It is quite doubtful that the planned outlet mall will include a movie theater. Yes, it would be smart given the immense success of the current multiplex, but not likely to occur…
Supposed to be closing the end of the summmer or later depending on the approvals for the Paragon Outlet mall that is opening on this site.
Again, once this theater is gone, a huge void and opportunity exists for another exhibitor to open in the same area.
As of yesterday, their big 3 sided sign is advertising the Pargaon Outlet mall to open soon on this property.
A monumntal opportunity exists for another exhibitor to fill the void when this theater eventually closes.
This was probably one of Redstone’s top grossers in NY State if not beyond. Lost opportunities exist because a majority of other exhibitors fear opening in the Bronx. 150 single screens were operating in this borough during the 1960’s and the population now is even bigger so Bronx remains under screened for sure…
All excellent comments above!!! John Fink: FYI-Clearview Central Plaza in Yonkers went digital a long time ago as did their nearby Bronxville location. Both theaters remain quite viable.
Off topic, but has anybody heard if any other exhibitors are looking to open in the southeast Bronx now that the Whitestone Cinema property was sold??? The entire borough remains underscreened and a major opportunity exists for a progressive exhibitor seeking market share when the Whitestone is replaced with an outlet mall.
This theater is closing on June 24, 2012 as per a notice posted. Apparently this is a result of the newly opened competitior National Amusements Ridge Hill cinema.
It was reported just a few weeks back that Sundance has proposed opening a new multiplex here in Dobbs Ferry, NY, next to the Saw Mill Parkway, as part of a larger mixed use complex that seems to have the pending approval of the local municipality.
I still read your posts on Facebook and it’s always great hearing from you…really sorry your career ended the way it did and the non IATSE presentations continue to suffer, even in the big chains like Redstone.
FYI: Another retail developer wants to include a movie theater in the latest RFP’s submitted for the Kingsbridge Armory in Da' Bronx. National Amusements is the likley chain as they were interested last time around with this project. They are not doing so well on weekdays, but better with attendance on weekends at the new Ridge Hill, Yonkers location.
The latest Bronx HUB development plan does not include a theater this time, but did last time when Related Companies was chosen and backed out for reasons unknown. The chain was never identified, but I am betting it was Redstone..
Clearview Bronxville remains a strong arthouse and I predict it will be sold to another small chain. Hopfully, Central Plaza will too…
FYI: Clearview’s Bronxville and Central Plaza, Yonkers locations have held on despite the increased presence of National Amusements nearby. In fact, when General Cinema ran Central Plaza Cinema way back, it was their best grossing theater in NY State. However, with the recent opening of Redstone’s Ridge Hill, Yonkers location, this theater and Movieland next store may be
slightly affected as time goes on. I do agree with you that Clearview’s presentations stink with poorly lit screens most of the time. Hope these two theaters survive!!!
If the chain has no buyers, would Cablevision close these sites????
Justin,
According to Boxoffice magazine, the Paramu Tenplex seating was originally just over 1900 seats. And Century’s Paramus theater nearby seating was just over 1800 seats, not the 2000 appearing in their opening day newspaper ad. But when Boxoffice did a profile of that theater they mentioned 2000 seats…do building and fire inspectors actually count seats before issuing certiciates of occupancy??
Seriously, many zoning codes have seat to parking spot ratios that are required, so maybe some of the seat counts magically are altered in plans submitted for approval to municipalities. I have the dates of the boxoffice magazines if you want to verify the seat counts. The had a court battle over opening Century Paramus and the 1800 seat count was mentioned several times.
Their 18 plex in New Rochelle, NY is one of their top grossing theaters in the entire chain. They ran 24 hour shows of “The Dark Knight” during opening week. The theater is always crazy busy, too much for me at times, but they struck gold with this location.
Aren’t they partners in National Cine media and isn’t that venture a money maker??? Outside of trailers, why doesn’t Fathomevents ever advertise in newspapers??
Yes, Central Plaza was that BIG and Century’s Mall theater in nearby New Rochelle, NY seated about 12-1300. You might want to start a separate posting about 1960’s and 70’s single screen theaters that had large amounts of seating. One of the Century 1960’s theaters in Long Island ( possibly Valley Stream) had slightly over 2000 seats!!
General Cinema’s Menlo Park single screen in Edison, NJ probably was up there too with it’s huge original seat count.
Ross, thanks for your’s as well. My niece got it from one of the NYC university libraries above and I will likely scan or photocopy it as it is not of a high quality typeface to begin with. Many thanks for the tip on ProQuest…who are they anyway? A rare book source I suppose?
Many thanks again..both of you please drop me a line if you have any Westchester County theater questions not answered on this forum.
