This theatre can be seen clearly in the 1977 film, “The Turning Point” – about a half hour in – Shirley McLaine is sitting in front of it. Also it can be seen in “The Eyes of Laura Mars” – I went to one film here which I think was – (1976 – Nickelodeon)
A tribute to Central New Jersey Movie Theaters that brought happiness to thousands of people but have sadly been demolished. The theaters may be gone but the memory lives on and here is a place were we can discuss, reminisce, and remember.
This group can also be open to other thetheaters the surrounding areas such as Somerville, Plainfield, Westfield and other areas of Somerset County. Please feel free to post your stories and in particular any ads, photos or memorabilia you may have. Many Thanks and…enjoy the show!
A tribute to Central New Jersey Movie Theaters that brought happiness to thousands of people but have sadly been demolished. The theaters may be gone but the memory lives on and here is a place were we can discuss, reminisce, and remember.
This group can also be open to other thetheaters the surrounding areas such as Somerville, Plainfield, Westfield and other areas of Somerset County. Please feel free to post your stories and in particular any ads, photos or memorabilia you may have. Many Thanks and…enjoy the show!
A tribute to Central New Jersey Movie Theaters that brought happiness to thousands of people but have sadly been demolished. The theaters may be gone but the memory lives on and here is a place were we can discuss, reminisce, and remember.
This group can also be open to other thetheaters the surrounding areas such as Somerville, Plainfield, Westfield and other areas of Somerset County. Please feel free to post your stories and in particular any ads, photos or memorabilia you may have. Many Thanks and…enjoy the show!
Thank you for the “blast from the past” – I remember going to the June 17th, 2:00pm, showing of Grease at Sommerville Circle Cinema in New Jersey. The big theatre was packed. At the end of “Summer Nights” – well -it was like an atom bomb went off. People screamed – yelled – applauded. After that number, you just knew this was going to be a great film and indeed it was.
When the film let out – the line for the 4:00pm show was around the theatre. People were coming out of theatre raving about the movie to the people waiting on line….
I’m sorry but that was “buzz” way before the internet and 12 times more powerful.
Animal House was the first R-Rated Film I was ever taken to. An inspired choice!
The theatre is not demolished nor is it “Micheals Crafts” – it’s a store called TUESDAY MORNING – the area is gutted but I believe some of the outside design (white bricks) are the same….they even may use the old front exit doors – not sure…more to come..
As far as I know, this was a theatre owned by none other than Andy Warhol in the late sixties. It did indeed show adult fare and had the distinction of having Joe Dallesandro (Warhol Superstar) be a projectionist there as well have a revolving door of male clients who visited Dallesandro during the show.
Website Dedicated to Menlo Park and Blue Star Cinemas.
I am in the very early stages of starting a small website dedicated to the memories of the General Cinemas owned MENLO PARK CINEMA and BLUE STAR CINEMA, both formerly located in Central New Jersey.
Both movie theatres were a haven for me as a child and adolescent and judging from responses on this website, they meant a great deal to many others as well.
If anyone has photos, or ads or stories they would like to share â€" I would of course give full credit. I am especially looking for any exterior and interior photos.
Website Dedicated to Menlo Park and Blue Star Cinemas.
I am in the very early stages of starting a small website dedicated to the memories of the General Cinemas owned MENLO PARK CINEMA and BLUE STAR CINEMA, both formerly located in Central New Jersey.
Both movie theatres were a haven for me as a child and adolescent and judging from responses on this website, they meant a great deal to many others as well.
If anyone has photos, or ads or stories they would like to share â€" I would of course give full credit. I am especially looking for any exterior and interior photos.
My mother lived on 19th Street between Cropsey and Bay Shore. She went to Lafeyette High School and was very pretty.
Her name was Vivian Gelardi.
She always told a story about this theatre.
One day, in 1959, “Pillow Talk” opened there. My mother went to a Saturday Matinee and loved it so much she stayed till the midnight show.
Now, my mother had told her mother where she was going but when she failed to show up for dinner, my Grandfather beagn to panic.
Within minutes, it seemed, the whole block knew my mother had been “kidnapped” and was out looking for her.
When my mother returned home and explained she had been in the movies all day, literally, 5 minutes from her house, my grandfather took off his shoe and started hitting her with it in the middle of the street.
I only went there once or twice but I loved the feeling of it which never exsisted in the more modern theatres of Central New Jersey, where I was raised.
I was lucky enough to see the 70MM “Aliens” here and I remember the “big deal” over it. For me to go to sci-fi film, well, it had to be an event.
We went to a 12:00 AM showing to avoid the crowds and the theatre was just dead for some reason. Talk about creepy. Three people (two of them being under the age of 14) in a huge theatre watching that film in all it’s Dolby/70MM splendor.
