Loew's Jersey Theatre
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
98 people
favorited this theater
Showing 626 - 650 of 1,509 comments
The colors in “Dr. Who” on the big Loew’s screen reminded me so much of something I had only seen as a youngster in Radio City. It’s hard to put into words, but I’m sure you know what I mean. It’s a combination of the immense screen size, the carbon-arc light, and the color process. You never forget it, once you see it—and it is very rare today.
In my opinion, the Loew’s should have a Technicolor weekend, but you might want to use some “educational advertising” for those who don’t know what it is.
Thanks Gabe, glad you enjoyed “Dr. Who and the Daleks.” That was a mint 35mm dye-transfer Technicolor/Techniscope print. It certainly looked nice on that 50 foot screen!
The other unusual show of which I’m very proud was the 50th anniversary screening of Abbott and Costello’s “Jack and the Beanstalk.” It was shown 50 years to the day after it’s World Premiere at the Fabian in Paterson, and we had quite a crowd that Sunday afternoon. (I think around 350-400 paid admissions.)
Plus, it was a pristine Super-Cinecolor print from 1952. It’s not often you get to see one of those on the big screen!
When I was Director of Film Programming at the Jersey, I had secured the booking of a mint, 35mm dye-transfer Technicolor print of THE GANG’S ALL HERE. (There’s more than one.) It was to be part of a Technicolor weekend, showcasing archival dye-transfer 35mm prints from various archives and private collectors.
I had also secured Trail of the Lonesome Pine, Vertigo, War of the Worlds, Goldfinger and several other rare features, shorts and trailers. The Technicolor company was interested in sponsoring it.
Alas, it never happened. Sure would have been fun!
I heard that only one Techinicolor print is available for showing of Gang’s all Here. A friend went to see it at Film Forum and said it was not in good shape.
But alas I don’t think it’s the kind of film the Friends of the Loews is interested in.
Except for a few biggies they don’t seem to go in for musicals or maybe they found they don’t draw in an audience?
Really looking forward to the “Apes Marathon.” I haven’t seen an apes marathon in Journal Square since I was 12 years old.
BTW, why do I always think of the Loew’s Jersey when I watch this clip?: “The Polka Dot Polka” from “The Gang’s All Here.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTIgbXtRW4I
Would love to see this sometime on the big screen of the Loew’s. Could you imagine the audiences' faces?! The last time I saw a reaction like that was when the Loew’s shows “Dr. Who and The Daleks.” People were speechless, non-plussed. Later on they talked about it for weeks.
For the final classic film weekend of the 2007-08 season, Loew’s Jersey “Goes Ape"…
Friday, June 13th
8:00 PM: “Planet of the Apes†(1968, 1:52)
Saturday, June 14th
3:30 PM: “Mighty Joe Young†(1949, 1:24)
7:00 PM – double feature: “King Kong†(1933, 1:40) — “Son of Kong†(1933, 1:10 – starts Alex Theatre:55 PM)
Attendance figures for some of these screenings surprised me – “A Clockwork Orange” on June 9th did about 300 (surprisingly good for this movie, more so since it was shown on a Friday night). Meanwhile, on June 10th, “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” attracted over 500 fans (no surprise there) while “The Terminator” pulled in…70 (ouch!).
I’d say the booming echo is part of the package with the Loew’s because of its massive size and towering height. Friday’s showing of “A Clockwork Orange” was actually helped by the echo whenever the music came on. I’d never heard it like that before, with that much power. Alex himself would no doubt have approved.
I attended the screening of Bladerunner last night with a couple of friends and we had a great time. There was a big turnout and the movie looked gorgeous. I had recently watched the newest director’s cut after receiving it for Christmas, so was really looking forward to seeing it on the big screen. I was not disappointed. You could really appreciate the magnificent special effects and all the work that was put into them.
I do have one question for you guys though. The sound last night was especially boomy and echoey. Dialogue was oftentimes undecipherable. For a movie whose plot is already complicated, this didn’t help. Is it just the nature of a big movie palace, or was there something they could have adjusted?
Awesome landmark. I was in the area visiting friends when the marquee and facade pulled me into this theater. The friendly staff let me walk all around inside except the roped off area up stairs. This palace is an excellent tribute to an amazing era…..I wish I had been around during it’s heyday.
