Hey saps, when the theatre I worked at a few years back was converted to IMAX, the screen was only marginally bigger than the original 35MM screen, however, they moved the screen about 30 feet closer to the audience, so it appeared to be bigger, and of course, they felt like they in the movie.
Hey MovieManBill, as of today 9/17/08 the building is still standing, however, it is empty and abandoned. Its a shame, because I was one of the projectionists there from 1985 till its closing. I remember those sold out shows. It will be cheaper to tear this one down and build a new one from scratch, but I don’t know if the company is going to do this or not. I work for an independant theatre now, and I am far removed from my Amboys days and the company as well.
Now isn’t that something that we are now seeing 13 screen multiplexes closing down. It use to be that people told me you cant make money with a single or a twin, now, in the year 2008, I guess the saying is you cant make money with 13 screens. What next?
Hi newt, movie 534 here, just curious, what is your projection equipment there. Is it still 20 minute reels and carbon arc, or have you upgraded to 6000 foot reels and xenon? I hope that the theatre I have been involved with, the Ritz in Elizabeth gets sold soon, so maybe I can get some classics going there. We have 2 brinkerts with peerless carbon arc for light. The booth needs some work, but with the impending sale, everything is on hold.
Also Tom, perhaps you could check, but if memory serves me, from the days my dad was an IA projectionist, (as I am today) in Paramus, there was the Stanley Warner Theatre that had the 70MM Star wars in 1977, and there was also the Stanley Warner Route 4 Theatre, as well as the Century Theatre on route 17 you refer to above. I seem to remember the SW and Rte 4 being next to each other, then eventually being combined to form the 10-plex. I could be wrong, but you might know.
Great job Tom. I’ve heard of occasions around the country, not just in the 60’s, but even now in the 2000’s where a theatre needed so many parking spaces per so many seats. Could you imagine if that was the case in New York City with Radio City or the Roxy?
I know in its last days it was a porno theatre, this is true. But still that building has so many features built into it you dont see anymore. What a waste to see yet another old palace turn into rubble. Lets hope somehow it gets a new lease on life.
Hi Tom. Here in New Jersey, while not as large as you posted above, during the early 60’s, we had 3 theatres built within a 5 mile radius of each other that were quite large. The General Cinema Menlo Park was originally 1700 seats before twinning. The National General (later Mann) Fox Theatre in Woodbridge was 1800 seats, and the Walter Reade (later GCC) in Woodbridge was 1550 seats before twinning. You could start on Rte 1 from the Reade, drive south 2 miles to the Fox and then drive another 1 ¼ miles to the Menlo Park. All three were built between 1961 and 1964.
Hi cyNdi, nice to see someone saving, instead of destroying drive-ins. On a seperate note, did you find out anything about the 2 theatres I told you about in a seperate post, the Ritz in Elizabeth N.J. and the Forum in Metuchen, N.J.?
Once again, amazing to see runs of 30, 40 50, even 70 weeks or more. And these all played in theatres with thousands, not hundreds (if that nowadays, some even 100 or less) of seats. And all performances were probably filled. Truly a great time in a great era for movies.
Hi Luis, if all the beautiful theatres that were lost to demolishon in the city would have been landmarked, they would still be here. Thats the greatest sin of all, is that the Roxy and Capitol, and even the Rivoli are gone. Nobody cared back then.
Although I live on the east coast, it is a shame to hear another wonderful person from the ‘good old days’ has passed. William could not have said it better. “Executives like him are no longer around in these companies,” and that is whats wrong with the industry today. Rest in peace Mr. Hertz.
Whats an even bigger waste is the fact that they tore down a grand old palace (even after twinning) for something that barely lasted 20 years total. And after the 4-plex opened, all it accomplished was insulting the great name “Loews State”.
I know from the days my dad used to work there, that the General Cinema Menlo Park in Edison N.J. had a screen that was 30'X 65' prior to its twinning in 1976. Although not quite as large, the former National General Fox Theatre in Woodbridge N.J. had a 58' wide curved screen, and the Walter Reade in Woodbridge, prior to GCC taking it over and twinning it, had a 55' wide screen, with both moveable top and side maskings. Great theatres, great screens, great times. Nothing today compares, I’m sorry.
