Bradley Cinema
110 Main Street,
Bradley Beach,
NJ
07720
110 Main Street,
Bradley Beach,
NJ
07720
2 people
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Thanks to all for the great comments about our “living museum”. We are presenting an 80th anniversary show on Fri-Sat-Sun, Dec 16-17-18, 2005, of Bing Crosby in “White Christmas”, a 3 Stooges short, trivia contest and door prizes, history talk about the theater, and a few other surprises. Fri-Sat-Sun evening shows at 7:30, Sat-Sun Matinees at 1:30. We opened as a motion picture venue on Dec 26, 1925, and we are having a gala 80th birthday party!
Gary Crawford, Beach Cinema Projectionist
When I was a kid my family spent several sunny summers in Bradley Beach, New Jersey. My friend Sally and I saw at least two, maybe three movies every week at The Palace. Because the program changed every few days. The name seemed ironic, even then, because we were New Yorkers, used to more palatial theatres, but we loved that every seat had a good view—and the price for children was only 7 cents! I do remember me and Sally crying our eyes out at “Lassie Come Home”, even after we left the theatre and walked home down Main Street. We comforted ourselves with sundaes at the Sweet Shop. I don’t know the exact year, but I’m sure the film experts out there can age me significantly.
A Wurlitzer organ, opus 1229, was installed in this theater on 12/19/1925.
Photo at this link:
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extracted from this article:
The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), Feb 28, 1997 p018
Theater goes the neighborhood; As movie multiplexes become megaplexes, it’s nice to know the Bijou is just around the corner. (TICKET)
Beach Cinema 110 Main St. Bradley Beach (908) 774-9089
By Bette Spero
Beach Cinema in Bradley Beach lights up Main Street like a beacon. On one Monday – Date Night, when two patrons are admitted for the price of one – “Jerry Maguire” drew an SRO crowd to the 500-seat theater.
“We had to turn people away,” says Mary Mazza, the box office cashier for more than 10 years. She’s used to folks showing up an hour early just to get seats.
Here’s the quintessential cheap but cozy date for movie buffs: movie (for two), $3.50; popcorn, $2 or $3 (extra butter 25 cents), and free parking. The price is right – $3.50 evenings ($3 senior citizens), $2.50 matinees. But owner and manager John Esposito says money isn’t everything. “People like the flavor of the place,” he notes.
Doorman Ken Patterson unobtrusively stands watch at the auditorium entrance, his post for the past 13 years, and has seen a lot of movies in his time. “Too many times,” quips assistant manager Walter Wilson.
All the employees, dressed in black and white uniforms, comprise a compact, competent team when assisting moviegoers. “We’re like a small family here,” remarks Mazza.
Only the low-key Wilson stands out from the crowd by wearing a bright blue sweater. The 31-year-old assistant manager began working at Beach Cinema when he was 14, so he’s seen a lot of flicks, too. Whenever Wilson is asked how business is going, he’s likely to retort, “Depends on the movie!”
Esposito, who lives in Bradley Beach near his cinema, also broke into the movie business at a young age. While a high school student in 1969, he ushered at the Baronet in Long Branch, his hometown. Esposito spent much of his career working for Walter Reade, who owned a chain of movie theaters in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Beach Cinema was one of them, but then it was called the Palace – a stark boxy structure that hardly epitomized its name.
The setting today is simple, cozy despite its spacious capacity. Informality pervades the place.
Last month Esposito celebrated his 20th year running Beach Cinema – his name choice. Along the way, he has spruced up the place, which evokes an old-fashioned Shore charm reminiscent of summer vacations 40 or 50 years ago. Sandy feet in the aisles is de rigueur.
It’s the only full-time, single screen movie house left in Monmouth County, Esposito points out proudly, and it’s open year-round every day but Christmas Eve.
Thanks Gary Crawford for listing the Beach, former Arcadia Theatre called Palace on this website. I believed I may have met you at the
Lyric Theatre, Asbury Park when you were projecting an American International classic. This was when I was doing the photographic work on the demolition of the Mayfair and St. James Theatres on Lake and Cookman from November 1974 – January 1975.
I was here this past weekend and they present a lovely show. The 7:10 Sunday show was packed, over two-thirds full, and it was great to see a big crowd in an old moviehouse. The words “Palace” are still set in the front sidewalk. There’s a well lit neon and flourescent marquee giving the name of the feature and its star player.
The auditorium is spotless, all on one level, with good seats and sightlines. Curtained walls and lighted sconces on both sides.
There is no stage curtain, but red lights gently bathe the screen while instrumenal verisons of pop hits play. No adverts or slides!
As the music and houselights fade, a slide of the theater’s logo, “BC” in olde english-type font, is shown, while an organ music fanfare is played. Wow!
This is followed by a film strip announcing “Starts Friday.” A nice touch that you don’t see much anymore.
After the one trailer plays, another filmstrip announces “Our Feature Attraction.”
And on with the show. I was especially happy to see that the image on the screen was bright and clear, and the sound system just loud enough.
Kudos to the owner and management, who obviously love running this local but charming showhouse.
Opened as the Palace Theatre with 690 seats.