Wellmont Theatre

John Fink on May 22, 2006 at 12:00 pm

It’s sad to see its gone, especiallly since they used to show somewhat more daring movies than Clearview. The Screening Zone (always a crummy theater – but I liked its alternative edge) had programed good stuff as well. Than Montclair became more and more upscale and it seemed like The Clairidge is the only one that surived and they only show major art pictures, nothing alternative or from micro distributers. Montclair, with once 11 art screens now only has 6 – this is a major loss for film fans in the area, Montclair isn’t what it used to be.

I wish a non for profit would take over the Welmount, and do something with it where it became a cultural center (like Real Art Ways in Hartford) – with a gallery, bar, lounge and most importantly a home for documentary, alternative, and indie film. Now that concept would diffinatly hinder The Clairidge and their domination to show “safe” studio-indie division released pictures that are poorly projected with endless commericals before the trailers.

PeterApruzzese on May 22, 2006 at 12:15 am

The word through the exhibition grapevine is that it is closed for good.

umbaba on January 28, 2006 at 11:18 am

What’s going on there….they’re not using the upstairs auditorium…are they splitting it? closing it? re-modeling it??

I’d like to think that they’re re,odeling the original proscenium and going to make it a classic theater again..but I’m dreaming…I think it’s only a matter of time before the Wellmint is history also…those 2 downstair theaters are the worst….the architect should be blackballed from working again.

umbaba on October 30, 2005 at 10:51 am

No…now there are 2 shoeboxes (Wellmont and Claridge) with multi screens, dank settings, horribly architectured cinemas, uncomfortable seats, the sound of the projectors overpowering the movie, slow moving ticket lines, high school employees with no sense of cinemas (same for the managers)…and bad atmosphere

from 2 of the best theaters ever ….at one point many years ago. I hate going to both these theaters and only go if there’s a film I “really” want to see that doesn’t play elsewhere…

DVD’s are looking better and better

ccrompton on August 13, 2005 at 3:19 pm

I’m surprised noone’s recorded any earlier experience of this place. I was from England in the early months of 1986 and one Sunday evening was driving through Montclair when this amazing marquee came into view, surmounted by “Wellmont” in neon script, green I think. “Color Purple” was playing so I parked the car and went to buy a ticket.

That evening the place was being run, rather badly, by a bunch of high school kids and as I bought my ticket they were sprawled over the floor of the entrance foyer eating pizza. Beyond that I found the lobby stunning, and upstairs in the balcony an amazing but rather run down auditorium. Much paint was peeling and the back rows were roped off. There wer two structures coverered by torn curtaining which I assumed were part of a periscope system for the two mini screens under the balcony. Here upstairs the screen was in the original proscenium and two chinese lanterns graced niches in the splay walls.

When the feature started in was back to front so we had a short break while this was put right. During the feature the house lights were left on and at one point a bunch of the staff burst in from the left, chased across in front of the sparse audience, exiting as quickly on the right. Wow! I didn’t think this place had much of a future.

In 1991 I was over in New Jersey, again and took a drive through Montclair. Sure enough the marquee had gone and the entrance was now occupied by another business, but I looked up the side street as I passed and was amazed to see a banner over the new entrance. I turned back and parked to make a return visit. The staff now were professional and confident, now wearing Roberts uniform. Upstairs the place had been tidied up, the screen was still in the old proscenium but the chinese lanterns were now bare lamps. Downstairs I could the two minis had their own projection booth, so what were those structures I had seen upstairs in 1986?

So when exactly did Roberts take over? When was the entrance moved? I’m sorry to hear the proscenium is no longer in view.

Chris Crompton

John Fink on July 3, 2005 at 1:52 pm

I figure they’re only using about half the theatre in the current configuration, whats behind those two theatres downstairs, is it being used? If so they can atleast put in two more screens (with stadium seating probably) or, even better take down that sad screen in the balcony and recreate the balcony with this new space with a huge new screen- that’d be the way to go.

Still, I admire that this the loby is pretty much nicely in tact.

teecee on June 30, 2005 at 5:36 pm

The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), March 25, 2003 p022
No reason to change this story line; Entrepreneur to stay with alternative films. (COUNTY NEWS)

Byline: LAWRENCE RAGONESE

Sitting in semi-darkness in the cavernous Wellmont Theatre in Montclair before opening time on Tuesday, Gary Heckel talked animatedly about recent sleeper movie hits like “Rabbit Proof Fence,” “Mostly Martha,” “Y Tu Mama Tambien,” and “Frida.”

Heckel, general manager of the small Roberts Theatre movie chain, says these are the type of art house and independent flicks his mentor, the late Bob Roberts, brought to North Jersey for three decades. His Lost Picture Show in Union gave audiences intelligent, thought-provoking alternatives to Hollywood blockbusters, he said.