What ever happened to the projectionist union based in Mount Vernon?
I worked as an usher in the mid-1970’s at Hartsdale Cinema 2.
Bobbie Dente ran the union back then. How did the local lose control over the theaters? I thought there was a countywide fire code requiring licensed projectionists ???
The upstairs auditorium was known as the “Smoking Loge” and tickets for it costed about another 25 cents or so. The seats and armrests were much more cushioned than downstairs, and had little square attached metal ashtrays. Another vivid memory from this wonderful theater, was a big standee and petition against “Pay TV” during the mid-late 1960’s. Unique to this theater also, were Japanese films being shown Saturday mornings in the mid 1970’s to that ever growing population from the nearby Edgemont section of Greenburgh. And the theater architect would likely vomit blood if he saw this place now. The projection is never lit bright enough either.
Yes, the two level cascading fountain as to your left when you enter into the lobby up the stairs. I have so many fond memories of this theater from growing up to it from it’s opening in late 1966. For a modern theater, it was absolutely one of the best without a doubt until it was twinned in 1974. The lobby was so special with that water fall turned on. The lobby even had a mini art gallery way back and a plaque was hung up in memory ot Mr. Belmont who was the first manager later killed in a fatal car accident. The plaque donated by the employees is nowhere to be found. Belmont Ave in Yonkers is named after his family. All this I know since I had worked for General Cinema’s nearby Hartsdale Cinema Two just up the road.
Anytime I visit Central Plaza, it’s both saddening and irritating to see it needlessly ruined without the water fall, the classy haninging globe lights were removed, the window curtains taken out in place of garish black tint, and that opulent red carpeting was removed. Even the planter of fake plants on the landing of stairway leading to the second level were removed, leaving a disgusting empty space. How hard is it to maintain fake plants??? The rubber on the stairs reminds me of a gymnasium somewhere. Why did they remove the beautiful red carpet ?
Scott,
It is quite doubtful that the planned outlet mall will include a movie theater. Yes, it would be smart given the immense success of the current multiplex, but not likely to occur…
Supposed to be closing the end of the summmer or later depending on the approvals for the Paragon Outlet mall that is opening on this site. Again, once this theater is gone, a huge void and opportunity exists for another exhibitor to open in the same area.
As of yesterday, their big 3 sided sign is advertising the Pargaon Outlet mall to open soon on this property.
A monumntal opportunity exists for another exhibitor to fill the void when this theater eventually closes. This was probably one of Redstone’s top grossers in NY State if not beyond. Lost opportunities exist because a majority of other exhibitors fear opening in the Bronx. 150 single screens were operating in this borough during the 1960’s and the population now is even bigger so Bronx remains under screened for sure…
Heard from a Regal manager that they are taking over this location. Don’t know when this may occur or why AMC might be leaving.
All excellent comments above!!!
John Fink: FYI-Clearview Central Plaza in Yonkers went digital a long time ago as did their nearby Bronxville location. Both theaters remain quite viable.
Off topic, but has anybody heard if any other exhibitors are looking to open in the southeast Bronx now that the Whitestone Cinema property was sold??? The entire borough remains underscreened and a major opportunity exists for a progressive exhibitor seeking market share when the Whitestone is replaced with an outlet mall.
This theater is closing on June 24, 2012 as per a notice posted. Apparently this is a result of the newly opened competitior National Amusements Ridge Hill cinema.
John,
It was reported just a few weeks back that Sundance has proposed opening a new multiplex here in Dobbs Ferry, NY, next to the Saw Mill Parkway, as part of a larger mixed use complex that seems to have the pending approval of the local municipality.
Hey Mark,
I still read your posts on Facebook and it’s always great hearing from you…really sorry your career ended the way it did and the non IATSE presentations continue to suffer, even in the big chains like Redstone. FYI: Another retail developer wants to include a movie theater in the latest RFP’s submitted for the Kingsbridge Armory in Da' Bronx. National Amusements is the likley chain as they were interested last time around with this project. They are not doing so well on weekdays, but better with attendance on weekends at the new Ridge Hill, Yonkers location. The latest Bronx HUB development plan does not include a theater this time, but did last time when Related Companies was chosen and backed out for reasons unknown. The chain was never identified, but I am betting it was Redstone..
