When I was first getting into the business as a union projectionist 33 years ago, I had the pleasure, though short, to work some of the old Walter Reade theatres still left. He had the right idea as far as screen masking. 2 motors instead of one. When we went from our “flat” ratio of 1.75:1 to our “scope” ratio of 2.35:1, we pushed one button on the booth wall, and the side maskings would open about 8 to 10 feet on each side, and the top masking came down about 2 to 3 feet. I know when I sat there and watched movies, and seeing that transformation from the trailers to the feature, I still get breathless thinking about it today. Oh yes, and by the way, this was in a sloped theatre, no balcony, and 1375 seats, with aisles along the outer wall, and ¼ of the way in from the outer wall, NO center aisle, the best viewing in any theatre. And as TheatreBuff1 stated above, we had a beautiful red curtain that opened and closed, no cheesey slides or trivia or any of the crap you see today, in all these modern sheetrock broom closets they build. So everyone wants to know whats wrong with the industry? Well, we’re all here on CT talking about the grand palaces of yesterday, you just got the answer.
To Ziegfeld Man: Once I can get the current owners to pony up some greenbacks, we will work on those classics for you, and you’ll have a choice of 1 of the 2770 seats. Hang in there.
To Bill Huelbig: Thank God the Fishers never allowed this place to be twinned!!! Could you imagine…
Well at least LuisV sort of understands where I’m coming from. As HowardBHass said today in an earlier post, saying former disgruntled employees do the bashing, I have long since moved on from my days with Jimmy Dolan and his band of pencil pushers. And I love old movie palaces as much as all of you. If not I wouldn’t have been in the business for the past 33 years. My point is that everything the Dolans seem to get their hands on turns to you know what. And if their Rainbow division ever gets sold as was talked about in the past, that will probably be the end of clearview. I know what it is to work with these people, trust me.
I was not bashing Howard, but you were not put out to the unemployment line like I was by this wonderful company. Thats why I feel this way. Give them 150% and they give you a pink slip. As long as Jimmy Dolan and his band of pencil pushers own this place, its in danger!!!
Lets hope they still have UNION projectionists running the classics, not like all the other clearviews in Ney York state and New Jersey, where they threw us out to the curb. Otherwise that new print will be trash reel quick
I read an article on page 2 of saturday March 15 New York Post, which states that the boro president of Brooklyn wants this theatre renovated by 2010. The city is supposed to be getting bids on the cost of renovation, in the neighborhood of $70 million. Lets hope it gets done this time. 30 years is long enough to wait.
Its been 4 years since Clearview kicked us UNION projectionists out of here, but if memory serves me, the seat counts were as follows, (or pretty close)
Cinema 1 320 seats
Cinema 2 292
Cinema 3 265
Cinema 4 156
Cinema 5 193
Cinema 6 193
Cinema 7 155
Cinema 8 312
Cinema 9 292
Cinema 10 320
I remember when I was there with my partner, we always had 100% perfect projection. I don’t know what its like now, since I’ve been gone for the past 4 years. This is one theatre, that in all my 33 years of being a projectionist, that I can say I really miss working in. But Jimmy Dolan and his band of pencil pushers came in, and out we went. So I have moved on to other theatres, both film and stage, where I can say I am appreciated for what I do, not looked at as a liability, like it was here.
Sorry to say passaic kid, but as former New York City mayor Ed Koch said in 1978, “ it never was,” and that’s the sad truth. The people and politicians of this once great town do not think in terms as “it was”, only in terms of “how it can be”, wouldn’t you agree? And
“how it can be” , quite frankly stinks.
True Peter. By the way, how is Nelson, and how are your festivals up in the Layfayette going? Great I hope. Now if someday, I can figure out a way to get the owners of the Ritz in Elizabeth, N.J. to do something, there would be another Cinema Treasure showing ‘movies the way they were meant to be’.
So true jwr. And in todays multiplex, where there are very few true union projectionists left, nobody cares. All they have are kids and managers who have to count money running the booth, and as I’ve said many times, if you wear more than 1 hat, every job suffers. (framing and focus etc.)
I also worked here as a projectionist in the 80’s. General Cinema re-opened the place on June 10, 1977. Last 3 movies to play on the BIG screen, before closing in Sept 1977 for twinning were, “Rollercoaster”, in Sensuround, “Smokey and the Bandit”, and “The Last Remake of Beau Geste”.
Hey Mikeoaklandpark, don’t go to Wildwood now or you’ll lose your lunch. The old Shore Twins was demolished, and is just a big dirt lot. Only theatre left is the Strand which looks like hell from the boardwalk.
When I was first getting into the business as a union projectionist 33 years ago, I had the pleasure, though short, to work some of the old Walter Reade theatres still left. He had the right idea as far as screen masking. 2 motors instead of one. When we went from our “flat” ratio of 1.75:1 to our “scope” ratio of 2.35:1, we pushed one button on the booth wall, and the side maskings would open about 8 to 10 feet on each side, and the top masking came down about 2 to 3 feet. I know when I sat there and watched movies, and seeing that transformation from the trailers to the feature, I still get breathless thinking about it today. Oh yes, and by the way, this was in a sloped theatre, no balcony, and 1375 seats, with aisles along the outer wall, and ¼ of the way in from the outer wall, NO center aisle, the best viewing in any theatre. And as TheatreBuff1 stated above, we had a beautiful red curtain that opened and closed, no cheesey slides or trivia or any of the crap you see today, in all these modern sheetrock broom closets they build. So everyone wants to know whats wrong with the industry? Well, we’re all here on CT talking about the grand palaces of yesterday, you just got the answer.
