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??
Very true RCDTJ. My wife says when she leaves her shift everyday, she says the crowds waiting to get into the hall have been crazy. She says you cant move on 6th ave. Shes on the morning crew of setdressers and she says even those 9:00 AM shows are doing very well.
I guess this is kind of a stupid question, but since Redstone has a patent on Multiplex, I guess once Rave takes over the name of this theatre will be changing to maybe Hazlet 12-plex or something like that. The same I guess for all the theatres involved in the sale.
Will do Vito. And I already got my answer from the article posted on Cinema Treasures last week. Someone listed all the theatres that were sold. Its a real shame to see whats happening to that company. I really miss those old days at the Amboys. Have a nice holiday.
Oh and Vito, I saw Carl about a month ago. He services where I now work. He looks good. His daughter just got married. He looks very relaxed, away from the daily routine he did for so many years.
Hi Vito, how are you. Mark here, from Amboys and White Plains. A friend of mine told me just a few days ago that Rave Motion Pictures Theatres?? has purchased Hazlet and they are taking it over as of this Friday, the 18th. Do you know about this, and what other N/A theatres might have been sold?? Also, you and Meredith (whom I never met) have a great holiday season.
And up til the mid 70’s they actually would run the same double feature at the drive-in and the indoor and just start them an hour apart, using 1 print of film.
We had 2 of these in New Jersey, the Plainfield-Edison, and the Turnpike. The original buildings had 1 projection room with the dual projectors almost back to back of each other. After they twinned both buildings, a seperate third booth was added downstairs.
Thank You so much, RCDTJ. As a projectionist for the past 33 years it was great to see that booth. And I know you made my friend Vito’s day as well. I wish someday I could actually see it in person. I know what you mean about countless other stagehands. My wife is one of the many wardrobe set dressers who work on the Christmas Show. Keep up the great work that you do.
Just as movies will probably never be shown again, so too will we never see the professional spotlight operators either. I know its progress, but just as I hate platters, and prefer reel-to-reel,some things just change, and not for the better.
tisloews, you have to forgive Justin. He thinks everything Digital and Imax-lite is the greatest thing since sliced bread. He wasn’t around as a kid watching his father work in a true movie palace, doing real showmanship, something that ALL of todays theatres lack. But I will give him credit, he goes to the movies every week, so thats saying something.
longislandmovies might be right now, but the P-35’s I ran in the mid and late 80’s were pure junk. Noisey, unsteady picture, I was glad to see them go.
I dont know of anyone who has had a better expeirience going to the movies just because of ads. Just another case of ‘show me the money.’ Another hold out bites the dust.
YES !!! I wish them all the best. I hope the same thing someday happens here in Elizabeth New Jersey to the Ritz Theatre. 2760 seats just waiting to be filled again. All these old grand palaces must be saved and restored.
I remember in the 80’s, that the owner of the adult movie theatre I worked at in New Jersey, also owned (or leased) the Earle, the Polk, and also the Globe in the Bronx, as well as a few others. (Cinema Kings Highway, and Mayfair? come to mind) I hope these two can be saved from the fate that the Polk recently saw.
I certainly must say, outafocus has hit the nail right on the head. As a projectionist for the past 34 years, I have worked for both independants and major chains alike. I hate what the business is today, even compared to just 25 years ago. The indy owner I work for now, a very decent gentlemen, still is like everyone else. He says he has to do it to stay afloat. If the theatre 3 towns over raises prices, he has too, if they run a movie on 2 or 3 screens, we run it on 2 or 3 screens. And if I ever do mention how I would love to be involved with an old theatre showing movies reel to reel with maybe even carbon arcs, I get a look like what planet are you on. Its just the sad truth , but society doesnt know the difference, and doesnt even care.
Awesome work on the research. And how I pine for the day to see this on the big screen in a true movie palace again, perhaps with me as the projectionist.
I’m interested to know who is doing your film projection? Not many of us left who know your equipment, if it is the same equipment that was there in 1983.
No news yet?? I saw the other day someone posted photos of the old Fabian. It now looks to be in worse shape than the Kings in Brooklyn. Most of the seats have been stripped out.
The multiplex that National had here in New Jersey was reel-to-reel thru several additions, starting with the original 6-plex up till it was a 10 screener. When it went to 12, then platters were installed. Use to run one print in 2 houses starting every hour. THAT was fun.
This is great news LuisV. I do hope the Kings is next. Now if only a management company or some group would buy the Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth N.J. (for sale $3.8 million), then another treasure could start doing shows, concerts, classic films etc.
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??
