Recliner update is complete – I attended a show tonight – – very comfortable, although seat back doesn’t recline as far as Starplex but that might actually be a good thing – the foot rests do extend nearly flat. I suspect going this route they lost less seats in the conversion process and the theatre we were in (a medium-sized one) still boasted a decent seat-count. An usher enforced the new reserved seating policy and checked tickets upon entry to the auditorium.
The sight-lines in the upper stadium portion have changed (the first row is a good 6ft above the handicap rows, almost like a balcony) and made for a very good viewing experience. In essence, a nice, comfortable multiplex just got more comfortable – – I suspect this recliner-plexing with reserved seating may be kind of a test for Kerastoes who has plans to expand their Showplace Icon brand with new complexes in DC and Boston. The screens (proper masking here!), lobby, box-office, concession and rest-rooms haven’t changed.
They’re an exhibitor from the Netherlands – from the looks of their website they have four theaters – one each in India, Bulgaria, Romania and Ocean, New Jersey………
I had visited this theater last summer – this was my last first run 35MM experience! The theatre was in pretty good shape – certainly not dirty or in disrepair as far as I can tell, but between the 35MM (they had at least one digital 3D set up) and the Clearview sign in the parking lot the writing was on the wall that it might not stick around for a while. (Hopefully for the new operators it doesn’t stay closed for too long, otherwise AMC might demand clearance).
Currently Kerasotes is renovating the theater into a recliner-plex – – the five-year old seats it currently has (which are still in fine shape) were sold to Empire Columbia Park 12, a mile up the road.
They’re 3/8th digital – with 5 35MM screens. I saw a digital presentation here last year and it wasn’t the greatest – pillar boxed on a small scope screen in one of those long bowling alley-like cinemas on the left side of the complex. This was a compromise for a foreign language film, originally they had showed it in scope until the audience complained (the subtitles were chopped off), had it not been subtitled we might have seen it in the wrong aspect ratio without catching it.
Not sure what its future will be – they launched an IndieGoGo campaign that wasn’t successful and even first run theaters are finding themselves limited (I occasionally look and see what’s playing at a few theaters I know of that haven’t gone digital yet). Here they’re getting newer, more indie films on digital (I’m glad they’re showing these films – they actually do pretty well here!) and commercial hits on 35MM. An ideal outcome would be Movieland gets the financing or another operator steps in and makes a few improvement to the place while taking it digital. It sure is popular (even charging double what Dipson does at McKinely – which is in better shape) – and could be even more successful with some improvements.
New leather/vinyl rocker seating in all auditoriums, similar to the Ultra AVX seats! (Not sure when they installed them – new since last TIFF at least)
Slated to become an AMC recliner-plex due open by the Summer of 2016 (not sure what the hold-up is but Roads Less Traveled will return for another season in the building). I have mixed feelings on this one – on one hand its great it’ll remain a cinema, but it also may shut out the local film community as this venue held screenings for Buffalo Niagara Film Festival, UB’s Buffalo Film Seminars and other local screenings and premiers. On the other hand, it’s good news and I think the refurbished theater (Dipson’s hands were tied here) will be a success.
Visited yesterday for Hercules – the good: it was clean and leather recliners. The Bad: yes, they’ve gone digital (no 3D but thats no deal breaker for me) but they never bothered to replace the glass in the projection booth – so in at least two auditoriums you’ll see a dark line running down the frame at some point. The picture was ¼th dark and out of focus – not acceptable (at least two others walked out along with me). The reason the management gave “the owners are working on it”.
Otherwise with a little more fixing up it could be great – they need new wall treatments (the one in the theater I was in had water damage), new glass in the booths and an automated lighting system that doesn’t leave the theaters dangerously pitch black between screenings – – and then the place would be fine.
Due for the AMC recliner-plex treatment per their website (no doubt the second generation that don’t recline as far and only allow for half the theatre capacity to be cut). AMC has been (after a year) charging a premium on the recliner-plexes – $16.50 at 84th Street is NYC’s highest 2D adult ticket price for a non-IMAX show.
The other Bronx theater in operation, Concourse Plaza recently installed comfortable rocker seats. Bay Plaza certainly needs an upgrade – while Concourse Plaza simply needs to be more welcoming – – it’s seriously like National Amusements built a movie theater in what looks like the middle of a maximum security prison. The least inviting theater I’ve ever been to.
