Menlo Park Twin Cinema

Shouldn't this theatre belisted as demolished as posted in Tom Quan's description of the theatre.

All I can remember about the Menlo Park Cinema was the exterior, and how big it was! You can see it within a half-mile driving either direction on US Route 1. BTW, the US Route 1 portion between Woodbridge Center and Menlo Park Mall was always jammed with cars, during rush hour and on weekends, because of 2 things: 2 lanes each direction, and the interchange to the Garden State Parkway.

The theatre was operated by General Cinema, not Cineplex Odeon. Cineplex Odeons opened the new theatre within the rebuilt mall. The orginal theatre opened in 1960 with a reserved seat engagement of SPARTACUS. The twinning split the auditorium in half, so each side had balcony seating. After the twinning, 70mm was only available in one auditorium. We played INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM on both screens - one side in 35mm and the other in 70mm.
I was the manager that closed the theatre.

The address for the Menlo Park Cinema was 390 Menlo Park Mall, Edison, NJ. 08837

Hey Tom R. the Menlo Park Cinema was kind special to me as I sat in line overnight for both Empire and Jedi, plus saw Star Wars 20 times in the summer of 1977. I've been looking for a photo of the marquee while Star Wars was playing. I know you managed there later on, but would you have known who managed or worked there in the late 70's- 80's? Please e-mail me at filmakr1@comcast.net, thanks

I also have pictures of the theater right before it was taken down in 1991. If you're interested in seeing them lemme know.

Filmakr1 - The manager of the theatre back in the EMPIRE/JEDI days was Tony Rizzo. He passed away about a year after JEDI was there. Would like to see the pics of the theatre. - Rockcent@aol.com
Thanks

On May 25, 1979, was one of 91 theaters nationwide that ran the original limited release of Alien, which was shown in 70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo

QUOTE:
"On May 25, 1979, [the Menlo Park Cinema] was one of 91 theaters nationwide that ran the original limited release of Alien, which was shown in 70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo"

*********************************************

Check out this article if you're curious what the other 90 original locations were that screened "Alien":
http://www.in70mm.com/news/2003/70mm_release/alien_openings.htm

One of the reasons I wrote this article is to capture the spirit of these nostalgia-inducing memories present in so many of these Cinema Treasures discussions. Enjoy!

Key passage from article:
"Those moviegoers who saw 'Alien' in a theatre in 1979 may feel a touch of nostalgia looking over the engagement list, particularly if the cinema in which they recall attending a screening is represented. As well, moviegoers with a fondness for classic or hometown cinemas may be saddened by the realization that most of the cinemas included in the engagement list are no longer in business, victims of what some in the industry consider progress: the megaplex."

I worked at Menlo during the 70's and 80's as a part time projectionist. Many happy memories of that theatre, especially before it was, in my opinion, ruined by converting to a twin. I have some video I had shot of the interior of the theatre, including the booth, on the last night of operation. I will see if I can capture some screen shots and post them here. I feel a deep sense of loss everytime I travel past where the theatre once stood. Many good people worked there through the years, including Mr. Abe Levine and Mr.Joe Gazi, the original projectionists...two of the best!

Jerry Kampo: Would to see those pics of the theater on its last day. Abe & Joe were great guys to work with.

TomR,
I found the tape of the "final night" and I captured a few frames. One is a shot of the Marquee with three people sitting on it..Monica is one and a guy with a mustache...you perhaps? E mail me at Jerrnj603@aol.com and I'll send them to you.

Jerry

Hey Jerry, I took three shots of the theatre right before it was torn down in late 1991, when I lived in Edison right up the street. Could I exchange these for the screen caps you have ... especially inside the theatre and the one of the marquee!

I grew up in this theatre as a kid from the mid 70's throughout its closing ... I'm sure to many movies YOU projected yourself for me and the audience. I went to film school and became an independant filmmaker and Menlo Park is largely responsible.

I'm sure there are a million stories you could tell. If you could maybe share a few that would be great. Anything about the theatre itself or it's personnel. For example when did it become a twin?

