Stanley Theater

The story

When the Stanley Theater opened on March 24, 1928, its 4,300 seats made it the second largest theater on the entire East Coast, behind only Radio City Music Hall. That first night, Mayor Frank Hague sat in the audience as actress Norma Talmadge greeted them from the screen, while organist James F. Thomas played the Mighty Wurlitzer. Architect Fred Wesley Wentworth designed the hall, and for years its stage hosted the greatest stars of their day — Tony Bennett among them — alongside the films.