Loew's Jersey Theatre
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
98 people
favorited this theater
Showing 951 - 975 of 1,501 comments
St. George and the dragon are intact at Loew’s Jersey. The figure that was stolen was at Loew’s Paradise in the Bronx.
What happened to the Dragon at the Loews that was seemingly stolen? I haven’t been back there in a years and I don’t see follow-up to the note regarding this sad theft from an historic theatre?
Readers of this board may be interested in Saturday’s meeting to Revitalize Brooklyn’s Loew’s Kings Movie Palace.
Thanks for the explanation Theaterat. I was intrigued by the situation. Growing up when I did, it never occured to me that someone wouldn’t have a computer!! Phil Phil certainly does seem knowledgable.
Thanks for the kind words Bob. As I’m sure many of you know, Bob Furmanek was the founding father of the Loews Jersey’s film program. While he has moved on to other endeavors, all of us long time volunteers appreciate the years of hard work he put into the project and his attention to detail. I think it unlikely that there would now be a film program at the Loews if it were not for Bob.
Irv, the next film weekend is scheduled for April 28 & 29, John Ford films, I’m not sure of the final title selections.
I missed the shows over the weekend because I had to work. When can we expect the next series of films? Hopefully soon please??????? Any possibilities in the works??
Mitchell: your walkie-talkie system is an excellent idea that certainly worked. Whenever the film went out of focus, you were right on top of it and the image cleared up within seconds. An almost 4-hour movie like that must’ve been a real workout for you, but all your hard work was greatly appreciated by me and everyone else who was there. Thanks!
Re the 3-26 screening of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS- another triumph for the Jersey!Went with my friend PHIL PHIL and our dates.After seeing it on the big screen- the way it was ment to be seen, I doubt that I can ever enjoy it as much when it is shown on TV again. There will be a TV movie version of this film next Monday 4-3 on channel 7{ I believe} Even though I intend to watch it, it probably can`t compare to the De Mille version.There were some minor projection and sound flaws at the screening, but nothing serious enough to diminish the experience.The parting of the Red Sea and the writting of the commandments themselves were still impressive even after 50 years. And the cast! I hate to use the cliche “ they sure don1t make them like they used to”, but after witnessing it at a grand theater like the Jersey, it sure is true.
I am glad that everyone enjoyed the show. I was projectionist for the 10 Commandments, and yes, there was a friend of mine near the front of the auditorium with a walkie-talkie alterting me to sound and focus problems. One of the problems with the projection booth being so far from the screen is that everything always looks good from back there. This was an attempt to address that issue. The print you saw was an original dye-transfer Technicolor print.
/Mitchell
Loews Jersey Projection Staff
Lifes Too Short….Phil Phil is a neighbor and a friend of mine. He does not have- or know how to use a computer, but he is a big movie and theater fan like myself.He is about 12 years older than I and has a very good memory of many old and forgotten theaters in Brooklyn and New York.I let him post his entries under my name. Since Phil Phil and I {along with our 2 lady friends} have started to go to the Jersey lately, he just wants to get his “2 cents in” like the rest of the posters on this site.We went to the 3-26 screening of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS and he was just blown away by the presentation and experience. If he wants to post a comment on the show- and I think he does, I let him do it. Mystery solved!
A great show. Brought back memories of seeing this film at the Loews Oriental in Brooklyn back in the 1960’s. (a re-issue). I noticed sitting near me was a guy with a walkie-talkie who what call the projection booth to tell them to correct the sound durring the film. Really a great idea.
Another great show today at the Loew’s Jersey: “The Ten Commandments”. One of those films that has to be seen BIG, and the Loew’s Jersey did it justice. It wasn’t too much of a stretch to imagine I was seeing it during its first-run engagement at the Criterion in New York, even though the print had some wear and tear on it. Heck, even the Criterion print must have had some scratches after playing for more than a year.
I’m from Connecticut and I just took a look at the website. Ah Megami Sama! That place is beautiful, I hope it can still show classic films and maybe it can have Classical and Jazz concerts or cater to musicals such as Phantom of the Opera or Wicked when they tour. Oh, I hope everything turns out right. Connecticut just has a smattering of these beauties, one of the best is the Warner Theater and The Palace in Waterbury.
I am dying to ask: who is Phil Phil and why can’t he post for himself? I have seen such comments several times…very mysterious…
My wording in my previous post was off. What I meant to say was…I was surprised that as much as half of the audience responded that they had NEVER seen these movies before, and this was only their FIRST time. I would have expected that most everyone there were big classic movie and/or James Dean fans and had already seen these films, and came mainly to experience viewing them on a huge screen in an authentic movie palace setting.
The fact that this was their first time tells me that, for many of them, these movies have the same draw power and appeal as do the newest theatrical releases, maybe even more so. Given the current quality of Hollywood’s latest releases (with a few exceptions), I can see where older films would actually be a first choice for those seeking quality movie entertainment.
Except for a few of this year’s Oscar picks, there is nothing coming out that even remotely interests me, either in theatrical or home video new release, and I have felt this way for quite some time.