To Ziegfeld Man: Once I can get the current owners to pony up some greenbacks, we will work on those classics for you, and you’ll have a choice of 1 of the 2770 seats. Hang in there.
To Bill Huelbig: Thank God the Fishers never allowed this place to be twinned!!! Could you imagine…
Well at least LuisV sort of understands where I’m coming from. As HowardBHass said today in an earlier post, saying former disgruntled employees do the bashing, I have long since moved on from my days with Jimmy Dolan and his band of pencil pushers. And I love old movie palaces as much as all of you. If not I wouldn’t have been in the business for the past 33 years. My point is that everything the Dolans seem to get their hands on turns to you know what. And if their Rainbow division ever gets sold as was talked about in the past, that will probably be the end of clearview. I know what it is to work with these people, trust me.
And I almost forgot, I am helping to restore movies to a historic theatre, the Ritz in Elizabeth N.J.
I was not bashing Howard, but you were not put out to the unemployment line like I was by this wonderful company. Thats why I feel this way. Give them 150% and they give you a pink slip. As long as Jimmy Dolan and his band of pencil pushers own this place, its in danger!!!
Knowing Clearview, don’t bet on it.
Is it possible, that almost 30 years later, something, ANYTHING, might finally be getting started to save this once grand treasure?
Lets hope they still have UNION projectionists running the classics, not like all the other clearviews in Ney York state and New Jersey, where they threw us out to the curb. Otherwise that new print will be trash reel quick
Tuesday March 18,2008, New York Post, movie times listing: Ridgewood Theatre, call theatre for schedule,….That’s all folks.
Basically the same things were said in the Post article. FINALLY, after 30 years could it be???…
No arguement here Luis. What we need here, and around the country is for not one more palace to ever be demolished again.
I read an article on page 2 of saturday March 15 New York Post, which states that the boro president of Brooklyn wants this theatre renovated by 2010. The city is supposed to be getting bids on the cost of renovation, in the neighborhood of $70 million. Lets hope it gets done this time. 30 years is long enough to wait.
As per ADA, they would have to put wheelchair spaces somewhere or face some hefty fines.
Its been 4 years since Clearview kicked us UNION projectionists out of here, but if memory serves me, the seat counts were as follows, (or pretty close)
Cinema 1 320 seats
Cinema 2 292
Cinema 3 265
Cinema 4 156
Cinema 5 193
Cinema 6 193
Cinema 7 155
Cinema 8 312
Cinema 9 292
Cinema 10 320
I remember when I was there with my partner, we always had 100% perfect projection. I don’t know what its like now, since I’ve been gone for the past 4 years. This is one theatre, that in all my 33 years of being a projectionist, that I can say I really miss working in. But Jimmy Dolan and his band of pencil pushers came in, and out we went. So I have moved on to other theatres, both film and stage, where I can say I am appreciated for what I do, not looked at as a liability, like it was here.
Actually Justin, they pay nothing. All those materials are provided to the theatres by the distributors. All the theatres have to do is request them.
Oh yes, you had to love those urban renewal projects of the 60’s. Just look at how many theatres were lost in New York City because of it.
Sorry to say passaic kid, but as former New York City mayor Ed Koch said in 1978, “ it never was,” and that’s the sad truth. The people and politicians of this once great town do not think in terms as “it was”, only in terms of “how it can be”, wouldn’t you agree? And
“how it can be” , quite frankly stinks.
Great job. Movies shown the way they were meant to be!!!!!!!
Another one bites the dust.
Hope somebody can save this treasure.
As Justin already knows, I couldn’t agree with you more Mark Campbell.
True Peter. By the way, how is Nelson, and how are your festivals up in the Layfayette going? Great I hope. Now if someday, I can figure out a way to get the owners of the Ritz in Elizabeth, N.J. to do something, there would be another Cinema Treasure showing ‘movies the way they were meant to be’.
So true jwr. And in todays multiplex, where there are very few true union projectionists left, nobody cares. All they have are kids and managers who have to count money running the booth, and as I’ve said many times, if you wear more than 1 hat, every job suffers. (framing and focus etc.)
I also worked here as a projectionist in the 80’s. General Cinema re-opened the place on June 10, 1977. Last 3 movies to play on the BIG screen, before closing in Sept 1977 for twinning were, “Rollercoaster”, in Sensuround, “Smokey and the Bandit”, and “The Last Remake of Beau Geste”.
Hey Mikeoaklandpark, don’t go to Wildwood now or you’ll lose your lunch. The old Shore Twins was demolished, and is just a big dirt lot. Only theatre left is the Strand which looks like hell from the boardwalk.