Loew's Jersey Theatre

Awesome landmark. I was in the area visiting friends when the marquee and facade pulled me into this theater. The friendly staff let me walk all around inside except the roped off area up stairs. This palace is an excellent tribute to an amazing era…..I wish I had been around during it’s heyday.

Was there as I said.
Beautiful print and biggest crowd I ever saw there.
I got there late and I couldn’t believe my eyes. What is this the Christmas show at Radio City in ‘59?
Anyway good seeing the crowd enjoy the film and laughing in the right places.
And no booing when they start talking about a woman needs to be married and it is more important than a career. Yes!

“So many of these proffered opinions are, given the commenters aren’t dealing with the issues that the Friends of the Loew’s are dealing with, not in the least bit qualified ones.”

So what are some of the issues?

“Still can’t figure out why they program stuff like Beauty and the Beast. Makes no sense to program a french art film in a movie palace no matter how great(and the Cocteau is a great one.)

I can’t figure out why they don’t play more movie palace movies.
The stuff that used to draw in the crowds to these places.
The comedy and Ape stuff is terrific.
But do we need the umpteenth revival of Blade Runner and Clockwork Orange which don’t even belong in such a venue?

Where are the MGM musicals, the Doris Day stuff, Elvis, Ann Margaret and Beach Party movies?
And when are we getting the great silents to be accompianied by the organ.
Also how about Disney films? There are a lot of wonderful live action films as well as the animated films that should be seen in a theater and not on video.
Tributes to the great stars and directors of the Hollywood period.
Cukor, Wilder, Wyler, Vidor, Ford,Capra, Hawks and Minnelli. And just not the most famous titles.
More cinemascope, more Vistavision.

posted by LeonLeonidoff on Apr 7, 2008 at 3:55pm"

I know this post I’m writing now is hot on the heels of the ‘All About Eve’ screening, which I didn’t go to. It sounds like it was amazing, but unfortunately I couldn’t get out of the city that night. However I do agree with the previous post from LeonLeonidoff. Although the Loews is an amazing place, and I’m more than glad that such a place exists, I do feel that their film programs are a little off the mark. Case in point was the ‘fantasy’ screenings they had. They may all have been great films, but to me the Loews isn’t the place for them. Prints I’m sure are hard to come by in some instances, but there has to be a ton out there that are available. In addition to what Leon said, I’d also like to add that the Loew’s should take every advantage of using the huge screen they have and screen ‘BIG" films. Seeing films like 'Ben-Hur’ on the big screen is an amazing experience you just can’t get from watching it on television. I know the Loews may have screened that film in the past but they need to concentrate more on Classic films shown in a Classic environment. I’d much rather see “Cleopatra” or “The 10 Commandments” on that big screen than say ‘The Princess Bride’. In fact, seeing something like the latter of those titles will only make me stay home or find something else to do.

Sorry if I phrased that wrong, but even many of the supporting players (Marilyn Monroe, Barbara Bates) in the cast have died. I’ll check this out on IMDB right now:

35 actors are listed as the full cast. Three of them are still alive: Craig Hill as Leading Man (a non-speaking role), William Pullen as Clerk and Helen Mowery as Reporter. So I’d say that among all the actors credited at the beginning of the film, Celeste Holm is the only one left.

Tonight’s showing of “All About Eve” was exceptional for several reasons. Celeste Holm, the only surviving cast member, was in attendance and was interviewed after the movie. The line to get tickets was the longest I’ve seen for any theater in years, stretching behind the theater down Magnolia Ave. nearly all the way to Tonnelle Ave., and that’s a long way. The print, from the Fox vault, was absolutely flawless. And the audience reaction featured the most applause I’ve ever heard during an actual movie, not just for the credits or at the end. We applauded favorite lines, plot developments, even actors' facial expressions. It was a blast!

I should mention that apparently Fox did not strike any magnetic stereo prints for the original release of “Planet of the Apes”.
I remember making a few calls at the time,
and was told “there ain’t any”.
I wonder if anyone ever did get their hands on one.

Still can’t figure out why they program stuff like Beauty and the Beast. Makes no sense to program a french art film in a movie palace no matter how great(and the Cocteau is a great one.)

I can’t figure out why they don’t play more movie palace movies.
The stuff that used to draw in the crowds to these places.
The comedy and Ape stuff is terrific.
But do we need the umpteenth revival of Blade Runner and Clockwork Orange which don’t even belong in such a venue?
And what in the world is this place doing showing R rated films?!
This is inexcusable!
Every program should be one where parents don’t mind bringing their kids even if they’re adult in subject matter. People did it all the time until the mid 60’s.

Where are the MGM musicals, the Doris Day stuff, Elvis, Ann Margaret and Beach Party movies?
And when are we getting the great silents to be accompianied by the organ.
Also how about Disney films? There are a lot of wonderful live action films as well as the animated films that should be seen in a theater and not on video.
Tributes to the great stars and directors of the Hollywood period.
Cukor, Wilder, Wyler, Vidor, Ford,Capra, Hawks and Minnelli. And just not the most famous titles.
More cinemascope, more Vistavision.

Elizabeth Taylor, Steve Mcqueen, Charlton Heston, Lee Marvin, Monroe, Julie Andrews and Cary Grant.
These are the kinds of film that these places were built for.

The first couple of years this place had consistently great programming but no more.

On a more gratful note I am looking forward to Eve this coming weekend.
A Roxy movie always rates high in my book.

Correction regarding above post (show times TBA):
May 9th: “A Clockwork Orange” (1971)
May 10th: “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” (2007 [1982])

CLASSIC COMEDY WEEKEND exact days and times…
Fri. April 25th
8 p.m.: Marx Bros. in “Duck Soup” (1933) plus two Three Stooges shorts!
Sat. April 26th
4 p.m.: Laurel & Hardy in “Our Relations” (1936) plus one Three Stooges short!
8 p.m.: W.C. Fields double feature: “Never Give a Sucker an Even Break” (1941) —
“The Bank Dick” (1940 – Universal’s only surviving 35 mm print of this movie will be shown).

Here is a really terrific picture of the Loew’s Jersey lobby all done up for an event. View link

How did the movies turn out this weekend? Sounded like lots of good films. The Red Balloon is always fun.

Frankie’s right – the “Baby Jane” show was so much fun. It was a full circle show for me because I saw it across the street at the Stanley 46 years ago, when it broke all Jersey City attendance records. My dad was shocked that all tickets were $2 each (including children, who were usually 50 cents) for this special engagement only:

View link

I forgot about the Blue Ribbon, but I had some excellent hot dogs at Boulevard Drinks.

Bonus: The “Wonder Morton” organ will be put through its paces during the “Bette Davis weekend”, playing pre-show “entrance music”, as movie-goers enter the auditorium before each screening.

More upcoming classic film events…

March 28th & 29th (Fri. & Sat.): FRENCH AND FANTASY

“La Belle et la bête” (“Beauty and the Beast” – French, 1946)
“Le Ballon Rouge” (“The Red Balloon” – French, 1956) & “Crin Blanc” (“White Mane” – French, 1953)
“The Princess Bride” (USA, 1987)

April 12th (Sat. evening): Special Screening of “ALL ABOUT EVE” (1950)
Featuring a live guest appearance by film star Celeste Holm!
(Rescheduled from its original date of March 23rd, 2007.)