I have a great story: While watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind in late 1977, during the part where Richard Dreyfuss's character is sitting at a train stop ... just as the UFO's appear above him there was a small explosion (well more like a loud POP!) in the theatre and all the power went out! Turned out a car smashed into a pole a ways up on Parsonage Road and killed the power. The timing was great ... and CREEPY!

I also have a tape recording inside the theatre during a screening of Star Wars in August 1977. I know I must sound like a nut, but hey, I was 14 years old at the time ...



Joe Scotti

Joe,
Send me your E-Mail address and I will send you a few screen caps. I could tell you PLENTY of stories, but some of them could not appear here! :-) Some of the crazy stuff wasn't only confined to the auditorium! LOL!
If memory serves me correctly, Menlo (along with Madison on Rt9 North) was twinned in 1976, much to my disapointment. The BIG disapointment was the sale of the Woodbridge Walter Reade to General Cinema and the subsequent twinning of THAT house. That was a great 70mm theatre with Norelco machines before the twinning. After the twinning, it never showed 70mm again and operated from a 5 tier platter system which fed both houses. Somewhere in my collection, I have a set of 35mm photos I shot of the Walter Reade before it was twinned.

Jerry

Jerry

Jerry

The Menlo Park Twin was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of "Star Wars." Nearly all of the 32 opening-day houses broke house records for opening-day business. Opening-day gross at Menlo Park was $5,398. (That may seem like a piddly amount of money by today's standards, but for a mid-week 1977 day's business it's quite a bit.)

Source: Daily Variety (5/27/77). For more info about the original release of "Star Wars," see:
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/star_wars_a_day_long_remembered.htm

I too grew up in Edison and can't tell you how many great moments of my childhood and teenage years took place in this theater. From seeing all three Star wars films there,(I remember being 5 yrs old sitting in the very first row, crinking my neck in amazment as I watched the imperial star destroyer fill the screen for the very first time, walking out in denial upon finding out that Vader was Lukes father, and feeling sadness thinking that Return of the Jedi would be the last I would see of the characters were like family.) Then only to have my friend work there as a teen and let me act cool as I snuck girls up to the closed off balcony to make out! I ended up working at the new Odeon when it opened in 91 and had some good times there too but it wasn't the same.

I grew up in Menlo Park Terrace. In the late 60s and early 70s they used to show free matinees for kids. Stuff like "Willie Wonka" and "Its a Mad, Mad, Mad World". Great stuff.

I remember Star Wars ran there for like 18 months. So it there 4 times. Unheard of today.

If anyone has an old picture of the building, please let me know.
Thanks
Ken B

saw 'Love Story', 'Manhattan' and 'An Unmarried Woman' here.

Menlo Park was one great theater. My parents took me to see MARY POPPINS at Menlo Park way back in 1964. Unfortunately I did not make it back to this particular theater until THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK was released. It was Memorial Day, and there was a line of people stretching across the parking lot toward the old Menlo Park Mall. I took my younger brother and sister with me to see the movie. First we went into the mall to get some snacks, and I bought a paperback book, for the long wait in the line. Then we got in line for about three hours before we got into the theater.

My favorite story about that wait in line was how the best parts of the movie were spoiled by people exiting the theater by the back door. This mob of people had just seen the movie and had to cross through our long line in order to get to their cars. As they passed by you could not help but hear them comment about the film: "I can't believe Darth Vader is Luke's father." "That was gross when Luke's hand got chopped off." "I hope they rescue Han Solo and unfreeze him."

Thanks guys.

Yes, I was one of those fanatics who went to see EMPIRE STRIKES BACK a half dozen times.

The last movie I saw at Menlo Park was LION OF THE DESERT.

It was not until several years ago, while driving north on US 1 for the first time since leaving the Army that I realized the magnificant Menlo Park Cinema was gone.

"The orginal theatre opened in 1960 with a reserved seat engagement of SPARTACUS." (TomR, Oct 25, 2004)
______________________________________________

"Spartacus" was indeed the debut attraction. However, the theater actually opened in October of 1961 according to the grand opening advertisements that appeared in The Newark Star-Ledger.

