-seat theater, making it the permanent home of the ensemble. On December 26, 2002, the Ritz was added to the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places. The Ritz Theatre Company, Inc., a nonprofit organization, owns and operates the venue, presenting six mainstage productions and eight children's productions each season, serving more than 73,300 patrons annually. It also offers holiday shows, special events, summer theater camp, dramatic workshops, and outreach programs. The building houses The Gallery at the Ritz, an in-house art gallery with monthly professional exhibits. Renovations have included roof replacement, electrical upgrades, sprinkler installation, lobby improvements, and restoration work on the facade, marquee, and classical Greek interior murals. In April 2014, the first annual "Rock The Ritz" fundraiser raised over $11,000. Notable performers associated with the Ritz include Krysten Cummings, Cory Wade Hindorff, and Cristin Milioti.

The Ritz Theatre was built in 1927 by William E. Butler for an estimated $400,000 and designed by the architectural firm Hodgens and Hill with 800 seats. It was named after the Ritz hotel in Paris. The groundbreaking ceremony in February 1927 was attended by Oaklyn, New Jersey, borough officials. It was built in a Classical Revival architectural style as a movie theater and opened on September 12, 1927, with the film Tillie the Toiler. Vaudeville acts also performed alongside movie showings. The auditorium walls feature neo-classical canvas murals with gilt trimmed columns and velvet draped balconies enclosed by classic carved balustrades. The ceiling of the theater collapsed in the 1930s and after the repairs were made, the seating capacity changed to 600. By 1948, the theatre was operated by the Peerless Corporation. Starting in March 1954 with The Lavender Hill Mob, through the 1960s, the Ritz showed fine art and foreign films. In the 1970s, the Ritz became an adult movie theater operated by a company that operated another pornographic movie theater. The theater closed in early 1985. On October 7, 1985, a theatre company led by producing artistic director Bruce A. Curless, Puttin' on the Ritz, Inc., rented the Ritz Theatre and renamed it the Ritz Vaudeville Theater. The stage was expanded over existing rows of seating, reducing the capacity to 400 seats. Actors hired to perform in the first season of shows were unpaid. The company produced its first season of theatre performances beginning in January 1986 with a production of The Boy Friend. In 1990, the theatre's production of Children of a Lesser God began a commitment to American Sign Language. This initiative later turned into having Shadow Interpreters for the theatre's annual Christmas tradition of Scrooge in 2006 and 2008, as well as mainstage shows such as Arsenic and Old Lace in 2010. The Ritz Theatre Company, Inc. presents six mainstage productions and eight children's productions each season. They serve more than 73,300 patrons annually. Also offered are holiday shows, special events, summer theatre camp, dramatic workshops and outreach programs. The Theatre building also boasts The Gallery at the Ritz, an in-house art gallery that offers professional monthly art exhibits. In 2001, the board of directors purchased the 466-seat theatre, making it the permanent home of the ensemble. On December 26, 2002, the Ritz was added to the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places. During a renovation, the roof was replaced, the electrical system was upgraded, and sprinklers were installed. The lobby was renovated with new carpeting and paint, and work had begun on restoring the front of the building and the classic marquee as well as the classical Greek interior murals. In April 2014, the Ritz held its first fundraiser to keep the building and theatre going. The first annual "Rock The Ritz" fundraiser brought in over $11,000 to help the organization.

• Groundbreaking ceremony held, attended by Oaklyn, New Jersey, borough officials.

• The Ritz Theatre opens as a movie theater with the film Tillie the Toiler.

• Ceiling collapses; after repairs, seating capacity changes to 600.

• The theatre is operated by the Peerless Corporation.

• Begins showing fine art and foreign films, starting with The Lavender Hill Mob.

• Becomes an adult movie theater.

• The theater closes.

• Puttin' on the Ritz, Inc. rents the theater and renames it the Ritz Vaudeville Theater.

• First season of theatre performances begins with The Boy Friend.

• Production of Children of a Lesser God begins a commitment to American Sign Language.

• Board of directors purchases the 466-seat theatre, making it the permanent home of the ensemble.

• The Ritz is added to the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places.

• Shadow Interpreters used for the annual Christmas tradition of Scrooge.

• Shadow Interpreters used for mainstage show Arsenic and Old Lace.

• First annual 'Rock The Ritz' fundraiser raises over $11,000.

Nonprofit historic theater and community arts venue offering professional theater, children's programming, and art exhibitions in South Jersey.

• Mainstage productions

  Six mainstage productions presented each season.

• Children's productions

  Eight children's productions presented each season.

• Holiday shows

  Seasonal holiday programming, including the annual Christmas tradition of Scrooge.

• Summer theatre camp

  Summer theater camp offered by the Ritz Theatre Company.

• Dramatic workshops

  Workshops and outreach programs offered by the theater.

• The Gallery at the Ritz

  In-house art gallery offering professional monthly art exhibits.

1. 1Ritz Theatre, Haddon Township - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Ritz Theatre (Haddon Township, New Jersey) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org