All the more reason to preserve this theatre and the fine “alternative” entertainment experience that it provides. As long as the motion picture studios continue producing mindless, low-quality drivel, I can only expect (and hope) that audiences here will continue to grow.
Posted for Phil Phil by Theaterat. After hearing so much about the Jersey from Theaterat and others, I decieded to go on Sat March 11th for the James Dean double feature. All I can say is WOW! I AM impressed. I found the widescreen presentation of these films to be first rate, and the emotional impact these films had on me was the same that it was some 50 years ago when I saw these films as a young teen ager.As far as the theater is concerned, what can I say that has not already been said on these posts?It was absolutely amazing to see how this great theater is being bought back by the volunteers and everyone else connected with the project. What a fresh breath of air when compared to todays faceless dirty and impersonal multiplexes. This is moviegoing in its best tradition.Equally amazing were all the people I met- total strangers who shared the same memories of these films and the great theaters with me. This was quite simply the best moviegoing experience I
ve had in many moons.Cant wait to see the TEN COMMANDMENTS on March 26th. I Know that it will be another great experience. Posted by Theaterat for Phil Phil.Seems like we have a lot of Loews Jersey customers here. I am a big fan (from afar) of the building and am curious about a few things:
1) What is the average crowd like for one of their presentations? I understand the balcony is closed. But have they ever filled up the main floor?
2) Several years ago I got the impression that they were accomplishing amazing feats with mostly volunteer labor (fixing the clock tower, fixing the marquee, tearing out the triplex walls, etc). But I get the impression that momentum has slowed. Am I wrong and are they still accomplishing projects like this on a regular basis, or have circumstances changed somehow?
3) What is the real threat posed by this political disagreement I have read about, and why did it come about? I was under the impression that the city supported the notion of reopening the Jersey.
4) What is the ultimate goal of the Jersey project? Is it strictly to be a venue for classic cinema, or are they planning on expanded their offerings to include other types of events at some point? Classic cinema is certainly cool. But there are movie palaces (like the Orpheum in Madison, WI) that are making it by putting together a creative and wide array of uses to offer the public.
Many thanks to anyone who takes a moment to consider these questions.
Attended the James Dean “double-feature†Saturday night (March 11th â€" “Rebel Without a Cause†and “East of Edenâ€) and had a terrific movie-going experience. This has to be one of the biggest entertainment bargains out there (10 dollars for two movies â€" and good ones at that!). The time just flew by (and these were full-length, almost two-hour-long features).
The picture was clear (projection quality was consistent for both films – steady and focused throughout); the “sound stage†was just right (volume, tone, spaciousness and balance, well-anchored dialogue â€" loved the slight echo “slapping†off the walls). Every seat in the house was a good one.
The crowd was varied in age and composition â€" everyone from just a few young “20-somethings†to senior citizens (the vast majority were around my age: “30-somethings†and early 40s, mostly young urban professional types). It was a nice sampling of the local population, and with a decent turnout (I estimated about 300 for each film) shows that there is interest in the community and an audience for these films. During the Q&A session following “Rebel†(a nice touch), the audience was asked “How many of you saw this movie for the first time?†Surprisingly, only about half of the audience raised their hands! This theatre presents an incredible opportunity for introducing younger audiences to classic cinema. Thankfully, it succeeds at attracting a more “serious†sophisticated lot (well-behaved, quiet, courteous â€" unlike the “multiplex†and “mall rat†crowds). It is a historical and cultural icon that must be preserved! It is part of the busy Journal Square shopping district, and fits right in with its surroundings. City officials would be foolish to let all of this go to waste.
What this place needs is more programming and much better publicity and promotion â€" it has so much potential for use. Yes, it’s in Jersey, but so what? Come on you “city†people…get over your “it’s not Manhattan†attitude and take a chance on this place. It has so many positives in its favor, even by “city†standards â€" uniqueness, location, transportation/access and especially cost value. There are NO excuses:
(1) Easy, fast access: The PATH train station is JUST ACROSS THE STREET in Journal Square.
(2) Convenient, cheap parking: DIRECTLY BEHIND the theatre (at the end of Magnolia Ave) is the Square Ramp garage. One gripe: the theatre does NOT do enough to inform their customers that they are entitled to HALF-PRICE parking! (They have a special deal with the garage, but customers have to hunt for the vouchers – I found them in a small pile on the snack counter next to the Milk Duds and Reese’s). They should be prominently displayed on an “information table†or by the entrance where tickets are sold, so that we can see them on our way in and out. With the voucher, I only paid $3.50 for five hours â€" a bargain!
(3) Safety: there is plenty of activity and street traffic during “business hoursâ€, and the side alleyway allowing quick access to the garage is brightly lit and under security camera surveillance.
(4) Atmosphere and character: how many old movie palaces still exist and operate in NYC, and how many show classic (or any) films?
