I remember a large curved marquee. I visited the booth when they were showing “The Stewardesses” in single strip 3D. The Peerless Magnarcs had the new Diachroic reflectors. It was around 1971. I lived and breathed projectors back then. It’s still in my blood.
I visited the booth in late 1971, and they were running “The French Connection”. They also ran a trailer for “A Clockwork Orange”. At that time, it was called the Cinema 19. The projectors were the blue Simplex 35/70’s.
In 1971, we had the Ali vs Fraizer fight on closed circuit tv at the RKO Trent theatre in Trenton, NJ. I once ran a film called “The Savage Is Loose”, staring George C. Scott. it was in 35mm, but I can’t recall a filmed version of the fight.
I ran the last film there in the summer of 1983. The FRANKS were trying to make it into a truck stop for casino buses. They had showers and sleeping bunks in the kitchen area, for the bus drivers. The films that we were showing were soft core porn. We charged 4.00 a carload, but the marquee said: 4.00 a load. I think that they were running out of letters.
I remember when it was the Towne Twin. It opened in Oct. 1969. The booth had Super Simplex & Peerless arc lamps. It was the first time I saw automated change overs. I must have watched Easy Rider a thousand times! It became the Towne 4 in 1973. That was the first time I ran platters. Below is a pic I took in September 1978. The next day the peeless came out to be replaced with Christe Xenolites. The sound system was University 35 watt mono.
I love grindhose B pictures. I worked at a few, back in the day. My concern is the upkeep of the historic 35mm projectors, & carbon arc lamps, at the Baronet. The last time I ran a show at the Baronet was 10-31-06. I have a feeling that a dvd projector is now being used?
Wow, I used to hang out at the Melody Lounge. Also Rum Point Pub, Tony Mart’s, Bayshores, The Dunes, Verona Lanes…. All after running a show. Those were the days!
The Beach burned late in 1982. The film was called “The Filthy Rich”. I believed that Samantha Fox was in it. I was interviewed by the Atlantic City Press a few days after the fire. The collum was called “Duffy’s People”.
Hi, Hal! Duuuddee…It’s hard to remeber the ‘70s…LOL. No, I never smoked any pot at the Brunswick. But I did at the Greenwood. Although I was considered a hippie in 1973 ie: I parked my white '65 econoline behind the Brunswick and slept in it when I had to run an evening show, and a matinee the nex day. I remember laying on my shag carpet listening to Steely Dan on WBUD, or was it my eight track? But seriously, I didn’t smoke even cigarettes or drink much back then. I was skinny and had long hair. If you look at the Asbury Baronet page, there is a pic. of me in 2006. I remember Bob Barker & his wife running the theatre. The main projectionist was Don Reynolds. Also a southern guy named Bill Smith filled in. The Brunswick was one of my favorite booths. You could look out the window onto the street out front, and you could see right into the conc. below through the spotlight port. The equipment was Super Simplex & Peerless Magnac carbon lamps.Also RCA tube sound. I must have met you, Hal. I sure miss the good old days!
The second screen was added in 2005. It consists of 3 stacked shipping containers with a wood face. A seperate “pole barn” booth is used with a platter system. Beautiful, bright, picture. I heard that a permenent screen may be in the works.
I once lived in one of the four apartments over the Ventnor. In the Summer of 1975 we played “Earthquake” in SensurounD. Everynight, it use to shake the dishes right out of our cupboards!
The shopping center was there a short time before the Tilton was built. The department store was “MR. BIG”, before it became a “Jamesway”. The super market was called “Pantry Pride”. In front of the shopping center was a “Burger Chef”, was later called “Barney’s Reateaurant” I also remember an “Art Handler’s” appliance store.
Hi, Mike. I believe that the original screen blew down during the March, 1962, noreaster. It seems that it was replaced in short order. At that time, I believe that Walter Reade owned the Atlantic & Absecon drive-in’s. the Atlantic Drive-in & the Anchor motel sat on the land where the Shore Mall (Searstown) was built in 1966. The back of the screen faced the Tilton road circle an said 1400 WOND on the back. Somewhere in the early sixties,“THE FRANKS” acquired the Atlantic & Absecon drive-in’s. They already had the Circus drive-in, in Hammonton, NJ. I heard that THE FRANKS were paid big money to relocate the Atlantic several hundred feet back next to the Parkway on ramp. I heard that the Shore Mall paid to build the new Atlantic Drive-in, with no expense spared. It was sure beautiful compared to the other drive-ins. It was paved and stayed open all year with in-car heaters. A large all brick concession stand, with glass front. Very simular to the Bengies drive-in, near Baltomore. Upstairs booth with new Century water cooled projectors & Ashcraft Super Core Lite carbon arc lamps Tony, aka: “Blackie” Gallina was the main projectionist. He was from Egg Harbor City & had worked at the Colonial in EHC, and the Rivoli in Hammonton. They never had any form of radio sound ever. Just in-car speakers.