Clearview Bronxville remains a strong arthouse and I predict it will be sold to another small chain. Hopfully, Central Plaza will too…
John Fink,
FYI: Clearview’s Bronxville and Central Plaza, Yonkers locations have held on despite the increased presence of National Amusements nearby. In fact, when General Cinema ran Central Plaza Cinema way back, it was their best grossing theater in NY State. However, with the recent opening of Redstone’s Ridge Hill, Yonkers location, this theater and Movieland next store may be slightly affected as time goes on. I do agree with you that Clearview’s presentations stink with poorly lit screens most of the time. Hope these two theaters survive!!! If the chain has no buyers, would Cablevision close these sites????
movie534,
I have an IA related question for you…please private message me via
Thanks Much.
x
Justin,
According to Boxoffice magazine, the Paramu Tenplex seating was originally just over 1900 seats. And Century’s Paramus theater nearby seating was just over 1800 seats, not the 2000 appearing in their opening day newspaper ad. But when Boxoffice did a profile of that theater they mentioned 2000 seats…do building and fire inspectors actually count seats before issuing certiciates of occupancy??
Seriously, many zoning codes have seat to parking spot ratios that are required, so maybe some of the seat counts magically are altered in plans submitted for approval to municipalities. I have the dates of the boxoffice magazines if you want to verify the seat counts. The had a court battle over opening Century Paramus and the 1800 seat count was mentioned several times.
Their 18 plex in New Rochelle, NY is one of their top grossing theaters in the entire chain. They ran 24 hour shows of “The Dark Knight” during opening week. The theater is always crazy busy, too much for me at times, but they struck gold with this location.
Aren’t they partners in National Cine media and isn’t that venture a money maker??? Outside of trailers, why doesn’t Fathomevents ever advertise in newspapers??
stevebob,
Yes, Central Plaza was that BIG and Century’s Mall theater in nearby New Rochelle, NY seated about 12-1300. You might want to start a separate posting about 1960’s and 70’s single screen theaters that had large amounts of seating. One of the Century 1960’s theaters in Long Island ( possibly Valley Stream) had slightly over 2000 seats!!
General Cinema’s Menlo Park single screen in Edison, NJ probably was up there too with it’s huge original seat count.
longislandmovies,
Thanks for the reply. What is Renttrack please?
Googled them with no results.
Thanks
Warren, thanks for your informative reply.
Ross, thanks for your’s as well. My niece got it from one of the NYC university libraries above and I will likely scan or photocopy it as it is not of a high quality typeface to begin with. Many thanks for the tip on ProQuest…who are they anyway? A rare book source I suppose?
Many thanks again..both of you please drop me a line if you have any Westchester County theater questions not answered on this forum.
This theater opened as a fourplex in 1977 by original owner B.S. Moss with “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
When are they actually closing down?
Want to take one last look myself.
Must have been a wonderful one screen place way back.
Thank You and Happy Holidays.
movieman007,
What ever happened to the projectionist union based in Mount Vernon?
I worked as an usher in the mid-1970’s at Hartsdale Cinema 2.
Bobbie Dente ran the union back then. How did the local lose control over the theaters? I thought there was a countywide fire code requiring licensed projectionists ???
Please email me at:
Thank You
TR
P.S.
The upstairs auditorium was known as the “Smoking Loge” and tickets for it costed about another 25 cents or so. The seats and armrests were much more cushioned than downstairs, and had little square attached metal ashtrays. Another vivid memory from this wonderful theater, was a big standee and petition against “Pay TV” during the mid-late 1960’s. Unique to this theater also, were Japanese films being shown Saturday mornings in the mid 1970’s to that ever growing population from the nearby Edgemont section of Greenburgh. And the theater architect would likely vomit blood if he saw this place now. The projection is never lit bright enough either.
What a shame to see this childhood icon go up in smoke!!
Hopefully the marquee will survive the fire.
Tom Rossi
Yonkers
Yes, the two level cascading fountain as to your left when you enter into the lobby up the stairs. I have so many fond memories of this theater from growing up to it from it’s opening in late 1966. For a modern theater, it was absolutely one of the best without a doubt until it was twinned in 1974. The lobby was so special with that water fall turned on. The lobby even had a mini art gallery way back and a plaque was hung up in memory ot Mr. Belmont who was the first manager later killed in a fatal car accident. The plaque donated by the employees is nowhere to be found. Belmont Ave in Yonkers is named after his family. All this I know since I had worked for General Cinema’s nearby Hartsdale Cinema Two just up the road.
Anytime I visit Central Plaza, it’s both saddening and irritating to see it needlessly ruined without the water fall, the classy haninging globe lights were removed, the window curtains taken out in place of garish black tint, and that opulent red carpeting was removed. Even the planter of fake plants on the landing of stairway leading to the second level were removed, leaving a disgusting empty space. How hard is it to maintain fake plants??? The rubber on the stairs reminds me of a gymnasium somewhere. Why did they remove the beautiful red carpet ?
Tom Rossi
Yonkers