Bellevue Cinema 4
260 Bellevue Avenue,
Upper Montclair,
NJ
07043
260 Bellevue Avenue,
Upper Montclair,
NJ
07043
7 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 65 of 65 comments
The Bellevue has been showing the Rocky Horror Picture Show on Saturdays at midnight since August of 2003, when The Screening Zone, another Clearview theatre, closed in downtown Montclair.
Rhett, There are 2 problems with the masking issues. The first problem is that a lot, if not most of the theaters, do not have movable maskings so 1:85 flat fits fine but scope gets chopped off. The second problem is that clearview and other chains are using non union operaters (Managers) to run the booth instead of real union projectionists. They go in, start the machine and walk away and assume everything is fine.
When I saw the 70mm version of “This Is Cinerama” in 1973 here, I had a long chat with the projectionist there who told me some startling information. I’ve never been able to verify it, but the gentleman told me that (1) the CineMiracle screen used there 1959/60 consisted of bedsheets sewn together. I really find this one hard to believe, given the sound transmission qualities of bedding material, not to mention the large number of visible seams. And (2) that the louvered screen at the Claridge was cleaned by using slices of bread! That one sounds so impossible, that it just might be possible. :)
The street address is 260 Belleview Ave. The architect of the Belleview Theater when it was built in about 1923 was J.H. Phillips. The original seating capacity was 975 when it was a single screen.
It’s good to dream Bill….but unfortunately we’re in a nightmare. With the Astor Plaza in NYC closing we are down to a hanfull of single screen theaters. The only theater that is a throwback to the old days is the Lafayette in Suffern, NY. They love movies there.
The days of 70MM are unfortunately gone. I miss those days.
Last Friday night I went to a fireworks display in Montclair. I took the train, and the station was a block away from the Bellevue. As I walked toward the theater on my way home, I imagined myself as one of Rod Serling’s characters in The Twilight Zone who gets transported back in time. Maybe when I approached the Bellevue, it would somehow be 1961 again and “West Side Story” would be playing in 70mm in its exclusive North Jersey engagement. Unfortunately, I did not go into the Twilight Zone and the marquee did not say “West Side Story” but “Harry Potter”, “The Terminal” and two others. OK, it didn’t happen this time, but maybe it will happen in the future, maybe when I visit the New York City block where the Loew’s Capitol once stood? :)
Bill, Now that would have ticked me off (as I’m sure it did you). What bothers me about some theaters (Allwood, Cinema 23 in particular) is that I’ve seen some films there on Mon or Tues. that’ve opened on Fri. and the some Panavision films were shown in 2:35 with a 1:85 masking. Meaning that NO ONE in the audience or especially the theater staff or projectionist corrected the problem. I always did though. Theater managers are usually young guys who got a job who don’t have that love of film presentation (as the people on this site do) They’ll have the candy guy (usually a kid( flick the swith on the projector and just walks away.
It’s bad enough that 1) ticket prices are outrageous 2) most movies suck today but why can’t there at least be a little care in the presentation. Thse guys today don’t even check the theater climate for gods sake or the sound levels, or close the theater doors (I always do that myself). A patron should never have to get out of his seat. The front 3 theaters in Cinema 23and the front 2 of the Allwood are parked in 1:85. Naturally you can imagine my chagrin when the film comes out on DVD at 2: 35. I feel ripped off, but hey, like the staff will say..“the film was sent to us that way”…please!!!
Rhett’s comment about the Cinema 23 reminds me of the first movie shown at Loew’s Meadows 6 in Secaucus, NJ: “Blade Runner”. I’d thought it was a widescreen film but the screen was masked at 1:85, until about an hour into the movie when somebody realized the mistake and the screen opened up to full Panavision width. Opening night problems, I guess.
Joe, if you’re a Division manager for Clearview, maybe I can bring you to another matter. I realize that all these former big theaters are chopped up to accomodate multiple screenings for financial gains. These former single screen masterpieces of Cinema will never be in their original glory again and it’s something to finally get used to…you’ll understand of course if I gripe..a child of the 70’s.
But some Clearview Cinemas (in North Jersey ) do suffer from a lack
of enthusiastic, courteous and most of all, knowlegable employees. I can list things, but the one thing that really is bothering is that some theaters, when playing in their “smaller” theaters, DO NOT show the film at the proper aspect ratio. EXAMPLE: Cinema #5 and 6 at the Allwood in Clifton. There are multiple films shot in 2:35 panavision that are played in matted 1:85 ALL the time in these theaters. It’s unsettling for me to bring it to the attention of a high school kid who’ll say, “That’s the way the film was sent to us”…It’s not, it’s just lazy and bad management. I realize there’s things to put up with but at least show the film as it was shot. I’ve seen films in the first run screen and then peeked in the other screen when it was moved down and the screen is the same. They just don’t open up….
The prblem is that most patrons, won’t say anything (guess they just don’t care)..BUT there are those who do, which is why I won’t frequent this theater. Others that do that are Cinema 23 in Cedar Grove, I had to make them open the masking last time I was there for a panavision film. They didn’t know what panavision was…
Anyway Joe. Thanks for the comments and I hope you don’t mind the gripe, but I thought it should be addressed since we all comment on the glory days of theateres on this site.
First, I am a Division Manager for Clearview and have been to the Bellevue many, many times as it is in my territory. The seats are spaced in the theatre as they were when it was built—-there was never leg room in the balcony—that’s they way it always was. The only difference is there’s a wall down the middle now. Last year, Clearview invested in sound upgrades for all of our theatres. I don’t believe there are any other sound issues at the Belle that I’m aware of.
Second, the photos are in the archive at THSA. Instructions for ordering can be found on the website.
Joe,…can you tell me where on the site to look for the Bellevue pics. And are there any other Jersey theaters on the site?? Thanks.
With all due respect Joe, you obviously haven’t been upstairs in theater #3. It’s like a basement and there is absolutely NO leg room at all in between the seats and the projection quality is dull, and the sound no better. It’s the left side of the balcony. I loved this theater and it ’s a shame it turned into this mess of a quad.
BTW…thanks for the web info about the pictures. Got to look into it.
The Theatre Historical Society has pictures of the Bellevue—you can order them at www.historictheatres.org
The exterior is exactly the same as built, except for the marquee. One of the former retail spaces was annexed into the lobby to enlarge it.
The auditoriums currently are actually pretty good. I would certainly not call it a ‘homeless shelter’. The downstairs theatres have large screens and digital sound. In no way is the theatre ‘skeevy’.
Rhett is right about the current state of the Bellevue, especially considering what it used to be. This theater had 70mm projection and state-of-the-art sound reproduction. It was the first theater in the area outside NYC to show “West Side Story” and many other roadshow attractions. It was where I experienced the most amazing, brain-busting soundtrack I’ve ever heard before or since: “Altered States” in 1981. I would also love to see any pictures of the Bellevue the way it was back then.
The new Bellevue is certainly the destruction and demise of a once great theater. Probably one of the best theaters ever in NJ. I remember in the 70’s it was a premier theater with reserved seat engagement. I always loved the design of the theater and the size of the scree. Now it’s like sitting in a tin can, especially the smaller theater upstairs (where the former balcony was). It’s impossible to sit straight as there is no room at all, you have to sit sideways. The projection and sound are horrible, the theater looks like a homeless shelter. It’s skeevy
The people who bought it and cut it up destroyed it(as many theaters in Northern NJ)Are there any pictures one can get showing the exterior/interior of the old Bellevue??