The Bronx overall needs more movie screens, for a city that large to only have 24 screens at two complexes to choose from (AMC will likely in a year raise prices here quite dramatically) its time for another operator to enter. The only question is where?
(Yonkers by comparison has three excellent theaters in operations with a total of first run 27 screens)
Operated (with a separate box office and concessions from the 21-screen Lowes) by AMC since RoboCop (February 12, 2014). Not sure if they still have 15/70MM in operation.
AMC assumed operations of the IMAX Theater in the complex in February.
On a side note Re: Regal – not sure what their plans are but they also announced they’ll be operating a luxury theater at Paramus Park. This theater seems a little less crowed but not hurting for business – I think both mall serve slightly different audiences with Nanuet ultimately a quicker, less stressful experience (at least parking). Bow Tie changed the focus on New City on art/indie films, although unfortunately a lot of the bigger titles from Fox Searchlight and Sony Classics play both at Bow Tie and Loews – occasionally a film will play at all 3 Rockland County theaters.
I visited last week for the BNFF and the theater is still in limbo – it’s in a strange predicament because the building is technically owned by the city, operated by a NFP-board and managed by Dipson. The city, wanting to get out of the exhibition business has requested proposals from interested parties to acquire the building (which includes the cinema and some additional storefronts).
Officially the city hopes it’ll remain a theater (and that could be viable as this block of Main Street is about to reopen to motor traffic), but it certainly requires updates including at the very minimum digital projection to continue to operate. (The lobby with its Angelika fixtures is generally in good shape, while the auditoriums are all original GCC including seats, carpeting and walls treatments – not in poor repair but certainly could use a refresh). I’ve heard some speculation as to the theater’s future, truthfully I’d like to see something innovative happen here (WNY doesn’t have a single luxury cinema and only one microcinema that serves food and alcohol).
The presentation has greatly improved since Bow Tie’s take over – clear, bright, in focus, and in frame (digital of course allows a certain degree to correct for poorly divided theaters). The once infamously awful KinMall is now a theater I frequent a few times a month because the presentation is now very good (I never thought I’d say that!).
It’s been converted to a Church – here’s a current interior photo: https://www.google.com/maps/preview/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x883c775c9ebffb4b:0x2f7136381679cdb8!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e1!4shttps://plus.google.com/115202883054903662450/photos?hl%3Den%26socfid%3Dweb:lu:kp:placepageimage%26socpid%3D1!5scalvary+church+maumee+–+Google+Search&sa=X&ei=ZZYxU5Qk4qbSAZXTgJAK&ved=0CJ0BEKIqMA0
RE: Optimist008 – Hudson Mall is currently open despite the revolving door of operators over the years – they’ve have covered to digital.
Western New York is a region where a few GCC locations of various vintages can be found – the most “vintage” of the bunch (all are digital by the way!) are Eastern Hills Mall in Williamsville, NY (including a big auditorium with a shadowbox screen!) and Chautauqua Mall I & II in Jamestown. A few others in Buffalo-Rochester were either of the 80’s vintage or evolved towards that “look” (Movieland 8 – formerly Thruway Mall has quite a history – it’s a GCC of two eras….although sadly its in very rough shape as a very popular discount theater – while I don’t recall it having a shadowbox screen, they still an original giant auditorium that seats about 600!).
I can’t speak for Hudson Mall but one location that has a few GCC touches lurking in a wing (including original style bathrooms) is Starplex Brunswick Square – the auditoriums recently underwent an extensive renovation (I’m not sure if they had a Shadowbox screen and if so it survived several renovations and divisions).
Currently the plaza is under construction – I had caught a flick here the other day. Its a perfectly utilitarian National Amusements design complete with corrugated steel walls. It appears seating ranged from 190 to 480 – I was lucky enough to be in #5 -the largest theater in the house. The layout of the mall is uninviting and looks as if it was designed to accommodate lots of crowds (and potentially problems). The walk up to the theater looks like a prison, the theater is 2 floors underground). The theater itself has a central concession stand (it looks newish) and the 10 theaters flank the stand along with two sets of restrooms. Overall the experience was – well – an interesting one, I can’t say I’ll be back but the theater was clean (even if the auditorium I was in smelled a little like a hospital), but they left the Real D polarizers on a 2D presentation – ugh – I wish they would make projectors that would refuse to start up if a 3D polarizer was left on for a 2D movie.
