AMC Loews Paramus Route 4 Tenplex
260 E. Highway 4,
Paramus,
NJ
07652
260 E. Highway 4,
Paramus,
NJ
07652
24 people
favorited this theater
Showing 276 - 300 of 461 comments
Unfortuntely unless somebody flinches AMC themselves cannot re-open the the theatre as it was a stipulation to open the new one. I did at least see the ticketing machines were taken out by the front door so it doesn’t look like they are hoping for it either. Since first or second run is probably out of the question, what about this being used as “ended run” (like Columbia Park 12) theatre? So many films get thrown out so quickly and with big theatres becoming the norm, I expect that to happen more often. Have someone use this for films that are generally out of theatres but not on DVD yet.
Mix it in with some “special attractions” like showing past blockbusters again. Spider-man 3’s out for example. Use the gimmick of showing 1 & 2 and say “see them on the big screen again.” It’s not as crazy as it sounds since they rereleased all of the SW films for the 20th anniversary and people showed up. DVD’s are nice but there’s nothing like seeing something on a bog screen in the theatre. Or maybe I’m a hopelessly nostagic nut.
if amc renovates the tenplex and rename both theaters amc garden state 1-16 and garden state 17-26 that would make a difference. they should make the tenplex a bowling alley since the borough doesn’t have its own, and the nearest is bowler city in hackensack.
Actually, it should be simple (depending how much money you can raise). Assuming AMC still holds the lease, why not approach them about sub-leasing it? If it’s a potential money-maker (come up with a good business plan that doesn’t involve first-run or second run, though), you should be able to raise the funds. If they can generate a small income (enough to cover property taxes, etc.) from a rental for the time left on their lease, they might do it.
News of its closing was first talked about at least three years ago. I’m not sure why people think it was a secret.
Nothing will be done on the Tenplex site for a while, which is why there is still a chance to save it. Local legislators are looking into the zoning issues and NJ Historical societies are still looking into its historical significance. If it is true that they’re going to extend the Bergen Mall on to the Tenplex property, that’s still months, if not years away from happening. It’s not cost effective to demolish a property, if you’re not all set to build something new there. A lot of people are still surprised to hear about the closing, due to the fact that AMC kept it very quiet. Other than the article in The Record, which was not instigated by AMC, who actually tried to quash the article, there wasn’t anything in the press about it. AMC knew there would be a lot of public outcry, if the story got to the public earlier. Now, most people think it’s a done deal, and don’t want to be bothered calling AMC, local legislators, historical societies, etc… when they think it’s already too late to have an effect. The more public outrage, the more chance it can still be saved as long it’s still standing. Boycotting the new theater will also help to get that point across, but with all the teens at the mall, that’s an uphill battle in itself.
I just rode by today hoping to get some pictures, since I only found out about the Garden State opening this weekend. Interesting to note not much has been done yet, at least in the front.
View link I got this picture from the side. There a few people driving through steadily who had no clue and learned of the closing by the sign outside.
I’m hoping the Fairlawn Theater is going to be ok, mostly because, unlike the Tenplex, it’s independently owned. Remember, it wasn’t failing ticket sales that doomed the Tenplex, it was AMC’s market strategy. The Tenplex was still packed every weekend. I think the Fairlawn theater might actually do better after the GSP theater opens, and the Tenplex is closed, because there is no parking/traffic problems there.
The operning of this stupid 16 plex might also kill the Fair Lawn Hyway Theater 2 miles down Route 4 from Garden State Plaza. As someeone who lives about 30 seconds from that mall in Fair Lawn, it is basically impossible to park there especially on Saturdays when half of New York state is shopping there. The 16 plex takes up half the parking lot.
For those above who mentioned the Muvico theaters at Xanadu, please note that this multiplex has now been downgraded from 26 screens to 18 screens (one of which is outdoors). See the 6th paragraph of this link for more information:
View link
I am going to work on the pics this weekend. I know you didnt mean anything to be disrespectful. I wonder if I can talk to Eric and see about a tour of the building. You would be amazed at the layout.
Hey photoman1001, I meant no disrespect to the projectionists, believe me. Most all of my memories of the this theater are positive.
I can remember seeing films here where the walls literally shook in Theater One! But unfortunately, during these last few years, more often than not I had to strain to hear much of the dialogue.
You’re right, most people don’t know the mechanics of the film delivery system — including me! I’d like to learn more about it.
BTW, I’m the guy who emailed you the other day about the pictures. I can’t wait to see them!