I came across this site and was completely blown away. My name is Bill Chyzik and I worked at Woodbridge Cinema in 1985 and 1986 before moving to Menlo and working for Tony Bryla in late 1986, I was Chief of Staff in 1987 at Menlo, and i actually remember you Jerry along with Abe and Crazy Gazi. If anyone has any old photos of the place i would love to see some, you can email me at FMFD121@aol.com

It would be great if some of those photos mentioned in previous posts were uploaded to a Photobucket or some other site with a link, for all of us readers to see.

I am so happy to have found this site! I happened to do a Google search on the Menlo Park Cinema and located this site and immediately joined!

The General Cinema Menlo Park was probably the premiere first run theater in Central NJ during it's heydays of the 60's, 70's and 80's. I had an aunt that lived in Spotswood, NJ at the time the theater opened and she told me stories of what a big deal the opening of the theater was in the early 60's. By her description, the grand opening was on-par with Hollywood style opening night, with reserved seating and such.

The theater itself was very unique architecturally, designed in a very modernist style. The box office area was located on the left of the building, if you were facing it, with the theater auditorium on the right and probably in excess of 3 stories tall. The box office itself was a very modern affair with a low, white flat roof but completely windowed. On entering the box office, 2-3 box office windows were located in the front. You then entered the "lobby" area through 2 glass doors and were in the "gallery" area. Various modern artwork adorned the walls and there were low cushioned benches throuughout for sitting. I do recall at one time that the work of various local artists were featured in the gallery area.

As a kid, some of my fondest memories of going to the movies revolved around the Menlo Park Cinema. As mentioned before, the theater had a balcony area which if memory serves me, at one point was designated the "Smoking Loge", which for an additional charge patrons could purchase tickets. The balcony area also had a full refreshment/concession area that was always staffed.

I recall one of the first films I have any memory of seeing as a kid was Disney's re-release of Snow White, probably around 1967 or 1968. I recall that the afternoon showing we were at was over-sold because my friends and I had to sit on the floor in the aisle and the adults had to sit in the remaining single seats available.

All of the blockbuster films of the 60's, 70's and 80's always where shown during the exclusive engangement runs at the Menlo. The Godfather 1, all of the Bond films, the Indiana Jones trilogy, Star Wars, Star Trek, etc. were all films I recall seeing at the Menlo. In fact, I think my love of the movies was born at the Menlo.

I believe the theater was made into a twin sometime in the mid-70's. A huge wall was erected that basically spit the theater in half long-ways. For a time after the split, the balcony area remained opened to the public but subsequently was roped off and never accessible again, which was a shame. For a time, a local sponsors used to host a "Kiddie Matinee" on Satuday mornings which if I remember correctly were free. I recall one of the first sponsors was Valiant Aluminum, an aluminum siding outfit who's owner, Dick Najar (sp?) used to call him self "Capt. Vinyl" for the vinyl siding he was selling. Later, I believe it was Fords Jewelers that sponsored the Kiddie Matinee.

Towards the end of the Menlo's day's I became convinced that General Cinema was intentionally running the theater into the ground. The Menlo no longer got first run films, the interior of the theater was becoming thread-worn, bathrooms were always broken and the like. In fact, all the first run showings that normally would have gone to the Menlo now seemed to go to the Woodbridge General Cinema, which was about 2-3 miles north of the theater.

When the planned reconstruction of Menlo Park Mall was announced in the late 80's, the simultaneous announcement was made that the Menlo Park Cinema was closing to be replaced by a new 12-plex at the mall. To my horror, they also announced that the old Menlo would be demolished. Currently, a Macaroni Grill sits on the site of the old Menlo.

To this day, I still miss the experience of going to the movies at the Menlo, one my all-time favorite local theaters.

Hi Joe Scotti, I'd be interested in seeing those pictures that you took of this theatre. Please email me at fstdbill@yahoo.com Thanks.