The theaters are still awkwardly chopped up but the experience has vastly improved over the years – Clearview remodeled the theaters a few years ago (new seats, carpets, concession stands and restrooms) and Bow Tie has installed digital projection which has been a big improvement (although I haven’t seen a show in theater #4 which had a poorly placed port window that greatly distorted the image – digital projection can correct for keystoning). Over all I enjoy the theater now – the staff is friendly, the place is clean, and they’re the first to show some great movies (although I admit I miss the days when Montclair had 11 art house screens….even if I don’t miss The Screening Zone).
No improvements as of yet – in fact some minor downgrades currently (no soda fountains, not sure if that’ll be the case until they install the Coke Freestyle machines with the upgrade). The theaters are currently showing 35MM (they may have two digital houses from Clearview remaining but I don’t know – we saw a movie in 35MM, no pre-show or AMC branding – just one trailer and the movie…wish it was always this simple). A packed house too with a sold out crowd for American Hustle.
The good news is we were warmly greeted by the one and only Fluffy – – very glad to see him!
(Or search Facebook for Janet Joyner Photography and the album “Teaneck Cinemas”)
The theater had been in very bad shape last I visited in the spring of 2011 before they closed (I had seen a movie in the main auditorium where they used the curtain – cool, but the projection was out of focus, the sound was too low – especially for a dialogue driven Wit Stillman comedy, and the theater was freezing).
From the photos this place is looking great – with a complete modernization and a restoration of the some of the original art deco elements that were buried 20-40 years ago. I can’t wait to check it out this week!
Bow Tie has solved the major problem I had with many of the Clearview locations – Kinnelon has gone all digital and the picture is sharp, bright and most importantly – in focus! I look forward to seeing what they do circuit-wide as they continue to work on the Clearview sites.
I believe this location is due to be taken over by global exhibitor CineGrand.
Recliner update is complete – I attended a show tonight – – very comfortable, although seat back doesn’t recline as far as Starplex but that might actually be a good thing – the foot rests do extend nearly flat. I suspect going this route they lost less seats in the conversion process and the theatre we were in (a medium-sized one) still boasted a decent seat-count. An usher enforced the new reserved seating policy and checked tickets upon entry to the auditorium.
The sight-lines in the upper stadium portion have changed (the first row is a good 6ft above the handicap rows, almost like a balcony) and made for a very good viewing experience. In essence, a nice, comfortable multiplex just got more comfortable – – I suspect this recliner-plexing with reserved seating may be kind of a test for Kerastoes who has plans to expand their Showplace Icon brand with new complexes in DC and Boston. The screens (proper masking here!), lobby, box-office, concession and rest-rooms haven’t changed.
They’re an exhibitor from the Netherlands – from the looks of their website they have four theaters – one each in India, Bulgaria, Romania and Ocean, New Jersey………
http://www.app.com/story/money/business/2014/11/07/cinegrand-ocean-theater/18672757/
I had visited this theater last summer – this was my last first run 35MM experience! The theatre was in pretty good shape – certainly not dirty or in disrepair as far as I can tell, but between the 35MM (they had at least one digital 3D set up) and the Clearview sign in the parking lot the writing was on the wall that it might not stick around for a while. (Hopefully for the new operators it doesn’t stay closed for too long, otherwise AMC might demand clearance).
Recently installed very comfortable new leather rocker seating.
Currently Kerasotes is renovating the theater into a recliner-plex – – the five-year old seats it currently has (which are still in fine shape) were sold to Empire Columbia Park 12, a mile up the road.
They’re 3/8th digital – with 5 35MM screens. I saw a digital presentation here last year and it wasn’t the greatest – pillar boxed on a small scope screen in one of those long bowling alley-like cinemas on the left side of the complex. This was a compromise for a foreign language film, originally they had showed it in scope until the audience complained (the subtitles were chopped off), had it not been subtitled we might have seen it in the wrong aspect ratio without catching it.
Not sure what its future will be – they launched an IndieGoGo campaign that wasn’t successful and even first run theaters are finding themselves limited (I occasionally look and see what’s playing at a few theaters I know of that haven’t gone digital yet). Here they’re getting newer, more indie films on digital (I’m glad they’re showing these films – they actually do pretty well here!) and commercial hits on 35MM. An ideal outcome would be Movieland gets the financing or another operator steps in and makes a few improvement to the place while taking it digital. It sure is popular (even charging double what Dipson does at McKinely – which is in better shape) – and could be even more successful with some improvements.