Great to see something as wonderful as this still surviving in 2008. As a longtime projectionist of over 30 years, I’m curios if they still do reel-to-reel changeovers (be it 2000 or 6000 foot reels) or did they install a platter. Either way, its still great to see a single screener survive. Here’s to another 60 years
Another in a long list of Redstones old drive-in properties that will sit empty. In the past few years Atco, along with the Amboys and All-Jersey (former Newark Drive-in) have now closed, and as of this post, the latter 2 still sit vacant and boarded up.
As the 1001st post for the beautiful Roxy, all I can say is, after viewing those photo’s…how in the world anyone could have let a treasure like that be destroyed is unimaginable. Generations from now, people will still be asking why, and what for. I’m only sorry I was too young to ever see it.
Hi CyNdi, local directory has the number for the 500 seater as 732-548-0582. I did not try it, and seeing I just got home from work, I will research this further in the morning.
Hi Bob, congrats on being the 1000th comment for the Loews Jersey. On a seperate note, a mutual friend of ours, Bernie A. told me the horror stories you guys had when work first started years ago. I can relate. I remember the first time I walked into the projection room at the Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth N.J. Dead birds, junk, etc. I worked for months cleaning it up. Now the place is for sale, but the booth isnt finished. It makes me sick when I read of how all these old palaces are treated and let to rot.
Hey CyNdI, in addition to that 2800 seat beauty I told you about in Elizabeth N.J., about 25 miles south of there is a 500 seater in Metuchen N.J. that also sits unused. I really hope something happens with one or both. I worked in both many years ago, and live locally to both, and willing to help get em up and running again.
Hey saps, when the theatre I worked at a few years back was converted to IMAX, the screen was only marginally bigger than the original 35MM screen, however, they moved the screen about 30 feet closer to the audience, so it appeared to be bigger, and of course, they felt like they in the movie.
Hey MovieManBill, as of today 9/17/08 the building is still standing, however, it is empty and abandoned. Its a shame, because I was one of the projectionists there from 1985 till its closing. I remember those sold out shows. It will be cheaper to tear this one down and build a new one from scratch, but I don’t know if the company is going to do this or not. I work for an independant theatre now, and I am far removed from my Amboys days and the company as well.
Not surprised its closing, from the details of the article, it sounds as if it was very poorly operated.
Now isn’t that something that we are now seeing 13 screen multiplexes closing down. It use to be that people told me you cant make money with a single or a twin, now, in the year 2008, I guess the saying is you cant make money with 13 screens. What next?
Hi newt, movie 534 here, just curious, what is your projection equipment there. Is it still 20 minute reels and carbon arc, or have you upgraded to 6000 foot reels and xenon? I hope that the theatre I have been involved with, the Ritz in Elizabeth gets sold soon, so maybe I can get some classics going there. We have 2 brinkerts with peerless carbon arc for light. The booth needs some work, but with the impending sale, everything is on hold.
Also Tom, perhaps you could check, but if memory serves me, from the days my dad was an IA projectionist, (as I am today) in Paramus, there was the Stanley Warner Theatre that had the 70MM Star wars in 1977, and there was also the Stanley Warner Route 4 Theatre, as well as the Century Theatre on route 17 you refer to above. I seem to remember the SW and Rte 4 being next to each other, then eventually being combined to form the 10-plex. I could be wrong, but you might know.
Great job Tom. I’ve heard of occasions around the country, not just in the 60’s, but even now in the 2000’s where a theatre needed so many parking spaces per so many seats. Could you imagine if that was the case in New York City with Radio City or the Roxy?
I know in its last days it was a porno theatre, this is true. But still that building has so many features built into it you dont see anymore. What a waste to see yet another old palace turn into rubble. Lets hope somehow it gets a new lease on life.
