I agree with Ken. I would NEVER go to a rep house using digital. And as longisland said, most prints are not available in digital. And finally, companies like Warner Brothers, and the above mentioned Universal have said NO to striking anymore 35MM prints. When they’re gone, thats it. Which means in all likelyhood that given a few more years, retro cinemas will probably just fade away, just like all these big companies want 35MM to just fade away.
I’m right behind you outafocus. As I stated above, 33 years and counting. I remember my first few years, when I was an apprentice in the IATSE union, and an usher. I worked usher for GCC and we had blue blazers, bowtie, just as you said. I have seen a lot of changes these past 33 years, and all I can say is the pencil pushers in these big chains ruined everything. As for me, I have my hopes pinned on an old palace that one day may do stage shows and concerts, and the occasional film festival, and thats where I plan to spend my remaining years. The multiplex is NO fun at all.
Also, how about the projectionists. When I would go with my father on a saturday afternoon to see a movie, I still remember when we went to the front of the line to get in the front doors, people would look, and my father would say “I’m the projectionist,” you would here the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahhhs’. Back in the day, everyone thought that was a cool job, which is one reason I followed in his footsteps 33 years ago. And the best part was, you got a cartoon, one trailer for an upcoming movie, and the movie. Not the 25 mins of trash you get today.
I agree with you CTCrouch, but also in todays world, with rising energy costs, etc, something they could also do is the opposite of what happened in the 70’s and 80’s. Instead of “adding” on, they could “subtract”. Simply demolish a wing of the building and eliminate theatres. If they are in a situation where theatres are on multiple floors, convert one floor to office space, rent it out, and get some guarenteed income. Sometimes they have to think outside the box.
First, what a waste, I mean I worked in a porn theatre for 11 years. I have some old stuff in my possesion. As was stated, some of that stuff you probably cant find. Second, all that stuff was on safety film. They must have had some real good excellerent to get it to burn. All it probably did was molt into a big curled up blob.
The closest one is about 5 to 6 miles away, the AMC Menlo Park 12, and about 12 miles the other direction, the AMC Aviation 12. Menlo is about 17 years old, non-stadium, Aviation is about 2 years old, all stadium. There was a time, when I was a kid, that the Township of Woodbridge, ( 9 districts in all ) had the State in Woodbridge, the Fords Playhouse in Fords and the Iselin Theatre in Iselin, all about 3 miles apart from each other. Later on, Walter Reade built the Woodbridge Theatre, and National General built the Fox Theatre. We really had our choices during the late 60’s and early 70’s.
Question to RCDTJ…with projector 3 finally repaired, is this to suggest that FILMS may actually show here again in the future, perhaps as a premiere or something? Or am I just dreaming. Also. I will be here tomorrow to see the Christmas show. My wife is one of the many set dressers.
I get constant critisizm from the people I work with now. “Why do you need a schedule for each projector, its only 6 screens.” My answer…“do I ever start the wrong movie???…NO…End of discussion.”
This theatre was never a music makers theatre, thank god. It came under the General Cinema banner in june of 1977, the same time another former Walter Reade house, the Woodbridge was taken over by GCC. In the fall of 1977, both Seaview and Woodbridge were split in half. I know this because I worked at Woodbridge, and the constuction crew would tell us how Seaview was about a week behind Woodbridge. What they did in one theatre this week, the crew went to the other theatre the following week. First the wall studs, then the sheetrockers, and finally put the seats back in. Then we came in to do the screens, projection room, apertures, etc.
I wish them well. It would be nice to see these downtowns revived. I wish someone would build a small theatre complex in my downtown of Woodbridge, N.J. which has not had a movie theatre since 1971, when the State Theatre closed.
I"m not saying this as a long time IATSE union projectionist, but this is what happens when you have idiots making minimum wage and selling popcorn run the booth. This just shows you whats wrong in the entire industry today…too many chiefs, and no indians.
I started in 1975 Al. And just to add to what you said, my father would say for years (before he went to that big movie palace in the sky) that T.V. would kill the theatres. Well…still waiting for that one too.
Yup, nothing like having those 12 screens all digital. Maybe they will follow the concept of the theatre that was posted about a week ago, and not even have a projection room. After all, if there are no REAL projectors, then you dont need a projection room. Just stick those those good old digitals right there in the auditorium.
Opps, my bad, I just noticed it was answered 2 posts above. You have to forgive me, I just got off work from the multiplex in which I am employed.
Yes Peter, I too was curious where longisland will be showing “Lawrence of Arabia”
I agree with Ken. I would NEVER go to a rep house using digital. And as longisland said, most prints are not available in digital. And finally, companies like Warner Brothers, and the above mentioned Universal have said NO to striking anymore 35MM prints. When they’re gone, thats it. Which means in all likelyhood that given a few more years, retro cinemas will probably just fade away, just like all these big companies want 35MM to just fade away.
