Forum Theatre Arts Center

Official website:
http://www.forumtheatrecompany.com/

History tab shows this group's first theater production in 1983.

Marquee photo & history:
http://suburban.gmnews.com/news/2004/0527/Front_page/032.html

Great old marquee

Here is a modern photo of the Forum Theater in Metuchen.

Old postcard:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5d728b3127cce944c058280c100000016108IZsW7Zwzc-

Just an FYI to all the Cinema Treasure people in the New York/New Jersey area: The Forum Theater will be screening 'Lawrence of Arabia' as part of their Silver Screen Series on Feb. 25 at 8pm. For all of you New York City people, Metuchen is very easy to get to by NJ Transit rail. The Forum is about a 5-10 minute walk from the train station. I haven't seen a film there since I was a child so I don't know how good or bad they are at doing it, but I'm sure it will be cool. Whatever the case may be, get out to The Forum and support the theater AND film revival in this area! There have been some great film revival events happening in this area in the last year. Let's keep it going!!!!

http://www.forumtheatrecompany.com/silver.html

Thanks Irv. I wasn't aware that they were showing movies. The movies are buried in their homepage. The 25th won't work out for me but I've been trying to see Amadeus on the big screen for quite some time.....

Hopefully I'll get some interior photos and post them here.

Anybody make it to the 'Lawrence of Arabia' screening at the Forum tonight? Unfortunately I had to work and couldn't go.

Listed as a single screen independent theatre in the 1991 International Motion Picture Almanac. Owner is G. Kress.

Listed as part of the Snaper Circuit in the 1961 Film Daily Yearbook as well as part of the Triangle-Liggett Theatre Service in the same year.

Looks like the Forum has discontinued it's 'Silver Screen' film series. They were supposed to be showing "Singin' In the Rain" on April 15 but I don't see it listed. I don't see any further films listed either. Gonna give these guys a buzz during business hours and see what the deal is. I was hoping to see SITR again since I only saw it once at the Ziegfeld. Anybody knw what the deal is?

I almost made a futile trip to see Amadeus. During one last final check of their website I couldn't see the movie listed anywhere. I called and left a message and also sent an email - both of which are unanswered. I have seen this issue with other playhouses that want to showcase a movie now and then - the movie schedules are erratic and last minute. It would be most appreciative if a note is put on the theater's website to announce the cancellation. It is hard to support these theaters with ever changing schedules, particularly when you have to drive over a hour to get there. Sorry for complaining, it is not my style but I hope that you all understand. Communication with customers is a key to success!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rdherring5/239720232/

wish I would have heard about this one.

This is a another photo of the Forum Theater.

This theater will close down this August. A number of small theaters have closed recently in NJ or are in financial distress.

The theater is now closed, according to the website. It's available for rent or lease, but no more productions.

Worked here as a projectionist from 1980 until 1983. Was the last union projectionist along with my father who worked here. Theatre started doing live stage in fall of 1983, at which time our union picketed (unsucessfully) to get work. Was a thriveing movie house right up to the day it was sold in June of 83. The old projection equipment, projectors, peerless carbon lamphouses and sound system all came from the State Theatre in Woodbridge, N.J. in 1971 after it closed.

I drove past the Forum Theatre this past weekend and the building looks abandoned. The marquee no longer lists any productions and is blank. A "For Lease" sign now is posted on the building.

This is quite a shame because I frequented the Forum during it's recent use as a community theatre. Some of the productions were quite good. I saw a production of "Dream Girls" the Forum that was excellent. Some of the productions were quite off-beat. I recall going seeing a production years ago called something like "Heart Signs" or "Love Signs" (I can't recall precisely) that was listed as a romantic comedy. Instead it was a depressing tale of an elderly couple going through Alzheimer's disease. If there were 30 people in the audience, that was a lot.

I do hope an effort is made to preserve on of the last downtown theaters left in Middlesex County for some use - perhaps as a revival house or something of that sort.

Yes JackS124, I would like that too, especially since I was the last union projectionist to work there back in 1983. I have many fond memories of the place. We both have fond memories of another theatre you visited, and I worked at, the old Jerry Lewis Twin in Carteret.

We do have fond memories of both theaters movie534! Maybe the County will get involved just as in Union County where the old Rahway Theatre was preserved as the Union County Arts Center. So many of the old local houses have gone, it would be a genuine shame if some effort wasn't taken to save an old theatre like the Forum.

You know JackS124, I'm hoping someday my efforts will pay off, but I am trying to get the owners of the Ritz in Elizabeth to put on movie series and other stuff. I know they have completely renovated the entire theatre, now its just a matter of geeting shows and people. I hope this happens, because this is a place that has been saved.

And I agree, the Union County Arts Center is another beauty. I remember working there in its last days when it was porno. I have seen the before and after.

Built in 1928 according to this link.

The opening segment lists the seating capacity as 682, which it was when I worked there. But the above link posted by Lost Memory shows it as only 450 seats. When they started doing shows back in '83, they must have really blew the stage forward toward the audience.

Here is a recent photo of the Forum Theater.

This January 2009 blog discusses the Forum's current status:
http://tinyurl.com/cbcusv

The Forum Theatre in Metuchen NJ is planning to reopen in the fall of 09 as movie house showing independent and award winning foreign and domestic films. We are now in the process of a capital campaign to make this 1928 vaudeville house one of the premiere theatres in the state of New Jersey. We will also be doing concerts and live children's theatre programming.
Plans are to open a cafe and a balcony seating area with tables and chairs so patrons can relax with a bottle of wine while enjoying a movie.
We are now seeking a theatre architect to help with renovating the theatre as well as donations from individuals and corporations. We need to raise approximately 1 million dollars to complete the renovations.
Please contact me at pjloewy@aol.com if you would like to make either a monetary donation or a donation of time and services.
Thanks for your help. www.forumtheatreartscenter.com
Peter Loewy

This theatre did great business with mainstream movies when I was the projectionist between 1980 to 1983, prior to it being sold.

An article in todays Star-Ledger talks of the theatres reopening. They are doing a childrens show in June. It also speaks of them wanting to run films again. I wonder who they will get to do the old carbon arcs and change-overs? I'm one of the few, if not the only person left in this area who knows how to do that. And I did work in this venue prior to the current owners.

Here is a 1988 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dg5fxc

This theatre may reopen soon:

http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2009/04/with_its_redandyellow_marquee.html#more

I'm interested to know who is doing your film projection? Not many of us left who know your equipment, if it is the same equipment that was there in 1983.