[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 190 (Thursday, October 28, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1167-E1168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF STATE THEATRE NEW JERSEY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 28, 2021

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize State 
Theatre New Jersey on its 100th anniversary and join its leadership, 
staff, and Board of Trustees in celebrating its reopening ribbon 
cutting and marquee lighting.
  Opened in 1921 by Walter Reade, State Theatre New Jersey, then known 
as Reade's State Theatre, continues to bring exceptional arts-
programming, culture, and vitality to the greater New Brunswick 
community. State Theatre New Jersey is a premier regional venue, 
providing an outstanding educational and entertainment resource for 
Central Jersey and beyond, attracting visitors as far as Canada and 
England. Its efforts to introduce the theatrical arts to the general 
public, including underserved populations, enriches the lives of the 
diverse local community and provides a valuable impact on cultural and 
economic landscape of the area.
  Begun as a silent film and vaudeville theater, the theater was a 
popular entertainment destination for residents of central New Jersey 
throughout the 1920s. As films with sound evolved, Radio-Keith-Orpheum 
(RKO) took over operation of the facility and transformed the theater 
to accommodate and enhance the movie experience, including 
soundproofing and measures to darken the interior. For about 30 years, 
RKO State Theatre remained well-attended by residents until many began 
migrating into the suburbs and television became

[[Page E1168]]

mainstream. Efforts by Johnson & Johnson, the New Brunswick Development 
Corporation and the New Brunswick Cultural Center revitalized the 
theater in the 1980s and in 1988 it reopened as State Theatre New 
Jersey. Under the direction of its current President and CEO, Sarah 
Chaplin, State Theatre New Jersey continues to honor and preserve its 
history while improving safety, accessibility, and efficiency to bring 
the theater into the next century.
  Once again, I sincerely hope my colleagues will join me in 
congratulating State Theatre New Jersey on its 100th anniversary. State 
Theatre New Jersey's commitment to promoting the arts has contributed 
to the thriving cultural landscape of the community and is truly 
deserving of this body's recognition.

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