Hi Bob, congrats on being the 1000th comment for the Loews Jersey. On a seperate note, a mutual friend of ours, Bernie A. told me the horror stories you guys had when work first started years ago. I can relate. I remember the first time I walked into the projection room at the Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth N.J. Dead birds, junk, etc. I worked for months cleaning it up. Now the place is for sale, but the booth isnt finished. It makes me sick when I read of how all these old palaces are treated and let to rot.
Hey CyNdI, in addition to that 2800 seat beauty I told you about in Elizabeth N.J., about 25 miles south of there is a 500 seater in Metuchen N.J. that also sits unused. I really hope something happens with one or both. I worked in both many years ago, and live locally to both, and willing to help get em up and running again.
You hit the nail right on the head LuisV. Too bad more theatres were not saved the same way. Thats why I’m glad to here at least something is trying to be done to the Kings in Brooklyn, (a real treasure) as well as the Ritz in Elizabeth N.J. The Empire, along with all those other old grindhouses were special, even if they were run down.
The phone number to the theatre is 908-351-7575. It is located at 1148 East Jersey Street Elizabeth N.J. The man who was my contact no longer works there, but I,m sure someone can help you. Supposedly there is a myspace page for it also. Myspace.com Ritz Theatre Elizabeth. I hope you succeed. I have visiomned this place as a showplace for plays, movies and concerts since I first stepped back into it 3 years ago.
Hey CyNdi, regarding the Ritz in Elizabeth, I am a projectionist of 33 years as well as a stagehand. A bunch of us would love to see this place up and running again. It is in the center of downtown, and has a multi-story parking deck right next door to the theatre.
I would love to see those old classics Peter. I had visions of showing these at the Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth, N.J. but it is now for sale, after undergoing major renovations. If it is sold to a concert or broadway show producer, it will almost certainly never show movies again.
The Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth New Jersey is up for sale after undergoing major renovations. I know the projection room needs minor work, and the stage house is ready to support some road shows, concerts, plays etc.
It is surprising that this one made it to the 90’s. Our’s here in Carteret New Jersey only made it to 1984. They were cheesey theatres, but man did I love watching movies there when my dad was a projectionist.
I too remember Wednesday openings when I first became a projectionist 33 years ago. As a kid, I remember in the summer going with my dad and he would run the last show onto the “shipping reels” and into the can they went. 5 minutes after the last show ended, we were done. That was considered a “busy” Tuesday night. Not like today with platters and multiplexes getting multiple prints etc.
Recently, the buzz around town is that possibly this place could reopen as a community playhouse, or even a performing arts center. It will need a lot of work.
To answer rockne’s question of June 22, 2008, the reason so many SDDS units were removed is because Sony stopped supporting them. I agree the sound, to me, was even more dynamic than Dolby Digital, but it also was the most expensive of the 3 digital formats. DTS, in the industry, is known as the poor mans digital. I hope this answers your question.
The opening segment lists the seating capacity as 682, which it was when I worked there. But the above link posted by Lost Memory shows it as only 450 seats. When they started doing shows back in ‘83, they must have really blew the stage forward toward the audience.
With any luck, maybe Bowtie Cinemas, the company who just took over the American Theatre will open it up. It would be refreshing to see someone other than National Amusements, Regal, or even AMC open up something for a change.
Well, I wasn’t being sarcastic. Sorry I misunderstood. But anyone who thinks this digital thing is going to be the end-all-be-all, lets just wait and see.
Lets hope a group buys it and turns it into a great stage and movie venue again. I have been keeping tabs on this one for about 3 years now. was hoping to someday get movie revivals going again, but with the sale now its hard to say.
Hi Lost, Movie534 here. I live about 4 miles from this former theatre, and I can tell you without a doubt, that a bakery and cookie outlet do indeed occupy the space. A lot of my relatives live in town, and my dad was a former projectionist here. (see above posts)
EXACTLY what I’ve been saying all along Kram!!! This will be what kills the movie industry once and for all. Why pay to see that which you can already watch in your living room.
Ah, Roloff, how I miss 70mm. I happen to be a longtime (over 30 years) projectionist, who had the honor to run several movies in 70mm during the 80’s. Those were the good old days.
Hi Bob, congrats on being the 1000th comment for the Loews Jersey. On a seperate note, a mutual friend of ours, Bernie A. told me the horror stories you guys had when work first started years ago. I can relate. I remember the first time I walked into the projection room at the Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth N.J. Dead birds, junk, etc. I worked for months cleaning it up. Now the place is for sale, but the booth isnt finished. It makes me sick when I read of how all these old palaces are treated and let to rot.