New leather/vinyl rocker seating in all auditoriums, similar to the Ultra AVX seats! (Not sure when they installed them – new since last TIFF at least)
Slated to become an AMC recliner-plex due open by the Summer of 2016 (not sure what the hold-up is but Roads Less Traveled will return for another season in the building). I have mixed feelings on this one – on one hand its great it’ll remain a cinema, but it also may shut out the local film community as this venue held screenings for Buffalo Niagara Film Festival, UB’s Buffalo Film Seminars and other local screenings and premiers. On the other hand, it’s good news and I think the refurbished theater (Dipson’s hands were tied here) will be a success.
Visited yesterday for Hercules – the good: it was clean and leather recliners. The Bad: yes, they’ve gone digital (no 3D but thats no deal breaker for me) but they never bothered to replace the glass in the projection booth – so in at least two auditoriums you’ll see a dark line running down the frame at some point. The picture was ¼th dark and out of focus – not acceptable (at least two others walked out along with me). The reason the management gave “the owners are working on it”.
Otherwise with a little more fixing up it could be great – they need new wall treatments (the one in the theater I was in had water damage), new glass in the booths and an automated lighting system that doesn’t leave the theaters dangerously pitch black between screenings – – and then the place would be fine.
Due for the AMC recliner-plex treatment per their website (no doubt the second generation that don’t recline as far and only allow for half the theatre capacity to be cut). AMC has been (after a year) charging a premium on the recliner-plexes – $16.50 at 84th Street is NYC’s highest 2D adult ticket price for a non-IMAX show.
The other Bronx theater in operation, Concourse Plaza recently installed comfortable rocker seats. Bay Plaza certainly needs an upgrade – while Concourse Plaza simply needs to be more welcoming – – it’s seriously like National Amusements built a movie theater in what looks like the middle of a maximum security prison. The least inviting theater I’ve ever been to.
The Bronx overall needs more movie screens, for a city that large to only have 24 screens at two complexes to choose from (AMC will likely in a year raise prices here quite dramatically) its time for another operator to enter. The only question is where?
(Yonkers by comparison has three excellent theaters in operations with a total of first run 27 screens)
Operated (with a separate box office and concessions from the 21-screen Lowes) by AMC since RoboCop (February 12, 2014). Not sure if they still have 15/70MM in operation.
AMC assumed operations of the IMAX Theater in the complex in February.
On a side note Re: Regal – not sure what their plans are but they also announced they’ll be operating a luxury theater at Paramus Park. This theater seems a little less crowed but not hurting for business – I think both mall serve slightly different audiences with Nanuet ultimately a quicker, less stressful experience (at least parking). Bow Tie changed the focus on New City on art/indie films, although unfortunately a lot of the bigger titles from Fox Searchlight and Sony Classics play both at Bow Tie and Loews – occasionally a film will play at all 3 Rockland County theaters.
I visited last week for the BNFF and the theater is still in limbo – it’s in a strange predicament because the building is technically owned by the city, operated by a NFP-board and managed by Dipson. The city, wanting to get out of the exhibition business has requested proposals from interested parties to acquire the building (which includes the cinema and some additional storefronts).
Officially the city hopes it’ll remain a theater (and that could be viable as this block of Main Street is about to reopen to motor traffic), but it certainly requires updates including at the very minimum digital projection to continue to operate. (The lobby with its Angelika fixtures is generally in good shape, while the auditoriums are all original GCC including seats, carpeting and walls treatments – not in poor repair but certainly could use a refresh). I’ve heard some speculation as to the theater’s future, truthfully I’d like to see something innovative happen here (WNY doesn’t have a single luxury cinema and only one microcinema that serves food and alcohol).
Rumors are Starplex is taking it over
The presentation has greatly improved since Bow Tie’s take over – clear, bright, in focus, and in frame (digital of course allows a certain degree to correct for poorly divided theaters). The once infamously awful KinMall is now a theater I frequent a few times a month because the presentation is now very good (I never thought I’d say that!).
