Hi Mark. It was certainly digital. From what I recall being said I think it was DVD, but I could be mistaken. I hope you get the show in November. I would love to be there, but I’m now back in England! I was staying for a week with Irv Hyatt, who is on the board of governors at the Rahway. He took me round many current and former cinemas in the area. When I came to post my photos, I saw how many of these you have worked at and enjoyed reading your contributions.
This multiplex has an incredible, fun-filled, faux-Hollywood decorated foyer, which is great fun!
The link posted by gabedellafave in December 2005 isn’t working, so here’s some information about the gravestone in the middle of the rear car park. This dates back to 1828. A department store was built on the site and the ground was levelled – all except for the area around the grave, which now sits about 8ft above the ground! The story is that Mary Ellis (1750–1828) was a spinster. According to local legend, she was seduced by a sea captain who vowed to return to marry her. She would come to the spot where her grave now stands, each day, to look for his ship in the Raritan River in New Brunswick, but he never returned. As gabedellafave says, how’s that for unique?!
When I visited the area, in September 2015, owner Peter Loewy happened to drive by as a friend and I were taking photos of the exterior. He stopped, we had a chat and he invited us back a few days later, when we were able to have a good look round. This is a very well maintained neighbourhood cinema, and it’s a pity it can’t run full-time on films. During our visit Peter and his colleagues were starting to set up a ‘Haunted Theatre’ attraction for Halloween, but I have since heard that these have been cancelled. This is such a shame. I wish Peter all the very best as he tries to find a niche for his splendid cinema.
On my visit in September 2015 I was made very welcome by the manager, who even posed for a photo with the box office staff! Confirming what markp said, the auditoriums seat between 110 and 140, giving a total seating capacity of around 480.
On a visit to Atlantic City in September 2015 I took some photos of the building that’s on the site of the Dunlop Hotel/Savoy. Although the structure facing the Boardwalk is a new build, the Savoy’s fly tower (and, possibly, rear auditorium) might well be intact – though this could be a new build as well!
The State closed on 8th April 1969 with “Doctor Dolittle”, starring Rex Harrison. Although subsequent adverts proclaimed it was “Closed for Alterations: Watch for Re-Opening”, it never did re-open.
In September 2012 Union County Performing Arts Center opened its additional venue, the Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts, at 360 Hamilton Street (just a short distance from the Rahway). This comprises a 199-seat main theatre and a 60-seat Fazioli Room studio/rehearsal space. In September 2015, when I visited, the Mainstage (the former Rahway cinema auditorium) seated 1,334, while The Loft, a studio/rehearsal space upstairs in the former Rahway, seats 60. So the total seating capacity, across these four spaces, was 1,653.
The Mainstage is used for occasional film events and classic film shows. During my visit I saw “Sing-a-long Grease” in the company of dozens of ‘Pink Ladies’! In a more serious vein (no pun intended!) the classic silent horror film “Nosferatu” was due to be screened, with live organ accompaniment, on 14th November 2015.
By the time of my visit, in September 2015, the auditoriums in the ‘upscale’ four-screen wing were playing regular releases only. The “upscale concession stand” John Fink mentions has been closed.
This well-maintained, independent multiplex offers excellent value for second-run films, with (in September 2015, when I visited) all seats, all shows only costing $4. (Higher prices are charged for first-run films.)
According to the chap working in the cinema during my visit, in September 2015, the building was originally a church. It became the Draught House in 1983 and currently has 280 seats.
In addition to the two screens there is also The Silver Room, a flexible space, with a drop-down screen, that is available for private hire. Judging by my visit, on Friday 4th September 2015, the operators are certainly making the most of the two permanent screens, with shows starting at about 10am (“Gemma Bovary”, the film I saw, started at 10.30am) and seven different films playing that day alone.
In July 2015, when I visited, the two cinema screens seated 41 (Screen 1) and 111 (Screen 2). Screen 3 (328 seats) is also known as the Hawthorne Theatre. For film shows it is mainly used for the NT Live ‘event’ presentations.
