Wellmont Theatre

The theatre was built by the Stanley Company and was later operated by Fabian Theatres. The original entrance was on Bloomfield Ave, but in the late 70's when the theatre was triplexed, the entrance was moved around the corner to the lobby emergency exit. The original lobby is now a diner. If you see a movie here, be sure to only see one in the balcony. Up at the front you will see the proscenium hidden in the dark. The two downstairs theatres are shoeboxes with tiny screens under the balcony. The theatre is now operated by Roberts Theatres; you can see some photos of it at www.robertstheatres.com

I've peaked behind the curtains and have seen the proscenium. I can't believe it's still there and it looks great. I believe I saw the screen also. That must've been one heck of a theater in its day. Hell, they should make another theater of the original.

I attended this theater often when I lived in the Montclair area in the mid-90s. Somehow it could never seem to attract a crowd of more than 10 people for any show, even on weekends. Hard to say why, but the moving the marquee from Bloomfield Avenue to the minor side street probably didn't help. I think the parking situation wasn't so great either. The theater management seemed to like, even cultivate, its low-key status. And it's still around - go figure!

Listed in the 1/17/91 edition of the Star Ledger as part of "Cinema Services".

The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), March 25, 2003 p022
No reason to change this story line; Entrepreneur to stay with alternative films. (COUNTY NEWS)

Byline: LAWRENCE RAGONESE

Sitting in semi-darkness in the cavernous Wellmont Theatre in Montclair before opening time on Tuesday, Gary Heckel talked animatedly about recent sleeper movie hits like "Rabbit Proof Fence," "Mostly Martha," "Y Tu Mama Tambien," and "Frida."

Heckel, general manager of the small Roberts Theatre movie chain, says these are the type of art house and independent flicks his mentor, the late Bob Roberts, brought to North Jersey for three decades. His Lost Picture Show in Union gave audiences intelligent, thought-provoking alternatives to Hollywood blockbusters, he said.

When Roberts died in November, at 74, he was mourned by film lovers, who feared his effort to raise the cinematic bar in the Garden State might die with him. Not so, said Heckel, who is pledging to keep Roberts' cinematic spirit alive. When his former boss' estate is settled in the next few months, Heckel said, he will be in charge of the movie chain, which he vowed will remain an oasis for North Jersey film lovers who are seeking an alternative to big-budget, big-action Hollywood fare.

"We will not change what we are doing - never, never," said Heckel, whose tiny empire includes just three theaters - the four-screen Wellmont in Montclair, the two-screen Lost Picture Show now located in Bloomfield, and the Chatham Cinema in Chatham Township, one of a handful of single-screen theaters left in New Jersey.

"We are committed to this type of movie and to our customers. A lot of the people who come here to the Wellmont or Chatham know our names, and we know them by name. It's like a family," Heckel said recently at the Wellmont, a once-spectacular music hall dating to the 1920s.

Most of the state's multiplexes concentrate on big budget Hollywood films, hoping to lure huge audiences.

Meanwhile, some critically acclaimed and even Oscar-nominated "art films" are found only at a handful of specialty theaters in Chatham, Princeton, Red Bank, Rocky Hill and Montclair - a haven for art film lovers with three art houses.

"The Quiet American," for which Michael Caine was nominated for best actor, has played for several weeks at the Chatham Cinema. Until recently it was the lone Northwest Jersey venue for the critically acclaimed film.

"I wish there were more theaters like this," said Marie Healy of Basking Ridge. She and her husband, Brian, are regular customers at the Chatham theater, especially when they play French films.

"We're glad it's here," agreed Linda Votto of Chester, who also sought out the Michael Caine movie in Chatham last Wednesday.

Making a living with these types of films, however, is not easy, said Albert Nigrin, executive director and curator of the Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center.

"It's an ebb and flow type of thing. Art houses have to juggle their schedules, sometimes bring in bigger movies, to survive," said Nigrin. "I'm glad Mr. Roberts has left this to us."

Roberts was a colorful character with a background as a radio host and television, theater and movie producer. He started acquiring movie theaters in New Jersey in the 1980s, when he opened the original Lost Picture Show as one of the state's first art movie houses.

