Actually , I was there the opening Day which was the first Friday of July ‘76 and you made a slight mistake it was Bert I. Gordon’s “Food of the Gods” not “At the Earth’s Core”.ATEC didn’t play till the fall. You are correct about “Outlaw Josey Wales”,“The Omen”, “Logan’s Run” and perhaps “Peter Pan” Though I don’t remember that playing. I remember they had crazy mirror setup so that the projection booths could be on the ground floor. This theater was vastly inferior to the Kingsley which opened 6 months later. I remember walking in a thinking this was only slightly better that the Village Cinema.
E Well, I can tell yes indeed it was prepopped, but it was still fresh most of the time as we made it upstairs where there was room to make it in mass. I was usher there for about a year. I was always embarrassed bringing down the garbage bags of fresht popcorn because people always thought it was old stuff! Anyway , I was working there in1982 between my stints at the Kingsley twin. The creep manager fired me after I told him I had obtained proof of his embezzlement from the theatre. Later he even threatened me with his .357 until I informed him I had family who worked in the local law enforcement. GC eventually nailed him and he did time. He was also a molester to some of the girls working there which infuriated me. He’s probably dead now. Let’s hope!
Went last weekend. Great place and was truly like a trip back in time for me, err except the prices! I’ve lived in North Jersey for 4 yrs now and only this past weekend went , boy wished I had done this sooner! love the place and it’s quite scenic when the Sun goes down
I’m pretty sure this was owned by Plitt Southern Theaters. Plitt bought this chain from the old ABC theatre chain sometime in the 70’s. They owned the Kingsley, Florida, Center and Regency to name a few. I was projectionist at the Kingsley and would cover at the Edgewood and the others if the regular projectionist was out. The early to mid 80’s they started shuttering alot of the old houses like this one. Boy the stuff( Press books, Lobby Cards, Posters) I got out of those places before they sold them was incredible! Going back to 40’s even.
Went to the Blanding many times as a youngster. Many fond memories. Even in the mid 70’s they were playing films like “The Blob” as second feature. I also remember alot of “Hot Car” pictures playing as they were very popular, “Gone in 60 seconds”, “Vanishing Point” “Dirty Mary , Crazy Larry”.
I believe the Village Cinema opened in 1973~74, It rarely got the big A pictures and usually got the stuff the Drive-ins got and second-run A pictures. It did a great business up until the Kingsley and OP5 opened in 76 which offered better selection and experiences. It was great little theater though and I could ride my bike to see a movie if I wanted since it was the only game in town for a while. The owner was a pretty young guy and was really cool to me a 12 year old. He even booked a few pics I asked for the Saturday kid shows including the infamous “Navy vs the Night Monsters”!
Oh and I also remember the Village Cinema very well as i was pretty good friends with the owner, a pretty young guy as I recall but was very cool.He was always happy to talk about movies with me a snot nosed 12 yr old at the time who love monsters and science fiction. He even took my suggestions for the Saturday kiddie matinees and got hold of some real gems for me!
I was an Usher and then soon promoted to projectionist at this theater from 1979 – 81 , then again 83-84. In fact I actually bought the very first ticket sold there in 1976 when “King Kong” opened. It was a great theater and had a good sound system. since I closed up the place most nights , I would sometimes bring my synthesizer and drum machine and hook it up to the sound system and just blast it. Oh man that was great! My proudest achievement while working there was to convince the owners to run 2001: A Space odyssey two weeks before the Empire Strikes back opened up. It looked great having 2001 advertised on the Monolith like Marquee! Good memories!
Actually , I was there the opening Day which was the first Friday of July ‘76 and you made a slight mistake it was Bert I. Gordon’s “Food of the Gods” not “At the Earth’s Core”.ATEC didn’t play till the fall. You are correct about “Outlaw Josey Wales”,“The Omen”, “Logan’s Run” and perhaps “Peter Pan” Though I don’t remember that playing. I remember they had crazy mirror setup so that the projection booths could be on the ground floor. This theater was vastly inferior to the Kingsley which opened 6 months later. I remember walking in a thinking this was only slightly better that the Village Cinema.
E Well, I can tell yes indeed it was prepopped, but it was still fresh most of the time as we made it upstairs where there was room to make it in mass. I was usher there for about a year. I was always embarrassed bringing down the garbage bags of fresht popcorn because people always thought it was old stuff! Anyway , I was working there in1982 between my stints at the Kingsley twin. The creep manager fired me after I told him I had obtained proof of his embezzlement from the theatre. Later he even threatened me with his .357 until I informed him I had family who worked in the local law enforcement. GC eventually nailed him and he did time. He was also a molester to some of the girls working there which infuriated me. He’s probably dead now. Let’s hope!
Went last weekend. Great place and was truly like a trip back in time for me, err except the prices! I’ve lived in North Jersey for 4 yrs now and only this past weekend went , boy wished I had done this sooner! love the place and it’s quite scenic when the Sun goes down
I’m pretty sure this was owned by Plitt Southern Theaters. Plitt bought this chain from the old ABC theatre chain sometime in the 70’s. They owned the Kingsley, Florida, Center and Regency to name a few. I was projectionist at the Kingsley and would cover at the Edgewood and the others if the regular projectionist was out. The early to mid 80’s they started shuttering alot of the old houses like this one. Boy the stuff( Press books, Lobby Cards, Posters) I got out of those places before they sold them was incredible! Going back to 40’s even.
Went to the Blanding many times as a youngster. Many fond memories. Even in the mid 70’s they were playing films like “The Blob” as second feature. I also remember alot of “Hot Car” pictures playing as they were very popular, “Gone in 60 seconds”, “Vanishing Point” “Dirty Mary , Crazy Larry”.
I believe the Village Cinema opened in 1973~74, It rarely got the big A pictures and usually got the stuff the Drive-ins got and second-run A pictures. It did a great business up until the Kingsley and OP5 opened in 76 which offered better selection and experiences. It was great little theater though and I could ride my bike to see a movie if I wanted since it was the only game in town for a while. The owner was a pretty young guy and was really cool to me a 12 year old. He even booked a few pics I asked for the Saturday kid shows including the infamous “Navy vs the Night Monsters”!
Oh and I also remember the Village Cinema very well as i was pretty good friends with the owner, a pretty young guy as I recall but was very cool.He was always happy to talk about movies with me a snot nosed 12 yr old at the time who love monsters and science fiction. He even took my suggestions for the Saturday kiddie matinees and got hold of some real gems for me!
I was an Usher and then soon promoted to projectionist at this theater from 1979 – 81 , then again 83-84. In fact I actually bought the very first ticket sold there in 1976 when “King Kong” opened. It was a great theater and had a good sound system. since I closed up the place most nights , I would sometimes bring my synthesizer and drum machine and hook it up to the sound system and just blast it. Oh man that was great! My proudest achievement while working there was to convince the owners to run 2001: A Space odyssey two weeks before the Empire Strikes back opened up. It looked great having 2001 advertised on the Monolith like Marquee! Good memories!