Awesome landmark. I was in the area visiting friends when the marquee and facade pulled me into this theater. The friendly staff let me walk all around inside except the roped off area up stairs. This palace is an excellent tribute to an amazing era…..I wish I had been around during it’s heyday.
This is an excerpt from Michael Musto’s blog at the Village Voice:
“What are YOU doing on the PATH train?” asked a bemused commuter last Saturday, his jaw dropping to the spit-out gum on the floor. Well, believe it or not, I do venture out of Manhattan every few yearsâ€"especially when there’s a screening of All About Eve in the glorious Loews Jersey City Theater, featuring a live appearance by its only surviving star, Celeste Holm. I expected to be completely alone out there, only to find swarms of peopleâ€"all kinds of peopleâ€"lining up for the event and fastening their seatbelts for a night that made them pretty happy rabbits.
Was there as I said.
Beautiful print and biggest crowd I ever saw there.
I got there late and I couldn’t believe my eyes. What is this the Christmas show at Radio City in ‘59?
Anyway good seeing the crowd enjoy the film and laughing in the right places.
And no booing when they start talking about a woman needs to be married and it is more important than a career. Yes!
Irv: to give the Loew’s its due, they did already screen both “Ben-Hur” and “The Ten Commandments”, and both were excellent shows. “All About Eve” isn’t a big film on the scale of those two, unless you take its record-setting 14 Oscar nominations into account, but it sure was a one-of-a-kind experience seeing it with that many other people who loved the film so much.
“So many of these proffered opinions are, given the commenters aren’t dealing with the issues that the Friends of the Loew’s are dealing with, not in the least bit qualified ones.”
So what are some of the issues?
You know…sometimes peoples' observations here are so revealing. (And I don’t mean that in a complimentary way.)
It fascinates me that just as so many are proprietorial about film in general, there’s also a tendency to feel the same way about a movie palace and what it ‘should’ be showing. A theatre that is fighting its battles towards full restoration. So many of these proffered opinions are, given the commenters aren’t dealing with the issues that the Friends of the Loew’s are dealing with, not in the least bit qualified ones.
Nostalgia is one thing. The business of trying to resurrect a facility to be a standalone, one that can thrive to the best of its abilities in a modern context is another. The two might not be mutually exclusive…but I suspect they’re less aligned than certain posters might be willing to admit.
“Still can’t figure out why they program stuff like Beauty and the Beast. Makes no sense to program a french art film in a movie palace no matter how great(and the Cocteau is a great one.)
I can’t figure out why they don’t play more movie palace movies.
The stuff that used to draw in the crowds to these places.
The comedy and Ape stuff is terrific.
But do we need the umpteenth revival of Blade Runner and Clockwork Orange which don’t even belong in such a venue?
Where are the MGM musicals, the Doris Day stuff, Elvis, Ann Margaret and Beach Party movies?
And when are we getting the great silents to be accompianied by the organ.
Also how about Disney films? There are a lot of wonderful live action films as well as the animated films that should be seen in a theater and not on video.
Tributes to the great stars and directors of the Hollywood period.
Cukor, Wilder, Wyler, Vidor, Ford,Capra, Hawks and Minnelli. And just not the most famous titles.
More cinemascope, more Vistavision.
posted by LeonLeonidoff on Apr 7, 2008 at 3:55pm"
I know this post I’m writing now is hot on the heels of the ‘All About Eve’ screening, which I didn’t go to. It sounds like it was amazing, but unfortunately I couldn’t get out of the city that night. However I do agree with the previous post from LeonLeonidoff. Although the Loews is an amazing place, and I’m more than glad that such a place exists, I do feel that their film programs are a little off the mark. Case in point was the ‘fantasy’ screenings they had. They may all have been great films, but to me the Loews isn’t the place for them. Prints I’m sure are hard to come by in some instances, but there has to be a ton out there that are available. In addition to what Leon said, I’d also like to add that the Loew’s should take every advantage of using the huge screen they have and screen ‘BIG" films. Seeing films like 'Ben-Hur’ on the big screen is an amazing experience you just can’t get from watching it on television. I know the Loews may have screened that film in the past but they need to concentrate more on Classic films shown in a Classic environment. I’d much rather see “Cleopatra” or “The 10 Commandments” on that big screen than say ‘The Princess Bride’. In fact, seeing something like the latter of those titles will only make me stay home or find something else to do.