When Roberts died in November, at 74, he was mourned by film lovers, who feared his effort to raise the cinematic bar in the Garden State might die with him. Not so, said Heckel, who is pledging to keep Roberts' cinematic spirit alive. When his former boss' estate is settled in the next few months, Heckel said, he will be in charge of the movie chain, which he vowed will remain an oasis for North Jersey film lovers who are seeking an alternative to big-budget, big-action Hollywood fare.

“We will not change what we are doing – never, never,” said Heckel, whose tiny empire includes just three theaters – the four-screen Wellmont in Montclair, the two-screen Lost Picture Show now located in Bloomfield, and the Chatham Cinema in Chatham Township, one of a handful of single-screen theaters left in New Jersey.

“We are committed to this type of movie and to our customers. A lot of the people who come here to the Wellmont or Chatham know our names, and we know them by name. It’s like a family,” Heckel said recently at the Wellmont, a once-spectacular music hall dating to the 1920s.

Most of the state’s multiplexes concentrate on big budget Hollywood films, hoping to lure huge audiences.

Meanwhile, some critically acclaimed and even Oscar-nominated “art films” are found only at a handful of specialty theaters in Chatham, Princeton, Red Bank, Rocky Hill and Montclair – a haven for art film lovers with three art houses.

“The Quiet American,” for which Michael Caine was nominated for best actor, has played for several weeks at the Chatham Cinema. Until recently it was the lone Northwest Jersey venue for the critically acclaimed film.

“I wish there were more theaters like this,” said Marie Healy of Basking Ridge. She and her husband, Brian, are regular customers at the Chatham theater, especially when they play French films.

“We’re glad it’s here,” agreed Linda Votto of Chester, who also sought out the Michael Caine movie in Chatham last Wednesday.

Making a living with these types of films, however, is not easy, said Albert Nigrin, executive director and curator of the Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center.

“It’s an ebb and flow type of thing. Art houses have to juggle their schedules, sometimes bring in bigger movies, to survive,” said Nigrin. “I’m glad Mr. Roberts has left this to us.”

Roberts was a colorful character with a background as a radio host and television, theater and movie producer. He started acquiring movie theaters in New Jersey in the 1980s, when he opened the original Lost Picture Show as one of the state’s first art movie houses.

Heckel, whose family owned the Grove Theater in Irvington when he was a child, connected with Roberts accidentally when he took a fill-in projectionist job at the Chatham theater some 20 years ago. He later became manager of the Wellmont and a now-defunct Oakland movie house before becoming general manager for Roberts Theatres in 1988.

“Bob (Roberts) was not a follower; he was a leader, an innovator,” Heckel said as he fed film into a projector last week. “He was not afraid to try something new or different, to take a risk with a film.”

Heckel explained that audiences drawn to art films tend to be a little older and more sophisticated, and more forgiving of venues that don’t have the amenities of mall megaplexes, like new chairs that rock, cup holders, and digital sound. They are willing to travel to find a special film and tend to be loyal customers, as Roberts understood.

“He picked a winning formula. No reason to change it,” said Heckel, who said there is money to be made in the art/independent film business – to a point. “Running a theater with this type of film draws a steady stream of people. But I can assure you I will not become as rich as Donald Trump,” he laughed.

Lawrence Ragonese is a reporter in the Morris County bureau. He can be reached at lragonese@starled ger.com or at (973) 539-7910.

CAPTION(S):

1. Gary Heckel, shown in a theater in Montclair, says he will be true to the legacy of his mentor, the late Bob Roberts, who gave audiences thoughtful alternatives to Hollywood blockbuster movies.

2. TYSON TRISH/FOR THE STAR-LEDGER

Article CJ99162787

micohen on November 12, 2004 at 10:30 pm

I attended this theater often when I lived in the Montclair area in the mid-90s. Somehow it could never seem to attract a crowd of more than 10 people for any show, even on weekends. Hard to say why, but the moving the marquee from Bloomfield Avenue to the minor side street probably didn’t help. I think the parking situation wasn’t so great either. The theater management seemed to like, even cultivate, its low-key status. And it’s still around – go figure!

joemasher on March 31, 2004 at 4:02 pm

The theatre was built by the Stanley Company and was later operated by Fabian Theatres. The original entrance was on Bloomfield Ave, but in the late 70’s when the theatre was triplexed, the entrance was moved around the corner to the lobby emergency exit. The original lobby is now a diner. If you see a movie here, be sure to only see one in the balcony. Up at the front you will see the proscenium hidden in the dark. The two downstairs theatres are shoeboxes with tiny screens under the balcony. The theatre is now operated by Roberts Theatres; you can see some photos of it at www.robertstheatres.com