Hey CyNdI, in addition to that 2800 seat beauty I told you about in Elizabeth N.J., about 25 miles south of there is a 500 seater in Metuchen N.J. that also sits unused. I really hope something happens with one or both. I worked in both many years ago, and live locally to both, and willing to help get em up and running again.
Very well put newt.
You hit the nail right on the head LuisV. Too bad more theatres were not saved the same way. Thats why I’m glad to here at least something is trying to be done to the Kings in Brooklyn, (a real treasure) as well as the Ritz in Elizabeth N.J. The Empire, along with all those other old grindhouses were special, even if they were run down.
The phone number to the theatre is 908-351-7575. It is located at 1148 East Jersey Street Elizabeth N.J. The man who was my contact no longer works there, but I,m sure someone can help you. Supposedly there is a myspace page for it also. Myspace.com Ritz Theatre Elizabeth. I hope you succeed. I have visiomned this place as a showplace for plays, movies and concerts since I first stepped back into it 3 years ago.
Hey CyNdi, regarding the Ritz in Elizabeth, I am a projectionist of 33 years as well as a stagehand. A bunch of us would love to see this place up and running again. It is in the center of downtown, and has a multi-story parking deck right next door to the theatre.
I would love to see those old classics Peter. I had visions of showing these at the Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth, N.J. but it is now for sale, after undergoing major renovations. If it is sold to a concert or broadway show producer, it will almost certainly never show movies again.
The Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth New Jersey is up for sale after undergoing major renovations. I know the projection room needs minor work, and the stage house is ready to support some road shows, concerts, plays etc.
It is surprising that this one made it to the 90’s. Our’s here in Carteret New Jersey only made it to 1984. They were cheesey theatres, but man did I love watching movies there when my dad was a projectionist.
Just to add to my above post, the only time a film would open on a Friday was around the holidays, otherwise it was Wednesdays.
I too remember Wednesday openings when I first became a projectionist 33 years ago. As a kid, I remember in the summer going with my dad and he would run the last show onto the “shipping reels” and into the can they went. 5 minutes after the last show ended, we were done. That was considered a “busy” Tuesday night. Not like today with platters and multiplexes getting multiple prints etc.
Recently, the buzz around town is that possibly this place could reopen as a community playhouse, or even a performing arts center. It will need a lot of work.
To answer rockne’s question of June 22, 2008, the reason so many SDDS units were removed is because Sony stopped supporting them. I agree the sound, to me, was even more dynamic than Dolby Digital, but it also was the most expensive of the 3 digital formats. DTS, in the industry, is known as the poor mans digital. I hope this answers your question.
Usually, they just want to get the place opened no matter what, so even if its 2 or 3 screens, the pencil pushers figure its better than nothing.
It is my understanding that work on bringing it back to a theatre is going at a snails pace. Lets hope it gets done in the next 2 to 3 years.
The opening segment lists the seating capacity as 682, which it was when I worked there. But the above link posted by Lost Memory shows it as only 450 seats. When they started doing shows back in ‘83, they must have really blew the stage forward toward the audience.
I don’t know Justin, I worked for Clearview for a long time. I’ll take my chances with one of the other guys.
Looks to be in fairly decent shape. Is it landmarked, or can it destroyed for another office tower or condo.
With any luck, maybe Bowtie Cinemas, the company who just took over the American Theatre will open it up. It would be refreshing to see someone other than National Amusements, Regal, or even AMC open up something for a change.
Well, I wasn’t being sarcastic. Sorry I misunderstood. But anyone who thinks this digital thing is going to be the end-all-be-all, lets just wait and see.
Lets hope a group buys it and turns it into a great stage and movie venue again. I have been keeping tabs on this one for about 3 years now. was hoping to someday get movie revivals going again, but with the sale now its hard to say.
Hi Lost, Movie534 here. I live about 4 miles from this former theatre, and I can tell you without a doubt, that a bakery and cookie outlet do indeed occupy the space. A lot of my relatives live in town, and my dad was a former projectionist here. (see above posts)
EXACTLY what I’ve been saying all along Kram!!! This will be what kills the movie industry once and for all. Why pay to see that which you can already watch in your living room.
Ah, Roloff, how I miss 70mm. I happen to be a longtime (over 30 years) projectionist, who had the honor to run several movies in 70mm during the 80’s. Those were the good old days.
My thoughts exactly Justin.