Loew's Jersey Theatre
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
98 people
favorited this theater
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And might I add, IMHO, that this theatre is perhaps the most beautiful and least “gimmicky” of the remaining 1920s movie palaces. There are no Chinese temples or Egyptian sphinxes here, just sheer red and golden Italian Baroque grandness, as only Rapp & Rapp could accomplish. Sure R&R took architectural liberties here, but in general they stayed pretty close to the books as far as proportion and balance go. The theatre is just plain beautiful without engendering a snicker. Yes, this theatre is beautiful and huge. It is something to be awed. It should and does leave people looking up with their mouths wide open, speechless. In that way, it reminds me of Grand Central Terminal. Both are places whose loss would be unacceptable. They must be saved and restored at all costs. That is my opinion of this truly great theatre. Nothing should be holding this place back, nothing. I agree with Brucec that Hollywood needs to respect and recognize it’s past by giving this place money to continue and someday finish the restoration. For the Loew’s Jersey was, in many respects and from 1929 to 1948, Hollywood; not just the Loew’s Jersey, of course, but all movie theatres on the scale and grandeur of the Jersey. During that time, the theatres came first, and the movies were 2nd in terms of investment and in their ability to draw an audience. Hollywood really should recognize it’s real history. If we could ask him, Marcus Loew, which came first and second, I’m sure he would say without hesitation, that the theatres always came first; not DVDs and not concession stands, and not even the movies themselves. Remember, Loew’s owned MGM. It was NOT the other way around. I’ll even go so far as to say that Hollywood (is that TCM today?) has a duty to save the best of what is left, and certainly this theatre is among those places.
Why are the FOL’s hands tied? What’s the problem? NOTHING should hold back this great theatre from becoming again what it once was. It is all to rare and a precious jewel today. You don’t throw away the Hope diamond.
Just a very choice few of these places remain. It is a crime to not restore them to the completion — including everything from the ticket booth to the draperies, to the orchestra pit railing, to the lounges, etc. etc.
What on earth could be the problem with progress on this true Wonder Theatre — an equal (IMO) of the Chicago, the Ohio, and Shea’s Buffalo?
All of this is true…except that there’s another player here. One that has not, to my reckoning, as it’s been explained to me, allowed the Friends of the Loew’s to make the most of its stewardship. And when your hands are tied…it’s tough to perform the magic you’re capable of.
Until that situation changes, there’s a ceiling on what can be accomplished, no matter the extent of the volunteer support.
Im amazed at what the Loew’s Jersey has accomplished by its volunteers. Who would have thought that a 3300 seat movie palace on the brink of demolition would come back as a home for classic film and a restored Organ concerts in Jersey City. Just think what they could do with a larger budget. This should be a template what could be achieved by using volunteers on a shoestring budget. This is the type of theatre that classic American movies were meant to be shown. I think Turner Classics should spotlight this theatre and Hollywood with all its money should take a lesson on what a movie palace showing classic films should look like and not like the Egyptian in Hollywood. I think Steven S and Martin S should focus some of there preservation funds to this wonderful venue. I think the preservation of our last historic movie palaces is just as important as the preservation of film.brucec
FYI for anyone headed to The Loew’s Jersey for the Orson Wells Weekend.
There is a new listing of restaurants and eateries near the theatre on their website.
Visitor Information –> Dining
www.loewsjersey.org
ORSON WELLES WEEKEND â€" this MORE than makes up for the absence of movies in January!
Friday, Feb. 1 â€" his first starring role in cinema…
8:00 PM: “Citizen Kane†(1941, 119 min.) – AFI’s #1 film pick on their “100 Years…100 Movies†list.
Saturday, Feb.2 â€" three fabulous features all in one day…
3:00 PM: “The Lady from Shanghai†(1948, 87 min.)
6:30 PM: “The Magnificent Ambersons†(1942, 88 min.)
8:40 PM: “Touch of Evil†(1958, 111 min.) â€"caps off the weekend with the PREMIERE 50th Anniversary screening of a pristine, NEWLY struck print!
PLUS, another classic film weekend (TBA), tentatively scheduled near the month’s end (Feb. 22-23). Monitor the newly redesigned and enhanced Friends’ Website for future updates.
