Woodbridge General Cinemas II
US Route 1 and St. George's Avenue,
Woodbridge,
NJ
07095
US Route 1 and St. George's Avenue,
Woodbridge,
NJ
07095
7 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 43 comments
Closed in May 1992.
I should add to the above comment that was in 1977
Sept 4 marks the anniversary that this theatre closed and was renovated to a twin theatre.
I saw ‘Heroes’ here in 1977. Henry Winkler, Sally Field and Harrison Ford (in a small supporting role). My girlfriend and I saw ‘Close Encounters’ at the Ziegfeld theater in NY in the afternoon and this movie at night.
moviebuff82, I don’t know how long Apes played there, but I can tell you that from 1972 thru 1974, only 3 movies played here each for 6 months. The Posiedon Adventure, American Graffiti and The Sting.
How long did the apes movie last?
I live across the the street from (1966 to 71) I was 9 when they opened and my mom worked at the candy counter. I remember watching her being trained (2 weeks before grand opening) I must have seen, Planet of the Apes 20 times in 1968. It was a very special time, plus I got all the candy, popcorn & soda for free.
Yes. It was 898. Seaview Square in Neptune/Asbury Park NJ was 897. I was a projectionist here at 898, as well as 537, 713 and 715.
Was this GCC Unit #898? I worked as projectionist at #896, the King Cinema in Seattle, WA.
This was taken over by General Cinemas on June 10th, 1977 and became a twin cinema on November 4th, 1977. Both grand opening ads from GCC in the photo section.
Yes the Woodbridge was a nice theatre even after it was twinned. I was the first employee hired by Bob when GCC took it over. I loved doing the marquees. I also have many great memories of Menlo Park. I would return to both theatres as a projectionist in the mid 80’s (85). I would be the last projectionist at Menlo along with my partner Ed. Many great memories.
How I miss you Happy Harry (50 years IATSE)– you taught us well… (As did your partner Bill).. RIP JerryK- my heart shattered. We grew up there, and left our footprints… and the memory of washing that dang crystal chandelier in the LOBBY! Walter Reade knew how to spend the money (I hear tell his wife decorated the Woodbridge)..Whole or Twinned.. The Woodbridge always had integrity… and the manager made it a SHOWPLACE!
I ran both of those movies there.
First film I saw at this theater was GREMLINS, in which I was mildly disappointed. Just like Paul, I saw PREDATOR here on opening weekend.
40 years ago today this theatre reopened as a General Cinema with Rollercoaster in sensurround. It had closed in early January 1977 as a Walter Reade Theatre. I remember putting the titles up on the marquee early in the morning as our marquee letters had just arrived the day before.
I grew up in Woodbridge Twp. and remember this movie theater very well. Me and a buddy went to see “Predator” here in 1987; this was also where I realized that popcorn, soda, candy, etc., at movie theaters are outrageously expensive, something that still applies to this day. Anyway, thanks for this, and for the memories.
I’ve just uploaded a better copy of the opening night ad rivest266 added 3 years ago, this copy from the March 27th issue of the Middlesex County Leader-Press, the local weekly paper at the time.
I would also like to note the date for this theatre’s opening in the overview is off by 2 days, it opened on April 3rd, which was a Wednesday.
A Blue Ale House Resturant is being built into the area near where the screen and stage house use to be.
April 1st, 1968 grand opening ad uploaded.
Saw a few films here: “The Hunt for Red October”, “Joe vs. the Volcano” and “Freejack” and then I believe it closed shortly after that in ‘92. I always talk about this theater, because this is where I saw the trailer for the 1990 version of “Captain America”, with the poster hanging in the lobby. As you know that film was never released in states theatrically.
True Mike Rogers. But I dont think there were that many around yet in 1977. LOL.
I bet “Rollercoaster” in sensuround was interesting in a multi-plex,markp.LOl.
I actually remember working there when those 2 movies were playing.
Number of seats for this theatre was 1500 as a single, and after twinning each theatre had 600.
Remember seeing both “Batman” and “Nightmare on Elm Street 5” here on the same day in 1989 – was a nice theater, if a little tough to get to