It’s funny that all day long I was laughing at Marilyn Monroe’s line of “Well, I can’t very well yell out ‘Oh, Butler’ can I? What if someone’s name is ‘Butler’? Addison: "You have a point. An idiotic one, but a point…” To me, that is so genuinely witty. Cool that you guys could see this classic in a great theater. Can’t wait for my next visit to nyc to go to Loew’s Jersey!
Sorry if I phrased that wrong, but even many of the supporting players (Marilyn Monroe, Barbara Bates) in the cast have died. I’ll check this out on IMDB right now:
35 actors are listed as the full cast. Three of them are still alive: Craig Hill as Leading Man (a non-speaking role), William Pullen as Clerk and Helen Mowery as Reporter. So I’d say that among all the actors credited at the beginning of the film, Celeste Holm is the only one left.
Best turnout that I’ve observed for any film event in the past two years that I’ve been attending as either a patron and volunteer staff. Ticket sales were 129 for the reception/film and 621 for the film. The queue stretched about half way up Magnolia Avenue – the side exit doors to the theatre were utilized for the “movie-only” patrons so that they could be ushered directly into the auditorium without interfering with the reception already in-progress (those guests used the main entrance).
Kudos and much-deserved recognition and appreciation should go to the small army of volunteers working this event with me â€" tireless dedication and diligent teamwork made for a memorable and successful event for all in attendance (I arrived at 1:30 p.m., and the last of us departed at about 1:00 a.m.). Amid a hectic atmosphere and whirlwind of activity, enthusiasm levels remained high among staff as well as patrons. Everyone performed their assigned duties to a tee!
Tonight’s showing of “All About Eve” was exceptional for several reasons. Celeste Holm, the only surviving cast member, was in attendance and was interviewed after the movie. The line to get tickets was the longest I’ve seen for any theater in years, stretching behind the theater down Magnolia Ave. nearly all the way to Tonnelle Ave., and that’s a long way. The print, from the Fox vault, was absolutely flawless. And the audience reaction featured the most applause I’ve ever heard during an actual movie, not just for the credits or at the end. We applauded favorite lines, plot developments, even actors' facial expressions. It was a blast!
I asked someone, who claimed to be in the know, about this once. He said that Fox had twelve Mag-Optical 4-channel prints of “Planet of the Apes” made at Todd-AO labs in January 1968, but the studio never picked them up! Seems Fox at the last minute wasn’t sure “Planet” would that big of a hit. No one ever knows what happened to those twelve prints, but I kind of believe the story because why would Fox release “Bandolero!” in stereo in ‘68, and “The Detective,” and not “Planet”? Very strange.
I should mention that apparently Fox did not strike any magnetic stereo prints for the original release of “Planet of the Apes”.
I remember making a few calls at the time,
and was told “there ain’t any”.
I wonder if anyone ever did get their hands on one.
Yeah, the print of “Planet of the Apes” shown recently at the Ziegfeld had restored stereo in Dolby Digital (front channels only), but the image was from an old dupe negative and was soft with little shadow detail and excessive grain. Hopefully the Jersey can get better.
Still can’t figure out why they program stuff like Beauty and the Beast. Makes no sense to program a french art film in a movie palace no matter how great(and the Cocteau is a great one.)
I can’t figure out why they don’t play more movie palace movies.
The stuff that used to draw in the crowds to these places.
The comedy and Ape stuff is terrific.
But do we need the umpteenth revival of Blade Runner and Clockwork Orange which don’t even belong in such a venue?
And what in the world is this place doing showing R rated films?!
This is inexcusable!
Every program should be one where parents don’t mind bringing their kids even if they’re adult in subject matter. People did it all the time until the mid 60’s.
Where are the MGM musicals, the Doris Day stuff, Elvis, Ann Margaret and Beach Party movies?
And when are we getting the great silents to be accompianied by the organ.
Also how about Disney films? There are a lot of wonderful live action films as well as the animated films that should be seen in a theater and not on video.
Tributes to the great stars and directors of the Hollywood period.
Cukor, Wilder, Wyler, Vidor, Ford,Capra, Hawks and Minnelli. And just not the most famous titles.
More cinemascope, more Vistavision.
Elizabeth Taylor, Steve Mcqueen, Charlton Heston, Lee Marvin, Monroe, Julie Andrews and Cary Grant.
These are the kinds of film that these places were built for.
The first couple of years this place had consistently great programming but no more.
On a more gratful note I am looking forward to Eve this coming weekend.
A Roxy movie always rates high in my book.