Menlo was too far way from my childhood home for me to be a frequent visitor but everyone is right that there was a “special” feeling to it. It seemed to be an “event” theatre – one you chose to see something special or a film that was a little “arty”.
I can remember seeing “The Rose” there, which taught my brother and I to curse, “10”, which taught us a lot of things and I can still recall dropping my father and I dropping my brother off there to see all the “Star Wars” Films.
My last film there was “Garbo Talks”. Quite a letdown and a rather sad goodbye to a great theatre.
My God – this was my main movie theatre that I went to as a child and a teenager. So many films and I remember a bunch.
LifeGuard
Hearts of the West
Bad News Bears
New York, New York
That’s Entertainment
The Way We Were
Funny Lady
Animal House
HAIR!
The Main Event
Flashdance
Kramer vs. Kramer
The world according to Garp
Little Darlings
The Muppet movie
Friday the 13th
Mommie Dearest
Pennies from Heaven
What a great house – I’m sure I’m leaving out some films. I learned a great deal about movies there!
Went this past Sunday to STAR TREK!
Excellent Film!
Superb sound and picture.
Great Audience!
It may be true that the Ziegfeld can not compare to the Rivoli or Criterion or some of the other great movie places of the past.
but right now folks..in New York City..
This is all we have…
and we should be greatful for every second we get to spend time there!
This theatre can be seen clearly in the 1977 film, “The Turning Point” – about a half hour in – Shirley McLaine is sitting in front of it. Also it can be seen in “The Eyes of Laura Mars” – I went to one film here which I think was – (1976 – Nickelodeon)
Hey guys!!! Thankd for your comments here and so glad you joined the group!!
If either of you have Menlo/Blue Star/Woodbridge (etc.etc) related photos please post them to the yahoo group!!!
I for one would love them!!
Many Thanks!
Blue Star Cinema Tribute Group formed!
A tribute to Central New Jersey Movie Theaters that brought happiness to thousands of people but have sadly been demolished. The theaters may be gone but the memory lives on and here is a place were we can discuss, reminisce, and remember.
This group can also be open to other thetheaters the surrounding areas such as Somerville, Plainfield, Westfield and other areas of Somerset County. Please feel free to post your stories and in particular any ads, photos or memorabilia you may have. Many Thanks and…enjoy the show!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MenloBlueStarCinemas
Menlo Park Cinema tribute group formed!
A tribute to Central New Jersey Movie Theaters that brought happiness to thousands of people but have sadly been demolished. The theaters may be gone but the memory lives on and here is a place were we can discuss, reminisce, and remember.
This group can also be open to other thetheaters the surrounding areas such as Somerville, Plainfield, Westfield and other areas of Somerset County. Please feel free to post your stories and in particular any ads, photos or memorabilia you may have. Many Thanks and…enjoy the show!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MenloBlueStarCinemas
A tribute to Central New Jersey Movie Theaters that brought happiness to thousands of people but have sadly been demolished. The theaters may be gone but the memory lives on and here is a place were we can discuss, reminisce, and remember.
This group can also be open to other thetheaters the surrounding areas such as Somerville, Plainfield, Westfield and other areas of Somerset County. Please feel free to post your stories and in particular any ads, photos or memorabilia you may have. Many Thanks and…enjoy the show!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MenloBlueStarCinemas
I went to the latest Indiana Jones there – literally – out of desperation – due to sold out shows at other theatres.
Here’s what I found.
A big – stadium seating – theatre with an enormous semi-curved screen (theatre 13)…..
good seats (the leather ones were insane) – plenty of leg room ……
Vacumed floors…semi clean restrooms – varied and plentiful candy counters…
excellent sound…
pleasent crowd..
I’m a 34th street boy from now on!
Thank you for the “blast from the past” – I remember going to the June 17th, 2:00pm, showing of Grease at Sommerville Circle Cinema in New Jersey. The big theatre was packed. At the end of “Summer Nights” – well -it was like an atom bomb went off. People screamed – yelled – applauded. After that number, you just knew this was going to be a great film and indeed it was.
When the film let out – the line for the 4:00pm show was around the theatre. People were coming out of theatre raving about the movie to the people waiting on line….
I’m sorry but that was “buzz” way before the internet and 12 times more powerful.
Animal House was the first R-Rated Film I was ever taken to. An inspired choice!
The theatre is not demolished nor is it “Micheals Crafts” – it’s a store called TUESDAY MORNING – the area is gutted but I believe some of the outside design (white bricks) are the same….they even may use the old front exit doors – not sure…more to come..
