Hello my dear friend vito. Hope all is well. I have a question…where haven’t you been a managing director. You must know the in’s and out’s of just about every National Amusements theatre in New Jersey, New York, Long Island etc. Anyway, I hope you are doing well, and I couldn’t resist busting your chops a bit. Take care.
Sounds like this is going down the same road as the Rooling Acres Mall in Akron Ohio. Once a thriveing mall, it now only has 2 of the 3 anchor stores left, Sears outlet and J.C. Penney outlet. The entire mall is empty. And it all started with new owners, stores leaving and delinquent taxes.
Ron Newman, the only single screen that I know of that AMC operates is in New York City, the 72nd street theatre, which went under the name of Loews Tower East many years ago.
Well Love movies, I must say, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Now if someday I could come up with $3.5 million ( I know, dream on) then I would buy the beautiful Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth N.J. (2760 seats) and have classic films showing on the old Brenkart projectors and Peerless carbon arc lamps that sit there. And in between, I would love any and all live performances on the huge stage. Really bring back that old theatre expierience.
Thats why I enjoy running classics every year at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank N.J. on a pair of simplex xl projectors and changeovers every 20 mins. THAT’S what movies are to me, not these sheetrock multiplexes and movies that I wont even waste my time seeing for free, which I can do at the multiplex I work at.
Just as I have said in numerous other posts here on Cinema Treasures…don’t care about about digital, don’t care about 3D, and I especially don’t care about “Avatar” which I have absolutely NO desire what-so-ever to see. And everyone out there can say what you want, but I have to agree with Love movies – hate going, its getting a little ridiculous.
Last nights showing of “The Maltese Falcon” looked and sounded great. Nice crowd too. Next week “North By Northwest” with yours truly at the projection helm once again.
LuisV, I know you go around a lot and seem to be able to find out info on a lot of theatres. If you are ever in Elizabeth N.J. can you try to find out what is going on with the Ritz Theatre. I was going there for about 3 years up till the end of 2008 when I had a serious car accident. I have lost all my contacts and work prohibits me any time to go there. This is another 2760 seat beauty that has been completely restored. And I am so glad that after 30+ years the Kings day has finally come.
I started working in a porn theatre, the Sayrewoods Theatre in Old Bridge N.J. in 1979. It was carbon arc and 20 minute reels. Around 1984 we converted to Xenon and 6000 foot reels. We threw our picture 105 ffet to a 50 foot wide Flat image. That picture was blazing with both carbons and Xenon. The owner was particular about the condition of the place. It was very clean, no sticky floors or torn or broken seats. About the biggest problem was the smoking that went on. After a 12 hour day it was almost impossible to see the screen to make a changeover. I stayed there until 1989, about a year before the place closed cause it was in the way of a highway expansion. To this day it is still one of the best places I ever worked as a projectionist. And I have been one now for 34 years.
I read this article when it first appeared 2 weeks ago. It hits home with me, being an IA projectionist for almost 34 years now. I remember actually running a gringhouse with the double features etc. I work in what I guess you consider a sort of casual revival house, as they do films (and unfortunately DVD) movies every winter for about 9 weeks. Its so great seeing those old movies, and running them the way they were 40 or 50 years ago. I’m also so tired of people telling me film is dead and digital is the new thing. While I’m sure this digital 3D thing is going to stick, although I’m still not a fan, I just cant see every single theatre in america converting over and spending the money.
And MPol, you have at least one up on me. I do own a DVD player, only because my 150 or so movies and stuff on VHS will become unplayable someday, but I do not own an HD tv. In fact our main tv is a 40 year old console in our living room. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I’m sure knowing Frank Theatres, they will hire the best lawyers money can buy, and eventually this beautiful theatee will be demolished, although I personally hope not. I was in it many years ago, probably early-mid 90’s and it was beautiful.
As I stated earlier, 70MM and 6-track mag sound, if put up against all of todays digital crap would kick its butt. Why do you think so many people on this forum pine for the return of that format. That was the true movie going expierience.
And I hope you wont mind Micheal Coate, but when you do post your anniversary piece, I will probably post the same comment as I did above. You know why they cant wait to post an anniversary piece?? Because nothing they make today is worthy of an anniversary.
I remember this well. The long lines day after day, and of course that beautiful 70MM film purring thru those Century JJ2 projectors. THAT was moviegoing, not all this digital 3D crap we have today. Those mag tracks on that 70MM had sound that could go up against any of todays digital sound, and probably beat it out.
If was like the one I just described, then it probably had 300 seats in each cinema. That was JLC’s trademark. 350 seats in a single screen, 300 seats each in a twin.
The above intro timeline sounds very much like the Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema my dad worked at in Carteret N.J. That one opened on June 7, 1972 and closed late in 1984. Its name was never changed, even thought the parent company, Network Cinema Corporation had folded up shop in early ‘74. Ours was also in 2 colors, cinema 1 was blue, cinema 2 was red, and the lobby was split with the candy stand. No way for the public to cross over. It was where I really got involved with the industry. Lots of fun times.
Once again, I will repeat for the hundreth time. Who cares. Always have been and ALWAYS will be a FILM man. 35, 70, IMAX (not that digital crap). I am not and never will be on the digital bandwagon, even though I do run 3 of them at my current job.
It has been fun for me to post comments on all the sites of theatres where my deceased father worked, and I hung out as a kid, and now at all the theatres I have worked at. I hope to someday own a copy of the book if it ever comes back in print. Please Ross, let us know as soon as this happens, if it ever does. And keep up the good work.
Today March 14, 2010, Bound Brook is again having flooding similar to 2007. I wonder how the theatre is going to fare.