Heckel, whose family owned the Grove Theater in Irvington when he was a child, connected with Roberts accidentally when he took a fill-in projectionist job at the Chatham theater some 20 years ago. He later became manager of the Wellmont and a now-defunct Oakland movie house before becoming general manager for Roberts Theatres in 1988.

"Bob (Roberts) was not a follower; he was a leader, an innovator," Heckel said as he fed film into a projector last week. "He was not afraid to try something new or different, to take a risk with a film."

Heckel explained that audiences drawn to art films tend to be a little older and more sophisticated, and more forgiving of venues that don't have the amenities of mall megaplexes, like new chairs that rock, cup holders, and digital sound. They are willing to travel to find a special film and tend to be loyal customers, as Roberts understood.

"He picked a winning formula. No reason to change it," said Heckel, who said there is money to be made in the art/independent film business - to a point. "Running a theater with this type of film draws a steady stream of people. But I can assure you I will not become as rich as Donald Trump," he laughed.

Lawrence Ragonese is a reporter in the Morris County bureau. He can be reached at lragonese@starled ger.com or at (973) 539-7910.

CAPTION(S):

1. Gary Heckel, shown in a theater in Montclair, says he will be true to the legacy of his mentor, the late Bob Roberts, who gave audiences thoughtful alternatives to Hollywood blockbuster movies.

1. TYSON TRISH/FOR THE STAR-LEDGER


Article CJ99162787

While that's good....it's too bad that the main part of the Wellmont with it's original procenium (if you're in the upstairs theater, go to the corner of the front of the theater and peel back the curtain, you'll see it) isn't restored, refurbished and used for BIG movies and classic films instead of just sitting there, wasted while the Wellmont continues showing small movies with small screens, poor projection and mono sound (no wonder people are staying home) What a waste for a once great theater...

Are there any pictures of the Wellmont's interior from when it was a single screen theater?

I figure they're only using about half the theatre in the current configuration, whats behind those two theatres downstairs, is it being used? If so they can atleast put in two more screens (with stadium seating probably) or, even better take down that sad screen in the balcony and recreate the balcony with this new space with a huge new screen- that'd be the way to go.

Still, I admire that this the loby is pretty much nicely in tact.

A Wurlitzer organ, opus 1961, was installed in this theater on 9/29/1928.

I'm surprised noone's recorded any earlier experience of this place. I was from England in the early months of 1986 and one Sunday evening was driving through Montclair when this amazing marquee came into view, surmounted by "Wellmont" in neon script, green I think. "Color Purple" was playing so I parked the car and went to buy a ticket.

That evening the place was being run, rather badly, by a bunch of high school kids and as I bought my ticket they were sprawled over the floor of the entrance foyer eating pizza. Beyond that I found the lobby stunning, and upstairs in the balcony an amazing but rather run down auditorium. Much paint was peeling and the back rows were roped off. There wer two structures coverered by torn curtaining which I assumed were part of a periscope system for the two mini screens under the balcony. Here upstairs the screen was in the original proscenium and two chinese lanterns graced niches in the splay walls.

When the feature started in was back to front so we had a short break while this was put right. During the feature the house lights were left on and at one point a bunch of the staff burst in from the left, chased across in front of the sparse audience, exiting as quickly on the right. Wow! I didn't think this place had much of a future.

In 1991 I was over in New Jersey, again and took a drive through Montclair. Sure enough the marquee had gone and the entrance was now occupied by another business, but I looked up the side street as I passed and was amazed to see a banner over the new entrance. I turned back and parked to make a return visit. The staff now were professional and confident, now wearing Roberts uniform. Upstairs the place had been tidied up, the screen was still in the old proscenium but the chinese lanterns were now bare lamps. Downstairs I could the two minis had their own projection booth, so what were those structures I had seen upstairs in 1986?

So when exactly did Roberts take over? When was the entrance moved? I'm sorry to hear the proscenium is no longer in view.

Chris Crompton

I believe this theater had the north Jersey premiere of Thoroughly Modern Millie on roadshow. Amazing to think that Montclair NJ had 3 classy roadshow houses with large screens. Now there isn't even one in the entire tri state area.

