Mark the Projectionist here folks. This Sunday starting at 1 pm, we have 2 pristine prints of Sidney Poitier movies. At 1 pm “To Sir With Love”, and at 3:30 “In the Heat of the Night”, with organ playing between shows. Not to be missed. These prints are in tip top shape.
To help answer the question about 70MM, yes, the equipment is there for 70MM now. The one projector is the original Paris projector and a second similar one has been brought in. All sound amps etc are all installed. The only thing holding it back now is the lack of reels to mount the film onto. There are only 2 in the booth. We barely have enough reels for 35MM. These items are rare since everyone converted to digital about 10 years ago. All old equipment was sold for scrap.
SNdoniB_1999, I have spoken to someone and we will be able to film something in the projection room of my theatre before the showing of a film. Films resume in October. I will be in contact as we get closer.
SNdoniB_1999, Sounds good Im going thru a home renovation right now. How about in sept when the Union County Arts Center reopens and maybe we can do it in the projection room. Im sure Id have no problem doing it an hour or so before a movie. Things are quite busy for me right now. If things quiet down, my wife can figure out the zoom thing for me.
SNdoniB_1999, People have told me I should do that. Unfortunately Im not a computer wizard. I need help just to install an app. Maybe someday if someone was to sit down with me I could share my various stories with people. Ive run everything from G to XXX, so Ive seen it all.
CCMPI, thanks. Dad was a 55 year projectionist vet before passing away. Im in my 46th year. Im the house projectionist at the Union County Arts Center in Rahway NJ. We do 35MM screenings there. I also do 70MM movies for Warner Bros at the Regal E Walk and AMC Lincoln Square in NYC when they have them.
SNdoniB_1999, I have said I would love to see a 3 screen drive in put up there. But thats just me.
ridethectrain, As I recall, screens 3,4,5,7,8 and 13, 14 had dolby stereo stereo units that were there when I started. Theatre 7 (original Cinema 1 ) had 70MM. And Im with you. I couldnt stand those theatres they split. And when you spend 21 years working in a place, sometimes for 18 hours in a day, you tend to remember stuff like I do.
A few corrections to what was recently posted. As a projectionist here from 3/84 to 5/2005, The expansion dates after 1982 are wrong. They added 2 screens to the building and split 2 original theaters in late 1984 to go from 10 to 14. From 1985 on it was 14 screens.
As far as the collapse that closed it, it was never a sinking ceiling, but a sinking floor in the lobby around the concession stand that closed the building. There were many theories over the years but the most likely cause was a break in the sewer main from the restroom that eroded the fill under the lobby and caused the concrete floor to give way.
At the end Amboys was bleeding money.
Theatres like New Brunswick and Menlo Park, as well as the complexes in Staten Island killed the theatre. I know in its final years, I cant recall seeing a sell out. Its time had come. The floor collapse just caused the inevitable.
Even after all these years I still remember the seat counts:
162
212
350
350
520
520
528
512
234
10 246
11 246
12 234
13 528
14 528
Theatres 7 thru 14 were the original 1 thru 6. 9 and 10 and 11 and 12 were splits of the original 3 and 4. 5 and 6 were the first addition. 3 and 4 were the second addition and 1 and 2 were the last addition at the same time they did the splits.
Well on April 24, the new shiny replacement, now called the Carteret Performing Arts Center had a soft opening. I have not been in it, nor have I been asked to work there by the union. Im glad I was able to have the chance to be in the old Ritz before it was demolished a few years ago.
EsseXploreR, I knew that was coming. When I worked at the Arena on the next block, I could see the sag in the roof the past few years. I knew it was just a matter of time that this would happen. So sad.
nycman, I was a projectionist at 2 porn theatres from 1978 till 1990. The Sayrewoods in Old Bridge and Cinema 9 in Sayreville. Those were interesting times, Ill give you that.
Upcoming 35MM events: March 19, Caddyshack. April 3rd, old school Kung Fu double feature, (theatre rental, not part of the monthly classic series), and April 30, Wizard of Oz.
I will agree with you on one thing Teddybear35, I wouldnt live in Newark either. I wasnt crazy working there before the virus hit. You are right though. A lot of new buildings and old ones being renovated.
They should just give it up already. Its been closed for many years now, no one probably thinks about it anymore.
I wonder how things are going here. Someone asked me the other day if I knew when it was going to open.
The prints of “Strangers on a Train”, and “North by Northwest” are inspected and in pristine condition. Shows on July 22 and 23.
Mark the Projectionist here folks. This Sunday starting at 1 pm, we have 2 pristine prints of Sidney Poitier movies. At 1 pm “To Sir With Love”, and at 3:30 “In the Heat of the Night”, with organ playing between shows. Not to be missed. These prints are in tip top shape.