As far as I know, this was a theatre owned by none other than Andy Warhol in the late sixties. It did indeed show adult fare and had the distinction of having Joe Dallesandro (Warhol Superstar) be a projectionist there as well have a revolving door of male clients who visited Dallesandro during the show.
I will never forget “Valley of the Dolls” here in 2003 – the film was not on DVD at the time.
They put it in the biggest theatre there.
Every seat – taken!
They oversold by about 25 tickets so people sat in the aisles.
Outside, a cue of fifty people were waiting for cancellation tickets. Just like they do at a Broadway Theatre……..
The crowd was part of the show. Hedda was fantastic!
I was a monumental night…
Website Dedicated to Menlo Park and Blue Star Cinemas.
I am in the very early stages of starting a small website dedicated to the memories of the General Cinemas owned MENLO PARK CINEMA and BLUE STAR CINEMA, both formerly located in Central New Jersey.
Both movie theatres were a haven for me as a child and adolescent and judging from responses on this website, they meant a great deal to many others as well.
If anyone has photos, or ads or stories they would like to share â€" I would of course give full credit. I am especially looking for any exterior and interior photos.
You can reach me at:
Many Thanks.
Anthony (formerly of Green Brook, NJ)
Website Dedicated to Menlo Park and Blue Star Cinemas.
I am in the very early stages of starting a small website dedicated to the memories of the General Cinemas owned MENLO PARK CINEMA and BLUE STAR CINEMA, both formerly located in Central New Jersey.
Both movie theatres were a haven for me as a child and adolescent and judging from responses on this website, they meant a great deal to many others as well.
If anyone has photos, or ads or stories they would like to share â€" I would of course give full credit. I am especially looking for any exterior and interior photos.
You can reach me at:
Many Thanks.
Anthony (formerly of Green Brook, NJ)
Went to American Graffeti, the re-release of The Sound of Music and Shrinking Woman.
Not an impressive mall or an impressive theatre by any means.
Usually, a last resort.
US Routes 202/206 and 22.
1975-1995
3 cinemas in the early 1980’s.
General Cinema Corp. owned this theatre.
I actually have found the Union Square Regal to be clean, mice free and quite handy with my living in the area.
Was just there for “DaVinci Code” and, god help me, “Just my Luck” and had a good time.
My mother lived on 19th Street between Cropsey and Bay Shore. She went to Lafeyette High School and was very pretty.
Her name was Vivian Gelardi.
She always told a story about this theatre.
One day, in 1959, “Pillow Talk” opened there. My mother went to a Saturday Matinee and loved it so much she stayed till the midnight show.
Now, my mother had told her mother where she was going but when she failed to show up for dinner, my Grandfather beagn to panic.
Within minutes, it seemed, the whole block knew my mother had been “kidnapped” and was out looking for her.
When my mother returned home and explained she had been in the movies all day, literally, 5 minutes from her house, my grandfather took off his shoe and started hitting her with it in the middle of the street.
I only went there once or twice but I loved the feeling of it which never exsisted in the more modern theatres of Central New Jersey, where I was raised.
I was lucky enough to see the 70MM “Aliens” here and I remember the “big deal” over it. For me to go to sci-fi film, well, it had to be an event.
We went to a 12:00 AM showing to avoid the crowds and the theatre was just dead for some reason. Talk about creepy. Three people (two of them being under the age of 14) in a huge theatre watching that film in all it’s Dolby/70MM splendor.
Menlo was too far way from my childhood home for me to be a frequent visitor but everyone is right that there was a “special” feeling to it. It seemed to be an “event” theatre – one you chose to see something special or a film that was a little “arty”.
I can remember seeing “The Rose” there, which taught my brother and I to curse, “10”, which taught us a lot of things and I can still recall dropping my father and I dropping my brother off there to see all the “Star Wars” Films.
My last film there was “Garbo Talks”. Quite a letdown and a rather sad goodbye to a great theatre.
I went to my first movie here as a toddler:
Funny Girl
also went to
Lords of the Flatbush
Rocky
Posideon Aventure
Was never as popular as Blue Star in Watchung….
My God – this was my main movie theatre that I went to as a child and a teenager. So many films and I remember a bunch.
LifeGuard
Hearts of the West
Bad News Bears
New York, New York
That’s Entertainment
The Way We Were
Funny Lady
Animal House
HAIR!
The Main Event
Flashdance
Kramer vs. Kramer
The world according to Garp
Little Darlings
The Muppet movie
Friday the 13th
Mommie Dearest
Pennies from Heaven
What a great house – I’m sure I’m leaving out some films. I learned a great deal about movies there!
I only went to a few movies here.
Jinked
NightHawks