Loew's Jersey Theatre

BobFurmanek on October 20, 2004 at 4:34 pm

Vincent, I’m glad that you enjoyed the Martin and Lewis program. That was typical of the kind of show that I like to do: a rare archival print with unique extras that you can’t see anywhere else. Many people commented on the live performance footage of Dean and Jerry, and how cool it was to see it in comparison with their work on film.

The balcony IS huge – it has just about as many seats as the orchestra section!

VincentParisi on October 20, 2004 at 4:26 pm

So Friends please contact this guy. I love Manchurian Candidate but you don’t need to see it at the Loew’s. It just ain’t a movie palace picture. How about knock-out color 4 track stereo prints of The Music Man and Bye Bye Birdie? Then how about some more Jerry Lewis features? The Artists and Models program was great.
Make us happy. The October programming is as dreary as the weather. People should leave the Loew’s smiling!

Vito on October 20, 2004 at 3:05 pm

What wonderful threads regarding the movies we would all love to see at Loew’s Jersey. There is one horror film no one mentioned for Halloween, “The Thing” made in 1951 by Howard Hawks which still gives me chills. As for “White Christmas” I think I would walk the 30-40 miles from home to the theatre to see that film in all it’s original beauty. I assume as soon as the bookings are ready we will all know what films are coming up.

VincentParisi on October 20, 2004 at 11:30 am

Robert, a beautiful color print of White Christmas is dazzling. I saw it years ago at the Regency in Manhattan and someone I was with said that it was as if she was seeing it for the first time. Those Vistsvision ratios are perfect for the Jersey’s proscenium.

Divinity, a roaring 20’s night at the theater is a great idea. A very early talkie or silent comedy classic, some hot twenties jazz on stage with the women decked out in flapper dresses, and the men in suits(bring a hat!) or tuxes.
A gala night and a way for the Friends to make some nice dough.

BobFurmanek on October 20, 2004 at 11:02 am

Thank you very much Vincent. For the record, here is a timeline on the classic film programming which I presented as Director of Film Programming at Loew’s Jersey.

August, 1992: In an effort to increase public support to save the Loew’s, 16mm programs are presented in the lobby. At this time, the auditorium is in terrible condition and is divided into a tri-plex. The front of the theater is boarded up, and the building is scheduled for demolition (The original 35mm projection booth was stripped of equipment, and left open to the elements. It is basically a pigeon coup.) My initial two events are “Classic Comedy Teams – Teaming Up to Save the Loew’s” and THIS ISLAND EARTH shown in an original 16mm Technicolor print. Response to this presentation is tremendous, and the lobby is filled to capacity. Extra shows are added to accommodate the huge crowds. These film programs are the most successful events presented in the lobby during the fight to save the theater. They draw attention from the media, resulting in coverage in most all area newspapers, including those in New York City. During this time, I also use my industry contacts to bring Jerry Lewis and Leonard Maltin on board to support the “Save the Loew’s” effort. They both write letters in support of the project.

Over the course of the next few years, additional film events are held in the lobby, including an ambitious 35mm presentation of CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON with carbon arc illumination!

February 2, 1993: Loew’s Jersey is saved from demolition thanks to Friends of the Loew’s.

October 20 & 21, 2000: After 7 volunteer years of working to un-divide the auditorium and restore the original projection booth to 35mm and carbon arc capability, we present two free presentations of THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT. (This is shown on the old screen which had to be severely masked off in order to hide graffiti damage when the building sat vacant.) The free shows are a huge success, and give the audience a sneak preview of things to come.

Around this time, I bring in Nick Clooney and American Movie Classics to host an invitation-only event, celebrating the re-opening of the original center aisle. Footage is taken and shown on Nick Clooney’s AMC Coming Attractions show. Classic cartoons and comedy shorts are presented in 35mm, and (as a surprise) a jazz/swing band performs on stage.

December 7 – 9, 2001: In remembrance of the 60th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we present THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO, CASABLANCA and BUCK PRIVATES. The programs also include rare World War 2-era shorts such as Draftee Daffy, Falling Hare, America Sings with Kate Smith and You Nazty Spy.