The Booth door faced towards Broad St., and opened to the outside metal steps. The lobby & auditorium seemed like two separate buildings. I seem to remember red shag carperting in the lobby? Mirrors?
The Bridgeton Drive-in closed in 1989. Steve and Remy Fox were the last to run it. In the seventies they had Brenkert projectors in the upstairs booth. By 1989 they had Century projectors. A guy named Jim, I think, was running them. The place was in a sad state of dis-repair. A Shoprite super market now occupies the site on RT. 77 (Pearl Street). The concrete wall on the exit road still exists.
This theatre is now an empty lot located on Main St(CR 553)next to Newcombs Market on the south side. There are still tell-tale signs on the side walk of where the entrance was. I have recently retired as a rural letter carier in Port Norris, and some of the old timers can remember The Colonial. Froggy Dagastine told me that he worked as a relief projectionist for a guy named “Jake” back in the fifties. He said that Jake also had a theatre in nearby Woodbine. Froggy told me that another theatre existed in Port Norris at an earlier time called the Love Joy.
I remember a large curved marquee. I visited the booth when they were showing “The Stewardesses” in single strip 3D. The Peerless Magnarcs had the new Diachroic reflectors. It was around 1971. I lived and breathed projectors back then. It’s still in my blood.
Steve Weisberg was a projectionist at the Studio around 1972.It was XXX at that time.
He came down to Atlantic City in the Summer of 1973 and worked mostly at the Shore Theatre. I was working at the Ventnor, seven nights a week.
He gave me a newspaper article about how it was to work in a porno theatre. It showed a picture of him theading up an old Super Simplex projector.
His sister was the co-host of the Frank Rizzo show on WCAU-AM 1210.
I visited the booth in late 1971, and they were running “The French Connection”. They also ran a trailer for “A Clockwork Orange”. At that time, it was called the Cinema 19. The projectors were the blue Simplex 35/70’s.
Here is the web site for the GAP. I put a few pictures on it.
http://gaptheatre.com/
I took this picture in October, 2006, and they were open at that time.
http://doctorgrooveband.com/ritz-10-2006.JPG
In 1971, we had the Ali vs Fraizer fight on closed circuit tv at the RKO Trent theatre in Trenton, NJ. I once ran a film called “The Savage Is Loose”, staring George C. Scott. it was in 35mm, but I can’t recall a filmed version of the fight.
Here’s a better link to the New York Times article:
View link
I could write a book about how I could write a book LOL! Are you from the UDITOA?
I ran the last film there in the summer of 1983. The FRANKS were trying to make it into a truck stop for casino buses. They had showers and sleeping bunks in the kitchen area, for the bus drivers. The films that we were showing were soft core porn. We charged 4.00 a carload, but the marquee said: 4.00 a load. I think that they were running out of letters.
I remember when it was the Towne Twin. It opened in Oct. 1969. The booth had Super Simplex & Peerless arc lamps. It was the first time I saw automated change overs. I must have watched Easy Rider a thousand times! It became the Towne 4 in 1973. That was the first time I ran platters. Below is a pic I took in September 1978. The next day the peeless came out to be replaced with Christe Xenolites. The sound system was University 35 watt mono.
http://doctorgrooveband.com/1978towne4.JPG
I remember the motel was facing the BHP. The Kinney Shoe Store aka: Crazy Ned’s, was across the pike, between the circles, near Tilton Road.
I love grindhose B pictures. I worked at a few, back in the day. My concern is the upkeep of the historic 35mm projectors, & carbon arc lamps, at the Baronet. The last time I ran a show at the Baronet was 10-31-06. I have a feeling that a dvd projector is now being used?
Wow, I used to hang out at the Melody Lounge. Also Rum Point Pub, Tony Mart’s, Bayshores, The Dunes, Verona Lanes…. All after running a show. Those were the days!
The Beach burned late in 1982. The film was called “The Filthy Rich”. I believed that Samantha Fox was in it. I was interviewed by the Atlantic City Press a few days after the fire. The collum was called “Duffy’s People”.