For those of you who are still interested in trying to save the Tenplex, while the Tenplex is still standing, please call any of the following legislators to express your concern. I’ve spoken with their reps. already, and the most important thing I was told was to get as many people to call them as possible to express their feelings on the Tenplex situation, to show them how important it is to their constituents/voters. You can reach the Mayor and Council of Paramus at 201-265-2100 ext. 613, State Assemblywoman Joan Voss at 201-346-6400, State Assemblyman Robert Gordon at 201-703-9779, and State Senator Joseph Coniglio at 201-576-9199. As most of you already know, the online petition is located at http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/tenplex Trust me, if you keep the pressure on these legislators, there might actually be a chance to save the Tenplex, because everything I’ve heard is that the building isn’t going anywhere until they really get far with the Bergen Mall renovation. Thanks again, oh, and boycott the one at Garden State Plaza at all costs. Can you ever imagine having the same kinds of experiences that many of you posted above that you had at the Tenplex at the sterile assembly line 16plex at the mall? Me neither. :)
I’m so happy to hear that there are many others who share my feelings about this truly special theater. If you grew up in Bergen County in the 70s/80s, the Tenplex was/is a touchstone from the “Wonder Years” of youth. I have so many countless memories of this theater, from my first film, Raggedy Anne and Andy: A Musical Adventure, to waiting in endless longlines around the building for any of the original Star Wars films. The Tenplex changed over the years, as did we all. Sometimes it was for the better and sometimes for the worst, but it was always there to help us get through those tough times when we needed a cinematic experience to take us away from the trials and tribulations of real life. I totally agree with one of the earlier posters, in the fact that, it corrupt local politicians who get kickbacks from contractors and corporations that are responsible for letting this happen. It’s the same reason why we have the highest property taxes in the country. It’s the local councils and mayors that are profiting from the loss of our cultural landmarks and the rising cost of living in NJ. If any of the above posters has the pics they took last night online, please refer me to the site they are on, or email them to me on here. Thanks, in advance.
EQ’d… whats that??? Lol.. yes you are correct DTS is on cd-roms. To me Dolby digital is the most reliable and sounds the best of the 3. DTS does not follow the directors standards, they over saturate frequencies and EQ to make the sound track more dramatic. Dolby keeps it more subtle and true. Sometimes I will run a movie in Dolby SR and listen for differences. Sometimes a movie will sound best in SR!!
The sound system may be the same, but the room is certainly different now, hence the different sound. When was the last time it was EQ’d?
Also, DTS runs off CD-ROM discs (synchronized via time code printed on the 35mm film) and not DVDs and is generally more reliable than SDDS and on-par with Dolby Digital. Yes, none of the digital formats sound as good as magnetic.
Photoman: Nothing sounds like magnetic sound, be it 4 track 35mm, or 6 track 70mm. To me, nothing beats magnetic.
95crash.. believe it or not, the sound system in theater one is the same one that you heard the original Star Wars on. The problem is in the delivery system. Star Wars was 6 track magnetic. Now a days it is digital or optical. I know that theater one has DTS, which is played off of dvd disks. I can speak from experience that DTS and Sony SDD dont work as well as Dolby digital. All 3 formats will never sound like 6 track magnetic.. ever.
The memories of the film breaking are nothing compaired to the memories of the projectionists that had to work with 70mm film. It was heavy, stiff, and unforgiving. I dont think many people know the mechanics of the film delivery system.
How does one set the “Status” of this theater to ‘closed’? It appears that must be an administrative function.
I was there last night too to see Pirates in Theater One. And just as John J. Fink said (posted by John J. Fink on May 24, 2007 at 8:38pm), it was nice that the employee came into the auditorium and gave that little speech.
I grew up in Bergen County and have visited this theater many times. My first recollection of it was seeing the King Kong remake in 1976. I was 7 years old. I believe I watched the movie in the upstairs theater.
The next year, 1977, I saw Star Wars there in Theater One. My earliest memory of being in Theater One. The auditorium was jam-packed. Me and my two friends (I was 8 years old) had to sit a few rows in front of my parents because we couldn’t find five seats together. I always remembered that the screen was huge and the sound made the walls shake. But then I read Paul Bubny’s post on this page (posted by Paul Bubny on Dec 5, 2005 at 12:09pm), and it brought back a repressed memory. I too was at that showing of Star Wars when the film stopped during the scene where Luke, Leia, and Han were in the trash compactor! I can now recall that it took a few minutes before the film came back on and the sound wasn’t completely right for part of — but not the whole — movie.
