Also opened with the Giovanni Martinelli short “The Troubadour”, the Merrie Melodies cartoon “Moonlight For Two”, a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not short, and a newsreel. There is also a special greeting by the Vitaphone Trumpeters as well as special ceremonial messages delivered by Albert Howson, then-mayor of Ridgewood Hon. J.S. Anderson, and the president of the Warner Bros Management circuit Harry M. Warner.
Prior to the theater opening its doors on grand opening, a flag raising ceremony was done by Mrs. Edward T. White, a Gold Star mother. Now-defunct radio station WGCP in Newark (later WHBI and WAAM) also made an appearance, as well as a parade led by the city’s high school band before the doors open.
Closed as a movie theater on September 7, 1987 with “Disorderlies” in Screen 1 and “House II” in Screen 2. AMC Theatres was its last operator and went under the name “AMC Landis 2”.
The Beach Drive-In actually closed on September 5, 1983 and sat abandoned for a few years before both screens were blown off by Hurricane Eleana on August 27, 1985.
On November 16, 1974, the Saenger Theatre suffered damage from a fire after a transformer exploded, destroying the theater’s roof. This happened during the 5:10 PM showing of “Impulse”, and the sprinkler system that was installed in the theater went off at 6:15 PM that evening. Harold “Odd Job” Sakata had just left the theater several hours beforehand after making a live appearance at the lobby earlier that afternoon.
Despite no moviegoer suffering any injury, this unfortunately turned into a disaster after one of the firemen’s air tanks attached to his back caught a high voltage line while climbing a ladder in route to the roof, injuring him but survived.
Opened on February 20, 1948 with Esther Williams in “Fiesta” (unknown if extras added). It was closed on September 19, 1970 with Walt Disney’s “The Love Bug” and “The Jungle Book” because of lack of patronage.
Actually, Interstate Theatres Corporation operated the Norwich Cinemas 2 throughout the 1980s. It wasn’t until May 17, 1989 (not 1980) that Hoyts took it over.
The Lakeland Cinema opened its doors as a single-screener in the early-1970s. It was later twinned in the 1980s and was quadrupled by the mid-1990s, although there’s not a lot of information that I can find about it.
On January 21, 1997, the Lakeland Cinema suffered minor damage after Screen 4’s projector caught fire in the projection booth. Then-owners Lou and Loni Eyer have already planned on renovating the theater at the time of the fire which they did. All auditoriums reopened slowly one-by-one, with Screen 3 reopening that March. It was immediately renovated right afterward, with Screens 5 and 6 being added later that same year and the Lakeland became a six-screen theater.
The Lakeland Cinema is now independently operated by Suick Theaters, which had been operating since around December 2017. The old Conway Theatres website is also dead.
The Gem Theatre was destroyed by a fire on November 1, 1947, and the fire happened during the near conclusion of Spencer Tracy’s “Boom Town”. Both prints of the movie and an unnamed Disney’s Pluto cartoon that comes along before the feature were both destroyed by the fire caused by a projection explosion at the booth.
Dean Sievert, its original projectionist, tried to reach the extinguisher to put out the blaze but the smoke from the burning film was so choking that he was immediately forced to leave, dropping the can to the ground. The smoke filled the entire auditorium and the building suffered damage but survived, costing an estimate $30,000 in damages. The popcorn machine was immediately rescued by staff. The marquee also survived the fire. The Gem’s scheduled showings of “Abie’s Irish Rose” (plus cartoon) and “They Won’t Believe Me” (plus RKO-Pathe SportScope and serial) were forced to cancel because of the fire. Despite over 100 people attended the showing, nobody was injured.
It was rebuilt and remodeled, reopening as the Valley Theatre on August 6, 1948 with John Wayne in “Tycoon” along with an unnamed cartoon.
Also opened with the Giovanni Martinelli short “The Troubadour”, the Merrie Melodies cartoon “Moonlight For Two”, a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not short, and a newsreel. There is also a special greeting by the Vitaphone Trumpeters as well as special ceremonial messages delivered by Albert Howson, then-mayor of Ridgewood Hon. J.S. Anderson, and the president of the Warner Bros Management circuit Harry M. Warner.
