The Forum Theatre in Metuchen New Jersey is being renovated as we speak. The Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth New Jersey has been renovated and I understand is now for sale. Both are listed here on CT.
Good Luck. This is great to read about. AND they are adding a screen. So much for all the talk about drive-ins being dead in the water. We need more like this.
This is how a lot of the independants in the New York Northern New Jersey area got into the business in the first place. Put your money down, and Network Cinema Corporation, the company overseeing the franchises guided you along. The problem was Network took the money, expanded things too fast and poof!! by 1974 they were history. Then the mom and pops were free to rename the theatres whatever they wanted.
Drove by today, and I can now offically say, that this no longer looks anything like a movie theatre. A classy building when it opened in 1964, that stayed that way, even after twinning, is now a mish-mosh of plaster, stone, windows, all jammed together. Its going to be a bunch of little resturants and shops. All I can say is it looks like crap.
An article in todays Star-Ledger talks of the theatres reopening. They are doing a childrens show in June. It also speaks of them wanting to run films again. I wonder who they will get to do the old carbon arcs and change-overs? I’m one of the few, if not the only person left in this area who knows how to do that. And I did work in this venue prior to the current owners.
Don’t get me wrong longislandmovies, I hope the summer will be big as well, since I work for an independant theatre owner. All I’m saying is that in the 70’s when I started, movies would run ALL summer, now they come out, and for the most part one, two weeks and it off to the next flavor of the month. I just don’t care for todays movie business, that’s all. Give me the old days.
Hey Justin, FYI, I run digital where I work, along with 35MM. There is NO art to running digital. Its a computer and all you do is push a button. Any idiot can do that. I want to see someone make reel-toreel changeovers like I use to. THAT"S an art.
I want to see this. Like they are really going to save one of the movie theatres screens, RIGHT. Just what the area needs, another hotel. Screw the hotel, save the theatre!!!!
Here in New Jersey, we had several Jerry Lewis Cinemas. One was a twin, where my father was a projectionist, that seated 300 in each theatre. This was in Carteret. The others were all single screens, in Hillsborough, Union, Freehold, and Kinnelon. All were opened between 1970 and 1972. And as was stated above on Aug 11, 2007, that was the basic policy of these theatres.
To MBD from March 25, 2009, at least when I’m there they get a great presentation. Thats what 34 years or expierience will get you.
On another note, I was just informed that the last movie “Pretty in Pink” will now be a DVD. Why dont they just call it a DVD festival and be done with it.
In todays Star Ledger, there is an article about a gentleman who purchased this theatre for 2 million dollars and wants to bring it back to its former glory. He said however that he is not against putting all retail in it if his plans for a theatre fall through.
Tonight, Thursday at 10pm on MSG Network, there is a 1 hour special on the restoration of this beauty. Should make for interesting viewing. I’ll be watching.
3D, Digital projection, motion seats. Why dont we just build a freakin amusement park in the lobby. Movies are getting so far away from what they use to be, its making people like me just want to stay home.
You just watch. I keep telling people this whole 3D thing is going to be a flash-in-the-pan. Already the cost of glasses is an issue. It wont stop there, trust me. Give me that old reliable 35mm (or 70MM) anytime. (Man I’m getting tired of having to repeat that)
The Forum Theatre in Metuchen New Jersey is being renovated as we speak. The Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth New Jersey has been renovated and I understand is now for sale. Both are listed here on CT.
Good Luck. This is great to read about. AND they are adding a screen. So much for all the talk about drive-ins being dead in the water. We need more like this.
What a shame. The once mighty empire is slowly being desolved.
Tonight at 7:30 ‘American Graffitti’ in Cinemascope on the giant screen. I’ll be the projectionist.
This is how a lot of the independants in the New York Northern New Jersey area got into the business in the first place. Put your money down, and Network Cinema Corporation, the company overseeing the franchises guided you along. The problem was Network took the money, expanded things too fast and poof!! by 1974 they were history. Then the mom and pops were free to rename the theatres whatever they wanted.
Just gonna be more theatres that AMC will screw up.
Drove by today, and I can now offically say, that this no longer looks anything like a movie theatre. A classy building when it opened in 1964, that stayed that way, even after twinning, is now a mish-mosh of plaster, stone, windows, all jammed together. Its going to be a bunch of little resturants and shops. All I can say is it looks like crap.
Many, many times, Marilyn Chambers would grace the giant screen. RIP Marilyn, you will be missed.
An article in todays Star-Ledger talks of the theatres reopening. They are doing a childrens show in June. It also speaks of them wanting to run films again. I wonder who they will get to do the old carbon arcs and change-overs? I’m one of the few, if not the only person left in this area who knows how to do that. And I did work in this venue prior to the current owners.
Don’t get me wrong longislandmovies, I hope the summer will be big as well, since I work for an independant theatre owner. All I’m saying is that in the 70’s when I started, movies would run ALL summer, now they come out, and for the most part one, two weeks and it off to the next flavor of the month. I just don’t care for todays movie business, that’s all. Give me the old days.
Oh yeah, Summer, when the action heats up. The season of one week, maybe 2, and done. Some action.
Hey Justin, FYI, I run digital where I work, along with 35MM. There is NO art to running digital. Its a computer and all you do is push a button. Any idiot can do that. I want to see someone make reel-toreel changeovers like I use to. THAT"S an art.
I want to see this. Like they are really going to save one of the movie theatres screens, RIGHT. Just what the area needs, another hotel. Screw the hotel, save the theatre!!!!
Here in New Jersey, we had several Jerry Lewis Cinemas. One was a twin, where my father was a projectionist, that seated 300 in each theatre. This was in Carteret. The others were all single screens, in Hillsborough, Union, Freehold, and Kinnelon. All were opened between 1970 and 1972. And as was stated above on Aug 11, 2007, that was the basic policy of these theatres.
You got that right MPol.
To MBD from March 25, 2009, at least when I’m there they get a great presentation. Thats what 34 years or expierience will get you.
On another note, I was just informed that the last movie “Pretty in Pink” will now be a DVD. Why dont they just call it a DVD festival and be done with it.
Sweet!!! We need many more, many more. Espescially up here in the northeast.
In todays Star Ledger, there is an article about a gentleman who purchased this theatre for 2 million dollars and wants to bring it back to its former glory. He said however that he is not against putting all retail in it if his plans for a theatre fall through.
It shows him standing under the marquee.
Tonight, Thursday at 10pm on MSG Network, there is a 1 hour special on the restoration of this beauty. Should make for interesting viewing. I’ll be watching.
3D, Digital projection, motion seats. Why dont we just build a freakin amusement park in the lobby. Movies are getting so far away from what they use to be, its making people like me just want to stay home.
This is a shame. Its too bad it couldn’t have been saved like the Ritz in Elizabeth.
We need more people like this. Bring back the drive-in!!!
You just watch. I keep telling people this whole 3D thing is going to be a flash-in-the-pan. Already the cost of glasses is an issue. It wont stop there, trust me. Give me that old reliable 35mm (or 70MM) anytime. (Man I’m getting tired of having to repeat that)
This theatre did great business with mainstream movies when I was the projectionist between 1980 to 1983, prior to it being sold.
Slowly crumbling…