Very true RCDTJ. My wife says when she leaves her shift everyday, she says the crowds waiting to get into the hall have been crazy. She says you cant move on 6th ave. Shes on the morning crew of setdressers and she says even those 9:00 AM shows are doing very well.
I guess this is kind of a stupid question, but since Redstone has a patent on Multiplex, I guess once Rave takes over the name of this theatre will be changing to maybe Hazlet 12-plex or something like that. The same I guess for all the theatres involved in the sale.
So I’m guessing its another winter of whats left of the interior is exposed to the weather ?
Will do Vito. And I already got my answer from the article posted on Cinema Treasures last week. Someone listed all the theatres that were sold. Its a real shame to see whats happening to that company. I really miss those old days at the Amboys. Have a nice holiday.
Oh and Vito, I saw Carl about a month ago. He services where I now work. He looks good. His daughter just got married. He looks very relaxed, away from the daily routine he did for so many years.
Hi Vito, how are you. Mark here, from Amboys and White Plains. A friend of mine told me just a few days ago that Rave Motion Pictures Theatres?? has purchased Hazlet and they are taking it over as of this Friday, the 18th. Do you know about this, and what other N/A theatres might have been sold?? Also, you and Meredith (whom I never met) have a great holiday season.
And up til the mid 70’s they actually would run the same double feature at the drive-in and the indoor and just start them an hour apart, using 1 print of film.
We had 2 of these in New Jersey, the Plainfield-Edison, and the Turnpike. The original buildings had 1 projection room with the dual projectors almost back to back of each other. After they twinned both buildings, a seperate third booth was added downstairs.
Thank You so much, RCDTJ. As a projectionist for the past 33 years it was great to see that booth. And I know you made my friend Vito’s day as well. I wish someday I could actually see it in person. I know what you mean about countless other stagehands. My wife is one of the many wardrobe set dressers who work on the Christmas Show. Keep up the great work that you do.
Just as movies will probably never be shown again, so too will we never see the professional spotlight operators either. I know its progress, but just as I hate platters, and prefer reel-to-reel,some things just change, and not for the better.
tisloews, you have to forgive Justin. He thinks everything Digital and Imax-lite is the greatest thing since sliced bread. He wasn’t around as a kid watching his father work in a true movie palace, doing real showmanship, something that ALL of todays theatres lack. But I will give him credit, he goes to the movies every week, so thats saying something.
longislandmovies might be right now, but the P-35’s I ran in the mid and late 80’s were pure junk. Noisey, unsteady picture, I was glad to see them go.
I dont know of anyone who has had a better expeirience going to the movies just because of ads. Just another case of ‘show me the money.’ Another hold out bites the dust.
YES !!! I wish them all the best. I hope the same thing someday happens here in Elizabeth New Jersey to the Ritz Theatre. 2760 seats just waiting to be filled again. All these old grand palaces must be saved and restored.
You have echoed my exact thoughts Ian M. Judge.
I remember in the 80’s, that the owner of the adult movie theatre I worked at in New Jersey, also owned (or leased) the Earle, the Polk, and also the Globe in the Bronx, as well as a few others. (Cinema Kings Highway, and Mayfair? come to mind) I hope these two can be saved from the fate that the Polk recently saw.
I certainly must say, outafocus has hit the nail right on the head. As a projectionist for the past 34 years, I have worked for both independants and major chains alike. I hate what the business is today, even compared to just 25 years ago. The indy owner I work for now, a very decent gentlemen, still is like everyone else. He says he has to do it to stay afloat. If the theatre 3 towns over raises prices, he has too, if they run a movie on 2 or 3 screens, we run it on 2 or 3 screens. And if I ever do mention how I would love to be involved with an old theatre showing movies reel to reel with maybe even carbon arcs, I get a look like what planet are you on. Its just the sad truth , but society doesnt know the difference, and doesnt even care.
In all the theatres I’ve worked at Real D and Imax always charge a premium.
Awesome work on the research. And how I pine for the day to see this on the big screen in a true movie palace again, perhaps with me as the projectionist.
I’m interested to know who is doing your film projection? Not many of us left who know your equipment, if it is the same equipment that was there in 1983.
No news yet?? I saw the other day someone posted photos of the old Fabian. It now looks to be in worse shape than the Kings in Brooklyn. Most of the seats have been stripped out.
The multiplex that National had here in New Jersey was reel-to-reel thru several additions, starting with the original 6-plex up till it was a 10 screener. When it went to 12, then platters were installed. Use to run one print in 2 houses starting every hour. THAT was fun.
This is great news LuisV. I do hope the Kings is next. Now if only a management company or some group would buy the Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth N.J. (for sale $3.8 million), then another treasure could start doing shows, concerts, classic films etc.