I must say, as seedy as some say it was, I like the old 42nd street a lot better. Great photos. Wish there were some of the old State, National, Embassy and Rivoli.
Vito, my wife is going to a meeting tom'w for all the wardrobe dresses. She heard thru the grapevine there might be some new numbers, but I don’t know if this will affect the booth.
For 4 million dollars you can buy the Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth NJ and its been all refurbished. All 2760 seats have been redone, new carpet, new bar, new restrooms. And it has a 5 story parking deck right next door.
Trust me Howard. Just as I didn’t want, or look forward to digital projection, its here. As an old friend of mine keeps telling me, its progress. Just as AMC ruined everything when they started with stadium seating back in the 90’s, this too shall come. I miss being a full time projectionist, but Im glad in a way. Give me the old days of film and raked seating and a 1500 to 2000 seat theatre with a 50 foot wide screen. Oh, and no loud annoying 30 minute previews before the feature.
It will be in a few days Vito. As I did not have the pleasure of working it last year in Newark, NJ, I do know from the stagehands who did, that it takes about a week to get everything back to “normal.” Aside from getting the set out of there, they also have to reinstall seats and return the building to the condition in which they found it, meaning any damage done to walls, etc must also be repaired. By the time the Christmas show starts AGT will be long forgotten, thank goodness.
I remember cleaning the screens here in the late 90’s. Those 2 upstairs theatres were a joke. You stood up out of your seat and your head was in the picture.
After 9 ½ years of not wanting to step near this place after Clearview dumped the union projectionists, now that Bow-tie is running it and has bargain Tuesdays, I may be so inclined to go see a movie here. Thinking about it.
Well at least half of my comment from May 21st was correct. AMC is taking it over again. I know I had gotten the info from a reliable source. Will just wait and see if the other half about East Hanover holds true.
Life’s Too Short, it wont be another church. The plans include something like a 35,000 square foot stage house addition on the back of the theatre. From what I understand they are closing some road behind it and blowing out the addition. The remaining part of the road will be used by the trucks to back into the loading bays for stage shows and concerts.
Good looking line up Mitchell. I wish I could be there for Bullitt but I think I might be working at the Prudential Center. If not I may come up and visit and be sure to ask for you.
You are so right Peter. We just got our Christie Digital installed at the Basie 2 weeks ago. They also got a nice new Blu-ray player up there too. So you know that everything now will be either DCP or Blu-ray. Very sad indeed.
Drove by this place today. All storefronts abandoned and there are numerous red stickers on the glass fronts. Could not see what they were but my guess is unsafe to enter signs.
I worked here as a projectionist for a time filling in. Im thinking I know RCMH but cant place a name. I want to say Tom, but not sure. I was also the last projectionist to work at the Menlo Park Twin, worked at the Woodbridge Twin, Blue Star Quad and Sommerville Circle Triplex as well.
Not for nothing tombumbera, but I ran prints of Jurrasic Park at the old Amboys Multiplex for 9 months back when it first came out and we never had to replace the prints once. Of course we had a full union crew of projectionists, as opposed to the non-union crew that was at Mercer Mall.
I must say, as seedy as some say it was, I like the old 42nd street a lot better. Great photos. Wish there were some of the old State, National, Embassy and Rivoli.
Vito, my wife is going to a meeting tom'w for all the wardrobe dresses. She heard thru the grapevine there might be some new numbers, but I don’t know if this will affect the booth.
Was just in Newark working at the arena 2 weeks ago. Walked by all 3 of these theatres. Such a shame how they just sit there and rot away.
For 4 million dollars you can buy the Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth NJ and its been all refurbished. All 2760 seats have been redone, new carpet, new bar, new restrooms. And it has a 5 story parking deck right next door.
Lindsey B, I click on your link and nothing happens. Usually links that work show up blue on the page.
Trust me Howard. Just as I didn’t want, or look forward to digital projection, its here. As an old friend of mine keeps telling me, its progress. Just as AMC ruined everything when they started with stadium seating back in the 90’s, this too shall come. I miss being a full time projectionist, but Im glad in a way. Give me the old days of film and raked seating and a 1500 to 2000 seat theatre with a 50 foot wide screen. Oh, and no loud annoying 30 minute previews before the feature.
Another one bites the dust.
It would be great for this to happen, but with it only being a twin, I don’t know who would take it. Would be great if Bow-tie stepped in.
It will be in a few days Vito. As I did not have the pleasure of working it last year in Newark, NJ, I do know from the stagehands who did, that it takes about a week to get everything back to “normal.” Aside from getting the set out of there, they also have to reinstall seats and return the building to the condition in which they found it, meaning any damage done to walls, etc must also be repaired. By the time the Christmas show starts AGT will be long forgotten, thank goodness.
I remember cleaning the screens here in the late 90’s. Those 2 upstairs theatres were a joke. You stood up out of your seat and your head was in the picture.
After 9 ½ years of not wanting to step near this place after Clearview dumped the union projectionists, now that Bow-tie is running it and has bargain Tuesdays, I may be so inclined to go see a movie here. Thinking about it.
Well at least half of my comment from May 21st was correct. AMC is taking it over again. I know I had gotten the info from a reliable source. Will just wait and see if the other half about East Hanover holds true.
Life’s Too Short, it wont be another church. The plans include something like a 35,000 square foot stage house addition on the back of the theatre. From what I understand they are closing some road behind it and blowing out the addition. The remaining part of the road will be used by the trucks to back into the loading bays for stage shows and concerts.
Good looking line up Mitchell. I wish I could be there for Bullitt but I think I might be working at the Prudential Center. If not I may come up and visit and be sure to ask for you.
You are so right Peter. We just got our Christie Digital installed at the Basie 2 weeks ago. They also got a nice new Blu-ray player up there too. So you know that everything now will be either DCP or Blu-ray. Very sad indeed.
Was opened as a twin, one theatre eventually split in half to make 3.
Thanks Stephenvb.
New Christie digital projector installed as of early sept. We have kept the 2 35mm projectors also.
Drove by this place today. All storefronts abandoned and there are numerous red stickers on the glass fronts. Could not see what they were but my guess is unsafe to enter signs.
Worked here as a projectionist in 1992.
In the Star Ledger movie clock on Friday Sept 6th, this theatre is now listed as “Luxury Cinemas 13”
Status needs to be changed. Drove by here about a week ago and its demolished. Nothing but a parking lot now.
Worked here a few times in its final days as a porn house and again in 1999 as a projectionist.
I worked here as a projectionist for a time filling in. Im thinking I know RCMH but cant place a name. I want to say Tom, but not sure. I was also the last projectionist to work at the Menlo Park Twin, worked at the Woodbridge Twin, Blue Star Quad and Sommerville Circle Triplex as well.
Not for nothing tombumbera, but I ran prints of Jurrasic Park at the old Amboys Multiplex for 9 months back when it first came out and we never had to replace the prints once. Of course we had a full union crew of projectionists, as opposed to the non-union crew that was at Mercer Mall.