LuisV, I know you go around a lot and seem to be able to find out info on a lot of theatres. If you are ever in Elizabeth N.J. can you try to find out what is going on with the Ritz Theatre. I was going there for about 3 years up till the end of 2008 when I had a serious car accident. I have lost all my contacts and work prohibits me any time to go there. This is another 2760 seat beauty that has been completely restored. And I am so glad that after 30+ years the Kings day has finally come.
I started working in a porn theatre, the Sayrewoods Theatre in Old Bridge N.J. in 1979. It was carbon arc and 20 minute reels. Around 1984 we converted to Xenon and 6000 foot reels. We threw our picture 105 ffet to a 50 foot wide Flat image. That picture was blazing with both carbons and Xenon. The owner was particular about the condition of the place. It was very clean, no sticky floors or torn or broken seats. About the biggest problem was the smoking that went on. After a 12 hour day it was almost impossible to see the screen to make a changeover. I stayed there until 1989, about a year before the place closed cause it was in the way of a highway expansion. To this day it is still one of the best places I ever worked as a projectionist. And I have been one now for 34 years.
I read this article when it first appeared 2 weeks ago. It hits home with me, being an IA projectionist for almost 34 years now. I remember actually running a gringhouse with the double features etc. I work in what I guess you consider a sort of casual revival house, as they do films (and unfortunately DVD) movies every winter for about 9 weeks. Its so great seeing those old movies, and running them the way they were 40 or 50 years ago. I’m also so tired of people telling me film is dead and digital is the new thing. While I’m sure this digital 3D thing is going to stick, although I’m still not a fan, I just cant see every single theatre in america converting over and spending the money.
And MPol, you have at least one up on me. I do own a DVD player, only because my 150 or so movies and stuff on VHS will become unplayable someday, but I do not own an HD tv. In fact our main tv is a 40 year old console in our living room. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I’m sure knowing Frank Theatres, they will hire the best lawyers money can buy, and eventually this beautiful theatee will be demolished, although I personally hope not. I was in it many years ago, probably early-mid 90’s and it was beautiful.
As I stated earlier, 70MM and 6-track mag sound, if put up against all of todays digital crap would kick its butt. Why do you think so many people on this forum pine for the return of that format. That was the true movie going expierience.
And I hope you wont mind Micheal Coate, but when you do post your anniversary piece, I will probably post the same comment as I did above. You know why they cant wait to post an anniversary piece?? Because nothing they make today is worthy of an anniversary.
I remember this well. The long lines day after day, and of course that beautiful 70MM film purring thru those Century JJ2 projectors. THAT was moviegoing, not all this digital 3D crap we have today. Those mag tracks on that 70MM had sound that could go up against any of todays digital sound, and probably beat it out.
If was like the one I just described, then it probably had 300 seats in each cinema. That was JLC’s trademark. 350 seats in a single screen, 300 seats each in a twin.
The above intro timeline sounds very much like the Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema my dad worked at in Carteret N.J. That one opened on June 7, 1972 and closed late in 1984. Its name was never changed, even thought the parent company, Network Cinema Corporation had folded up shop in early ‘74. Ours was also in 2 colors, cinema 1 was blue, cinema 2 was red, and the lobby was split with the candy stand. No way for the public to cross over. It was where I really got involved with the industry. Lots of fun times.
Once again, I will repeat for the hundreth time. Who cares. Always have been and ALWAYS will be a FILM man. 35, 70, IMAX (not that digital crap). I am not and never will be on the digital bandwagon, even though I do run 3 of them at my current job.
It has been fun for me to post comments on all the sites of theatres where my deceased father worked, and I hung out as a kid, and now at all the theatres I have worked at. I hope to someday own a copy of the book if it ever comes back in print. Please Ross, let us know as soon as this happens, if it ever does. And keep up the good work.
Oh, and just to add, it was for 3 screens, and he said the new model cannot interchange with the old model, meaning that if something goes wrong with his, he will have to buy all new.
