Newark Paramount Theatre
{{Short description|Vaudeville house and movie theater in Newark, New Jersey}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Newark Paramount Theatre
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| former names = H.C. Miner's Newark Theatre
| logo_image =
| logo_caption = Newark Paramount in 2023
| image = Paramount Theatre Newark 2023 jeh.jpg
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| address = 195 Market Street, Newark, NJ 07102
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| coordinates = {{Coord|40.73555|-74.17101|format=dms|type:landmark_region:US-NJ|display=inline,title}}
| type = Vaudeville house, movie theater
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| opened = 1886
| renovated =
| expanded = 1917, 1923
| closed = 1986
| demolished =
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| architect = Thomas W. Lamb
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| publictransit = Newark Penn Station
}}
The Newark Paramount Theatre is an abandoned vaudeville house turned "movie palace" film theatre in the Four Corners Historic District in Downtown Newark, New Jersey.{{Cite web|url=https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4603|title=Paramount Theatre in Newark, NJ - Cinema Treasures|website=cinematreasures.org}}{{Cite web|url=http://newarkmemories.com/memories/127.php|title=Newark's Downtown Theatres|website=newarkmemories.com}}
History
File:The Newark Theatre in 1906.webp
The theatre opened in 1886 and closed in 1986.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/news/j66j-2020/03/288a3175228884/vintage-photos-of-movie-theaters-in-nj.html|title=Vintage photos of movie theaters in N.J.|first=Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance|last=Media|date=March 5, 2020|website=nj}}{{Cite web|url=https://jerseydigs.com/newark-theaters-concert-halls-history/|title=The Drama of the Newark Concert Halls… and the Theaters That Were Left Behind|first=Jersey|last=Digs|date=May 3, 2023}} The owner retained Scottish-born American architect Thomas W. Lamb to expand and renovate the house into an ornate movie palace in the early 20th century.{{Cite web|url=https://tilesinnewyork.blogspot.com/2015/11/|title=Polychrome Terra Cotta Buildings in Newark, New Jersey|first=Michael|last=Padwee|date=November 1, 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://afterthefinalcurtain.net/2011/09/28/the-newark-paramount-theatre/|title=The Newark Paramount Theatre|date=September 28, 2011}}{{Cite web|url=https://jerseydigs.com/new-renderings-released-of-241-unit-project-involving-newarks-paramount-theater-site/|title=New Renderings Released of 241-Unit Project Involving Newark’s Paramount Theater Site|first=Jared|last=Kofsky|date=September 8, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://njitvector.com/2015/09/jewels-of-newark-the-old-paramount-theater-2/|title=Jewels of Newark: The Old Paramount Theater|first=Martyn|last=Mendyuk|date=September 10, 2015}} The interior of the theater still stands, albeit dilapidated, and the marquee and signage remain intact.{{Cite web|url=https://localtalkweekly.com/index.php/2022/09/20/paramount-theatre-tear-it-down-or-fix-it-up-part-ii/|title=PARAMOUNT THEATRE: TEAR IT DOWN OR FIX IT UP? PART II -|date=September 20, 2022}} The comedian Jerry Lewis worked as an usher at the theater in his youth.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/news/mustsee/2009/04/paramount_theater_owner_looks.html|title=Paramount Theater owner looks to restore venue's glory|first=Philip Read/The|last=Star-Ledger|date=April 10, 2009|website=nj}}According to one source, Lewis may have been additionally, or to the contrary, an usher at the [https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/7011 Adams Theatre] at 28 Branford Place, under common ownership for a period and likewise abandoned in 1986. See [https://www.nj.com/essex/2012/10/glimpse_of_history_hustle_and.html this article from 2012]
It took the name "Paramount" circa 1930.Movie Houses of Greater Newark by Philip M. Read (2013, Hardcover) Billie Holiday performed there.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/news/2016/05/one_mans_fight_to_save_the_paramount_di_ionno.html|title=One man's fight to save The Paramount | Di Ionno|date=May 8, 2016|website=nj}}
The theatre's facade, slightly adjusted during production to read "New Art," appeared as the movie theater in front of which Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck worked as an advertising clown in the 2019 Todd Phillips film Joker.{{Cite web|url=https://untappedcities.com/2019/10/10/how-newark-was-transformed-into-gotham-for-the-movie-joker/|title=How Newark Was Transformed into Gotham for the Movie Joker [Photos]|first=Michelle|last=Young|date=October 10, 2019|website=Untapped New York}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/j/Joker-2019.php|title=Film locations for Joker, in New York and New Jersey, including Arthur Fleck's apartment and the 'Joker steps' in the Bronx; 'Arkham State Hospital' in Brooklyn; 'Ha-Ha's' office in Harlem; 'Wayne Manor' on Long Island; 'Wayne Hall' and the clown riot in New Jersey, and more.|website=The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations}}{{Cite web|url=https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/movie-poster-of-the-week-the-posters-in-joker|title=Movie Poster of the Week: The Posters in "Joker"|date=January 31, 2020|website=MUBI}}
The theater's roof collapsed in 2021.https://jerseydigs.com/newark-theaters-concert-halls-history/