Cineplex Odeon Route 17 Triplex
85 South Route 17,
Paramus,
NJ
07652
85 South Route 17,
Paramus,
NJ
07652
8 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 96 comments found
For a few years it was a New Year’s Eve tradition for my family to go to the Century Paramus. On that evening the theater would show the regular feature and then follow it with a sneak preview. The only movie I remember from that tradition was “The Great Race.” Occasionally my friends & I would be dropped off at a matinee there as well. I think we saw a Bond movie or two there (with Sean Connery, of course), & I definitely recall seeing “The Glass Bottom Boat.”
This 1966 trade article proves that the original name was Century’s Paramus and that the theatre was built by the Century circuit before its merger with RKO Stanley Warner: Boxoffice
This theatre opened as Century’s Paramus Theatre. That should be added to the aka/previous names list.
How can FUNCTION in the introduction be “Unknown” if the theatre was demolished nearly five years ago?
Imagine if they auctioned off the famous Century signage on the building on Ebay….that would cost a lot of money. Instead, they demolished the theater inside and out. It became an eyesore for commuters on Route 17 heading towards the GSP before its untimely demise. What sound systems did this theater use pre and post multiplexing?
Larry is absolutely right. The 2 bottom theatres would stink of dampness & mildew after a rain. Many of the auditorium lights were blown out, leaving it to feel truly like a big, dark cave. The outside metalwork was largely left to rust. My main gripe with this place was the seats were all positioned to have patrons facing the center of the screen, which was fine when it was one screen. As soon as the wall went up the seats remained the same, leaving you to twist yourself into uncomfortable positions to watch the film. The upper balcony was the best of all 3 screens, as it was mostly left untouched and you got a sense of how big the place originally was.
Worth noting is the theatre closed with the RKO Century name. Cineplex Odeon had never put their logo/name on the place. I suspect this was due to the fact the theatre had been considered in renderings of the plaza circa it’s 1996 expansion. I had first come here in the 1990’s. I believe Cineplex also had run a theatre at the then Bergen Mall in the late 80’s/very early 90’s. There was also a drive in next to the GSP (which is now a parking lot off Route 4 – on the far right near Nordstrom).
The place became so run down in it’s later years that it was amazing that it remained open for so long. A very shoddy theater before being closed.
Yes. It was a big white brick structure with the entrance facing Rt. 17. It was a stone’s throw away from the candy maker you mentioned.
Was this the theater that was right next to the chocolate maker on rt 17 by the mall?
I agree CConnoly1. They should’ve kept the theater open and converted all three screens into a giant IMAX screen theater. Too bad its successor has a smaller IMAX screen.
It amazes me that as late as December 1972, these kinds of reserved seat bookings were still going on. With the lack of theaters and the crowds that go to them (especially for an opening weekend for an “anticipated” film) you’d think they’d start this kind of thing up again. Why not? 3D is back…
what movie had the longest run at this theater?
next year marks 5 years since the theater was closed and nearly 5 years since the theater was demolished. I never been to this theater compared with the tenplex. This was the second theater to open near the plaza, as the first one was a drive-in theater that was Paramus' only drive-in.
There’s an article in today’s Record that incorrectly states this theater as an example of abandoned real estate, since it wasn’t abandoned but demolished.
In December, 1972, as Century’s Paramus, this was part of a three theatre world premiere engagement of UA’s “Man of La Mancha,” along with the Rivoli Theatre in New York City and the UA 150 Theatre in Syosset, Long Island. All seats were reserved and bookable in advance: View link
yup. It didn’t take 55 years to build it, that’s just slang for the company’s founding in 1910. BTW, what was Century Theaters and how did it get its name? When that theater opened, was it the same size as what used to be a one-screener on Route 4? The garden state theater is much bigger than both combined!!!
Hmmm, it took 55 years to build it, one week to tear it down, and four weeks to cart it away. That must have been one lazy construction crew for sure! :)
If you’re nostalgic for the Century … here’s an ad from July 1965 announcing the theatre’s opening.
View link
Notice what it says on the map at the bottom. That’s exactly what the Century’s site has now become: Ample Free Parking, Always!
btw, how is parking where the old triplex used to be? Seems that more cars can go in there and get to the movies!!!
Did some of the employees at the old triplex move into what was once the Tenplex before they moved into the new AMC, which is mostly staffed by youngsters? I would like to learn about that.
On the other hand, the new AMC is like this:
Route 4 Tenplex + Route 17 Triplex + Stadium Seating + 3 screens (2 with DLP and one with RWC/DVS)= AMC Garden State 16.
Just heard this was getting demolished. Now if I could just get the phone number out of my head after 30 years, 201 843-3830.
The status of this theater needs to be changed to “Demolished”, but like the Rt 4 Tenplex, I’ve sent messages to whoever administers this site, and they just go ignored. Very annoying.
I think people are more likely to use this parking area for the twin restaurants that are next door. This pot is fairly distant from the mall.
good for the shoppers at Garden State Plaza who want to see a movie at the new movie theater in Paramus on days when the mall is closed; plenty of parking, indeed.