Hi Tom. Here in New Jersey, while not as large as you posted above, during the early 60’s, we had 3 theatres built within a 5 mile radius of each other that were quite large. The General Cinema Menlo Park was originally 1700 seats before twinning. The National General (later Mann) Fox Theatre in Woodbridge was 1800 seats, and the Walter Reade (later GCC) in Woodbridge was 1550 seats before twinning. You could start on Rte 1 from the Reade, drive south 2 miles to the Fox and then drive another 1 ¼ miles to the Menlo Park. All three were built between 1961 and 1964.
Hi cyNdi, nice to see someone saving, instead of destroying drive-ins. On a seperate note, did you find out anything about the 2 theatres I told you about in a seperate post, the Ritz in Elizabeth N.J. and the Forum in Metuchen, N.J.?
Once again, amazing to see runs of 30, 40 50, even 70 weeks or more. And these all played in theatres with thousands, not hundreds (if that nowadays, some even 100 or less) of seats. And all performances were probably filled. Truly a great time in a great era for movies.
I do wish this theatre, along with the Paramount a few blocks away could be revived, but I dont know…
Indeed Luis, the Paramount is doing some shows. I just worked on a few concerts there within the past month.
Hi Luis, if all the beautiful theatres that were lost to demolishon in the city would have been landmarked, they would still be here. Thats the greatest sin of all, is that the Roxy and Capitol, and even the Rivoli are gone. Nobody cared back then.
Although I live on the east coast, it is a shame to hear another wonderful person from the ‘good old days’ has passed. William could not have said it better. “Executives like him are no longer around in these companies,” and that is whats wrong with the industry today. Rest in peace Mr. Hertz.
Marble staircases, ornate ceilings made of marble and plaster, now thats a movie palace. It beats any of these sheetrock multiplexes they build today.
You are right Al, a new quad did sound great. Only problem was it was done all wrong.
Whats an even bigger waste is the fact that they tore down a grand old palace (even after twinning) for something that barely lasted 20 years total. And after the 4-plex opened, all it accomplished was insulting the great name “Loews State”.
I know from the days my dad used to work there, that the General Cinema Menlo Park in Edison N.J. had a screen that was 30'X 65' prior to its twinning in 1976. Although not quite as large, the former National General Fox Theatre in Woodbridge N.J. had a 58' wide curved screen, and the Walter Reade in Woodbridge, prior to GCC taking it over and twinning it, had a 55' wide screen, with both moveable top and side maskings. Great theatres, great screens, great times. Nothing today compares, I’m sorry.
Great to see something as wonderful as this still surviving in 2008. As a longtime projectionist of over 30 years, I’m curios if they still do reel-to-reel changeovers (be it 2000 or 6000 foot reels) or did they install a platter. Either way, its still great to see a single screener survive. Here’s to another 60 years
Another in a long list of Redstones old drive-in properties that will sit empty. In the past few years Atco, along with the Amboys and All-Jersey (former Newark Drive-in) have now closed, and as of this post, the latter 2 still sit vacant and boarded up.
As the 1001st post for the beautiful Roxy, all I can say is, after viewing those photo’s…how in the world anyone could have let a treasure like that be destroyed is unimaginable. Generations from now, people will still be asking why, and what for. I’m only sorry I was too young to ever see it.
Hi CyNdi, local directory has the number for the 500 seater as 732-548-0582. I did not try it, and seeing I just got home from work, I will research this further in the morning.
Hi Bob, congrats on being the 1000th comment for the Loews Jersey. On a seperate note, a mutual friend of ours, Bernie A. told me the horror stories you guys had when work first started years ago. I can relate. I remember the first time I walked into the projection room at the Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth N.J. Dead birds, junk, etc. I worked for months cleaning it up. Now the place is for sale, but the booth isnt finished. It makes me sick when I read of how all these old palaces are treated and let to rot.
Hey CyNdI, in addition to that 2800 seat beauty I told you about in Elizabeth N.J., about 25 miles south of there is a 500 seater in Metuchen N.J. that also sits unused. I really hope something happens with one or both. I worked in both many years ago, and live locally to both, and willing to help get em up and running again.