No...now there are 2 shoeboxes (Wellmont and Claridge) with multi screens, dank settings, horribly architectured cinemas, uncomfortable seats, the sound of the projectors overpowering the movie, slow moving ticket lines, high school employees with no sense of cinemas (same for the managers)...and bad atmosphere

from 2 of the best theaters ever ....at one point many years ago. I hate going to both these theaters and only go if there's a film I "really" want to see that doesn't play elsewhere...

DVD's are looking better and better

Even crummy movies (and I saw my share of them here) felt like an "occasion" at the old Wellmont. I'm not sure that the original auditorium was actually larger than that of the Clairidge (up the street) or Bellevue (across town), but it felt cavernous and massive, almost like being in a cathedral. In the mid-'70s it was equipped for the Sensurround process, and while that was a pretty crude substitute for multichannel sound, in a big theatre it rocked the house. Only time I can recall a packed house here was for the first day of "Jaws 2," just a few blocks away from where I'd first seen the original "Jaws." I remember a very loud, appreciate audience and the theatre manager grinning as he saw hundreds of people streaming back out into the lobby. I haven't been there since it was turned into a triplex; watching "The Road Warrior" on a dinky screen in what was probably the far left-hand corner of the original auditorium was pretty underwhelming (great movie, in spite of the poor viewing conditions).

What's going on there....they're not using the upstairs auditorium...are they splitting it? closing it? re-modeling it??

I'd like to think that they're re,odeling the original proscenium and going to make it a classic theater again..but I'm dreaming...I think it's only a matter of time before the Wellmint is history also...those 2 downstair theaters are the worst....the architect should be blackballed from working again.

Any update on this place? It's currently closed (the recording claims its for renovations but the Robert's Theatres website removes any mention of it, only posting showtimes for Chatham). Have we lost it? The Clairidge is a decent cinema but not great, I know the parking situation (the construciton of new parking structures) hurt a lot of Monclair business this past summer, including this theater too I bet. Hopefully it will return better than ever, and hopefully with more daring art pictures too.

The word through the exhibition grapevine is that it is closed for good.

Here is a photo of the Wellmont Theater.

A recent Newark Star-Ledger article on what's happining with the theatre:

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/essex/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1147754799158260.xml&coll=1&thispage=1

It's sad to see its gone, especiallly since they used to show somewhat more daring movies than Clearview. The Screening Zone (always a crummy theater - but I liked its alternative edge) had programed good stuff as well. Than Montclair became more and more upscale and it seemed like The Clairidge is the only one that surived and they only show major art pictures, nothing alternative or from micro distributers. Montclair, with once 11 art screens now only has 6 - this is a major loss for film fans in the area, Montclair isn't what it used to be.

I wish a non for profit would take over the Welmount, and do something with it where it became a cultural center (like Real Art Ways in Hartford) - with a gallery, bar, lounge and most importantly a home for documentary, alternative, and indie film. Now that concept would diffinatly hinder The Clairidge and their domination to show "safe" studio-indie division released pictures that are poorly projected with endless commericals before the trailers.

The Historic Wellmont Theatre, located in the heart of downtown Montclair, is up for Sale or Net Lease! The theatre was originally built as a live venue in 1922 and turned into New Jersey's finest movie house shortly thereafter in 1929. It was triplexed in the middle of the century. The two downstairs theatres house around 403 seats while the upstairs theatre (the original balcony) houses an unbelievable 500 seats. The theatre has been updated sporadically but retains the original grandeur and architectural detail. If you are interested in leasing or purchasing this theatre, please contact us. Terms to be negotiated. Call David Genova @ 973-783-2600 or email @ David.Genova@gmail.com

Here is the latest news. Note the reference to CT at the beginning of the article:
http://tinyurl.com/ehvwx

Nice old photo:
http://www.quickpix.com/JPGMLIBRARY/IMAGE/025308/89.jpg

Another one:
http://www.quickpix.com/JPGMLIBRARY/IMAGE/025308/90.jpg

August 1981 photos:
http://www.quickpix.com/JPGMLIBRARY/IMAGE/025313/90.jpg

http://www.quickpix.com/JPGMLIBRARY/IMAGE/025313/91.jpg

Caption in the attached photo lists opening in 1923:
http://www.quickpix.com/JPGMLIBRARY/IMAGE/025232/44.jpg

for sale $1,500.00

$1,500.000

I already had the check written out for fifteen hundred. I knew it was too good to be true. LOL

http://listing.loopnet.com/14899982

According to Images in America: Montclair, page 83, the organ installed in the Wellmont came from the Montclair Theatre.