I'd like to see those pics as well. I'd also throw them up on my site and post the link here. uffasan@gmail.com

I was lucky enough to see the 70MM "Aliens" here and I remember the "big deal" over it. For me to go to sci-fi film, well, it had to be an event.

We went to a 12:00 AM showing to avoid the crowds and the theatre was just dead for some reason. Talk about creepy. Three people (two of them being under the age of 14) in a huge theatre watching that film in all it's Dolby/70MM splendor.

Menlo was too far way from my childhood home for me to be a frequent visitor but everyone is right that there was a "special" feeling to it. It seemed to be an "event" theatre - one you chose to see something special or a film that was a little "arty".

I can remember seeing "The Rose" there, which taught my brother and I to curse, "10", which taught us a lot of things and I can still recall dropping my father and I dropping my brother off there to see all the "Star Wars" Films.

My last film there was "Garbo Talks". Quite a letdown and a rather sad goodbye to a great theatre.

I worked at menlo from "Mahoghany" in Nov. 1975 until "Return of the Jedi" in the Fall of 1983. I did leave for a short time in mid-1978 to mid-1980 to work at different theaters, but that is another story. Mr. Rizzo was my boss ,and we had some great times together.
-6 weeks before "Star Wars" opened, we had a staff meeting to prepare for the summer. He thought that the film would last for about 6 weeks. I was the only person there who felt that this one was special. When he asked me how long I thought it would run, I said it would still be here until Halloween. That got a big laugh from everyone. I stuck my neck out and said it would break every record across the country, there were even more laughs. 7 weeks later, after we had just sold out for the 32nd show in a row, Mr. Rizzo took me aside and admitted I was right. He was a great guy, but never admitted being wrong. I was stunned. The real die hards on the staff worked from 10:30 am until 12:30 am every day from the end of May until well after Halloween. On Friday and Saturdays we also worked the midnight show, which got out around 2:45 am.
-I recall working about 7 weeks straight without a day off. Mr. Rizzo insisted I take off the next day. When the theater opened the next day, Mr. Rizzo was amazed that I was on line to see the first show. I loved that film. I volunteered to stay inside the auditorium for every show every day to watch for smokers and trouble makers. This gave me the opportunity to see "Star Wars" over 100 times that summer. By the end of its run on December 21st, I had become the Chief of Staff at Menlo. I still cherish all those days.

This was without a doubt THE THEATRE to go to see all of the great movies. The architecture was very cool (perfect for seeing a James Bond movie). The waiting hall where many an art/photography show would be held. Very classy - I really miss the old place.

I wish they had one of these forums for Shopping malls - i'd love to relive memories of Menlo Park Mall and Woodbridge Shopping Center from when they first opened.

So which version of STAR WARS played here? The STEREO version or MONO version?

I read that the MONO version didn't sound as good but had more soundeffects and extra speaking parts for C3PO and the Stormtroopers?

Mostly a stereo version, I believe. Theaters that were equipped with Dolby Stereo as well as the 70mm version played that version, while most theatres played a mono soundtrack. Therefore, the STEREO version played at the Menlo Park cinema. The MONO version had in fact more sound fx and more lines spoken by the star wars characters, especially aunt beru.

What do you mean by "mostly a stereo version"?

Do you mean some reels were stereo and others were mono? Or do you mean the Menlo Park Cinema started with a print in one format and later in the year switched to a different type of print?

Did Menlo Park even have Dolby stereo as far back as 1977?

Menlo Park cinema had Dolby Stereo in Cinema 1 from the time it was twinned. Cinema two was a straight mono cinema using a Kelmar amplifier until being revamped in the 80's with Dolby optical stereo. Cinema 1 was also upgraded to run 70mm six track (magnetic) stereo, later THX. I worked there as a part time projectionist from 1975 until 1990.

When was the theater twinned?

In the mid-1970s, probably around 1975. BTW, when the current multiplex opened in Menlo Park back in 1991, what made it different from the original theater which eventually closed down?

