The Questers, whose mission includes historic restoration and preservation, donated the funds to restore the original letters from the Algonquin marquee that are permanently on display in the theatre's newly enclosed foyer.
The letters, originally to the theatre when it opened in 1938, have been painted their original colors including neon green illumination at a cost of $4,800.
The Algonquin Movie Theater was built by Lee Newbury, owner of Manasquan's first movie house the Arcadia Theatre. Sara Reed, a Manasquan resident, won the contest to name the theatre, and it opened to show "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farms" starring Shirley Temple in May of 1938. For the next 45 years, the Algonquin was the center of entertainment in downtown Manasquan until it was boarded up in the 1980's. In 1983, the original marquee over the sidewalk was dismantled.
In 1994, the theatre was renovated to become a performing arts space and reopened as Algonquin Arts Theatre. The marquee letters were loaned to the Manasquan Historical Society and on display in the Manasquan Train Station when the museum was destroyed by a 1996 fire.
After the fire, the letters were stored for 15 years until they were recovered and donated back to Algonquin Arts Theatre by Fran and Jack Drew for display in the new foyer. When the Metedeconk Questers -- many of whom are long-time patrons of Algonquin Arts Theatre -- learned about the project, they enthusiastically offered to help underwrite the project.
Rex Sign Company performed the restoration and donated $600 in services to the project. The Metedeconk Questers are donating $4,200, which represents their contribution of $2,000 plus a matching grant of $2,000 from NJ State Questers, plus funds raised at a special Christmas party held at the home of Pat and Tom Kenney.
Anyone interested in contributing to this worthwhile cause should contact the Metedeconk Questers at 732-778-8375.
"This Place Matters" is a campaign of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit www.preservationnation.org The National Trust and the Questers Organization are partnering to showcase the places that matter to them.
The Questers is an International Organization whose mission is the study of antiques and the support of historic restoration and preservation. For more information visit www.questers1944.org