An article in the 8/17/07 Star Ledger states that the theater has been sold and plans are in place to make it a live concert venue.

Updated article in today's Star Ledger. Sounds like the new owner wants to do this right. Can't wait for the reopening.

This is a January 10, 2008 article. Shouldn't this theater be listed as closed?

STATUS should be Closed
To save yourself some clicking,the only results you will get from clicking will be from the 4 photos on September 13, 2006 and THIS from January 19, 2008.
Are any of the retail or apartments being used?

A Mighty WurliTzer Theater Pipe Organ, Opus 6, a 3 Manual/13 Rank was shipped to the Century Theater in New York, New York in 1912. It was then sold to the Montclair Theater in Montclair, New Jersey. From that theater it was sold to the Wellmont Theater. It is thought to have been junked. If you know anything about this organ, please email us!

"Gee Dad, it "WAS" a WurliTzer!"

STATUS SHOULD BE CLOSED

Another Mighty WurliTzer Theater Pipe Organ, Opus 1961, a 3 Manual/11 Rank was shipped to this theater on September 29, 1928. It was sold and shipped to a residence in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1961. At the same time that residence in Erie also received WuliTzer Opus 1908, a 3/15 that had been shipped to the Kenmore Theater, Brooklyn, New York on July 17, 1928. It had then gone to Babylon New York and then to Erie. The 2 organs were "OK" in 1961. If you know any thing about the organs, please email us!

"Gee Dad, it "WAS" a WurliTzer/WurliTzer!"

The Wellmont played the exclusive North Jersey roadshow engagement of "Hawaii" in 1967 (see the right side of this ad):

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/billhuelbig/sidney.jpg

It was just announced that this theater will recieve an approximate $3MM renovation and reopen this summer as a concert and entertainment venue. Another rescued theater!

I am glad to know another theatre will be saved and used as a live performance center.

I've been meaning to post this for a few weeks, from the NYTimes.

The historic Wellmont Theater in Montclair, N.J., is to reopen in the fall, a newly formed independent concert-promotion company has announced. The promoter, Montclair Entertainment, comprises principals of the independent promotion company the Bowery Presents —owners of the Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge as well as the recently opened Terminal 5 and Music Hall of Williamsburg — along with Andy Feltz, who brought shows to the Beacon Theater in Manhattan for two decades and recently to the United Palace, also in Manhattan. This will be Bowery Presents’ first major foray into New Jersey, according to The Star-Ledger of Newark. The theater, which originally opened in 1922 in downtown Montclair, will undergo a roughly $3 million makeover.

Hi!
I worked at the Wellmont Theatre while in high school. So, I can tell you that the Wellmont was on 400 Bloomfield Ave. with a huge beautiful marquee, until about 1988 (the late 1980's). The Wellmont was owned by Mr. Roberts of Robeert's Theatres, and he sold the building. That was when the marquee was distroyed and the Bloomfield Ave entrance and lobby was converted into a store-front. What a shame!! I have some very fun memories and stories about the Wellmont Theatre. The price of tickets was $4.50 adult and $2.00 children and seniors when I started and then increased to $5.00 adult and $2.50 children and seniors. I will post some of my fun stories another time. :-)

Would be nice if they still had the 70mm equipment and would show 70mm films. I don't know if the Claridge is still there and the beautiful Bellevue has been chopped up.Would be nice if that would be part of their programming.

Love the Record ads. Bill give us some more of the Record Jersey roadshow ads. When I was very young this is what I read everyday. You can see on the timetable the Hackensack Fox was showing The Sound of Music. This was during the summer of '67 and that is when and where I saw the film for the first time. It was still some time before the film came to the local small town theaters.
I think its first run was 5 years.

Leon: Glad you liked the ads. You can see many more of them at my Photobucket site (hope it lets you in):

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/billhuelbig/

The opening scene of last week's episode of "Mad Men" took place in Montclair. The character Paul was throwing a party at his apartment there, and he mentions the Wellmont Theatre as one of the cultural high spots in town.