Menlo was twinned around 1976. Tha actual building was owned by Menlo Park Mall and General Cinema was renting. If I recall, the option of a new multiplex in the mall (twins were becoming unprofitable by the mid 80's) was offered to GC, but the company had already decided that it was pulling back on it's theater operations. There was no room to expand the old Menlo Cinema site. As an aside, Menlo was twinned after the GC theater at Route 9 and Ernston Road in Sayreville was twinned in late 1975. That theater was eventually torn down to make room for the Route 9 realignment. I worked at that theater a couple of times, notably during the first run showing of The Blues Brothers. Those of us who remember Menlo before it was twinned remember a 60' by 30' screen with great magnetic stereo sound on all of the "big pictures". A truly great house.

Regarding the recent posts about sound systems...

Dolby Labs' records indicate Dolby Stereo was installed around February 1978. If this is correct then it would indicate the theatre did not have Dolby installed at the time of the twinning. It would also suggest that the original "Star Wars" did not play at Menlo Park in Dolby Stereo.

Which means that "Star Wars" played in plain old mono on one screen and another movie played on another with mono sound also. How many seats did each theater have after being twinned, and which one was larger, one or two?

During a portion of the original '77 engagement, "Star Wars" played on **both** screens.

that's kinda weird since most movies nowadays can be played on two or three screens; was "Star Wars" the first movie to play on multiple screens because of its increasing popularity?

No. When the RKO Twin in Wayne first opened in the early 70s, several engagements were the same film on both sides, with start times every hour (or as running time permitted). I remember being confused as a kid by it, thinking that the movie they were showing was only an hour long :)

When I was young, I remember reading the showtimes and already knew that the movie was playing on a lot of screens (e.g., Loews Wayne).

When we played INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM, we played it on both screens. Cinema 1 was in 70mm, while Cinema 2 was in 35mm.

what was the difference between those two formats?

35 millimeters :)

Seriously, 70mm offered a much larger film area than 35mm and looked stunning on a large screen. Go to www.widescreenmuseum.com and read up on it.

Wished the rockaway 16 had 70mm rather than the blurry 35mm.

Justin:
In addition to Peter's recommendation of the American Widescreen Museum, I'd also like to recommend the "70mm in New York" article that Bill Kallay and I put together a couple of years ago.

http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/70mm_in_new_york_main_page.htm

The American Widescreen Museum is a great resource for a general history of 70mm (and other widescreen processes). But do also check out "70mm in New York" if you want to know which films played in 70mm and in which theatres in the greater New York City region (including North Jersey). The films that ran in 70mm at MENLO PARK are included.

By the way, those simultaneous engagements of "Star Wars" at MENLO PARK did not begin on the same date. The Screen #1 engagement began on May 25, 1977; the Screen #2 booking began on June 10, 1977. (Sorry, I do not at present have the closing dates.)

Was Menlo Park running 70MM long before it did with "Star Wars" ???

Seems like it was such a wonderful theater in it's day based on all of the passionate comments posted.

Thanks

Justin -

Even if the Rockaway 16 had 70mm it would do no good as there are no new films being made or presented in that process. Michael's articles about 70mm in New York are fascinatiing reading for anyone who grew up in this area.

I use that site and read that some of the theaters I used to go to, such as those in Wayne and Paramus, used to have 70mm screens that have been chopped up into smaller 35mm screens.

Did the Menlo Park lobby have a waterfall of some type in it?
( GCC Central Plaza in Yonkers did )

Saw the theater's opening day newspaper ad on www.fromscriptotdvd.com and it mentions "Beautiful gardens" with an illustration resembling a waterfall. The ad appears in the list of 70mm equipped theaters section on that site.

Thanks.

Probably.

*** "Was Menlo Park running 70MM long before it did with 'Star Wars' ???" ***
____________________________________

Menlo Park did not run the original "Star Wars" in 70mm. The first 70mm engagement at Menlo Park I'm aware of was "Alien" in 1979.

Was that screening crowded when Alien came out?