Hello my dear friend vito. Hope all is well. I have a question…where haven’t you been a managing director. You must know the in’s and out’s of just about every National Amusements theatre in New Jersey, New York, Long Island etc. Anyway, I hope you are doing well, and I couldn’t resist busting your chops a bit. Take care.
Sounds like this is going down the same road as the Rooling Acres Mall in Akron Ohio. Once a thriveing mall, it now only has 2 of the 3 anchor stores left, Sears outlet and J.C. Penney outlet. The entire mall is empty. And it all started with new owners, stores leaving and delinquent taxes.
Ron Newman, the only single screen that I know of that AMC operates is in New York City, the 72nd street theatre, which went under the name of Loews Tower East many years ago.
Is this the “Shore Theatre” they are talking about?
Well Love movies, I must say, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Now if someday I could come up with $3.5 million ( I know, dream on) then I would buy the beautiful Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth N.J. (2760 seats) and have classic films showing on the old Brenkart projectors and Peerless carbon arc lamps that sit there. And in between, I would love any and all live performances on the huge stage. Really bring back that old theatre expierience.
Thats why I enjoy running classics every year at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank N.J. on a pair of simplex xl projectors and changeovers every 20 mins. THAT’S what movies are to me, not these sheetrock multiplexes and movies that I wont even waste my time seeing for free, which I can do at the multiplex I work at.
Just as I have said in numerous other posts here on Cinema Treasures…don’t care about about digital, don’t care about 3D, and I especially don’t care about “Avatar” which I have absolutely NO desire what-so-ever to see. And everyone out there can say what you want, but I have to agree with Love movies – hate going, its getting a little ridiculous.
Let’s all hope they’re successful.
Last nights showing of “The Maltese Falcon” looked and sounded great. Nice crowd too. Next week “North By Northwest” with yours truly at the projection helm once again.
LuisV, I know you go around a lot and seem to be able to find out info on a lot of theatres. If you are ever in Elizabeth N.J. can you try to find out what is going on with the Ritz Theatre. I was going there for about 3 years up till the end of 2008 when I had a serious car accident. I have lost all my contacts and work prohibits me any time to go there. This is another 2760 seat beauty that has been completely restored. And I am so glad that after 30+ years the Kings day has finally come.
I started working in a porn theatre, the Sayrewoods Theatre in Old Bridge N.J. in 1979. It was carbon arc and 20 minute reels. Around 1984 we converted to Xenon and 6000 foot reels. We threw our picture 105 ffet to a 50 foot wide Flat image. That picture was blazing with both carbons and Xenon. The owner was particular about the condition of the place. It was very clean, no sticky floors or torn or broken seats. About the biggest problem was the smoking that went on. After a 12 hour day it was almost impossible to see the screen to make a changeover. I stayed there until 1989, about a year before the place closed cause it was in the way of a highway expansion. To this day it is still one of the best places I ever worked as a projectionist. And I have been one now for 34 years.
Yet another one bites the dust. When will it end ???
I read this article when it first appeared 2 weeks ago. It hits home with me, being an IA projectionist for almost 34 years now. I remember actually running a gringhouse with the double features etc. I work in what I guess you consider a sort of casual revival house, as they do films (and unfortunately DVD) movies every winter for about 9 weeks. Its so great seeing those old movies, and running them the way they were 40 or 50 years ago. I’m also so tired of people telling me film is dead and digital is the new thing. While I’m sure this digital 3D thing is going to stick, although I’m still not a fan, I just cant see every single theatre in america converting over and spending the money.
And MPol, you have at least one up on me. I do own a DVD player, only because my 150 or so movies and stuff on VHS will become unplayable someday, but I do not own an HD tv. In fact our main tv is a 40 year old console in our living room. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I’m sure knowing Frank Theatres, they will hire the best lawyers money can buy, and eventually this beautiful theatee will be demolished, although I personally hope not. I was in it many years ago, probably early-mid 90’s and it was beautiful.
What a sin it would be if this theatre is allowed to be demolished.
Nice Vito. Wish I could see the place too. There aren’t too many of these old palaces left to enjoy.
As I stated earlier, 70MM and 6-track mag sound, if put up against all of todays digital crap would kick its butt. Why do you think so many people on this forum pine for the return of that format. That was the true movie going expierience.
Yes.
And I hope you wont mind Micheal Coate, but when you do post your anniversary piece, I will probably post the same comment as I did above. You know why they cant wait to post an anniversary piece?? Because nothing they make today is worthy of an anniversary.
I remember this well. The long lines day after day, and of course that beautiful 70MM film purring thru those Century JJ2 projectors. THAT was moviegoing, not all this digital 3D crap we have today. Those mag tracks on that 70MM had sound that could go up against any of todays digital sound, and probably beat it out.
If was like the one I just described, then it probably had 300 seats in each cinema. That was JLC’s trademark. 350 seats in a single screen, 300 seats each in a twin.
The above intro timeline sounds very much like the Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema my dad worked at in Carteret N.J. That one opened on June 7, 1972 and closed late in 1984. Its name was never changed, even thought the parent company, Network Cinema Corporation had folded up shop in early ‘74. Ours was also in 2 colors, cinema 1 was blue, cinema 2 was red, and the lobby was split with the candy stand. No way for the public to cross over. It was where I really got involved with the industry. Lots of fun times.
Once again, I will repeat for the hundreth time. Who cares. Always have been and ALWAYS will be a FILM man. 35, 70, IMAX (not that digital crap). I am not and never will be on the digital bandwagon, even though I do run 3 of them at my current job.
It has been fun for me to post comments on all the sites of theatres where my deceased father worked, and I hung out as a kid, and now at all the theatres I have worked at. I hope to someday own a copy of the book if it ever comes back in print. Please Ross, let us know as soon as this happens, if it ever does. And keep up the good work.