Bob, my comment above was not in any way to disrespect the Roxy in New York. Yes that was a theatre like no other, except maybe Radio City. My point was, if you look at the interior shots of the Montauk (and others that passed before it), you see marble columns, wood trim, stained glass, brick and mortar, etc. You go into any of these so-called modern multiplexes today, and its all sheetrock and half the walls have holes in them. This, like others was a palace. And a question someone asked me yesterday was, WHY couldnt they have incorporated the theatre, or at least the auditorium into the new school?? You always need a place for assemblies, school plays etc.
This to me ranks right up there with the demolishon of the Roxy in New York all those years ago. From the photos I saw that were posted a while back this was not only a beautiful theatre with the marble columns but all the projection equipment, stage, everything was in mint condition. Nobody has any respect for the old anymore. We will pay for this folly someday. Just like the film companies who dont want to put movies on 35mm film anymore. This world of ours is heading in a very bad direction. This is just heartbreaking.
I guess the future doesn’t look too good for a 35 year veteran FILM projectionist like me eh??? The future of movie going in the U.S.A……“visit your nearest AMC or Regal cinemas” Some choice.
I just heard that the recent convention that once was showest in Las Vegas, that the statement was made that by next year, 2012, studio will no longer be making 35mm prints. You either spend the money for digital or….I guess close your doors. They are in bed with the AMC’s and Regal’s and could care less about anyone else. So very sad.
To answer Russell’s question, yes GCC did own a pepsi bottler and in fact at one point in the 70’s it was the largest bottler in the country. I remember when they bought sunkist also. GCC’s downfall came when Dick Smith gave the reigns over to the other president, whose name I cant remember, Rossi I think, and thats when they got away from their core beliefs.
No Peter, only 3 are 35mm. The people in charge have asked me to try and hook them up with people (like you) who have the contact for getting all films. Right now they deal with Swank, and we know how their prints are. I suggested to them that we visit the Lafayette and Loews Jersey in an attempt to help us out. Believe me when I was there the past 2 days with the DVD’s it breaks my heart not to be running the Simplex XL’s sitting in the booth.
LuisV, I couldnt agree with you more. Too many theatres were lost during the years 1960-1975 to senseless stupidity. Im glad the Kings is finally getting done, lets hope for the best for the rest. If you are ever in Jersey, see if you can get over to Elizabeth and check out the Ritz Theatre on Jersey St. Its one I was involved with helping to restore the projection room a few years back, till a car accident pulled me away for a while. When I returned all the people I knew were gone, and I havent been back in since. I know the owner spent a few years renovating it, and now its for sale for almost $4 million. I just wish all the great old theatres could have been saved insted of demolished as so many were.
Ra, Ra, Ra! Everyone in such a hurry to trash 35mm and put in that digital crap. Cant wait till all the electronic parts start breaking down. Oh and every other month when they have to keep upgrading. I for one will live and die by 35mm. Better yet, if it were still in use, 70 mm.
I have read many of your comments elsewhere MikeRodgers. You and I are truely a blast from the past. Even after all these years I still miss this place. (and all the others I worked at)
Thinking about this place the other day. Something I remembered. The first 2 full time projectionists here were Abe Levine and Joe Gazi. They worked there from the time it opened till April 1989. That’s when myself, Mark Pusillo and my partner Ed Hawley came in and ran it till it closed 2 years later. In 30 years this theatre only had 2 sets of full time projectionists. Of course there were many like Jerry Kampo and my father Joe Pusillo, as well as Ed’s father Ted Hawley who did relief work. Had they lasted just 2 more years, they would have seen it from beginning to end. I know Mr. Gazi died in Oct 1989, but Mr Levine was there on closing night bidding it farewell.
I remember going there in 1978 to see “American Hot Wax” I was a union projectionist and always got in for free cause I knew the guys who worked there. Loved it as a single screen, hated it as a twin.
markp
commented about
Cinema 9on
Mar 21, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Ah Lost Memory, that photo brings back memories. To clarify a few things to the above posts. Having worked here as one of the union projectionists from 1985 to 89 (as well as the Sayrewoods 80 to 89 and Amboys 85-05), I can tell you that Sayrewoods was all porn from 1973 on. This Cinema 9 theatre was porn from 1981 on. The Sayrewoods closed in 91 for the big highway reconstruction project. As for the Madison Twin Cinema, it opened in 1961 and was twinned in 75. It remained open till late 84 or early 85. All these theatre have listings here on CT.
Joe, your thinking of the Cinema 9 theatre that was a ½ mile up the road from Sayrewoods. I worked there too, and I remember the old storage room that was converted. It had 15 seats. They called it a video lounge. You are right about that one being Primetime now. Sayrewoods was demolished and a country buffet sits in its place.
In 2 more days, it will be 40 years since the last movie was projected here by my father. And I agree with Harry Gribbon. Had the building just stood empty for maybe 3 to 5 years like he said, it probably would have been twinned or tripled and renovated, and lived on. As a child, I remember those long lines around the corner. This place fell victim like many of the theatres in this era. Hasty demolishon.
And also Al why theatres like Radio City will never show movies on a regular basis ever again. The AMC’s and Regals of the world, along with the studio’s and DVD technology have taken care of that.
Bob, my comment above was not in any way to disrespect the Roxy in New York. Yes that was a theatre like no other, except maybe Radio City. My point was, if you look at the interior shots of the Montauk (and others that passed before it), you see marble columns, wood trim, stained glass, brick and mortar, etc. You go into any of these so-called modern multiplexes today, and its all sheetrock and half the walls have holes in them. This, like others was a palace. And a question someone asked me yesterday was, WHY couldnt they have incorporated the theatre, or at least the auditorium into the new school?? You always need a place for assemblies, school plays etc.
