Iselin Theatre
1404 Oak Tree Road,
Iselin,
NJ
08830
1404 Oak Tree Road,
Iselin,
NJ
08830
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Closed by Lightstone Theatres as a deep discount movie house with 99 cent shows on June 6, 1982 with “Chariots of Fire.”
I grew up in Iselin, but sadly, was too young to see a movie here before it closed. I keep an old black-and-white photo of it, though, in my office, sort of as a relic of what the old Iselin was like.
I lived in Iselin from 54(birth) to 64. We went to this theater every weekend matinee. I still remember it clearly. Heck I may even have met some of you that attended during the late 50s early 60s. I attended School 18. LOL. Wow, never thought I would see that old building again. Been in Florida since 64
Tom Cif…Went to the Iselin since mid 1950’s Theatre used to be referred to as “The Iselin Rat Trap” Saturday matinees where the best. Sticky floors, popcorn boxes flattened out went flying in the air. JoJo’s was an Italian hot dog joint on the front corner of the theatre outside. Many a good time was spent there.
Thom T – Just read your post from a few years back. The theater was located on the corner of Coreja Avenue and Oak Tree Road. It appears to have been completely gutted, but you can see the outside, which has 4 flat “columns” in the front. Between the center two were the entrance to the theater. There were two stores to either side of the theater entrance, between the remaining columns, and if I rember correctly, the corner store sold Italian Ice and Hot Dogs at one time during the 60’s. THe main store in the theater now is a Sari shop. At one time in the early 80’s, Bollywood films were shown. When the midnight shows were popular, I tried to rent the theater. Could not come to an agreement with the owner. I think it closed around 1984.
Thanks for the Story.lolly.
My husbands father worked there as a projectionist during the 1950’s. I have many fond memories of going there as a kid. My shoes used to stick to the floor because of all the spilled soda and candy.
It used to cost 35 cents to see the double feature. I remember cashing in all the empty soda bottles for money so it could pay my way in to see the movies.
I know Jerry Kampo from years ago. My dad and I were projectionists with him in the same IATSE local. My dad would always tell me how the business agent would BEG projectionists to go there, and many of them would have rather had their legs cut off. I never had the pleasure of working there (thank god). I had enough fun at the Forum in Metuchen, the Royal in Perth Amboy, and the Sayrewoods in Old Bridge.
If someone could recall the exact address of this theater, I will drive by and inquire about its interior. I live just up the street from it and would love to find out where it used to be. I spent many hours watching the old splotchy screen.
1950 program:
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Iselin Theater closed doors in the middle of the 80’s, it was sold to a company from Hoboken NJ. it was converted into an office building. I was the last manager. Good memories. Thanks JJ Forero
A Kimball organ was installed in this theatre in 1928.
Listed as a Lightstone Theatre in the 1985 International Motion Picture Almanac.
The old Iselin Theater was the last of the old style “downtown business district” theaters. It was never a first run house when I was a kid in the 70’s and always showed 2nd run films at bargain prices.
The old building was more or less gutted and converted to an office building in the late ‘80s/early 90’s.
Worked there one night in the 70’s showing “Let The Good Times Roll”. What a horror! The equipment was SO old that it truly was held together by chewing gum! I’ll always remember that night because the take-up belt on proj 2 broke AND a rectifier fried in the same night! Put those two events together with the fact that I was totally unfamilar with the booth and, well, you get the idea!
In the Film Daily Yearbook’s editions 1943 and 1950 it is listed as being in Iselin, NJ. The seating capacity given is for 597.