Whats an even bigger waste is the fact that they tore down a grand old palace (even after twinning) for something that barely lasted 20 years total. And after the 4-plex opened, all it accomplished was insulting the great name “Loews State”.
I know from the days my dad used to work there, that the General Cinema Menlo Park in Edison N.J. had a screen that was 30'X 65' prior to its twinning in 1976. Although not quite as large, the former National General Fox Theatre in Woodbridge N.J. had a 58' wide curved screen, and the Walter Reade in Woodbridge, prior to GCC taking it over and twinning it, had a 55' wide screen, with both moveable top and side maskings. Great theatres, great screens, great times. Nothing today compares, I’m sorry.
Great to see something as wonderful as this still surviving in 2008. As a longtime projectionist of over 30 years, I’m curios if they still do reel-to-reel changeovers (be it 2000 or 6000 foot reels) or did they install a platter. Either way, its still great to see a single screener survive. Here’s to another 60 years
Another in a long list of Redstones old drive-in properties that will sit empty. In the past few years Atco, along with the Amboys and All-Jersey (former Newark Drive-in) have now closed, and as of this post, the latter 2 still sit vacant and boarded up.
As the 1001st post for the beautiful Roxy, all I can say is, after viewing those photo’s…how in the world anyone could have let a treasure like that be destroyed is unimaginable. Generations from now, people will still be asking why, and what for. I’m only sorry I was too young to ever see it.
Hi CyNdi, local directory has the number for the 500 seater as 732-548-0582. I did not try it, and seeing I just got home from work, I will research this further in the morning.
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.
Marble staircases, ornate ceilings made of marble and plaster, now thats a movie palace. It beats any of these sheetrock multiplexes they build today.
You are right Al, a new quad did sound great. Only problem was it was done all wrong.
Whats an even bigger waste is the fact that they tore down a grand old palace (even after twinning) for something that barely lasted 20 years total. And after the 4-plex opened, all it accomplished was insulting the great name “Loews State”.
I know from the days my dad used to work there, that the General Cinema Menlo Park in Edison N.J. had a screen that was 30'X 65' prior to its twinning in 1976. Although not quite as large, the former National General Fox Theatre in Woodbridge N.J. had a 58' wide curved screen, and the Walter Reade in Woodbridge, prior to GCC taking it over and twinning it, had a 55' wide screen, with both moveable top and side maskings. Great theatres, great screens, great times. Nothing today compares, I’m sorry.
Great to see something as wonderful as this still surviving in 2008. As a longtime projectionist of over 30 years, I’m curios if they still do reel-to-reel changeovers (be it 2000 or 6000 foot reels) or did they install a platter. Either way, its still great to see a single screener survive. Here’s to another 60 years
Another in a long list of Redstones old drive-in properties that will sit empty. In the past few years Atco, along with the Amboys and All-Jersey (former Newark Drive-in) have now closed, and as of this post, the latter 2 still sit vacant and boarded up.
As the 1001st post for the beautiful Roxy, all I can say is, after viewing those photo’s…how in the world anyone could have let a treasure like that be destroyed is unimaginable. Generations from now, people will still be asking why, and what for. I’m only sorry I was too young to ever see it.
Hi CyNdi, local directory has the number for the 500 seater as 732-548-0582. I did not try it, and seeing I just got home from work, I will research this further in the morning.
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.