For the grand finale of its yearlong 100th birthday celebration, the Count Basie Center for the Arts is offering Red Bank residents a free, one-night trip back to 1926.
The Basie will cap its Centennial Celebration with an immersive re-enactment of its opening night on Saturday, November 14. Tickets, priced at $19.26, are on sale now at theBASIE.org, the Basie Center box office and Ticketmaster.
Free tickets for Red Bank residents are available through the box office during regular business hours: Tuesday – Friday 10am to 6pm and Saturday, 12pm to 5pm.
Patrons can expect an immersive theatrical presentation from the moment they approach the venue – from ‘stars’ of the era arriving in classic cars, Gatsby-esque fashion and flair, an authentic speakeasy experience with custom, era-specific cocktails and mocktails, 1920s hot jazz and more.
A poster for “The Quarterback” the 1926 film to be shown on the Basie screen 100 years after it opened the theater in 1926.
“Our Centennial Celebration has given us a chance to reflect on this building’s incredible history and what our presence means to our community,” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO of the Count Basie Center for the Arts. “We wanted to end with something really special that would give everyone a chance to participate and experience what opening night might have been. We’re excited to take audiences back to 1926, with vintage cars, live jazz, the glamour of the Roaring Twenties, and the first movie ever played. It’s a once-in-a-century chance to experience a piece of our history while giving people a taste of the creativity and excitement we want to bring to the Basie Center for the next 100 years.”
The historic theater’s original, opening night presentation, the Paramount Pictures film The Quarterback, has been restored to 4k clarity by the Basie Center, and will be shown on November 14th along with accompaniment by noted silent film organist, Ben Model.
A separate event will close the evening, featuring a curated dining experience by celebrated New Jersey chef Sean Yan (Metuchen’s Ram & Rooster), along with a gala program honoring Senator Vin Gopal and Netflix for their contributions to the performing arts. Tickets for the gala are available at thebasie.org or by calling 732-224-8778, ext. 128.
A Historic Landmark
The Basie Center’s historic theater opened on November 11, 1926 as the Carlton Theatre, with advertisements celebrating the venue as “The Theatre Beautiful” and “The Most Palacious Theatre in New Jersey.” The Red Bank Register, which reported an original construction cost of $250,000, described the space as “…a marvel of beauty, convenience and comfort,” noting that “outside and inside, it is a veritable and architectural triumph.”
“The arched dome which covers the main part of the theater is a striking feature… painted in many colors,” the paper noted. The ceiling is studded with vari-co!ored lights, numbering about 1,600. The lights are so arranged that the bulbs cannot be seen. The ventilating and heating systems are the most modern – a complete change of air can be produced every fifteen minutes. The theater has every modem Improvement for the comfort and convenience of patrons.”
Today, the theater – listed on the National Register of Historic Places – holds 1,568 patrons, and is often the best-selling nonprofit performing arts center in New Jersey.
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Editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331.redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331.