In early 2015 a second Pinewood Cinema opened, in the Korda Theatre (a post production facility) at Shepperton Studios (owned by Pinewood Studios Group). As with the Pinewood Cinema, tickets are only available on-line. The cinema at Shepperton is only opened to the public on Sundays.
On my visit in August 2015 I was told the seating capacities of the three screens are: Screen 1: 106, Screen 2: 86 and Screen 3: 53. A total of 245 seats.
According to Martin Tapsell’s ‘Memories of Kent Cinemas’ the Pavilion was constructed in a former dance hall situated between Buckhurst House and the Ship Inn. No address is provided, but the Ship is at 83 High Street. Indeed, it was the proprietor of that inn, Harry Merritt, who started the Pavilion cinema. Later, it was run by D. Paine, son of Thomas Paine, the Lydd Cinema proprietor. A closure date for the Pavilion is not provided. In the book there is a photograph captioned as being of the Pavilion. However, it has since been revealed that this was not the Pavilion: it was a later Cinema that opened in the former Assembly Rooms on Church Approach.
By chance I visited the site on Sunday 25th July 1999, by which time the ABC had closed (see my photograph). So, rather than closing on the 29th, as stated above, perhaps it closed a week earlier, on the 22nd.
Further to Ken’s comments above, this cinema was open at least until April 1999, when I saw “Lulu on the Bridge”, starring Harvey Keitel and Mira Sorvino. See the advertising display in my photograph.
According to the chap in the box office during my visit in June 2015, the “Cinema” (the original screen) opened in 1958, followed by the two smaller screens (the “Studio” and the “Petit”) in 1974. He gave the capacities as Cinema: 220, Studio: 115 and Petit: 63 seats.
The Cinema is under the same management as the Harmonie.
Hi Mark. It was certainly digital. From what I recall being said I think it was DVD, but I could be mistaken. I hope you get the show in November. I would love to be there, but I’m now back in England! I was staying for a week with Irv Hyatt, who is on the board of governors at the Rahway. He took me round many current and former cinemas in the area. When I came to post my photos, I saw how many of these you have worked at and enjoyed reading your contributions.
This multiplex has an incredible, fun-filled, faux-Hollywood decorated foyer, which is great fun!
The link posted by gabedellafave in December 2005 isn’t working, so here’s some information about the gravestone in the middle of the rear car park. This dates back to 1828. A department store was built on the site and the ground was levelled – all except for the area around the grave, which now sits about 8ft above the ground! The story is that Mary Ellis (1750–1828) was a spinster. According to local legend, she was seduced by a sea captain who vowed to return to marry her. She would come to the spot where her grave now stands, each day, to look for his ship in the Raritan River in New Brunswick, but he never returned. As gabedellafave says, how’s that for unique?!
When I visited the area, in September 2015, owner Peter Loewy happened to drive by as a friend and I were taking photos of the exterior. He stopped, we had a chat and he invited us back a few days later, when we were able to have a good look round. This is a very well maintained neighbourhood cinema, and it’s a pity it can’t run full-time on films. During our visit Peter and his colleagues were starting to set up a ‘Haunted Theatre’ attraction for Halloween, but I have since heard that these have been cancelled. This is such a shame. I wish Peter all the very best as he tries to find a niche for his splendid cinema.
On my visit in September 2015 I was made very welcome by the manager, who even posed for a photo with the box office staff! Confirming what markp said, the auditoriums seat between 110 and 140, giving a total seating capacity of around 480.
On a visit to Atlantic City in September 2015 I took some photos of the building that’s on the site of the Dunlop Hotel/Savoy. Although the structure facing the Boardwalk is a new build, the Savoy’s fly tower (and, possibly, rear auditorium) might well be intact – though this could be a new build as well!
The State closed on 8th April 1969 with “Doctor Dolittle”, starring Rex Harrison. Although subsequent adverts proclaimed it was “Closed for Alterations: Watch for Re-Opening”, it never did re-open.