Thank you and Happy New Year timoneill. One of my biggest problems is this. The theatre I work at, where the owner (an independant) spent upwards of $450,000.00 in March ‘09 to put in this crap, then tells me last week, they already stopped making it and are making a different model and version. As he stated to me, his film projectors have been around forever, with only the occasional gear going bad. Maybe the only thing that changed was the color of the paint. He hasn’t even had this stuff for 1 year, and already changes. Maybe the film companies will save money. But the theatres sure won’t.
Well, for me personally, 2 that were on the list, “United 93” because it happened not far from some family of ours, and “Finding Nemo.” One that was not on the list, but I found to be very good was “Cars.”
I’m only guessing here, and I have only been running digital for about 8 months, but on our projectors, if someone pushes the wrong format button at the start of the day,it will project the image in that format, while looking normal. By that I mean a scope movie will look normal in the flat format, but you will have the projected side masking on the image, in other words, your not seeing the entire frame. I expeirienced this with the disney movie “up”. This is what could have happened here.
Good luck to you. A lot of newspapers dont do individual ads anymore, so your best bet would be to try a small regional chain, or an independant. I know as a projectionist for 33 ½ years, a lot has changed. Perhaps hooking up with a studio would be a place to try also. Let us know how you make out.
Wow does that bring back memories. Its so hard to believe its been 30 years. And the weather in New Jersey was just as crappy that night. I was working crowd control OUTSIDE at the now demolished Menlo Park Twin Cinema in Edison N.J.
I do remember that conversation very well. Unfortunately, my back had other plans for me, and early in 2005, I was diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease (pardon my spelling) and now I can not do a lot of heavy lifting anymore. The theatre I work at do not move a lot of prints, when they do, I have help, and I don’t work thursdays. Its a very painful thing, and I never know when my back will just give out. Its even painful to get in and out of the car. Just to thread up is a chore sometimes. But this is the hand I was dealt, and I forge ahead. Whatever my maker has in store for me, I accept. Don’t you wish sometimes you could just go back 20 or 30 years, when life was so much simpler??
LuisV, I know you go around a lot and seem to be able to find out info on a lot of theatres. If you are ever in Elizabeth N.J. can you try to find out what is going on with the Ritz Theatre. I was going there for about 3 years up till the end of 2008 when I had a serious car accident. I have lost all my contacts and work prohibits me any time to go there. This is another 2760 seat beauty that has been completely restored. And I am so glad that after 30+ years the Kings day has finally come.
I started working in a porn theatre, the Sayrewoods Theatre in Old Bridge N.J. in 1979. It was carbon arc and 20 minute reels. Around 1984 we converted to Xenon and 6000 foot reels. We threw our picture 105 ffet to a 50 foot wide Flat image. That picture was blazing with both carbons and Xenon. The owner was particular about the condition of the place. It was very clean, no sticky floors or torn or broken seats. About the biggest problem was the smoking that went on. After a 12 hour day it was almost impossible to see the screen to make a changeover. I stayed there until 1989, about a year before the place closed cause it was in the way of a highway expansion. To this day it is still one of the best places I ever worked as a projectionist. And I have been one now for 34 years.
Yet another one bites the dust. When will it end ???
I read this article when it first appeared 2 weeks ago. It hits home with me, being an IA projectionist for almost 34 years now. I remember actually running a gringhouse with the double features etc. I work in what I guess you consider a sort of casual revival house, as they do films (and unfortunately DVD) movies every winter for about 9 weeks. Its so great seeing those old movies, and running them the way they were 40 or 50 years ago. I’m also so tired of people telling me film is dead and digital is the new thing. While I’m sure this digital 3D thing is going to stick, although I’m still not a fan, I just cant see every single theatre in america converting over and spending the money.
And MPol, you have at least one up on me. I do own a DVD player, only because my 150 or so movies and stuff on VHS will become unplayable someday, but I do not own an HD tv. In fact our main tv is a 40 year old console in our living room. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I’m sure knowing Frank Theatres, they will hire the best lawyers money can buy, and eventually this beautiful theatee will be demolished, although I personally hope not. I was in it many years ago, probably early-mid 90’s and it was beautiful.
What a sin it would be if this theatre is allowed to be demolished.
Nice Vito. Wish I could see the place too. There aren’t too many of these old palaces left to enjoy.