January 2002: A new full-stage screen is donated by Comcast. We also add a Sony Digital Cinema Processor to the booth which allows us to play 4 track stereo sound (left, center and right on stage with mono surrounds.) On 2/22/02, GLORY is the first film on the new 50 foot screen and is the first stereo film heard in the theater since the 1960’s. That same weekend, as part of Black History Month, we present THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN and MALCOLM X.

April 5 – 7 2002 – The first annual comedy weekend. We present RAISING ARIZONA; A Salute to Laurel and Hardy featuring WAY OUT WEST, the East Coast premiere of a newly restored Technicolor trailer to THE ROGUE SONG, and a Hearst Metrotone newsreel not shown in nearly 70 years. Saturday night we present an archival dye-transfer Technicolor print of IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD, complete with overture, intermission and police radio calls. (The lines wrap around Journal Square for this show, and we bring in over 600 admissions!) On Sunday, 4/7, we present the 50th anniversary of the New Jersey premiere of Abbott and Costello’s JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, shown in a pristine archival SuperCineColor print. Members of Costello’s family attend, and rare shorts/cartoons are included in the program.

April 20, 2002: The 90th anniversary of the Titanic includes a screening of the seldom shown A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, and James Cameron’s TITANIC. Special guests include Charles A. Haas & John P. Eaton, authors of Titanic: A Journey through Time; Titanic: Triumph & Tragedy; and Titanic: Destination Disaster. Many rare artifacts are displayed in the lobby.

April 26 & 27, 2002: Our first Science-Fiction weekend includes CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND; a classic double-feature Kiddie Matinee of THE BRAIN FROM PLANET AROUS with DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS – presented in dye-transfer Technicolor. The highlight of the weekend is a pristine print of FORBIDDEN PLANET, shown for the first time since 1956 in its original 3 channel Perspecta Stereophonic Sound. Rare Perspecta shorts include an MGM Symphony and Tom and Jerry cartoon, plus a Perspecta demo film. Special guests include the family of Robert Fine, the man who developed Perspecta for MGM in 1954. Rare posters and collectibles are on display in the lobby, and more lines wrap around the block for this unique event. Over 700 people attend this presentation.

May 3 & 4, 2002: The final event of the first “official” classic film season is a James Bond weekend, with more archival dye-transfer Technicolor prints of GOLDFINGER; ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE and DR. NO. Also, loads of rare trailers, production shorts and TV spots are shown between films.

October 25 & 26, 2002: Our second film season opens with a Halloween Spooktacular Weekend. Horror classics KING KONG and FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN are shown in brand new prints, GHOSTBUSTERS is presented as a Saturday matinee, and HORROR OF DRACULA is screened in yet another rare archival Technicolor print. Rare shorts include BOO MOON and THE GREAT PIGGY BANK ROBBERY.

November 22 – 24, 2002: Great Teams are saluted with brand new restored prints of the Sherlock Holmes classics THE SCARLET CLAW with THE PEARL OF DEATH, courtesy of the UCLA Film Archive. Laurel and Hardy return with BABES IN TOYLAND, the only 16mm print shown while I was involved. (The only available 35mm print was an edited re-issue, and I felt it was more important to present the original un-cut version. Surprisingly, the 16mm looks very good on the big screen with xenon illumination.) The highlight of this weekend is the proclamation by Governor James E. McGreevey of Martin and Lewis Weekend throughout the State of New Jersey. We present an archival Technicolor print of ARTISTS AND MODELS, plus rare Martin and Lewis performance footage in 35mm newsreels and 16mm TV kinescopes.

January 31 – February 1, 2003: Alfred Hitchcock is saluted with PSYCHO, SABOTEUR and yet another archival Technicolor print – THE BIRDS.

February 28 – March 1, 2003: Chivalry returns to Journal Square with MGM’s first CinemaScope feature KNIGHTS OF THE ROUNDTABLE; IVANHOE and another Technicolor print – THE VIKINGS.

