Here's a cool shot of the Tivoli from an old postcard. There was no date on it, but Jackie Coogan made "Circus Days" in 1923.


John F. Crowley
Webmaster
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"Strong before our birth are the Sons and Daughters of the Garden State!"

Great picture John. A shame they tore the Tivoli down, it was a real classic movie theater. Any idea when it was built?

I remember going there in the early to mid '50s almost every Saturday for two features -- Tarzan flicks or Westerns -- and 26 or so Warner Brothers cartoons. Saw a great fight in the lobby once - better than the movie. A soldier on leave took off his belt and started whipping some guy -- they both took off as the cops arrived.

I also remember that after getting out of St. Rose in the afternoon we used to explode with repressed energy and chase each other around the entryway and ticket booth, swinging bookbags madly.

The church seemed to have an ambivalent relationship with the Tivoli, damning form the pulpit andunleashing the "Legion of Decency" on the theater when it showed something that was listed as "morally objectionable" or "condemned" in the "Advocate" film listings, but herding classes over to showings of "Fatima" or "The Ten Commandments."

I also recall that guys used to try to sneak in through the side exits -- same thing happened at the Plaza too -- and the ushers used to chase them -- and bat them around if they caught them.

John, thanks for the great picture. It was a little before my time but I lived and was raised just two block from there. Many fond memories are there and I think of it often. I attended the Tivoli every Saturday too; those great Tarzan and Western movies. As I remember it cost only .25 to get in. What a great old place it was. Some how life seemed simpler then, even with all the problems of the times. Is it really getting any better? Just listen to the daily news to answer that question.

Wow! What memories! Inside the church was a list of 'Condemned Movies' and ratings for other flicks.
I remember sneaking into the Tivoli to see "The Carpetbaggers"(CONDEMNED)-not understanding what the hell it was about- then across the street to confession that Saturday. What I confessed I have no idea- half the time my sins were just fiction any way.
For the most part - I was a Plaza kid- .25 cents to get in and see two movies and have my .10 popcorn and nickel frozen Milky Way.

Soda from the machine was a nickel, too. If you were lucky the cup would drop before the soda started squirting out.