To help answer the question about 70MM, yes, the equipment is there for 70MM now. The one projector is the original Paris projector and a second similar one has been brought in. All sound amps etc are all installed. The only thing holding it back now is the lack of reels to mount the film onto. There are only 2 in the booth. We barely have enough reels for 35MM. These items are rare since everyone converted to digital about 10 years ago. All old equipment was sold for scrap.
vindanpar, I wonder if the organ survived the Floyd flood of 1999 when the Brook Theatre got flooded with 14 feet of water.
SNdoniB_1999, I have spoken to someone and we will be able to film something in the projection room of my theatre before the showing of a film. Films resume in October. I will be in contact as we get closer.
SNdoniB_1999, Sounds good Im going thru a home renovation right now. How about in sept when the Union County Arts Center reopens and maybe we can do it in the projection room. Im sure Id have no problem doing it an hour or so before a movie. Things are quite busy for me right now. If things quiet down, my wife can figure out the zoom thing for me.
SNdoniB_1999, People have told me I should do that. Unfortunately Im not a computer wizard. I need help just to install an app. Maybe someday if someone was to sit down with me I could share my various stories with people. Ive run everything from G to XXX, so Ive seen it all.
Rumor has it this theatre will not be reopening. I have not seen anything posted anywhere, just some chatter among fellow cinema geeks.
CCMPI, thanks. Dad was a 55 year projectionist vet before passing away. Im in my 46th year. Im the house projectionist at the Union County Arts Center in Rahway NJ. We do 35MM screenings there. I also do 70MM movies for Warner Bros at the Regal E Walk and AMC Lincoln Square in NYC when they have them.
SNdoniB_1999, I have said I would love to see a 3 screen drive in put up there. But thats just me. ridethectrain, As I recall, screens 3,4,5,7,8 and 13, 14 had dolby stereo stereo units that were there when I started. Theatre 7 (original Cinema 1 ) had 70MM. And Im with you. I couldnt stand those theatres they split. And when you spend 21 years working in a place, sometimes for 18 hours in a day, you tend to remember stuff like I do.
A few corrections to what was recently posted. As a projectionist here from 3/84 to 5/2005, The expansion dates after 1982 are wrong. They added 2 screens to the building and split 2 original theaters in late 1984 to go from 10 to 14. From 1985 on it was 14 screens.
As far as the collapse that closed it, it was never a sinking ceiling, but a sinking floor in the lobby around the concession stand that closed the building. There were many theories over the years but the most likely cause was a break in the sewer main from the restroom that eroded the fill under the lobby and caused the concrete floor to give way.
At the end Amboys was bleeding money.
Theatres like New Brunswick and Menlo Park, as well as the complexes in Staten Island killed the theatre. I know in its final years, I cant recall seeing a sell out. Its time had come. The floor collapse just caused the inevitable.
Even after all these years I still remember the seat counts:
Theatres 7 thru 14 were the original 1 thru 6. 9 and 10 and 11 and 12 were splits of the original 3 and 4. 5 and 6 were the first addition. 3 and 4 were the second addition and 1 and 2 were the last addition at the same time they did the splits.
bigjoe59, it does not have loading dock access on 43rd st. A city ordanance prevents loading and unloading on 42nd st.
49 year anniversary of its grand opening on this date.
42 years ago today The Empire Strikes Back opened in 70mm in Cinema 1.
Well on April 24, the new shiny replacement, now called the Carteret Performing Arts Center had a soft opening. I have not been in it, nor have I been asked to work there by the union. Im glad I was able to have the chance to be in the old Ritz before it was demolished a few years ago.
EsseXploreR, I knew that was coming. When I worked at the Arena on the next block, I could see the sag in the roof the past few years. I knew it was just a matter of time that this would happen. So sad.
Caddyshack print is inspected and is in very good condition. Oh and a side note, the kung fu double feature is cancelled.
nycman, I was a projectionist at 2 porn theatres from 1978 till 1990. The Sayrewoods in Old Bridge and Cinema 9 in Sayreville. Those were interesting times, Ill give you that.
Upcoming 35MM events: March 19, Caddyshack. April 3rd, old school Kung Fu double feature, (theatre rental, not part of the monthly classic series), and April 30, Wizard of Oz.
Nice crowd last night. Picture was blazing off the screen. Sound kicked butt. A very enjoyable night was had by all.
They are already making progress on the stagehouse. Once it gets to the auditorium forget it.
I will agree with you on one thing Teddybear35, I wouldnt live in Newark either. I wasnt crazy working there before the virus hit. You are right though. A lot of new buildings and old ones being renovated.
Seats were being sanitized as I left today to get ready for tomw show.