Actual July 1987 closing date is July 30, 1987.
Closed as a movie theater on September 7, 1987 with “Disorderlies” in Screen 1 and “House II” in Screen 2. AMC Theatres was its last operator and went under the name “AMC Landis 2”.
Actual 1999 closing date is September 4, 1999.
Last known as AMC Cumberland Mall 2, closing on September 24, 1994 with “Natural Born Killers” in Screen 1 and “Wolf” in Screen 2.
The Beach Drive-In actually closed on September 5, 1983 and sat abandoned for a few years before both screens were blown off by Hurricane Eleana on August 27, 1985.
Closed by UA on September 6, 1995.
On November 16, 1974, the Saenger Theatre suffered damage from a fire after a transformer exploded, destroying the theater’s roof. This happened during the 5:10 PM showing of “Impulse”, and the sprinkler system that was installed in the theater went off at 6:15 PM that evening. Harold “Odd Job” Sakata had just left the theater several hours beforehand after making a live appearance at the lobby earlier that afternoon.
Despite no moviegoer suffering any injury, this unfortunately turned into a disaster after one of the firemen’s air tanks attached to his back caught a high voltage line while climbing a ladder in route to the roof, injuring him but survived.
Actual closing date is August 28, 2005, yes because of Katrina.
Expanded to five screens on September 23, 1994.
Opened on March 2, 1934 with Edmund Lowe in “Let’s Fall In Love” (unknown if extras added).
Opened in early-January 1935.
Opened on October 27, 1948.
Most likely closed with “Fletch”.
Closed in late-December 1998 or early-January 1999. It quickly became a church by the end of the month.
Opened on February 20, 1948 with Esther Williams in “Fiesta” (unknown if extras added). It was closed on September 19, 1970 with Walt Disney’s “The Love Bug” and “The Jungle Book” because of lack of patronage.
Opened on December 14, 1990.
Closed on September 23, 1984.
Opened on October 17, 2007.
Actually, Interstate Theatres Corporation operated the Norwich Cinemas 2 throughout the 1980s. It wasn’t until May 17, 1989 (not 1980) that Hoyts took it over.
Edited from my October 9, 2022 (3:01 PM) comment:
The Lakeland Cinema opened its doors as a single-screener in the early-1970s. It was later twinned in the 1980s and was quadrupled by the mid-1990s, although there’s not a lot of information that I can find about it.
On January 21, 1997, the Lakeland Cinema suffered minor damage after Screen 4’s projector caught fire in the projection booth. Then-owners Lou and Loni Eyer have already planned on renovating the theater at the time of the fire which they did. All auditoriums reopened slowly one-by-one, with Screen 3 reopening that March. It was immediately renovated right afterward, with Screens 5 and 6 being added later that same year and the Lakeland became a six-screen theater.
The Lakeland Cinema is now independently operated by Suick Theaters, which had been operating since around December 2017. The old Conway Theatres website is also dead.
The Gem Theatre was destroyed by a fire on November 1, 1947, and the fire happened during the near conclusion of Spencer Tracy’s “Boom Town”. Both prints of the movie and an unnamed Disney’s Pluto cartoon that comes along before the feature were both destroyed by the fire caused by a projection explosion at the booth.
Dean Sievert, its original projectionist, tried to reach the extinguisher to put out the blaze but the smoke from the burning film was so choking that he was immediately forced to leave, dropping the can to the ground. The smoke filled the entire auditorium and the building suffered damage but survived, costing an estimate $30,000 in damages. The popcorn machine was immediately rescued by staff. The marquee also survived the fire. The Gem’s scheduled showings of “Abie’s Irish Rose” (plus cartoon) and “They Won’t Believe Me” (plus RKO-Pathe SportScope and serial) were forced to cancel because of the fire. Despite over 100 people attended the showing, nobody was injured.
It was rebuilt and remodeled, reopening as the Valley Theatre on August 6, 1948 with John Wayne in “Tycoon” along with an unnamed cartoon.
What’s unique is that the Tom and Jerry cartoon “Mouse Into Space” was the most played film ever at the Dine-In.
Closed on September 28, 2000. This was once operated by R/C Theatres.
Closed on September 2, 1979, last operated by R/C Theatres.