Was screen #1 really THX certified as claimed in a post from Feb 2?

yes.

Beginning when?

I don't know; when did it get certified by THX?

If I knew I wouldn't have asked, bonehead!

This is a great find! I've been meaning to put together a "tribute page" for the theater. If anyone can please email me pics, I'll be more than happy to put a good page together, complete with credits for all pictures sent to me. I think it's about time we get some kind of web site for this theater on the 'net.

I have ticket stubs, newspaper ads, an article written on the day Jedi premiered (I was there) among other things.

I worked at the Menlo Twin in the summer of 1989 - even then we knew it was going once the new multiplex opened over at the mall, but it was still a shock for me when I got back from Alaska in 1992 and it was totally gone. I worked with some good people and still have some good memories of that summer, and now I drive by that spot and think about what was.

My last movie at this twin was "Cinema Paradiso".

I didn't go to this theater much. I lived closer to Madison Cinema and Cinema 9. But I would love to see pictures of this theater.

Does anyone know if movie ads from the Star Ledger or News Tribune are archived online anywhere? I can't find any.

I lived in Staten Island in the summer of '77. I was unemployed at the time, and went to see a matinee of "Star Wars" its first day. I walked right in; the theater was only half full on a Wednesday afternoon. I went back a few weeks later to try to see it again. By then, word had gotten out, and the theater was sold out. Even with the air conditioning out on a hot July day. Needless to say, I blew it off.
I went back there to see "Empire Strikes Back" three years later. By then, I had a job (I took the day off) and waited about three hours to get in. It was well worth it.

Website Dedicated to Menlo Park and Blue Star Cinemas.

I am in the very early stages of starting a small website dedicated to the memories of the General Cinemas owned MENLO PARK CINEMA and BLUE STAR CINEMA, both formerly located in Central New Jersey.

Both movie theatres were a haven for me as a child and adolescent and judging from responses on this website, they meant a great deal to many others as well.

If anyone has photos, or ads or stories they would like to share – I would of course give full credit. I am especially looking for any exterior and interior photos.

You can reach me at:

Verranth1@yahoo.com

Many Thanks.

Anthony (formerly of Green Brook, NJ)

Oh the memories you folks have rekindled. All the great people who worked here, Mr.Rizzo, Thom T, Abe and Joe and Jerry K. Some of you know me, Mark Pusillo, the last projectionist to work there in Dec 1991 when the place closed. My dad Joe P. worked there as well. Sadly, he passed on over 14 years ago. But the memories, from "Star Wars" to "Close Encounters" to "Grease" to whatever. This was THE place to be in the late 70's into the late 80's. It was really hard for me at the end because General Cinema hired me and Ed H. the other projectionist at the time, to strip the interior of whatever was useable, from equipment to seats. I have said for years that many of the old theatres should not have been destroyed, but this one and the Woodbridge Twin (former Walter Reade) were true crimes. Neither of these should have ever come down, espescially Menlo Park, for what? That sheetrock multiplex they put in the mall? Anyway it was great to read all the old stories, Thanks.

Unfortunately, neither theatre 1 or 2 was ever THX certified. And to add to the above quotes, Cinema 1 was Dolby Stereo from the day it was twinned, and Cinema 2 got Dolby Stereo around late 1983 or early 1984.

Menlo Park Cinema tribute group formed!

A tribute to Central New Jersey Movie Theaters that brought happiness to thousands of people but have sadly been demolished. The theaters may be gone but the memory lives on and here is a place were we can discuss, reminisce, and remember.

This group can also be open to other thetheaters the surrounding areas such as Somerville, Plainfield, Westfield and other areas of Somerset County. Please feel free to post your stories and in particular any ads, photos or memorabilia you may have. Many Thanks and...enjoy the show!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MenloBlueStarCinemas

Exactly 17 years ago today, I as the the last projectionist, along with my partner Ed H. turned over the keys to the mall owners, after a month of stripping and gutting and removing whatever General Cinema wanted. The following week the demolishon began. I walked out of this place at 3:30 p.m. for the final time.