Loew's Jersey Theatre

EdSolero—I think you’re right about summer ‘74 for the Apes fest. I remember the Nostrand being sold out. The line stretched around the block. It was so popular that a couple of weeks later, the Nostrand began showing a double feature of “Planet” and “Battle”. I remember my dad taking my brother and I back for that one. We even stuck around and watched “Planet” a second time. It provided my mom with one of the few quiet days of the summer! In case you’re interested, all five films, the TV show, and the Saturday morning cartoon are being re-released as a special DVD box set at the end of March.

Bill and R.H… I distinctly remember seeing “Battle for the Planet of the Apes” as a solo feature during its initial run – that film was HUGE for kids my age at the time (I was also 8). I remember the movie came out just before the end of the school year in June – which was a great idea because kids who saw it had a chance to brag about it in school and encourage other kids to go out and catch it thte following weekend. I remember the poster for “Battle…” featured a large shirtless gorilla lifting a human soldier over his head and I recall wondering “when in the film is THAT going to happen?” It never did, of course.

Anyway, I could swear the “Go Ape” festival was summer of ‘74, perhaps to spur interest in the upcoming “Planet of the Apes” TV show.

So if they lower the mask for the 2.35 (widescreen presentation) there is less square footage on view, right? which was my point.

I went “APE” as well (just like the gorilla in the Uncle Sam style poster instructed me). I saw the films at the Fox Theater in East Setauket on Long Island with my cousins who lived out there. I’m trying to remember if they played them in that order when I saw them… It sounds familiar. Anyway, someone at Fox might have thought that in that order the series made more chronological sense (since 4 takes place in the 1990’s and attempts to show that this is when “intelligent” apes started to emerge). But this thinking is a bit misguided since I think folks were pretty easily able to see how the events played out in the series connected the overall saga in a cycle, where the last film is sort of a prequel to the 1st. Also, if you start out with “Conquest…” (the 4th film), you wouldn’t know the connection between the ape Milo (who becomes Caeser) and the circus man Armando.

Anyway… was that 1973? So soon after the release of the final film that very same year? I remember the series played many theaters in the Century circuit.

The only drawback to seeing widescreen pictures at the Jersey is that the actual screen space is smaller than for flat pictures, since they don’t widen the screen for the wider ratio but lower the top masking to get the proper view.

Or how about Charlton and Sophia Loren in EL CID? I never actually saw the entire film- only bits and pieces of it on TV many years ago, but it is definately one to see on the big screen.Also Bill Huelbig-remember when ALL the PLANET of the Apes movies all played together in the early 70s? Did you “go ape' back then?I did and even though one and two were the best, it was a great day {literally} at the movies.

Ben Hur was at the Jersey last year but if they could get the Ten Commandments I know I would be there. Instead of “Planet Of The Apes”, how about “The Greatest Show On Earth” which also starred Charlton Heston.

It would be even better if the TEN COMMANDMENTS and BEN HUR played as a double feature! This would probably run for over 9 hours with intermissions, setting up the films and introductions, but I am down for it. Maybe someday.Still,nothing can compare to seeing these epics on a big screen at a great theater.

I’m part of Generation X, born in 1987, and I dislike modern movies and TV.

Growing up in Iowa I listened to Oldies and went to the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids to see old movies, concerts, and plays.

There’s hope for this generation yet…..

To quote Dennis Hopper" If you remember the 60s, you probably weren`t there". I grew up in this era{ late 60s early 70s} and even though lots of lousy things such as Viet Nam, LBJ, the Kennedy and King murders, drugs, Watergate,etc etc happened, this was a Great era that I remember fondly. Put THAT in your I POD and play it!As far as the 80s were concerned, they could never equal the 60s.What all of this has to do with the Jersey, I have no clue, but I AM looking foward to seeing the TEN COMMANDMENTS on the big screen.And yes, I was at the 2-11 screening of The Misfits and it was excellent to see it on the big screen. There was a decent audience, but the threat of snow probably kept a lot of people away. And the grayhound dogs up for adoption were sooooo cute!