This to me ranks right up there with the demolishon of the Roxy in New York all those years ago. From the photos I saw that were posted a while back this was not only a beautiful theatre with the marble columns but all the projection equipment, stage, everything was in mint condition. Nobody has any respect for the old anymore. We will pay for this folly someday. Just like the film companies who dont want to put movies on 35mm film anymore. This world of ours is heading in a very bad direction. This is just heartbreaking.
Yes good luck. And keep it 35mm.
I guess the future doesn’t look too good for a 35 year veteran FILM projectionist like me eh??? The future of movie going in the U.S.A……“visit your nearest AMC or Regal cinemas” Some choice.
And how I hope and pray vic1964 is correct. Oh how I hope.
I just heard that the recent convention that once was showest in Las Vegas, that the statement was made that by next year, 2012, studio will no longer be making 35mm prints. You either spend the money for digital or….I guess close your doors. They are in bed with the AMC’s and Regal’s and could care less about anyone else. So very sad.
To answer Russell’s question, yes GCC did own a pepsi bottler and in fact at one point in the 70’s it was the largest bottler in the country. I remember when they bought sunkist also. GCC’s downfall came when Dick Smith gave the reigns over to the other president, whose name I cant remember, Rossi I think, and thats when they got away from their core beliefs.
No Peter, only 3 are 35mm. The people in charge have asked me to try and hook them up with people (like you) who have the contact for getting all films. Right now they deal with Swank, and we know how their prints are. I suggested to them that we visit the Lafayette and Loews Jersey in an attempt to help us out. Believe me when I was there the past 2 days with the DVD’s it breaks my heart not to be running the Simplex XL’s sitting in the booth.
Definitly NOT demolished. A huge Fashion Bug store occupies the space. I just drove by it today.
The movie looked fantastic on screen tonight. I was proud to have projected it.
Just sad as it always is to read about the old Drive-ins.
LuisV, I couldnt agree with you more. Too many theatres were lost during the years 1960-1975 to senseless stupidity. Im glad the Kings is finally getting done, lets hope for the best for the rest. If you are ever in Jersey, see if you can get over to Elizabeth and check out the Ritz Theatre on Jersey St. Its one I was involved with helping to restore the projection room a few years back, till a car accident pulled me away for a while. When I returned all the people I knew were gone, and I havent been back in since. I know the owner spent a few years renovating it, and now its for sale for almost $4 million. I just wish all the great old theatres could have been saved insted of demolished as so many were.
Ra, Ra, Ra! Everyone in such a hurry to trash 35mm and put in that digital crap. Cant wait till all the electronic parts start breaking down. Oh and every other month when they have to keep upgrading. I for one will live and die by 35mm. Better yet, if it were still in use, 70 mm.
I worked here as a projectionist from 1992 thru 94.
I have read many of your comments elsewhere MikeRodgers. You and I are truely a blast from the past. Even after all these years I still miss this place. (and all the others I worked at)
Thinking about this place the other day. Something I remembered. The first 2 full time projectionists here were Abe Levine and Joe Gazi. They worked there from the time it opened till April 1989. That’s when myself, Mark Pusillo and my partner Ed Hawley came in and ran it till it closed 2 years later. In 30 years this theatre only had 2 sets of full time projectionists. Of course there were many like Jerry Kampo and my father Joe Pusillo, as well as Ed’s father Ted Hawley who did relief work. Had they lasted just 2 more years, they would have seen it from beginning to end. I know Mr. Gazi died in Oct 1989, but Mr Levine was there on closing night bidding it farewell.
I actually remember working there when those 2 movies were playing.
I remember going there in 1978 to see “American Hot Wax” I was a union projectionist and always got in for free cause I knew the guys who worked there. Loved it as a single screen, hated it as a twin.
Ah Lost Memory, that photo brings back memories. To clarify a few things to the above posts. Having worked here as one of the union projectionists from 1985 to 89 (as well as the Sayrewoods 80 to 89 and Amboys 85-05), I can tell you that Sayrewoods was all porn from 1973 on. This Cinema 9 theatre was porn from 1981 on. The Sayrewoods closed in 91 for the big highway reconstruction project. As for the Madison Twin Cinema, it opened in 1961 and was twinned in 75. It remained open till late 84 or early 85. All these theatre have listings here on CT.
Joe, your thinking of the Cinema 9 theatre that was a ½ mile up the road from Sayrewoods. I worked there too, and I remember the old storage room that was converted. It had 15 seats. They called it a video lounge. You are right about that one being Primetime now. Sayrewoods was demolished and a country buffet sits in its place.
Almost 31 years to the day it closed, a new furniture store has opened in its place, American Signature Furniture.
In 2 more days, it will be 40 years since the last movie was projected here by my father. And I agree with Harry Gribbon. Had the building just stood empty for maybe 3 to 5 years like he said, it probably would have been twinned or tripled and renovated, and lived on. As a child, I remember those long lines around the corner. This place fell victim like many of the theatres in this era. Hasty demolishon.
And also Al why theatres like Radio City will never show movies on a regular basis ever again. The AMC’s and Regals of the world, along with the studio’s and DVD technology have taken care of that.
Prior to Music Makers Group, this was a Walter Reade Theatre.
The original theatre was built as a twin in the early 70’s. The additional 4 were added in the mid 80’s.