Amboy Multiplex Cinemas
US Highway 9 and State Route 35,
Sayreville,
NJ
08872
US Highway 9 and State Route 35,
Sayreville,
NJ
08872
15 people
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Back in the day, this WAS the high tech most state of the art theater in New Jersey with the best picture and sound.
I remember waiting with my parents on a 2 hour line to see Indiana Jones and the last crusade in 70 mm on opening night. I also remember seeing Dead Poets Society, Back to the Future 2 and 3, Ghostbusters 2, Great Balls of Fire, and Alien Nation at this theater. The Amboy would often get exclusive New Jersey runs of Oscar contender films before they went into wide release making the Amboy theaters very lucrative around the Thanksgiving to New Year season. During the early to mid 90’s, a multi-plex boom happened overnight in central New Jersey with new multiplexes opening in nearby Menelo Park, Edison, South Plainfield, and the final downfall was probably the two New Brunswick theaters on Rt. 1, (one a regal, one a lowes, both state of the art stadium mega plexes). Sadly, this theater has been neglected and was deteriorating in the last 10 years. Hopefully National Amusements will see what a gem they once had and use this closing to give the theater the much needed renovation that it deserves.
As of this weekend, this theatre has been closed indefinitely. It will be an eyesore for many commuters to come. Who knows? Maybe it will be a shopping center with all that space or an expansion of Route 9.
The Amboy Multiplex is on the site of the former Amboy Drive In. The Drive In closed in 1979 to make way for the Multiplex. It started as a 9-plex and slowly through building additions and dividing some of the big auditoriums the theatre ended up being a 14 plex. It originally opening with Hour change over projection with pin board automation. Platters were put in with the completion of it being a 14 plex. But was one of the few theatres in the area that had 70MM with Mag stereo. Still has a 70MM Century JJ running, but hasn’t shown 70 in years, like most theatres. It’s twin is actually Jersey Multiplex in Newark, NJ (which is built on the site of another Nat Amus. Drive In, the Newark Drive In Route 1&9) Hazlet’s exterior is a little different with a rounded lobby, but looks pretty much similar after that. National Amusments never over built in NJ like Cineplex Odeon or Loews. Nat Amus always had a very good presentation.