Hi, Hal! Duuuddee…It’s hard to remeber the ‘70s…LOL. No, I never smoked any pot at the Brunswick. But I did at the Greenwood. Although I was considered a hippie in 1973 ie: I parked my white '65 econoline behind the Brunswick and slept in it when I had to run an evening show, and a matinee the nex day. I remember laying on my shag carpet listening to Steely Dan on WBUD, or was it my eight track? But seriously, I didn’t smoke even cigarettes or drink much back then. I was skinny and had long hair. If you look at the Asbury Baronet page, there is a pic. of me in 2006. I remember Bob Barker & his wife running the theatre. The main projectionist was Don Reynolds. Also a southern guy named Bill Smith filled in. The Brunswick was one of my favorite booths. You could look out the window onto the street out front, and you could see right into the conc. below through the spotlight port. The equipment was Super Simplex & Peerless Magnac carbon lamps.Also RCA tube sound. I must have met you, Hal. I sure miss the good old days!
The second screen was added in 2005. It consists of 3 stacked shipping containers with a wood face. A seperate “pole barn” booth is used with a platter system. Beautiful, bright, picture. I heard that a permenent screen may be in the works.
Thanks, Ken. My memory is not perfect, and needs refreshing from time to time. Just trying to remember anything from the ‘70s can be a challenge.
I once lived in one of the four apartments over the Ventnor. In the Summer of 1975 we played “Earthquake” in SensurounD. Everynight, it use to shake the dishes right out of our cupboards!
The shopping center was there a short time before the Tilton was built. The department store was “MR. BIG”, before it became a “Jamesway”. The super market was called “Pantry Pride”. In front of the shopping center was a “Burger Chef”, was later called “Barney’s Reateaurant” I also remember an “Art Handler’s” appliance store.
The screen faced towards Philly. So I guess it was south. Crazy Bob, aka: R.R. Madara.
Here is a recent photo of the Baronet’s marquee. The lights change to every color in the spectrum. Very attractive!
View link
Hi, Mike. I believe that the original screen blew down during the March, 1962, noreaster. It seems that it was replaced in short order. At that time, I believe that Walter Reade owned the Atlantic & Absecon drive-in’s. the Atlantic Drive-in & the Anchor motel sat on the land where the Shore Mall (Searstown) was built in 1966. The back of the screen faced the Tilton road circle an said 1400 WOND on the back. Somewhere in the early sixties,“THE FRANKS” acquired the Atlantic & Absecon drive-in’s. They already had the Circus drive-in, in Hammonton, NJ. I heard that THE FRANKS were paid big money to relocate the Atlantic several hundred feet back next to the Parkway on ramp. I heard that the Shore Mall paid to build the new Atlantic Drive-in, with no expense spared. It was sure beautiful compared to the other drive-ins. It was paved and stayed open all year with in-car heaters. A large all brick concession stand, with glass front. Very simular to the Bengies drive-in, near Baltomore. Upstairs booth with new Century water cooled projectors & Ashcraft Super Core Lite carbon arc lamps Tony, aka: “Blackie” Gallina was the main projectionist. He was from Egg Harbor City & had worked at the Colonial in EHC, and the Rivoli in Hammonton. They never had any form of radio sound ever. Just in-car speakers.
The Booth door faced towards Broad St., and opened to the outside metal steps. The lobby & auditorium seemed like two separate buildings. I seem to remember red shag carperting in the lobby? Mirrors?
The Bridgeton Drive-in closed in 1989. Steve and Remy Fox were the last to run it. In the seventies they had Brenkert projectors in the upstairs booth. By 1989 they had Century projectors. A guy named Jim, I think, was running them. The place was in a sad state of dis-repair. A Shoprite super market now occupies the site on RT. 77 (Pearl Street). The concrete wall on the exit road still exists.
This theatre is now an empty lot located on Main St(CR 553)next to Newcombs Market on the south side. There are still tell-tale signs on the side walk of where the entrance was. I have recently retired as a rural letter carier in Port Norris, and some of the old timers can remember The Colonial. Froggy Dagastine told me that he worked as a relief projectionist for a guy named “Jake” back in the fifties. He said that Jake also had a theatre in nearby Woodbine. Froggy told me that another theatre existed in Port Norris at an earlier time called the Love Joy.
I made some typos on the above post. I showed Five Easy Pieces in 1970, not 71. Also 35mm film not 33.sorry