Bravo to a_projectionist!!! He hit the nail sqaurely on the head. This has been my gripe for years. Before you were a showman, now we are just button pushers. All the joy is gone. And this past weekend, I ran my very first digital projector. Now I dont want to sound anti-digital, but its too bright, too antiseptic for me. And its so easy, that once the conversions are done, what few projectionists are left will be gone for good. I’m sure many of the folks on this site will agree with me. 2 projectors and changeovers. The way FILMS were meant to be shown, by true movie professionals.
You should suggest that they find a way to keep old movies on film by striking new prints, instead of everything going to digital, which most rep houses are never going to install.
I hope I’m wrong, but watch this once mighty distributor go down the tubes. They already said they dont want to print anymore film prints for reportory. They said as the prints get unrunable, they just make them digital.
A friend of mine asked me if I knew about a theatre being built near the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel. Is this Kerasotes Showplace 14 the one he could be referring to? Also, with Muvicos money woes, I guess someone else will be finishing the plex in Xanadu. (If Xanadu itself ever gets finished)
I remember my father who was a projectionist at the Royal Theatre around the corner telling me that this theatre started to show porno around 1971. His childhood buddy Nick was the projectionist at this place during that time, and they would carpool together to work, since they set their schedule to work the same days and hours. They bothb left the 2 theatres to open up the brand new Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema in Carteret N.J. in June 1972.
The theatre is currently undergoing a complete renovation. All new seats, new carpets, new concession area, and 2 digital projectors. The 2 theatres in the old balcony have been given new floor plan so there are less seats, but more leg room. Scheduled to re-open on Friday March 27.
What other theatres in Edison, Justin??? You dont mean that hunk of junk on Oak Tree Road that Clearview used to run, that now shows Bollywood films on 6 of the 8 screens?? And I like the theatre in Menlo Park. I remember when it was built, I was there for 3 weeks helping to install all the screens. What that theatre needs is some TLC, which they wont get from AMC.
I’m sorry screeningroom, because for me as the house projectionist, it means not only a days pay lost, but also more important, the joy of running reel-to-reel the way film should be shown. The problem is that the sponser only gave the theatre so much money to work with. I’ve been told that to ship the film prints back and forth costs a lot, and it chews the budget up. I agree that if its advertised as a FILM series, then it should be shown on FILM. But most of todays public, except for us true film and palace lovers here on CT, most people today dont know or care if its film or video. And thats really the true sadness of it all.
Barry M,
When you get to be as old as I am, and worked in more theatres than you could imagine, sometimes dates become a blur. You were right. The theatre closed on Feb 2, 1980. I looked back in my numerous logs and realized my mistake. Sorry.
It would be great if Warner brothers would strike a few new prints of Woodstock and run them in some old large palaces like the Ziegfeld in New York, the Ritz in Elizabeth New Jersey, and even the Montauk in Passaic New Jersey. I’ll bet if it was advertized the right way you could pack these houses. And do it on the 40th anniversary weekend in August. Maybe even tie in with Q104.3 in the city. Just a thought.
Columbia won’t allow it. Its the same at the joint I work at here in New Jersey. I think after 4 weeks they will allow bargain days, but by then the movie is dead anyway.
Oh I know my friend Vito will run circles around me. Still its nice for me to be able to say I ran a single screen, a multiplex and I ran them with pride. Even today, as times change, I still try my best, with what I am given to put on a 100% perfect presentation.
7 years. Think of how I feel after 34 years. I started with 20 min reels, then 60 min reels, then platters, next IMAX, now digital. AND I’m only 50 years old. Think of what else I may see in my lifetime.
I know you’re not blaming me Bob, and believe me I’m not taking it that way. I can only tell them what to do, how to do, and hope they do. Beyond that, Oh well…
As I said elsewhere here on CT, if the Ritz in Elizabeth ever gets going, and I have a say in the projection, well I will bring in anyone who wants to help do it right. From start to finish.
Again Bob, this venues main fare is stage. And I don’t think they have a bonafide film programmer. They are given a very small budget to work with, and try to make it work. I know part of the problem is the cost of shipping the films. And I agree with you about Zhivago. I remember running it when I first became a projectionist in ‘76. What I did with that intermission, and curtains , it was remarkable. And I know the Union County Arts Center also ran it a few years back, and had a decent print. But I am just the house projectionist, and do what I can, with what I have.
Exactly 5 years ago this weekend, March 7, Clearview kicked the union projectionists out of this theatre and Edison, and with it, the best presentations they would ever have. I can only imagine what it must be like now, 5 years later.
That sound you hear is the once mighty Redstone empire slowly crumbling away.
