Loew's Jersey Theatre

11th COMMANDMENT

Thou shall not hold conversation
or wrinkle cellophane in a movie palace
So let it be written, so let it be done

Alto, you’re preaching to the choir. I guess that most people reading this website come on time.

And you can’t bring a case about what “might” happen to others — but you can if you have personally missed a bus or train connection.

Anyway, I like the late starting shows. It gives me the chance to wander around a bit, or to sit in my seat and soak up the atmosphere.

I attended the “Casablanca” screening on Saturday (Feb. 24th) and the presentation was well done (even though the print shown was scratchy at times and had some minor dropouts). As usual, the technical crew was on top of things, and this time the audio was at what I consider to be perfect volume level â€" pronounced and easy to hear (I usually find it to be on the soft side from where I normally sit – about midway back). The FOTL volunteer staff was cordial and attentive, making everyone feel welcome. There was also a nice audience turnout, with many in attendance appearing to be newcomers (they did not seem to be “regulars” such as myself) and while that’s good, there is also a downside.

I don’t want to sound like an old crab (which I’m not), but whatever happened to punctuality and manners? An annoying trend seems to be developing as of late at this theater. For the last few shows, the show times are largely being ignored, and the movies are starting much later that they should (Saturday night’s screening started almost 25 minutes late!). I am not sure why this is, but I consider this phenomenon to be a shared fault of both theater management and the audience. I understand that this theater is in need of an audience and always goes out of its way to accommodate the public, but if patrons are so rude as to come sauntering into the theater 25 minutes after the appointed show time, then quite frankly they DESERVE to miss the beginning of the film, and its start time should NOT be delayed to accommodate the few at the expense of the majority. I arrived 10 minutes early (pin a gold star on me) and did not appreciate sitting there for over 20 minutes staring at a blank screen when I made the effort to be on time. Management’s action of starting shows late, in effect, encourages and gives tacit approval to this annoying and distracting behavior. Even after the film started 25 minutes late, patrons were STILL walking in.

Folks, you need to realize that this is NOT some garden-variety multiplex theater where they show at least 30 minutes of commercials and previews prior to the main feature (I realize that many of you INTENTIONALLY arrive late to avoid sitting through these, but you need to drop your multiplex audience mentality and break this bad habit). When a feature film is presented at Loew’s Jersey, you see nothing BUT the movie, so BE SEATED ON TIME!

I particularly say all of this out of sympathy for those patrons who rely solely on mass transit to travel to and from the theater – they are beholden to fixed schedules and time constraints and have to plan accordingly. Late starts result in late endings – the idea of missing a crucial bus or train connection late at night due to an unnecessary delay is not an appealing proposition! Placing fellow patrons in the unsavory and precarious position of having to choose whether to miss the end of a movie or miss their ride is inconsiderate and unfair!

I’m so amazed that people liked O'Neal’s performance. I felt it really need a fine charismatic young British actor in the role and just figured Kubrick needed some star for insurance.
I still feel outside of his very good looks and slight charm O'Neal couldn’t act his way out of a paper bag. I have never seen him give a halfway decent performance. Even in What’s up Doc what wouldn’t I have given for a young Cary Grant.

Robert Wise said he would get letters about the poor presentation and scratchy prints of Sound of Music. Can you believe there was a time when patrons and the director cared about such things?

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When Spartacus opened at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. They had to drape over the front area of the auditorium and close off seats on the far left rear and far right rear of the theatre’s main floor. For the 61 weeks that it played the theatre.

Yes, Vito. Kubrick made sure that the premiere engagements of Barry Lyndon were projected in 1.66 – that and various other exhibition stories are recounted in some of the biogrpahies about him.

I wish they would strike a new print of Barry Lyndon, remember in the old days when a theatre like the Ziegfeld could easily have a new print and play a 2-3 week engagement of a classic?

Remember seeing “Barry Lyndon” shortly after it was released. It was a beautifully photographed period piece and O`Neal was quite good.However if memory serves, I had a hard time trying to stay awake for it.

O'Neil excellent in Barry Lyndon?
Chacun a son gout.
But except for the black hole in the middle of the film which I assume is Ryan I think it’s one of the great films of all time.

Well after I read that comment of Kubrick’s I figured he’d never seen Ryan O'Neil in Barry Lyndon.