As I stated earlier, 70MM and 6-track mag sound, if put up against all of todays digital crap would kick its butt. Why do you think so many people on this forum pine for the return of that format. That was the true movie going expierience.
Yes.
And I hope you wont mind Micheal Coate, but when you do post your anniversary piece, I will probably post the same comment as I did above. You know why they cant wait to post an anniversary piece?? Because nothing they make today is worthy of an anniversary.
I remember this well. The long lines day after day, and of course that beautiful 70MM film purring thru those Century JJ2 projectors. THAT was moviegoing, not all this digital 3D crap we have today. Those mag tracks on that 70MM had sound that could go up against any of todays digital sound, and probably beat it out.
If was like the one I just described, then it probably had 300 seats in each cinema. That was JLC’s trademark. 350 seats in a single screen, 300 seats each in a twin.
The above intro timeline sounds very much like the Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema my dad worked at in Carteret N.J. That one opened on June 7, 1972 and closed late in 1984. Its name was never changed, even thought the parent company, Network Cinema Corporation had folded up shop in early ‘74. Ours was also in 2 colors, cinema 1 was blue, cinema 2 was red, and the lobby was split with the candy stand. No way for the public to cross over. It was where I really got involved with the industry. Lots of fun times.
Once again, I will repeat for the hundreth time. Who cares. Always have been and ALWAYS will be a FILM man. 35, 70, IMAX (not that digital crap). I am not and never will be on the digital bandwagon, even though I do run 3 of them at my current job.
It has been fun for me to post comments on all the sites of theatres where my deceased father worked, and I hung out as a kid, and now at all the theatres I have worked at. I hope to someday own a copy of the book if it ever comes back in print. Please Ross, let us know as soon as this happens, if it ever does. And keep up the good work.
Oh, and just to add, it was for 3 screens, and he said the new model cannot interchange with the old model, meaning that if something goes wrong with his, he will have to buy all new.
Thank you and Happy New Year timoneill. One of my biggest problems is this. The theatre I work at, where the owner (an independant) spent upwards of $450,000.00 in March ‘09 to put in this crap, then tells me last week, they already stopped making it and are making a different model and version. As he stated to me, his film projectors have been around forever, with only the occasional gear going bad. Maybe the only thing that changed was the color of the paint. He hasn’t even had this stuff for 1 year, and already changes. Maybe the film companies will save money. But the theatres sure won’t.
I could care less. No offense, but I always have been, and always will be a FILM man, and have no interest in this digital 3-D crap.
Well, for me personally, 2 that were on the list, “United 93” because it happened not far from some family of ours, and “Finding Nemo.” One that was not on the list, but I found to be very good was “Cars.”
It is the same Moss. And Rave is a part of Bowtie, and will be run as a seperate division.
I’m only guessing here, and I have only been running digital for about 8 months, but on our projectors, if someone pushes the wrong format button at the start of the day,it will project the image in that format, while looking normal. By that I mean a scope movie will look normal in the flat format, but you will have the projected side masking on the image, in other words, your not seeing the entire frame. I expeirienced this with the disney movie “up”. This is what could have happened here.
WOW!!! Would just love to watch something like “Ben-Hur” or “Doctor Zhivago” in Scope on that screen.
Good luck to you. A lot of newspapers dont do individual ads anymore, so your best bet would be to try a small regional chain, or an independant. I know as a projectionist for 33 ½ years, a lot has changed. Perhaps hooking up with a studio would be a place to try also. Let us know how you make out.
Wow does that bring back memories. Its so hard to believe its been 30 years. And the weather in New Jersey was just as crappy that night. I was working crowd control OUTSIDE at the now demolished Menlo Park Twin Cinema in Edison N.J.
I do remember that conversation very well. Unfortunately, my back had other plans for me, and early in 2005, I was diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease (pardon my spelling) and now I can not do a lot of heavy lifting anymore. The theatre I work at do not move a lot of prints, when they do, I have help, and I don’t work thursdays. Its a very painful thing, and I never know when my back will just give out. Its even painful to get in and out of the car. Just to thread up is a chore sometimes. But this is the hand I was dealt, and I forge ahead. Whatever my maker has in store for me, I accept. Don’t you wish sometimes you could just go back 20 or 30 years, when life was so much simpler??