Bravo to a_projectionist!!! He hit the nail sqaurely on the head. This has been my gripe for years. Before you were a showman, now we are just button pushers. All the joy is gone. And this past weekend, I ran my very first digital projector. Now I dont want to sound anti-digital, but its too bright, too antiseptic for me. And its so easy, that once the conversions are done, what few projectionists are left will be gone for good. I’m sure many of the folks on this site will agree with me. 2 projectors and changeovers. The way FILMS were meant to be shown, by true movie professionals.
And as of this weekend, Digital projection on 2 of its screens.
Wish someone would buy the Ritz in Elizabeth N.J. instead of it sitting there doing nothing.
You should suggest that they find a way to keep old movies on film by striking new prints, instead of everything going to digital, which most rep houses are never going to install.
Sad.
I hope I’m wrong, but watch this once mighty distributor go down the tubes. They already said they dont want to print anymore film prints for reportory. They said as the prints get unrunable, they just make them digital.
Sad to say, but just another sign of the times.
A friend of mine asked me if I knew about a theatre being built near the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel. Is this Kerasotes Showplace 14 the one he could be referring to? Also, with Muvicos money woes, I guess someone else will be finishing the plex in Xanadu. (If Xanadu itself ever gets finished)
I remember my father who was a projectionist at the Royal Theatre around the corner telling me that this theatre started to show porno around 1971. His childhood buddy Nick was the projectionist at this place during that time, and they would carpool together to work, since they set their schedule to work the same days and hours. They bothb left the 2 theatres to open up the brand new Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema in Carteret N.J. in June 1972.
The theatre is currently undergoing a complete renovation. All new seats, new carpets, new concession area, and 2 digital projectors. The 2 theatres in the old balcony have been given new floor plan so there are less seats, but more leg room. Scheduled to re-open on Friday March 27.
And to my friend christophersepp, I wake up every day hoping things go back to the way they once were, but as you said, I think its just a pipe dream.
What other theatres in Edison, Justin??? You dont mean that hunk of junk on Oak Tree Road that Clearview used to run, that now shows Bollywood films on 6 of the 8 screens?? And I like the theatre in Menlo Park. I remember when it was built, I was there for 3 weeks helping to install all the screens. What that theatre needs is some TLC, which they wont get from AMC.
I’m sorry screeningroom, because for me as the house projectionist, it means not only a days pay lost, but also more important, the joy of running reel-to-reel the way film should be shown. The problem is that the sponser only gave the theatre so much money to work with. I’ve been told that to ship the film prints back and forth costs a lot, and it chews the budget up. I agree that if its advertised as a FILM series, then it should be shown on FILM. But most of todays public, except for us true film and palace lovers here on CT, most people today dont know or care if its film or video. And thats really the true sadness of it all.
Barry M,
When you get to be as old as I am, and worked in more theatres than you could imagine, sometimes dates become a blur. You were right. The theatre closed on Feb 2, 1980. I looked back in my numerous logs and realized my mistake. Sorry.
It would be great if Warner brothers would strike a few new prints of Woodstock and run them in some old large palaces like the Ziegfeld in New York, the Ritz in Elizabeth New Jersey, and even the Montauk in Passaic New Jersey. I’ll bet if it was advertized the right way you could pack these houses. And do it on the 40th anniversary weekend in August. Maybe even tie in with Q104.3 in the city. Just a thought.
Does anyone have any photo’s so we could see how bad the damage is?
Columbia won’t allow it. Its the same at the joint I work at here in New Jersey. I think after 4 weeks they will allow bargain days, but by then the movie is dead anyway.
Oh I know my friend Vito will run circles around me. Still its nice for me to be able to say I ran a single screen, a multiplex and I ran them with pride. Even today, as times change, I still try my best, with what I am given to put on a 100% perfect presentation.
7 years. Think of how I feel after 34 years. I started with 20 min reels, then 60 min reels, then platters, next IMAX, now digital. AND I’m only 50 years old. Think of what else I may see in my lifetime.
Now this is an idea I like. I’d like to see more theatres do this.
I know you’re not blaming me Bob, and believe me I’m not taking it that way. I can only tell them what to do, how to do, and hope they do. Beyond that, Oh well…
As I said elsewhere here on CT, if the Ritz in Elizabeth ever gets going, and I have a say in the projection, well I will bring in anyone who wants to help do it right. From start to finish.
I was just informed this morning that “Titanic” will now be a DVD and not 35MM. Sorry folks.
Again Bob, this venues main fare is stage. And I don’t think they have a bonafide film programmer. They are given a very small budget to work with, and try to make it work. I know part of the problem is the cost of shipping the films. And I agree with you about Zhivago. I remember running it when I first became a projectionist in ‘76. What I did with that intermission, and curtains , it was remarkable. And I know the Union County Arts Center also ran it a few years back, and had a decent print. But I am just the house projectionist, and do what I can, with what I have.
Exactly 5 years ago this weekend, March 7, Clearview kicked the union projectionists out of this theatre and Edison, and with it, the best presentations they would ever have. I can only imagine what it must be like now, 5 years later.