Fort Lee: A Mecca for The Arts
By Natalie Chapé
Executive Director, Business District Alliance of Fort Lee
March 6, 2023
“Lights, camera, action!” That’s a phrase many people typically associate with Hollywood, where the United States film industry has largely been based. But did you know New Jersey is the birthplace of cinematography? The Garden State helped shape the origins of the nation’s motion picture industry when Thomas Edison constructed the world’s first film production studio in West Orange. In the 1910’s Fort Lee was considered the first American film town, with several studios operating within blocks from one another, producing thousands of silent films. Major production companies like Paramount, Universal, and Fox called Fort Lee home. Les Miserables, a Fox Studio production, featured the largest outdoor set ever built in Fort Lee. This studio also produced the epic Tale of Two Cities in 1917. The boom of the film industry employed a large portion of the local population, creating opportunities for immigrants, artists, minorities, and entrepreneurs seeking the American dream.
The groundbreaking for the Barrymore Film Center took place in 2019, however, it opened in October 2022 due to pandemic-related construction delays. The $16 million film center has a grand, state-of-the-art auditorium with Art Deco details. Equipped with three projectors, the Barrymore Film Center can screen in 4K digital, perfect for modern-day blockbusters, but also features 35mm and 70mm projectors to accommodate vintage films.
Recently, the Barrymore Film Center presented showings of iconic motion pictures such as Moonstruck, Catch Me If You Can, and The Color Purple. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $12 for children under 10, and $9 for members. To view the Barrymore Film Center’s schedule of upcoming films, visit barrymorefilmcenter.com.
Whether you are a first-time visitor to Fort Lee or a long-time resident, you can’t help but appreciate the vibrant and cultural art scene the borough has to offer. You can gain inspiration by checking out the dynamic new murals downtown or experience a blast from the past by visiting the Barrymore Film Center to learn about the rich history that Fort Lee played in the early days of filmmaking.
The Business District Alliance of Fort Lee (BDA) is a non-profit organization that, in partnership with the Borough of Fort Lee, works to revitalize and promote the Main Street Shopping Corridor. Our objective is to create an environment where people will shop and live and retailers can grow and thrive, by creating a vital community experience for all, visitors and residents alike. For additional information about the BDA, please visit BeFortLee.com, call 201.585.6099, or email office@bdaftlee.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.