When designing my recent NYC visit, I most wanted to see the Loew’s. I get the weekly newsletter and I’m always sad that I can’t volunteer there.
I got my first view of the theatre from across the street…and I was all smiles for the next hour or so…even through our journey back to NYC.
We were greeted at the door by Patty, whom I had spoken to on the phone that morning. She was incredibly gracious with her time, with her enthusiasm in answering question, everything. (In fact, after chatting for about half an hour on the stage…with two young volunteers happily racing about, and joined by a co-worker of hers, I was the one who cut the chat short, as I was mindful of taking up too much time.) We even got a primer about local politics, both current and that of the early 20th century.
What an amazing building. So much has been done already, and it’s got such character, such personality…even those elements that are crying out for restoration.
I won’t hold forth on a polemic regarding the duty Jersery City (and its citizens) have in allowing The Friends of The Jersey to get on with their stewardship…but I will say that my heart was full in leaving the building, and my hopes go out to everyone involved that this movie palace is allowed to be restored to its former glory, taking its place once again in the lives of all who are fortunate to take part in its entertainments.
Bravo to Patty and everyone involved in the ongoing efforts.
I have put up a Picasa photo album of our visit; please email me for the link.
That above post really scared the hell out of me until I read the fine print. When I hit the link the New York Times page it appeared on it had today’s date. I breathed a sigh of relief after I read THE REST of the post that said the publication date was from 1984, and confirmed it on the NYT page. Whew! On the other hand, at this point I think I’m more prepared for disappointments like this because it’s become a regular occurrence for the most part. Thank god it wasn’t what I thought it was, and that the Loews Jersey has been living on and will continue to live on well into the future.
In preparation for a post about a recent visit to the Loew’s, I happened to find this article in a search…which is ironic, given the previously mentioned reportage about development plans:
http://tinyurl.com/2n9uel
The publication date is listed as October 14, 1984.
Thanks
Feb 1&2
Orson Welles weekend
CITIZEN KANE / TOUCH OF EVIL / LADY FROM SHANGHAI
Does anyone know what films the Loews is planning to screen in Jan. So far there is nothing listed on their web site.
Well, all you need is 1200 people to donate one dollar each! That can’t be too hard. Somebody needs to get out into the community and go door to door. Do people in Jersey City care at all? (By the way, I live in North Carolina, which is why I care about good prints of old movies playing at the Jersey. If I travel there to just see a movie, which I hope to do sometime, it better be a damn good print!)
Help bring time back to Journal Square
Passing through Journal Square and seeing the hands missing from the silent clock is like time is standing still — sending out a message of neglect and inactivity at what may appear from the street an old abandoned movie palace. And as we all should know, the Loew’s Jersey is alive and as well as it can be working on limited resources.
The whole clock was restored by a professional clock restorer, but at some point the wooden hands had fallen off. A friend of mine in upstate, NY who belongs to a clock and watch association, introduced me to Chuck Roser of the Clock Tower Chapter of that organization. I contacted him for FOL and for $500 he created new aluminum power coated (an enamel like paint) hands from original drawings and specifications he had on file from the Seth Thomas Clock Company. New counterweights for the hands were also made that were painted white to blend in with the clock face.
The hands are now on display in a lobby showcase awaiting funds for their installation by an insured clock installer who, I’m told, costs $1,200 to install the hands and fix a small gear box and shaft directly behind the hands that link them to the massive clock works.
Donations provided the cost of the new hands and begun towards the $1,200 goal for their installation. I trust that the loyal base of donors and new donors will come forward to restore this crowning touch to the Loew’s facade.
Along with the newly restored Wonder Morton organ, a working clock tower with its bells and and animation of St. George slaying the dragon every 15 minutes will show the community that the Loew’s Jersey has pride in not only its historic past but its future.
I am not writing in any official capacity but rather as a interested individual looking to help the Loew’s return to its former glory.
Thanks, plenum. Will save my questions for the next movie.
Rory, that’s a very good idea. I agree completely.
I think one thing that could be done to help insure the long-term survival of the Jersey Theatre, apart from it being declared a National Historic Landmark, is if the City of Jersey City would organize a yearly “Jersey City Film Festival” with the Loew’s Jersey as its centerpiece. I would imagine it could easily rival anything done in Manhattan and would appeal to those who either can’t afford a trip into the city or don’t want to be bothered. Hasn’t anyone thought of that before?
