Abandoned and demolished theater in NJ


Mayfair Theatre, Asbury Park New Jersey
Date added: May 30, 2023 Categories:
 (1974)

The Mayfair Theater cost $1.5 million to build, a huge sum for such a structure in the late 1930s. Marble water bowls with silver legs in the restrooms were valued at $1,650 in 1927.

Opening in 1927, the Mayfair has showed, since then, thousands of significant movies through the years. The theater was the Flagship of the Walter Reade Organization whose home offices are in the Asbury Park area where the Mayfair is located. The Asbury Park Press said of the Mayfair "to those who are familiar with theater masterpieces, there was laid before them a theater of such Broadway would be proud to have in its Roaring Forties". This refers to its magnificent exterior and interior architecture of which there are so few surviving examples. This architecture, which was so prevalent in the early part of the twentieth century, has died out because of prohibitive costs and changing styles. One architectural historian referred to it as being of a style best described as "early Theda Bara..." The building's architecture was such that it was referenced in a song of Frank Sinatra's, "Is it Granada I see, or only Asbury Park".

When the theater presented a movie it was an event, a total environmental experience. Today, movie screening has become common and dull in the all too austere, cold theaters of today. The Mayfair has brought culture and communication to the millions who have walked through its doors in the last forty-six years. It has also presented itself to the public in a way to elevate a night at the movies to the level of an event. A movie showing became an event, a total environmental experience instead of a mere projecting of a film upon a bare wall.

The theater was demolished in December 1974.

Building Description

The Mayfair was opened by Walter Reade on August 6th, 1927. It was intended to be the most impressive of the various theaters he owned spread throughout the country. Architect, Thomas W. Lamb, from a New York firm, designed what was at that time described as a veritable Spanish-Moorish palace. It provided a seating capacity of 2000 and was one of the largest and most impressive theaters outside the island of Manhattan.

The Mayfair is a bit of Classic revivalism, in brick, steel and plaster that closely represents the Spanish Baroque Period (1650-1750) and reminds the viewer of buildings such as the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. This general theme is carried faithfully through the interior as well.

The interior is lavishly covered with plaster decoration in the Churrigueresque. This was originally done by European craftsmen brought into the country for this project, and extends over all ceiling and wall areas.

The exterior walls are a buff-colored plaster, rough textured trowel strokes covering the entire surface. Decorative elements around doors and windows are of glazed terra cotta and have stood up excellently over the years. The south and west walls were left plain as they either abut adjacent buildings or were intended to be party walls along the property line. The easterly and northern walls are the significant ones. A tower that once housed a set of chimes, controlled by the theater organ (since removed) rises 172 feet at the intersection of the two walls.

The south wall is distinguished by a balconade overlooking Wesley Lake, which is two stories high. The upper portion is a metal lath walkway. An early newspaper description of the balconade follows: "The balconade over Lake Avenue is another of the remarkable attractions of the theater. It is reached by the ramp and stairs on the Lake Avenue side of the orchestra and balcony (interior rear) floor and last night an orchestra played while many of the visitors enjoyed dancing." This balconade is flanked by twisted rococo columns. These are reinforced with stainless steel straps and may require restoration. For the most part, the balconade is in good condition and requires cleaning and minor repairs.

The east wall has bracket-mounted twisted columns supporting large arches, which crest just below the projection room. These columns were originally painted to resemble marble, but have long since been painted over with a buff-colored cement paint to match the wall. A huge baroque oval window centers this wall and is in excellent condition.

In all, the exterior is a remarkably faithful reproduction of the Spanish Baroque Renaissance.

Some things have changed in the interior. The early theater columns flanking the proscenium were painted with a marble finish similar to the exterior columns. Gold leaf finished the capitals of these twisted columns and the decorative plasterwork on the walls and ceiling was painted in an array of colors. Today, the interior is for the most part, excluding the entrance foyer, painted over with a warm white paint.

Mayfair Theatre, Asbury Park New Jersey  (1974)
(1974)

Mayfair Theatre, Asbury Park New Jersey  (1974)
(1974)