Strand Theater

The Strand Theater is a historic performing arts venue located at 400 Clifton Avenue in Lakewood Township, Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. Designed by the prominent theater architect Thomas W. Lamb and built for the Ferber Amusement Company in 1922, it was conceived as a venue for pre-Broadway runs of stage shows. Its first event was a showing of the silent film Peacock Alley starring Mae Murray, followed by a pre-Broadway run of "The Devine Cook" starring Florence Reed. Within a few years of opening, the Strand expanded its programming to include vaudeville shows and silent films, hosting early-career appearances by stars such as Burns and Allen, Milton Berle, and Ray Bolger. During World War II, the theater transitioned to a cinema house and dropped vaudeville acts. As suburban multiplex movie theaters proliferated, the single-screen Strand lost its audience and entered a period of economic decline, eventually operating as an adult movie theater in the 1970s. In 1981 it was added to the List of Registered Historic Places in New Jersey, and on April 22, 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in architecture, art, and theater. A $2.4 million grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority in 1994 supported restoration of its Neo-classical and Art Deco interiors. Today the Strand Theater serves as the Ocean County Center for the Arts, hosting a variety of performances and community events. The venue is a landmark of both architectural and cultural importance in Ocean County, representing the golden age of American vaudeville and cinema palaces. Its restoration and continued operation as an arts center reflect ongoing efforts to preserve historic theaters and repurpose them for contemporary community use.

The Strand Theater was designed by Thomas W. Lamb and built for the Ferber Amusement Company in 1922 at 400 Clifton Avenue in Lakewood Township, Ocean County, New Jersey. It was intended as a venue for pre-Broadway runs of shows. The first event at the theater was a showing of the silent film Peacock Alley starring Mae Murray. The next show was a pre-Broadway run of "The Devine Cook" starring Florence Reed. Within a few years of its opening, the Strand began to host vaudeville shows and silent films. Among the stars who appeared on the Strand's stage early in their careers were Burns and Allen, Milton Berle, and Ray Bolger. During World War II, the theater became a cinema house and omitted the vaudeville acts. As suburban multiplex movie theaters were built, the single-screen theater lost its audience. During its economic decline, it became an adult movie theater in the 1970s. In 1981, the theater was added to the List of Registered Historic Places in New Jersey. On April 22, 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in architecture, art, and theater. The theater received a $2.4 million grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority in 1994 for restoration of its Neo-classical and Art Deco interiors. The theater serves as the Ocean County Center for the Arts.

• 1994

  Received $2.4 million grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for restoration.

• 1982

  Added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 22.

• 1981

  Added to the List of Registered Historic Places in New Jersey.

• 1922

  Theater built for the Ferber Amusement Company; designed by Thomas W. Lamb.

• 1922

  First event: showing of silent film Peacock Alley starring Mae Murray.

• 1922

  Second event: pre-Broadway run of "The Devine Cook" starring Florence Reed.

Historic vaudeville and movie palace turned community arts center

• Vaudeville shows

• Silent films

• Pre-Broadway stage shows

• Cinema screenings

• Live performances

1. 1Strand Theater (Lakewood, New Jersey) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Strand Theater - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3The Stamford Historical Society: Photo Selection of the Month, June 2000, Strand Theatre circa 1933stamfordhistory.org
4. 4Stamford Historical Societystamfordhistory.org