"The Sound of Music"'s first North Jersey release after the roadshow engagements:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/billhuelbig/SoundofMusic.jpg

Great photo in today's Star Ledger. Still on track for a fall opening. Some acts have already been booked.

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-11/121912058851170.xml&coll=1

It's very much in construction, I took some pics on Saturday and am going to send them into Cinema Treasures.

http://www.wellmonttheatre.com/calendar/list/ for the announced shows on sale Saturday morning

Here is more information.

Today's Star Ledger had a full page story with photo's about the opening planned for this coming week.

Up and running, excellent work done on architectural decorations in the "house" but tiny stage and zero backstage areas need work. allegedly offices and a green room are being constructed beyond stage right wall.....if only original lobby still existed, new one is pretty bland....floor features bars four steps up from dance floor with temporary seating for certain shows but open for the first four shows so far...counting crows, backstreet boys, hanson and matisyahu....

We'll be seeing Tony Bennett in a few weeks and I can't wait! The last time I was in the building was for a film in one of the balcony theaters.

This brings back a lot of memories....I used to work a few blocks away from the Wellmont in the late '70s and passed that theatre hundreds and hundreds of times but was never in it. That was back in the heyday of the Capitol Theatre in Passaic being NJ's premier rock venue. Hard to believe it's being resurrected as a music venue.

I also went to the Claridge a bunch of times in the late '60s through the early '80s -- even saw 2001: A Space Odyssey there in 1968 (or 69?), when the theatre was the area's Cinerama venue, with that huge curved screen and multi-channel sound. Great place.

This site has some 2008 photos taken during construction. Scroll down the page for the photos.

David Byrne will be here in June.

1981 Photo

1981 Photo

1982 Photo

1982 Photo

1982 Photo

This is a nice 2009 close-up photo.

We attended the Keane concert on May 26, 2009, with balcony seating. We appreciated the great sight lines, and the renovation of the theatre was done rather nicely. The staging and lightly worked well, and the staff kept things moving from the opening acts to the main feature.

However, the acoustics were horrible. The theatre is all hard surfaces, and the loud music was an assault on the senses, truly ruining an otherwise great experience. I would think twice about returning, unless the new owners take steps to address the acoustics.

In defense of the sound, while the concrete box has been a slow learning process, it has improved consistently. However, every band travels with its own front of house mix engineer, who has artistic control over the EQ and volume. Some bands like to be loud. That volume level is not typical or a representation of venue policy. Also usually controlled by the bands, and painfully in this case, is the lighting. As a spotlight operator, i found the use of strobes heavyhanded and blinding. Here are some pics i took from that night, looks like an atomic explosion...and an artistic decision the house crew would ever make...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26541422@N04/sets/72157619305121014/

Interesting. I found the lighting to be painful as well, but it seemed to be in keeping with the sound quality. Most of my pictures look the same, sadly. I am an architect, and we are not trained all that well in acoustics, but I do know to hire an acoustical consultant on certain projects, and have at times regretted not having done so.

How long have you been involved with the Wellmont? Are you telling me that there have been times when the acoustics have been bearable?

I have often wondered how much control a house has over a performance, if any.

That would give me reason to give them another try.

when you say the concrete box has been a slow learning process, are you talking about venues in general, or this one in particular?

I've worked 90% of the shows since the 3rd and final counting crows show which opened it in late october. The learning process has been painful because the place was rushed open and still operates under a temp C/O. Everything has come about in fits and starts, including getting a house system in place and tweaking it to the room. These style venues are hard because they were built to be boomy so actors could be heard in the balcony. Regardless, much has to due with the touring sound mixer. My Co-worker clocked the gypsy kings at 100 db, a painful absurdity for flamenco guitar dance music! Thankfully Pink Martini, a big band fronted by
aexcelll

an excellent female vocalist, was at a sensible and excellent sounding 82 db. It's worth another try, I like the sound in the balcony the best, and underneath the balcony in the bar areas is the worst.

I hate the bar areas of these venues, because everyone yaps, and you cannot hear the music.

Any interior photos?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/griffinshot/3137792964/in/set-72157611663408960/ this is a good one and whole set looks good

the dha 30th anniversary concert was held here some weeks ago.