Ritz Theater

acherepo on December 30, 2011 at 7:51 am

I grew up in Carteret and have fond memories of spending many a day at the Ritz theater, where you could see cartoons and a double feature for 35 cents. Instant babysitting, where our mom could drop us off for a good part of the day and not have to worry about us. I want to say the bakery caty corner and about half a block east of the Ritz was originally called Uhlman’s Bakery, where you could smell the baking from blocks away, and the candy store next to the Ritz was Harrigans, and a door or two down was another sstore where we sometime got candy but always got our comic books was Jakee Klien’s (not sure about first name spelling). As I recall, the movie was either owned or run by a Mr. Spewak or Spevak (again, not sure about the spelling). The young usher guy someone said reminded him of Lurch reminded me more of someone from Terry and the Pirates, or those guys who put a stocking over their heads and pull it back to draw their face back. He was freaky to us kids. I also recall sticky (from spilled sodas and gum) concrete floors, and seats covered underneath with bubble gum, kids throwing jaw breakers at the screen, and my favorite candy from the machine were Boston Baked Beans, They would also hand out a little bi-fold flyer telling you what movies were next, and it would be great if someone had one they could scan and post, as it would bring back lots of memories. I also recall the red plastic seats, the blue-lighted neon-like Flieshman’s clock up front on the right side, and I want to say they may have had a small balcony on each side near the front, but I am not sure.
I want to say they would typically show two of the same sort of movies, like two westerns, or two sci-fi movies. My mom would tell us about the earlier movie theaters in the area, as back in the 60s, the remains and sign for the old Majestic up the Hill in Carteret, could still be seeen along Roosevelt Avenue. The Majestic in Pert Amboy was one of the old, grand type theaters, much larger than the Ritz. I also recall the Woodbridge Drive-in, and they had a mock-up space ship up near the Woddbridge Circle, where you sat inside this cigar-shaped rocket ship, they would raise it up at an angle, it would shake, and you would get out on the other side in a soryt of lunar landscape, and could pick up what we thought were moon rocks, and buy ray guns at the store where you got your tickets. Fun times for a space-race Cold War kid in those days.

markp on July 23, 2008 at 2:09 pm

Hi Lost, Movie534 here. I live about 4 miles from this former theatre, and I can tell you without a doubt, that a bakery and cookie outlet do indeed occupy the space. A lot of my relatives live in town, and my dad was a former projectionist here. (see above posts)

hondo59 on June 28, 2008 at 10:48 am

If you look at the address using Google Earth satellite, you can see that this is a theater building.

Warren G. Harris on June 28, 2008 at 9:14 am

Speak for yourself, Ken. You do the same thing, frequently.

kencmcintyre on June 27, 2008 at 4:44 pm

There is a bakery at the address now. No way to tell if the bakery is in the old theater building, though.
http://tinyurl.com/5jhnp3

danielhalifko on June 19, 2007 at 6:26 pm

I can offer some historical information on The Ritz Theater in Carteret NJ. I attended with friends, in my youth between 1962 and
1968. The Ritz was across the street from Stoellers' Bakery and next door to a mom & pop soda fountain/candy store. The candy store sold 2 for a penny candy, in glass cases that seemed taller than me. For 50 cents, I got buy enough candy to almost chew through a double feature on a Saturday afternoon at the Ritz. My dentist could not be happier.

I remember paying 35 cents for double feature movies. I think these may have been “second run” movies and may have already made the rounds through bigger theatres like The Majestic in Perth Amboy. NJ
which charged 75 cents

The Ritz was excellant refuge for those blustery cold winter Saturdays or even during those “not much to do” lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer vacation.

I remember film genre like monster movies such as Godzilla and Mothra,beach blanket bingo movies, John Wayne westerns, Italian gladiator flicks and musicals. We would attend any feature that starred Elvis Presley,Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing
or any Alfred Hitchcock drama.

I remember notable flicks like “Jason & The Argonauts,” “Sink The Biscmark.” and “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence.” He was the bravest of them all. We made fun and cut-up during performances of
“Mary Poppins” and “Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang.”

I saw the first 2 Beatles' movies there, “A Hard Days' Night,” and “Help.” Literally every seat was taken by screaming young girls.
I was one of very few guys. The girls screamed so much, that we could hear no dialog or music. During Paul McCartney’s bubble bath
scene, girls fainted and hit the floor and literally had to be carried out by ushers.

I can’t remember who collected the entrance fee, but it seemed like 2 men ran the whole theater. One older gentleman who resemble Alfred
Hitckcock ran the concession stand and the projector room. I recall the usher as a very tall man who resembled “Lurch” from the Addams Family. When he shone his flashlight on a kid during the movie, that kid would immediately hush up and toe the line. He had that kind of presence, whereas, he only had to look at you and you got the message.

By 1970, I moved 5 miles away to Woodbridge and didn’t visit the Ritz anymore. By 1975, I was preparing to join the Air Force and
had something of a “Bon Voyage” party, across the street at Donna’s Tavern, and I noticed The Ritz marquee still hung on the building, but inside was a sewing or garment factory that employed dozens of women.

I am forever grateful to The Ritz Theater and the entertainment and
amusement it offered, and to the the youthful dreams it nurtured.