I don’t know about that Ron Newman. I wouldn’t just say we’re ‘too old’ to understand what they’re doing. I would love for a really great rock band, for example, to come out of the current youth generation. I know that if it was there I would be listening to it. A good example in the last few years isThe White Stripes. When they came around about 6 or so years ago, one could argue that I was ‘too old’ to understand them. At that point I was just approaching my mid-thirties. But once I found out about them I was an instant fan because they come from a REAL place. I bought their records, went to their shows just like any other ‘kid’

Another example is the 60s/Baby Boom generation. The things that that generation did in terms of popular culture effected EVERYONE. From entertainment to design, etc. the hippie and/or psychedelic ethic was everywhere because it came from a REAL place. People (even those above age 30) were either totally immersed in it (look at something like Laugh-In), or trying very hard to understand it (the WWII genration). It was the subject of documentaries and lengthy articles. It was young people DOING something. I don’t see that happening now. Youth today does nothing earth shattering and will leave behind a weak legacy when they move ahead to their 30s and 40s.

And CC you’re totally right, the 80s, as boring as they could seem sometimes, really were the last stand in terms of true cutting edge. I hate to admit it, but in some ways I wish those days were still around (cue violins).

Oh, boy age and experience….yes, I’d argue that Gen X was the last to experience things that could truly be called cutting edge. I saw this movie with my daughter called “Sky High”. And what was the soundtrack made up of? I couldn’t believe it but it was ALL remakes of 80’s music. Rather than make me feel old, it made me feel proud. I think now that the 80s music (I’m not going to name groups…if you agree with what I’m saying you know who I mean) was the last great stand. Grunge could’ve been something but it got old fast and Nirvana’s demise ended it. Then there was a lull in the mid 90s, a vacuum rather in music that got filled in with (UGH) this popcorn crap (Spears, Lohan, forget it…I don’t even want to talk about that).

But it’s the same with film. I grew up with all the stuff my folks watched and learned from them. I knew all of Jack Benny’s schtick, Crosby, Astaire (with Rogers and without), Gene Kelly. I saw war movies with my Dad and musicals with my Mom (and sometimes Dad). They had no problem taking me to see cutting edge stuff in the 70s. Movie going then was still an experience. Some people say that “Jaws” was the beginning of the end of real movie going but I say WRONG. It was just another in a long line of splendid, wonderful movie experiences for me starting around 1972 and going pretty strong up until around 1995 or 96 or so when things started to really die.

Now? Well it’s all so sad. What do “kids” have now that’s really, really inspiring? During the 60s and 70s we had it all: music, movies, cheap and readily available and maybe 4 or 5 tv stations to watch. It’s easier now to GET information but isn’t it odd that since it’s so easy to get it, it’s just not that good anymore?

Where are the Kubricks, the Lennon-McCartneys, The Eagles, The Fleetwood Macs the _______________ (fill in whatever)…you get the idea.

When a low budget kids movie has to reach back to the 80s for inspiration, you know that things today are a wasteland.

CC I hear you on the ‘time marches on factor’, but just for the reocord I have to say that I’m not jealous of the kids today (I said it again). Usually us aging people are supposed to wish we were younger, I guess alot of people do but I would in no way shape or form want to be a young person today. They don’t know it but their world is significantly more boring than mine was as a kid. In fact I would argue that the kids that grew up when I did, in the 80s & 90s, the so-called ‘Gen-X’ people, really had a good span of time when being young really still meant something. In fact I would say that good old American post war youth culture started with rock and roll in the 50s with Elvis, etc. and from where I’m sitting probably ended somewhere in the 90s. I don’t know how to explain that further, but in a short way but I’ll use the example of living in New York City 20 years ago: coming to New York for me back then meant being as experimental and as crazy as I wanted to be because the resources for being that way in this town were unlimited. And I’m not just talking about partying, I’m talking about real life changing, educational, revelations (and partying), the things that being young are REALLY about. Not being plugged into an iPod 24/7. I see all these kids moving into town now and I just think..what are they doing here? It’s pretty much over for the city at this point. Are they here to hang out it in Williamsburg? Poseur haven of the universe?
Before I get off my soap-box, I’ll just say that youth is a state of mind, and I definitely know that in light of all the things I just said about the current generation of young people, that I am WAAAY younger than they are.