My father Joe Pusillo was projectionist at this theatre from the early 60’s till it closed on March 15, 1971. The projection equipment was moved to the Forum theatre in Metuchen, N.J. where he and I would work together later on in the early 1980’s. I remember seeing many movies here, most notably my first ever movie, “The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t” and the last movie shown there, “Doctor Doolittle” with Rex Harrison. I remember dad telling me the place closed, not because business was bad, because it was good, but rather that it was in such disrepair, it would cost too much to fix.
Went to visit the Ritz today, as I have been doing for some time now. The renovations of the interior are complete and look dazzleing. Next to be done are the stage rigging and projection room, which I am overseeing. Cant wait to get the old Peerless Magnarc carbon arc lamphouses fired up again. We also have a movie screen 6 months old from a closed up theatre, size 16' high by 37' wide, which will fit nicely into the 48' wide stage opening. More to come.
My father was Joe Pusillo and was the projectionist at the Ritz for many years. The older gent refered to as Hitchcock was the owner. My dad used to tell me many stories about the Ritz. My dad worked there from the end of WWII till its closing around 1967. After this theatre closed, he went to work at the State in Woodbridge, until it closed in late 1971. He would return to Carteret as a projectionist in 1972 to open the brand new Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema.
My father Joe Pusillo was projectionist at this theatre from the early 60’s till it closed on March 15, 1971. The projection equipment was moved to the Forum theatre in Metuchen, N.J. where he and I would work together later on in the early 1980’s. I remember seeing many movies here, most notably my first ever movie, “The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t” and the last movie shown there, “Doctor Doolittle” with Rex Harrison. I remember dad telling me the place closed, not because business was bad, because it was good, but rather that it was in such disrepair, it would cost too much to fix.
Went to visit the Ritz today, as I have been doing for some time now. The renovations of the interior are complete and look dazzleing. Next to be done are the stage rigging and projection room, which I am overseeing. Cant wait to get the old Peerless Magnarc carbon arc lamphouses fired up again. We also have a movie screen 6 months old from a closed up theatre, size 16' high by 37' wide, which will fit nicely into the 48' wide stage opening. More to come.
My father was Joe Pusillo and was the projectionist at the Ritz for many years. The older gent refered to as Hitchcock was the owner. My dad used to tell me many stories about the Ritz. My dad worked there from the end of WWII till its closing around 1967. After this theatre closed, he went to work at the State in Woodbridge, until it closed in late 1971. He would return to Carteret as a projectionist in 1972 to open the brand new Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema.