MILLBURN SHORT HILLS
A Look Back: Blue Laws in Millburn
Let's go to the movies...Wait! It's Sunday!
courtesy of the Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society
9:06 p.m. ET April 26, 2017
This 1928 article from The Film Daily was just one of a regular parade of articles in the publication about New Jersey's Blue Laws. According to Wikipedia, "Blue laws, also known as Sunday laws, are laws designed to restrict or ban some or all Sunday activities for religious reasons, particularly to promote the observance of a day of worship or rest. Blue laws may also restrict shopping or ban sale of certain items on specific days, most often on Sundays in the western world."
As can be seen in this article, Millburn finally responded to threats against the town for the apparent arbitrary application of the laws. Protesters noted that if the theaters could not be opened, then trolleys, buses and trains should not run either. After the many businesses that were allowed to operate on Sundays were noted, the town relented and allowed the theater to be open as well.
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