March 29 & 30, 2003: The second annual Classic Comedy Weekend includes: SONS OF THE DESERT, A NIGHT AT THE OPERA, ROAD TO MOROCCO, THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS (in Technicolor) plus rare shorts including THREE LITTLE BEERS, A-PLUMBING WE WILL GO, BRIDELESS GROOM and MUSH AND MILK.

APRIL 26 & 27, 2003: “The Many Faces of Frankenstein” includes the re-premiere of Thomas Edison’s long-lost 1910 FRANKENSTEIN; Boris Karloff’s 1931 FRANKENSTEIN; the 1958 Hammer classic REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN (in Technicolor) and Mel Brooks' YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. Shorts include THIRD-DIMENSIONAL MURDER, and ultra-rare 35MM trailers of many Universal Horror Frankenstein classics. This special event was co-sponsored by the Fort Lee Film Commission.

These are the programs which I brought to the Loew’s Jersey during my tenure as Director of Film Programming. All films were 35mm and were presented in their original theatrical aspect ratios, from 1.37 to 2.35. Through my connections with the UCLA Film Archive; the Lobby of Congress as well as private film collectors, many rare archival prints were presented. The original dye-transfer Technicolor prints looked magnificent with carbon arc illumination, replicating the way these great films were shown in their original theatrical release. I always felt the classic Movie Palace Experience should be replicated, with rare shorts, trailers and cartoons as part of each show. In addition, each program also included loads of unique posters and collectibles on display in the Grand Lobby.

None of this would have happened without the invaluable contributions of Bob Eberenz and Steve Levy. They secured the equipment and restored the 35mm capability to this great theater. Mr. Eberenz in particular has worked hundreds of volunteer hours on this project. Classic film fans in the New York area should be very grateful for their volunteer efforts.

In closing, I’m very proud of my contributions to saving and restoring the film capability to the Loew’s Jersey.

Bob Furmanek

Divinity on October 20, 2004 at 9:48 am

I do agree about the Haunting being an approrriate film to play not only because it is an MGM but because the manor in the film is just as wonderful to look at as the theater is. The Loews Jersey should host a gala event next year. The theme should be a “Haunted Palace” equipped with performing artists dressed as statues where they once were. As well as A costume contest and dancing. Perhaps one of those trendy video mixers could volunteer and provide something on the screen so that there would be no video rental fee. A few of us could wear decadent costumes to create ambience. Mabye period costumes from the roaring twenties? This event would raise alot of money and interest many.
If anyone is interested I am an expert at both party planning and partying.

porterfaulkner on October 19, 2004 at 5:55 pm

Congratulations, Loew’s Jersey City. Its all yours now so run with it! Great good wishes for the future of this most majestic of movie palaces.

VincentParisi on October 19, 2004 at 5:37 pm

Very wonderful news. Just hope they schedule films more suitable to a movie palace. Lately the programs have been more Film Forum retrospective and less Loews MGM. Anybody have any comments on this? Sorry for looking a gift horse in the mouth after all these guys have been through and the great work they have done. But Night of the Living Dead for a Saturday evening on the Halloween weekend just ain’t a family audience friendly film. Leave it to places like the Angelica and Cinema Village. Hope they’ve got a pristine print of White Christmas lined up for the holidays.

DougDouglass on October 18, 2004 at 7:10 am

Saturday’s Jersey Journal reports Acting Mayor L. Harvey Smith has signed a five-year agreement with Friends Of Loew’s to operate the theatre.

DougDouglass on October 13, 2004 at 4:48 am

The proposal before the City Council scheduled for tonight (October 13) has been postponed. It may be on the agenda at the October 27 meeting. Will keep you posted.

DougDouglass on October 7, 2004 at 10:33 am

There will be a meeting of the City Council at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, October 13 at City Hall, 280 Grove Street – two blocks west of the PATH station. Smith’s plan to transfer the theatre to the Redevelopment Authority will go through unless the council is convinced otherwise.

porterfaulkner on October 5, 2004 at 2:44 pm

Bob; you say that platter systems are not acceptable for running vintage or rare prints. I’d be interested to hear why not. Is the modern stock more hard wearing or is it that the film companies want a projectionist to be present just in case of mishap?