No apologies necessary.
I was just trying to prevent a pebble drop from turning into an avalanche.
As you probably know, the FOL org is open to talking and answering questions, so save them up and ask them when you next drop by the theatre.
I apologize. I didn’t mean to offend anyone. I just simply care greatly about this theatre.
I’ll take your word for it when you say “Any rumors about the theatre being in danger of demolition or profiteering are just that.”
This is not the appropriate forum to discuss the inner working or details of FOL or the City of Jersey City’s plans and relationships.
The Loew’s Jersey theatre is a landmarked structure and is owned by the City of Jersey City.
Friends of the Loew’s, Inc. is a non-profit 503© corporation that has been awarded a lease for the facility.
Any rumors about the theatre being in danger of demolition or profiteering are just that.
Further details are best obtained from Friends of the Loew’s themselves.
The City of Jersey City owns the Loew’s Jersey Theatre and the FOL, the operators of the theatre lease it. Is that correct? Is the long term lease still being negotiated, has the new lease been signed by both parties, or what kind of an arrangement does the FOL have at this point with the city?
I am concerned because there has been some gossip that the theatre is in danger thanks to the skyrocking real estate values around Journal Square. The Loew’s sits on a prime site. Others say that the theatre will benefit from the new affluent residents in the area.
Are the city’s plans to preserve the theatre at all costs are they becoming greedy? Can we rest easy or is it time to get out our picket signs, petitions, and lawyers?
Here is the link…
Bargain prices, new development stir interest in Jersey City’s Journal Square
As a resident of the area in question, here are a few factiods…
1) the new towers will go in where the McDonald’s restaurant currently exists (the article mistakenly places them across the street from the PATH station)
2) Harwood currently owns and operates the Square Ramp parking deck behind The Loew’s Jersey
3) Originally, the plans called for in-ground parking but they were changed after testing revealed hard dolomite rock and the expense would have been too great.
4) There are two other large condo projects in the Journal Square/Heights area: Canco Lofts and The Beacon. Canco Lofts is a conversion of the 1929 American Can complex next to the Pulaski Skyway and The Beacon is the former Jersey City Medical Center (17 buildings!) Sales figures are not readily available but recently, two new large buildings downtown – Grove Pointe and 50 Columbus – near the Grove Street station began offering rental units in addition to condo units.
In todays edition of The Real Deal, New York’s Real Estate Bible publication, there was an article about a new residential/commercial project to be built in Journal Square. Demolition is to start in January and construction will begin in late March. It is to be a two tower complex, one 60 story tower and one 40 stories built ON TOP of a 7 story parking facility. There will be 1,500 apartments in addition to a fair amount of retail space. No word as to whether they will be rentals or condos. This will be the tallest building in New Jersey; taller than Trump’s new waterfront project. I think this is great news for Loew’s Jersey theater (which was referenced in the article). More housing and new construction means more visibility and potential customers for the theater which could lead to more contibutions for its continued restoration.
If someone can explain to me how to link an article I’ll be happy to try it!
Much as I love going to the Loews I would not put it in the same catagory as the Film Forum. The Loews really only programs 1 weekend a month from Sept-June for films while the Forum screen films 365 days a year. I would hope that once the Loews gets their 70mm projectors working that they show whatever is available in that format. To me the Forum is a great place to watch pre-wide screen films. Wide screen films at the Forum almost always suffer in comparison.
We don’t have 70mm at the Lafayette in Suffern, but we do run 35mm reel-to-reel.
Film Forum does not show 70mm (why would they on those postage stamps they call screens?), Radio City can, Ziegfeld can, the AMMI in Queens can, I think the Museum of Modern Art can. The Loew’s Jersey would be a great venue for 70mm outside of Manhattan
What theatres in the NYC area are 70mm reel to reel capable?
Radio City?
Ziegfield?
Film Forum?
The theatre in Suffern? (Does Suffern count as NYC area)?
I am wondering how “unique” the Loew’s Jersey will be once the 35mm/70mm Norelcos are installed.
Film Forum is a strong competitor (along with cable channels such as TMC & AMC) and with the organ back playing and 70mm projection ability soon, how should the Loew’s position itself?