WESTWOOD, N.J.—You’re familiar with the classic “dinner and a movie” night out. But what about a dinner table and a movie?
This week back in 1929, two Westwood businesses announced a joint promotional venture. Every Friday became “Furniture Gift Nite” at the Pascack Theatre on Center Avenue, as the movie house teamed up with the Westwood Furniture Co.
The furniture store owned by H.B. Selvin was located at 257 Broadway facing the train station, next door to the bank building. That placed the rear of the store behind the Pascack Theatre. The furniture giveaway was an effort to promote the shop’s annual February clearance sale.
The first Furniture Gift Nite was Friday, Jan. 11, 1929. In addition to a movie showing and live vaudeville programs, one lucky winner received a four-piece burl walnut bedroom suite consisting of a vanity, bed, dresser and chifforobe.
A 1929 advertisement for Westwood Furniture Co. shows the retail price of a four-piece bedroom suite at $345. A maple or mahogany storage chest would run $24.50, while a glass-top secretary desk was $45. A card table with four chairs was $9.75.
The giveaway for Jan. 18 was a three-piece sun porch suite. The winner was a Kinderkamack Road resident.
The furniture to be given away on a Friday was displayed in the days beforehand at the theater. It was delivered to the winner’s home at no charge.
The Pascack Theatre was just six months old at the time, having opened its doors in the summer of 1928. Back then it offered just one large theater with a vaudevillian stage and a pipe organ.
—Kristin Beuscher