Comments from BobFurmanek

Showing 51 - 75 of 543 comments

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Montauk Theatre on May 13, 2011 at 12:29 pm

I would bet the chandeliers hadn’t been lowered for cleaning or re-lamping in 50+ years. They would have had to go up in the catwalks and loosen the rigging to bring them down.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Montauk Theatre on May 13, 2011 at 11:43 am

Are there any traces of the organ’s Echo Chamber in that photo posted by Jeff yesterday at 5:25? If it was above the projection booth, it’s gone.

Mikeymike: glad to share the clippings, wish they were better quality. Do you know if the chandeliers were salvaged? There’s a similar theater in Suffern, New York that could use them.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Montauk Theatre on May 13, 2011 at 2:24 am

January 29, 1924: bottom

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BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Montauk Theatre on May 13, 2011 at 2:23 am

January 29, 1924: top

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BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Montauk Theatre on May 12, 2011 at 8:30 pm

Terrific shot Jeff, thanks for sharing.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Montauk Theatre on May 12, 2011 at 3:02 pm

My earliest movie going memory was seeing “Planet of the Apes” at the Montauk in 1968 so I caught the tail end of the good years.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Montauk Theatre on May 12, 2011 at 2:31 pm

Alex, I agree with you. The theater had such a stigma from it’s 30+ years of porno, most people thought it was a sleazy dump! Little did anyone realize how intact and well maintained the interior was.

Oh man, the Passaic Book Center. Many a Saturday morning was spent there followed by a trip to the Central for a matinee. By time I was going, both the Capitol and Montauk were running porno so the Central was the only game in town.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Montauk Theatre on May 12, 2011 at 1:07 pm

Mikeymike: I’m SO glad you took the pictures that you did while the theater was still intact. Thank you!

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Montauk Theatre on May 12, 2011 at 1:00 pm

Here’s a reminder of what was lost:

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I had never seen a single screen theater of this vintage in such great shape.

Stupid shortsighted fools.

From looking under the marquee into the outer lobby, it looks like the place was stripped. The ornate wooden poster cases were taken off the walls. I wonder if the stained glass survived? Were the chandeliers saved?

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Montauk Theatre on May 12, 2011 at 12:51 pm

You walk around Passaic and see high school kids with baby carriages. The new immigrants are having lots of children at a rapid rate.

BUT – this rare surviving single screen theater should have been saved. With all the “junk” buildings in Passaic, they had to tear this down for a new school?

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Montauk Theatre on May 11, 2011 at 9:49 pm

The Montauk is half gone. The balcony, projection booth and lobby are rubble. All that remain is the marquee, outer lobby, auditorium, proscenium and stage. You can see the remains from the street and it was in great shape.

Nice going, Passaic.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Allwood Cinemas 6 on May 10, 2011 at 4:35 pm

Somehow selling out a 50 seat theater is NOT that impressive! The Allwood was a nice single screen neighborhood house, but since then?

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about RKO Jefferson Theatre on May 6, 2011 at 12:18 am

Interesting post, but “Scared to Death” was in 2 color Cinecolor and was Lugosi’s only starring color feature. I restored it and released it on laser disc many years ago.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Paramount Theatre on Mar 26, 2011 at 11:50 am

I knew someone that attended one of these shows and said the theater was only about 40% filled.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Raue Center for the Arts on Feb 15, 2011 at 1:47 pm

In the early 1950’s, the organ from this theater was purchased by Leon Berry and installed in his basement. One of the very first stereo album releases was “Leon Berry at the Giant Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, volume 3” released March 31, 1958 on Audio Fidelity records – AFSD, 5844.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Paramount Theatre on Feb 13, 2011 at 1:22 pm

Boy, Dean and Jerry sure got around!

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Paramount Theatre on Jan 21, 2011 at 12:08 am

Tinseltoes: you always post such fascinating and important information. Thank you SO much for sharing!

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Allwood Cinemas 6 on Jan 11, 2011 at 4:47 pm

To me, it lost all it’s charm when it was cut up. I live less than a mile away and used to go quite often when it was a single. Since the dividing, I’ve gone once!

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Paramount Theatre on Nov 4, 2010 at 10:41 am

Wasn’t CALAMITY JANE the last feature film/stage show combo at the Paramount? I believe there were occasional stage attractions after that, but this ended the weekly combo shows.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Hudson Theatre on Oct 12, 2010 at 3:12 am

In 1954, audio pioneer Emory Cook recorded an album in binaural stereo at the Hudson Theater. It featured a complete burlesque performance including the lobby barker and comedy sketches. Segments can be heard on this site:

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Students of comedy may recognize the voice of Joe DeRita in the sketches. Within a few years, he was a member of the 3 Stooges!

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Nickelodeon locations? on Aug 20, 2010 at 12:10 pm

I’m pretty sure there are still some Nickelodeon locations in Passaic, New Jersey, about 12 miles west of New York City. I have the addresses and can check out the buildings this weekend, if you’d like.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about RKO Warner Twin Theatre on Aug 16, 2010 at 1:06 pm

TIME MACHINE was shown widescreen in the standard 1.85 ratio.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Wanted: Old theater equipment from the 30's-60's on Jul 20, 2010 at 8:47 pm

That old tube equipment sells for mega bucks in Japan.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Annual BlobFest in Phoenixville July 9-11 on Jul 9, 2010 at 11:46 am

I wish they would show these films in the intended theatrical aspect ratio. THE BLOB is protected for 1.37 academy, but intended for 1.85 widescreen. That’s why some of the effects shots are hard-matted.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek commented about Montauk Theatre on Jun 8, 2010 at 3:22 pm

The Montauk opens: January 30, 1924.

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