It’s been converted to a Church – here’s a current interior photo: https://www.google.com/maps/preview/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x883c775c9ebffb4b:0x2f7136381679cdb8!2m5!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i100!3m1!7e1!4shttps://plus.google.com/115202883054903662450/photos?hl%3Den%26socfid%3Dweb:lu:kp:placepageimage%26socpid%3D1!5scalvary+church+maumee+–+Google+Search&sa=X&ei=ZZYxU5Qk4qbSAZXTgJAK&ved=0CJ0BEKIqMA0
RE: Optimist008 – Hudson Mall is currently open despite the revolving door of operators over the years – they’ve have covered to digital.
Western New York is a region where a few GCC locations of various vintages can be found – the most “vintage” of the bunch (all are digital by the way!) are Eastern Hills Mall in Williamsville, NY (including a big auditorium with a shadowbox screen!) and Chautauqua Mall I & II in Jamestown. A few others in Buffalo-Rochester were either of the 80’s vintage or evolved towards that “look” (Movieland 8 – formerly Thruway Mall has quite a history – it’s a GCC of two eras….although sadly its in very rough shape as a very popular discount theater – while I don’t recall it having a shadowbox screen, they still an original giant auditorium that seats about 600!).
I can’t speak for Hudson Mall but one location that has a few GCC touches lurking in a wing (including original style bathrooms) is Starplex Brunswick Square – the auditoriums recently underwent an extensive renovation (I’m not sure if they had a Shadowbox screen and if so it survived several renovations and divisions).
Currently the plaza is under construction – I had caught a flick here the other day. Its a perfectly utilitarian National Amusements design complete with corrugated steel walls. It appears seating ranged from 190 to 480 – I was lucky enough to be in #5 -the largest theater in the house. The layout of the mall is uninviting and looks as if it was designed to accommodate lots of crowds (and potentially problems). The walk up to the theater looks like a prison, the theater is 2 floors underground). The theater itself has a central concession stand (it looks newish) and the 10 theaters flank the stand along with two sets of restrooms. Overall the experience was – well – an interesting one, I can’t say I’ll be back but the theater was clean (even if the auditorium I was in smelled a little like a hospital), but they left the Real D polarizers on a 2D presentation – ugh – I wish they would make projectors that would refuse to start up if a 3D polarizer was left on for a 2D movie.
The theaters are still awkwardly chopped up but the experience has vastly improved over the years – Clearview remodeled the theaters a few years ago (new seats, carpets, concession stands and restrooms) and Bow Tie has installed digital projection which has been a big improvement (although I haven’t seen a show in theater #4 which had a poorly placed port window that greatly distorted the image – digital projection can correct for keystoning). Over all I enjoy the theater now – the staff is friendly, the place is clean, and they’re the first to show some great movies (although I admit I miss the days when Montclair had 11 art house screens….even if I don’t miss The Screening Zone).
No improvements as of yet – in fact some minor downgrades currently (no soda fountains, not sure if that’ll be the case until they install the Coke Freestyle machines with the upgrade). The theaters are currently showing 35MM (they may have two digital houses from Clearview remaining but I don’t know – we saw a movie in 35MM, no pre-show or AMC branding – just one trailer and the movie…wish it was always this simple). A packed house too with a sold out crowd for American Hustle.
The good news is we were warmly greeted by the one and only Fluffy – – very glad to see him!
A photographer caught the extreme makeover (I apologize if this link doesn’t work or changes) –
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.660991233929266.1073741832.580266278668429&type=1
(Or search Facebook for Janet Joyner Photography and the album “Teaneck Cinemas”)
The theater had been in very bad shape last I visited in the spring of 2011 before they closed (I had seen a movie in the main auditorium where they used the curtain – cool, but the projection was out of focus, the sound was too low – especially for a dialogue driven Wit Stillman comedy, and the theater was freezing).
From the photos this place is looking great – with a complete modernization and a restoration of the some of the original art deco elements that were buried 20-40 years ago. I can’t wait to check it out this week!
Starplex is taking this over as of today, now listed as Town Center Plaza 10. Upgrades planned are luxury seating and digital projection.
Bow Tie has solved the major problem I had with many of the Clearview locations – Kinnelon has gone all digital and the picture is sharp, bright and most importantly – in focus! I look forward to seeing what they do circuit-wide as they continue to work on the Clearview sites.
Speaking of which: http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/downtown-buffalos-only-movie-theater-may-soon-go-dark-20131128