How about announcements or listings in the New York Times or Village Voice (print and online), not to mention numerous other local arts and entertainment media? I have never seen any, and if there were some, I didn’t notice them. Be creative! You have a unique, colorful venue â€" you need to engage in variety of promotional activities to showcase it.
I made an evening of it with an acquaintance of mine (who just happens to live in Jersey City). He says he has passed this place dozens of times en route to the PATH train station and never gave it a second thought. After attending the shows, he remarked “What a great way to spend a Saturday night.†So impressed was he by this “tarnished jewel†of a building and the efforts of the staff (many of them volunteers, busy at “work†making everyone feel welcome and comfortable) that he has expressed interest in offering suggestions and help with future programming and activities, and donating some time as a volunteer.
It looks like we have another “convertâ€.
While it makes more sense to run a film optically I would like to see the “Vitaphone” process used (Even if just for a short) just to experience what it would have been like back in 1928-29 to view and hear a film using that process.
Maybe. If someday the Loews gets their sound-on-disc projector to work, but then would you want to run an archival print and disc on a machine that old and unreliable in the first place? Wouldn’t it just make more sense to run the film optically? The amount of sync control and quality in presentation is so much better that way.
And I agree, it would be nice to see the day the balcony opens. Perhaps some day they’ll finish remolding and painting the plaster work, too.
I’m just hoping they can open the balcony sometime in the near future. The “Vitaphon Project” has complete sets of discs to many early films so I guess it is possible (But highly unlikely) that the Jersey could screen a film using the Vitaphon process.
Vincent, “true” VistaVision isn’t 8 perf VistaVision. In fact, it was only the first few films that were shot in VistaVision that were even printed 8-perf!
Paramount made it clear when they introduced it that the REALITY of VistaVision is that it was designed to ensure finer-grained 4 perf 35mm prints for blow up to widescreen, not to be projected in 8-perf! 8-Perf prints were special cases for special venues.
I highly doubt (in fact, I’d stake money on it) that any 8 perf prints for actual projection purposes have been struck in almost 50 years.
As for the Jersey: Before I go into my rant, please note that I have the utmost respect for the Jersey and its staff and I appreciate what they’re doing, but I have to tell it how it is before things start getting ridiculous on this board.
Don’t raise your hopes for 70mm anytime soon either. They have the equipment, but it hasn’t been installed in the booth and is literally sitting in pieces up there. It took them months to actually get those pieces up there, and my guess is that it’s going to take many more months to finally get it all up and working.
Don’t expect magnetic or Vitaphone either. The readers they have up there are just for show (not to mention— WHO THE HECK MAKES VITAPHONE DISCS ANYMORE???). They’ve got a Perspecta integrator, but never use it.
Folks, don’t expect pipe dreams of cinema at the Jersey. It’s a fantastic venue, but being realistic as all good venues are, they’ll be running 35mm, carbon arc, mono sound on a 50 foot screen for now. That is IT and that is fine by me.
Wow!, Thanks for the info. Wish I had been old enough to see White Christmas screened that way. Really must have been something to see.
Somebody somewhere on one of these pages said that Vistavision looked better at the Paramount than the Music Hall. But then the Hall only showed one movie in Vistavision though a number of its films were filmed in that process.
I wonder when the last time was when a film was shown in NY in true VistaVision whether first run or revival.
If only Ben Olevsky had written a long article or book!
“White Christmas” would have the same aspect ratio if projected at 1.85 (one of the suggested ratios), however if projected at the same size as a vertical 35mm print would appear much sharper, since the film area is much larger. VistaVision is eight perfs wide or two frames of 35mm film. If an eight perf horizontal print is slightly squeezed and unsqueezed as in the Technirama format it ends up being 12 perfs wide or just about the same width as a 70mm image. As a brash teenager in Illinois when “White Christmas” opened at our local Balaban & Katz theatre I remember the manager telling an audience that he had seen it in Chicago at the State/Lake and we were in for a treat. He saw a horizontal print, and we had a normal print, but still the image was amazingly sharp since it was printed from a negative made from a reduction of the VistaVision negative. I (in my youthful “wisdom”) commented that someday they would combine VistaVision with CinemaScope to come up with a picture that was both wide and sharp. Of course they did that the next year with “Oklahoma” in Todd-AO shot on 65mm film. My predecessor at Radio City, Ben Olevsky, always thought that VistaVision at the Hall was better looking than 70mm, but at the time “White Christmas” came out, few had seen projection from a larger-than-35mm print, and of course most of the 70mm material that Ben ran at the Hall was a blow-up from 35. The work print material I ran at Sound One for the three films that used VistaVision looked great of course, but it was projected on a 10' wide screen, so it didn’t have the impact it would have if presented in a theatre. By the way, projecting it is impressive since it runs at double the normal speed. At 180' a minute it moves! That’s faster than 70mm at 24 FPS which runs at 112.5 feet a minute. Ben said he could hear the projectors running during “White Christmas” when the elevator to the booth got to the First Mezzanine level, and they had to drape the spot ports on either side of the VistaVision projectors with Duvateen to cut the noise down in the house.