Loew's Jersey Theatre
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
98 people favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 1,501 comments
Very well-said, Jodar. I just hope Jersey City would be willing to “foot the bill”.
After reading the article, it seems the venue will get remodeled at a much higher cost. To wait any longer would mean even higher construction costs in the future. The sooner things get done, the sooner they can reopen and entertain audiences again and make some $ and boost the local economy.
Hi Theatrefan,
Perhaps I’m just getting a bit cynical but it seems to me the Loews just can’t seem to get a break! First, quite a few years ago Jersey City seemed to be talking about tearing it down, then FOL stepped in. Now the building has been sitting dormant for (what is it,) two to three years? And finally the possibility of a “renovation” cost of 70 mil. being raised to nearly 100 mil.? (If I have my figures straight?). What really is the “bottom line” here? Politics? Greed? Apathy? Mis-information? (all of the above? I wonder if we’ll really know the “truth”?
The estimated costs for the renovation project apparently are turning out to be way more than originally estimated. https://www.nj.com/hudson/2023/07/cost-of-renovating-landmark-loews-jersey-theater-balloons-to-105-million.html
Re: Loews Jersey, I wonder if there are any photos any where that illustrate the re-construction (if anything has started.) of this wonderful theater.
I was always in the audience at Film Forum when they featured their fantasy and Science Fiction Festivals (which, if memory serves were always well-attended.) But as you say..a thing of the long ago past. These programs were always worth a journey on the PATH train.
I believe FF still shows film classics however the once ubiquitous double features are a thing of the long ago past. Between the cost of traveling there and the cost of a ticket for one movie I gave up when I was once an avid member.
The theatre where I work thats shows 35MM offered to let them do their series at our theatre in Rahway NJ but they declined.
The last bit of news I read (and this is by no means conclusive!) is that the “re-opening” date has now been scheduled for 2026!!!! I’m beginning to get a bit “concerned” as most of the film venues that featured “classic” films of various genres as part of their regular schedule (The Lafayette in Suffern, NY, Film Forum in NYC) seem to be dropping their classics due to “lack of interest”. Although, to be fair there is a relatively new venue, The Barrymore Center which opened in Fort Lee, NJ a short time ago.
Any updates?
As far as I know, the city’s contract with the commercial operator that will eventually run the theatre guarantees that Friends Of The Loews a specific number of dates to run their own programming. How this will work out in real life remains to be seen.
Has the $70 million dollars for the restoration been made available yet? I hope so.
The Loew’s Kings in Brooklyn had a similar restoration some years ago, but as far as I know they’ve only had one classic movie event (Barry Lyndon). The Loew’s Jersey has a better claim on keeping classic movies being shown, since the building would have been torn down long ago if not for Friends of the Loew’s and their classic movie shows.
I hope so too, Bill! The Loews, in all of its collective glory and beauty has been such an oasis for so many film lovers over the past twenty-five years or so… I hope its beauty and heritage are respected and maintained! (As someone who grew up in Hudson County I completely “get” the “hesitation” of many of us regarding local politicians!)
Will all the volunteers of the last years that kept this building operational be honoured?
Promises! From politicians!
It will be a performing arts center, but we’ve been promised that the classic movie screenings won’t be discontinued. I hope they mean it.
What will it be used for when reopened?
The renovations are underway! The Jersey closed at the end of 2021 for a two year restoration!
Let’s hope we get the opportunity for a few more classic film programs during the fall and winter of 2021 before the 2022 restoration “shutdown”.
The upcoming restoration calls for the theatre to close some time in 2022 for an 18-month renovation and restoration.
Great news February 23, 2021 on the redevelopment of the Jersey Theatre!
Looks like FOL got the best of both worlds with this one - a viable full renovation and FOL will still play a major role in programming.
Full Announcement at Friends of the Loew’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/landmarkloewsjersey/
Feature article at Jersey City Times:
https://jcitytimes.com/loews-to-get-renovation-and-national-acts/
Brief summary:
““There was good news about the Loew’s yesterday – and it’s even BETTER than some folks may realize. As news outlets reported, yesterday the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency conditionally designated the company that owns the Devils and manages the Prudential Center as the commercial operator of the Loew’s. And as part of the plan, more that $70 million dollars will be found to fully restore the Theatre, bring it into full code compliance, and completely upgrade its production capabilities. But not all the news stories about this made clear one more important part of the plan: Friends of the Loew’s isn’t going anywhere. We will continue doing much of what we do now, still very much part of the Loew’s. In fact, we’ll be the non-profit arm of the Theatre’s expanded operation. And our most important role is to make sure that as many people as possible continue to have the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from the Loew’s – even if they can’t afford, or don’t want tickets to expensive pop concerts.” ”
I’m trying to maintain a sense of optimism in that if the Loews Jersey is “transformed” into a performing arts center the show runners can strike a “happy medium” between concert performances and classic film programs. (As a self-declared classic film fanatic, I’d hate to see another vintage film venue fall by the wayside.) And I’m still wondering. how will the Journal Square area handle the one thousand or more ticket-holding concert fans as they converge the on Lowes for a concert event?
It is my understanding that the current FOL 5 year lease for the venue has now expired and Jersey City is now moving forward with the plan the mayor tried to push though 5 years ago. This involves contracting out the restoration and operation of the theatre to companies experienced in this.
If the plan is successful and once it is complete, the venue will primarily be a concert facility. The difference between now and 5 years ago is that FOL’s roll in the theatre is more formally defined, better giving them the ability to plan and run local interest events including movies.
Please note that I have no “inside” information, and of course this may work out differently than either party expects. I have my doubt that any commercial organization will be in a hurry to spending millions of dollars on a venue where at least for the next few years, they will not be able to have any hope of recouping their investment.
This has been “renovating” for decades now. I would guess that work is just resuming after a pandemic enforced suspension.
Yes, that’s what I’ve read over at the Loews Facebook page recently. I am hopeful that “renovate”, in this case means installing a functional air conditioning system (to allow summer screenings!) and perhaps “improved” projection facilities such as 70mm. Color me “skeptical” but I hope none of the beautiful character and atmosphere of this grand movie palace is lost as the renovations proceed. And… I wonder where the money is coming from, especially during these “tough times”? (Private investors?)