Music Makers Plaza Theater

The Plaza Theatre was, best to my recollection, originally built as part of a small chain of theatres by a company called A.I.T. I can still “see” the logo on the marquee when I saw THUNDERBALL there in 1965. It changed hands until the Music Makers Theatre circuit bought it. Music Makers was founded by composer Mitch Leigh (Man of La Mancha, and the jingle “Nobody Doesn’t Like Sara Lee”) in 1957 as a music and radio commercial production house. The Music Makers chain was comprised of acquiring single theatres and small chains throughout NY, NJ and DE. It also built new houses, one of which is not listed in Cinema Treasures (I have to fix that). I worked for this chain (1974-75) and there’s simply not enough room here to go into grand details. An interesting aside is that MM shrewdly owned the wholesale company that supplied the candy, soda and popcorn for all their theatres. A brilliant move in maximizing the profit stream. It was called the Andy Candy Company and managed by a very nice guy named Dan Frank for many years. I was told that “Andy” was Leigh’s son. It was, though, during this period that the company expanded pretty quickly as we were adding new screens and twining large single houses … the first of which was the Brick Plaza Theatre, Bricktown (long gone). The Plaza in Hazlet had a “twin sister” 55 miles away, the Interstate Theatre in Ramsey, NJ (also gone). Lobbies were laid out differently, but the auditoriums were identical. I remember laying new linoleum tiles around the candy stand in 1975! (I’ve cross-posted this missive in Interstate’s listing). Music Makers was also diversifying into new areas. If you’re from central NJ and remember the “Chicken Skillet” fast food restaurants, they were owned by Music Makers. I know of at least one structure that still exists in Eatontown on Route 35. Another was located in Neptune. “Chicken Skillet” never caught on, though. The company also owned Sunny Day coin-op laundry on Rte 9 in Howell. The MM folks were good people and if you showed an interest in their interests, it was recognized. The company’s booker was David Tuckerman, an incredibly smart man with a clever sense of humor, who later became head of theatrical distribution at New Line Cinema. Milton Herson, (such class, extremely smart) was the president. Locally, the Plaza was managed by Lillian Pyburn for many, many years. A genuinely wonderful woman.

Just realized I misspoke above when stating,“If you’re from central NJ and remember the “Chicken Skillet” fast food restaurants, they were owned by Music Makers. I know of at least one structure that still exists in Eatontown on Route 35.” This is incorrect, no structure survives.

Barry M! By golly, I do believe you’re right. It was indeed Golden Skillet. I got the main menu item (chicken) messed up with the name and I’m deeply grateful you corrected me. Thanks. As an addendum to my initial, lengthier posting I’ve since learned that the Plaza Theater’s long time manager, Lillian Pyburn, died April 8, 2010. She was 89. I knew her well. Lovely woman. And FWIW, I was working at the Plaza during the time of YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (5-6 nights a week). Quite possibly tore your ticket! I just “loved” wearing those goofy red and white-striped usher jackets and red bow ties.

KGordon, I too had to wear that goofy red and white-striped usher jacket and the red bow tie when I worked at the Plaza’s companion cinema on Route 34 for one summer. Thanks for reminding me of the outfit!!

Opened with Walt Disney’s “The Sword In The Stone”. The Plaza closed on August 28, 1982 with “Rocky III”.