I’m surprised noone’s recorded any earlier experience of this place. I was from England in the early months of 1986 and one Sunday evening was driving through Montclair when this amazing marquee came into view, surmounted by “Wellmont” in neon script, green I think. “Color Purple” was playing so I parked the car and went to buy a ticket.
That evening the place was being run, rather badly, by a bunch of high school kids and as I bought my ticket they were sprawled over the floor of the entrance foyer eating pizza. Beyond that I found the lobby stunning, and upstairs in the balcony an amazing but rather run down auditorium. Much paint was peeling and the back rows were roped off. There wer two structures coverered by torn curtaining which I assumed were part of a periscope system for the two mini screens under the balcony. Here upstairs the screen was in the original proscenium and two chinese lanterns graced niches in the splay walls.
When the feature started in was back to front so we had a short break while this was put right. During the feature the house lights were left on and at one point a bunch of the staff burst in from the left, chased across in front of the sparse audience, exiting as quickly on the right. Wow! I didn’t think this place had much of a future.
In 1991 I was over in New Jersey, again and took a drive through Montclair. Sure enough the marquee had gone and the entrance was now occupied by another business, but I looked up the side street as I passed and was amazed to see a banner over the new entrance. I turned back and parked to make a return visit. The staff now were professional and confident, now wearing Roberts uniform. Upstairs the place had been tidied up, the screen was still in the old proscenium but the chinese lanterns were now bare lamps. Downstairs I could the two minis had their own projection booth, so what were those structures I had seen upstairs in 1986?
So when exactly did Roberts take over? When was the entrance moved? I’m sorry to hear the proscenium is no longer in view.
I’m surprised noone’s recorded any earlier experience of this place. I was from England in the early months of 1986 and one Sunday evening was driving through Montclair when this amazing marquee came into view, surmounted by “Wellmont” in neon script, green I think. “Color Purple” was playing so I parked the car and went to buy a ticket.
That evening the place was being run, rather badly, by a bunch of high school kids and as I bought my ticket they were sprawled over the floor of the entrance foyer eating pizza. Beyond that I found the lobby stunning, and upstairs in the balcony an amazing but rather run down auditorium. Much paint was peeling and the back rows were roped off. There wer two structures coverered by torn curtaining which I assumed were part of a periscope system for the two mini screens under the balcony. Here upstairs the screen was in the original proscenium and two chinese lanterns graced niches in the splay walls.
When the feature started in was back to front so we had a short break while this was put right. During the feature the house lights were left on and at one point a bunch of the staff burst in from the left, chased across in front of the sparse audience, exiting as quickly on the right. Wow! I didn’t think this place had much of a future.
In 1991 I was over in New Jersey, again and took a drive through Montclair. Sure enough the marquee had gone and the entrance was now occupied by another business, but I looked up the side street as I passed and was amazed to see a banner over the new entrance. I turned back and parked to make a return visit. The staff now were professional and confident, now wearing Roberts uniform. Upstairs the place had been tidied up, the screen was still in the old proscenium but the chinese lanterns were now bare lamps. Downstairs I could the two minis had their own projection booth, so what were those structures I had seen upstairs in 1986?
So when exactly did Roberts take over? When was the entrance moved? I’m sorry to hear the proscenium is no longer in view.
Chris Crompton