In September 2012 Union County Performing Arts Center opened its additional venue, the Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts, at 360 Hamilton Street (just a short distance from the Rahway). This comprises a 199-seat main theatre and a 60-seat Fazioli Room studio/rehearsal space. In September 2015, when I visited, the Mainstage (the former Rahway cinema auditorium) seated 1,334, while The Loft, a studio/rehearsal space upstairs in the former Rahway, seats 60. So the total seating capacity, across these four spaces, was 1,653.
The Mainstage is used for occasional film events and classic film shows. During my visit I saw “Sing-a-long Grease” in the company of dozens of ‘Pink Ladies’! In a more serious vein (no pun intended!) the classic silent horror film “Nosferatu” was due to be screened, with live organ accompaniment, on 14th November 2015.
By the time of my visit, in September 2015, the auditoriums in the ‘upscale’ four-screen wing were playing regular releases only. The “upscale concession stand” John Fink mentions has been closed.
This well-maintained, independent multiplex offers excellent value for second-run films, with (in September 2015, when I visited) all seats, all shows only costing $4. (Higher prices are charged for first-run films.)
According to the chap working in the cinema during my visit, in September 2015, the building was originally a church. It became the Draught House in 1983 and currently has 280 seats.
In addition to the two screens there is also The Silver Room, a flexible space, with a drop-down screen, that is available for private hire. Judging by my visit, on Friday 4th September 2015, the operators are certainly making the most of the two permanent screens, with shows starting at about 10am (“Gemma Bovary”, the film I saw, started at 10.30am) and seven different films playing that day alone.
In July 2015, when I visited, the two cinema screens seated 41 (Screen 1) and 111 (Screen 2). Screen 3 (328 seats) is also known as the Hawthorne Theatre. For film shows it is mainly used for the NT Live ‘event’ presentations.
In early 2015 a second Pinewood Cinema opened, in the Korda Theatre (a post production facility) at Shepperton Studios (owned by Pinewood Studios Group). As with the Pinewood Cinema, tickets are only available on-line. The cinema at Shepperton is only opened to the public on Sundays.
On my visit in August 2015 I was told the seating capacities of the three screens are: Screen 1: 106, Screen 2: 86 and Screen 3: 53. A total of 245 seats.
According to Martin Tapsell’s ‘Memories of Kent Cinemas’ the Pavilion was constructed in a former dance hall situated between Buckhurst House and the Ship Inn. No address is provided, but the Ship is at 83 High Street. Indeed, it was the proprietor of that inn, Harry Merritt, who started the Pavilion cinema. Later, it was run by D. Paine, son of Thomas Paine, the Lydd Cinema proprietor. A closure date for the Pavilion is not provided. In the book there is a photograph captioned as being of the Pavilion. However, it has since been revealed that this was not the Pavilion: it was a later Cinema that opened in the former Assembly Rooms on Church Approach.
This was the only UK cinema built and operated by Hoyts (their other UK build, at Wood Green in north London, opened as part of the Showcase circuit).
By chance I visited the site on Sunday 25th July 1999, by which time the ABC had closed (see my photograph). So, rather than closing on the 29th, as stated above, perhaps it closed a week earlier, on the 22nd.
As can be seen from Street View (above), the Grand has been demolished. A Travelodge hotel stands on the site.
As can be seen from my photographs, the Regal was completely derelict when the CTA visited in April 1999.
When I visited in April 1999 the cinema was called the Camera im Tacheles in advertising material, although this name did not appear on the exterior.
Further to Ken’s comments above, this cinema was open at least until April 1999, when I saw “Lulu on the Bridge”, starring Harvey Keitel and Mira Sorvino. See the advertising display in my photograph.
This is Screen 3.
Screen 3.
The Harmonie is under the same management as the city centre based Cinema.
According to the chap in the box office during my visit in June 2015, the “Cinema” (the original screen) opened in 1958, followed by the two smaller screens (the “Studio” and the “Petit”) in 1974. He gave the capacities as Cinema: 220, Studio: 115 and Petit: 63 seats.
The Cinema is under the same management as the Harmonie.