I can also remember that back then there was another movie theater directly next this one, as MBD recalled in his post (posted by MBD on Oct 25, 2005 at 7:13am). He said it was called the Route 4 Cinema. I remember thinking how it was weird that there were two theaters, with different names and separate box offices, right next to each other! The only thing I remember about that other theater was that it was a twin (I think) and that I saw a movie called The Stuntman there in or around 1979.
Anyway, back to yesterday, I am glad I went to see a film there one last time, especially it being closing night and all. The crowd was young but polite (meaning: not a lot of talking). Sorry, I don’t mean to sound old, but I hate a lot of talking during a movie and cell phone noise, etc. But there was none of that last night, so it was good!
Unfortunately, as others have alluded to on this page, the sound system was not what it used to be back in the day. I had to struggle to hear some of the lines spoken.
But all in all it was a very enjoyable experience. I even took some pictures — which embarrassed my wife a little.
As I left, I took a look at the marquee and it said (all lit up) Thanks for the Memories 1965-2007. (As I drove by there on my way to work this morning, I saw that it still said that.)
I would love to see a timeline of this theater — when it changed from one screen to two, from two to a triplex, from a triplex to a sevenplex, and so on …
Wonderful postings by all, especially Christophersepp and emily24.
Hope you can somehow work out something positive.
Unfortunately, many members of municipal planning boards
have conflicts of interests with building trades, so keep this in mind regarding their stand on the theater’s potential demolition. Too bad some elected officials were not involved early on with the entire situation.
Why did another poster say the theater was being demolished this weekend??
Sorry that I never got to visit this theater when it was a single screen.
Happy Memorial Day weekend to all.
emily24, the screening of star wars… are you speaking now? If so was it in 70mm?? I know theater one can run 70mm but it doesnt have a 6 track magnetic reader.
Did anyone from this forum take any pictures?
As already mentioned I saw Star Wars at this theater 30 years ago today at the first showing. What a memory. And I can’t forget seeing 2001 there years earlier when it was a single screen theater. I may not have been to the tenplex in years (don’t live nearby), but I’m saddened by it’s loss, just as I was when I saw the RKO Century Triplex on Rt 17 in a pile of rubble a few weeks ago.
good by old freind you’ll be missed
I was an employee of this theater a few years ago, and I’ve stayed in touch with a few others. I just came back from its last night as an operating theater (as far as we all know). It was a beautiful farewell, with gifts, balloons, and a scrapbook for the head manager and long-time employee, Eric. At midnight, there was a champagne toast (ok, sparkling cider haha) and a special presentation…
A friend of George Lucas was there, and he was able to allow a screening of the 1977 Star Wars for friends and family of the theater. (someone on here actually said how it would be cool if that happened…)
Just thought you people might appreciate hearing that :) It was a very bittersweet night, seeing all the bonds that the theater has made. So many people’s lives began here, and even Lucas' friend said it’s where he met his wife. I’ll be in a wedding party soon for an employee couple myself.
I’m not sure what else to say but to reiterate that it truly has been more than just a theater.
TENPLEX FOREVER!
John, I didn’t want you to think my post was aimed at you. It posted at the same time as yours and I’m very appreciative to hear your feelings on the history and emotion this theater has evoked from so many. It’s such a shame that AMC had to be so shady about the whole situation because if they had actually announced the closing months ago when they made their decision, the public outcry would have swayed both them and the borough. This way, they hoped it would disappear as quietly as Sportsworld on rt. 17 and The Paramus Picture Show, which many of us thought was being redone with the renovation of that mini-mall.
There will still be a Tenplex tomorrow. It just won’t be open for business. As I said in my earlier posts, as long as the building is still up, there is still a chance the Borough of Paramus, NOT the planning board, or Bergen County officials could step in to keep the property zoned for only cultural, not retail use. According to the historical trust and other state historical reps I’ve spoken to, there is still a chance this theater might be protected for its historical significance. I’m not saying it will, but please stop making it sound like tomorrow morning there will just be a big hole where the Tenplex once stood, because that’s just not the case. Ask the other 400+ people who signed the petition, a lot of us are in no way looking forward to the theater at the mall. Remember, that number might be small, but it’s purely based on word of mouth. It wasn’t listed in the article in The Record and it wasn’t advertised at the Tenplex. Thank heavens NYC is so close, as I can still go to historic theaters there and enjoy the cinematic experience associated with that, without feeling like I’m in an assembly line. To a lot of us, the Tenplex has been more than just a movie theater. It has really meant something to us, as we’ve grown up with it. Please stop dismissing it so lightly.