I’m right behind you outafocus. As I stated above, 33 years and counting. I remember my first few years, when I was an apprentice in the IATSE union, and an usher. I worked usher for GCC and we had blue blazers, bowtie, just as you said. I have seen a lot of changes these past 33 years, and all I can say is the pencil pushers in these big chains ruined everything. As for me, I have my hopes pinned on an old palace that one day may do stage shows and concerts, and the occasional film festival, and thats where I plan to spend my remaining years. The multiplex is NO fun at all.
I hope they make it. We need more people like them in the business.
Also, how about the projectionists. When I would go with my father on a saturday afternoon to see a movie, I still remember when we went to the front of the line to get in the front doors, people would look, and my father would say “I’m the projectionist,” you would here the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahhhs’. Back in the day, everyone thought that was a cool job, which is one reason I followed in his footsteps 33 years ago. And the best part was, you got a cartoon, one trailer for an upcoming movie, and the movie. Not the 25 mins of trash you get today.
I agree with you CTCrouch, but also in todays world, with rising energy costs, etc, something they could also do is the opposite of what happened in the 70’s and 80’s. Instead of “adding” on, they could “subtract”. Simply demolish a wing of the building and eliminate theatres. If they are in a situation where theatres are on multiple floors, convert one floor to office space, rent it out, and get some guarenteed income. Sometimes they have to think outside the box.
Typical of todays world. Costs to much to advertize, so they dont, then they fail.
First, what a waste, I mean I worked in a porn theatre for 11 years. I have some old stuff in my possesion. As was stated, some of that stuff you probably cant find. Second, all that stuff was on safety film. They must have had some real good excellerent to get it to burn. All it probably did was molt into a big curled up blob.
Thank You, it would definitly be refreshing to have a downtown movie complex again.
You got that right MPol.
The closest one is about 5 to 6 miles away, the AMC Menlo Park 12, and about 12 miles the other direction, the AMC Aviation 12. Menlo is about 17 years old, non-stadium, Aviation is about 2 years old, all stadium. There was a time, when I was a kid, that the Township of Woodbridge, ( 9 districts in all ) had the State in Woodbridge, the Fords Playhouse in Fords and the Iselin Theatre in Iselin, all about 3 miles apart from each other. Later on, Walter Reade built the Woodbridge Theatre, and National General built the Fox Theatre. We really had our choices during the late 60’s and early 70’s.
Question to RCDTJ…with projector 3 finally repaired, is this to suggest that FILMS may actually show here again in the future, perhaps as a premiere or something? Or am I just dreaming. Also. I will be here tomorrow to see the Christmas show. My wife is one of the many set dressers.
I get constant critisizm from the people I work with now. “Why do you need a schedule for each projector, its only 6 screens.” My answer…“do I ever start the wrong movie???…NO…End of discussion.”
Unheated, poor sound systems, uncomfortable seats. Sounds like some of the places my father worked at in the 60’s, and I worked at in the later 70’s.
This theatre was never a music makers theatre, thank god. It came under the General Cinema banner in june of 1977, the same time another former Walter Reade house, the Woodbridge was taken over by GCC. In the fall of 1977, both Seaview and Woodbridge were split in half. I know this because I worked at Woodbridge, and the constuction crew would tell us how Seaview was about a week behind Woodbridge. What they did in one theatre this week, the crew went to the other theatre the following week. First the wall studs, then the sheetrockers, and finally put the seats back in. Then we came in to do the screens, projection room, apertures, etc.
I wish them well. It would be nice to see these downtowns revived. I wish someone would build a small theatre complex in my downtown of Woodbridge, N.J. which has not had a movie theatre since 1971, when the State Theatre closed.
I"m not saying this as a long time IATSE union projectionist, but this is what happens when you have idiots making minimum wage and selling popcorn run the booth. This just shows you whats wrong in the entire industry today…too many chiefs, and no indians.
I couldn’t agree with you more newt, especially a big grand theatre, not these sheetrock cookie cutters they build today.
Pencil pushers as I like to call them.
I started in 1975 Al. And just to add to what you said, my father would say for years (before he went to that big movie palace in the sky) that T.V. would kill the theatres. Well…still waiting for that one too.
Yup, nothing like having those 12 screens all digital. Maybe they will follow the concept of the theatre that was posted about a week ago, and not even have a projection room. After all, if there are no REAL projectors, then you dont need a projection room. Just stick those those good old digitals right there in the auditorium.
Now you know CinemarkFan that would never happen.
What??? Digital projection isn’t installed in all 16 screens??? You mean they actually put in 35MM projectors??? Have mercy!!!!
I have been in some home theatres bigger than this.