The Garden, The U.S, The Rivoli…Downtown Paterson had plenty of theaters that all diminished one by one. I believe you can still see the Orpheum sign on a wall by one of the parking lots….In the Hillcrest section…The Plaza (which I hope to include on this site) was demolished 2 years ago. Paterson has nothing, but the Fabian…..a couple of towns over, in Passaic, there’s the Montauk, another former palace, still intact, still running…but, it’s showing porn and a true smut palace. The powers that be don’t have the sense to restore that one either because both towns are crime zones so why bother.
I was to the Astor the other day…took pics with The Village marquee, as well as exterior and shots of the corridor on the side with the Astor signs.I will post pics when the site upgrades it’s “add photo” link…does anyone know how to do it from the comment section? I can post that way…
RE: the “Scene” mag. I’d love to see pics from the Astor hosting Funny Lady. Can you scan and post? BTW…I also took pics of the Embassy formerly Mayfair/DeMille on 7th and 47th. The marquee is there (nothing on it) and you can still see the exterior of what the theater was in it’s heyday…must’ve beeen something.
I was in NYC yesterday taking photos and i went to thhe old Embassy/DeMille?mayfair and took pictures. The marquee is still there, boarded up and I got a shot of the exterior of the theater which I’m sure was complemented by being the DeMille/Mayfair. I bet it was nice to look at even by my picture. Cinema Treasures is overhauling it’s “add a photo” options. When it is fixed, I will add the photo to this site. I also took pics of The Astor plaza, now closed, with The Village marquee.
BTW…how would I add a photo to my message as a link, if that can be done?
Unfortunately, I was there not when it was a single theater…I remember in 1974, they showed the premiere of “The Savage is Loose” with an appearance by George C. Scott (while his wife, Trish Vandevere appeared across the county at the Wayne Preakness)…must have been something , seeing George C. outside the Hyway. I remember the Hyway played Jaws…I have the newspaper ads from these. Must’ve been a great single screen theater.
Now, it’s cut up into five screens. I was there when it was a twin. But the front 3 theaters are small with mono sound (at least when I was there)…these once great theaters are now chopped up into sardine cans to feed the public their daily dose of crap (meaning most movies)…I wouldn’t go to the highway to see a flick that rquires a large screen, digital sound and good projection… anyone have any pictures from the Hyway’s heyday?
ski…you mention screens to the left? and theaters to the right…I’m a little confused…can you elaborate…I saw the same films there that you mentioned…are you saying that during the original Star wars, the screen was more to the left in a bigger auditorium than it is now?? that when they cut the theater, they moved the screen to the right more??
RIP: Astor Plaza…It’s gone. The people at Loews didn’t do anything special because even though the people here made a big deal of the closing, they figured that as usual, it will all die down after the closing…and it will. I am so glas I went last week to see Spiderman2 there. We’re in a losing battle guys, and we lost this one. It’s time to say goodbye to a great theater. It’s just unfortunate that because of multiplexes and bad movies that make alot of money and stupid teens, that culture has to suffer.
I’ve never been to Loews jersey City, the showtimes never worked out for me but hope to….BUT….
A great theater does exist. THE LAFAYETTE THEATER, in Suffern NY…all this talk of 2001…on Sept. 12, 2004 they will be showing 2001 with an appearance (in-person) by both Kier Dullea AND Gary Lockwood…if that’s not enough, that same afternoon, they’re showing PLANET OF THE APES with an appearance by NOVA..Linda Harrison…it’s all part of their Sci-FI festival from Sept. 10-12, the next week begins the Big Screen Classic Series with …THE CAINE MUTINY…9/18
so, yes,, I too am bummed about the Astor Plaza but luckily, I have The Lafayette to have great films “experienced” as oppossed to viewed. I urge all here to go to The Lafayette and see what I’m talking about. For me, the theater has become a haven…see it on… www.bigscreenclassics.com
A GREAT theater.( was meaning to enter this theater on this site myself) When it was a single screen, the screen itself was indented (kind of 3 dimensional) and made of sheetrock. It was large and outstanding. They showed The Godfather there. I myself saw, films such as “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, “Scarecrow” , “Enter the Dragon”, “Westworld” etc. The last film I saw there as a single screen was “Chinatown”. They twinned it, and it re-opened in Nov. 74 with..Cinema One-Mixed Comany plus Westworld…Cinema II…The Seduction of Mimi…I remember the first film I saw there as a twin was “Death Wish”. When I walked in I was so disapointed. It was once a huge screen now smaller. They built a wall down the middle.
It stayed that way until Fall 1992 when they finally closed it. The fire then happened (suspiciously) then it was gutted (I remember the bulldozers) and now is the Office Max. I get nostalgic every time I go in there. I always remember the long lobby, and the entrance into the auditorium.
In the early 80’s they installed Dolby Stereo capabilities in Cinema One for the opening Empire Strikes Back then Raiders of the Lost Ark. Cinema II was always to be mono. The last films I saw before it closed were…Cinema One..Alien 3…Cinema II..Sneakers.
I loved riding by the huge outdoor marquee to see the signage and what was playing.
A truly great showplace undone by time and multiplexes. Totowa had 2 large theaters, Totowa Cinema and Cinema 46, a few minutes away. Both gone.
If anyone has access to photos from these theaters , it would be great. I hope there’s as good a forum on this theater as that of the Astor Plaza in NY.
ASTOR MEMORIES??…The first movie I saw there was 1492…a beat flick made better by the presentation (I believe it was 70MM)
I really enjoyed seeing The Godfather there in 97, on the big screen and I did see 2001 re-issue in Dec. 2001. I had forgotton it was 70MM. It was great although they never publicized it and there were maybe 20 people there. A damn shame. I just saw Spiderman 2 and I might venture in to see The Village. Yes, it’s a hole in the ground, but the fact that it’s a big screen, great sound and picture AND the last of the single screens does make these tributes more nostalgic.
I wish I was there to see ET at Cinema 46. I saw it at the Wayne Theater in Preakness Shopping Center after all the hoopla and I loved it as well , being about to be a senior in college.
It must have been something, especially in the projector booth to have side by side 70MM showings of Rocky III and Poltergeist at Route 17. Was there 6-track sound also?? I bet the walls shook.
It’s amazing how we all took these showings for granted. Example: In July 1983 at the Cinema 46 they showed the double feature of Star Wars and Empire in 70MM 6-track…I kick myself now as “How the hell did I miss that?”…footnote : In April 1997 those were the last 2 films shown at the Cinema 46 before it closed. I saw them both, stayed to the end credits ( I did see Empire in 70MM there in 81) so it was nostalgic that that was the last one I saw. However it was shown in 35MM with an inferior projectionist.
Bill: You are right about Pete putting on great shows at the Lafayette. He is truly a great movie showman and worthy of tribute on this site. I wish I had a job like that…it would be a dream come true…The Lafayette is THE BEST theater around. No where else can you see the great movies on a big screen with superior presentation..I wouldn’t be surprised if one day they rent 70MM equipment for a special showing.
The reason there won’t be any single theaters is because the multiplexes bring in the kids that have the money to pay for the crap they’re showing. The Astor Plaza shuts down next week, the only one left is the Ziegfeld which shows a movie that’s playing on 6 screens across town and Radio City, which only shows an occasional premiere for invited audience. There’s no more movie people around guys….we are a rare breed.
Joe, can you clarify for me a bit?? The old Route 4 Cinema was another theater along with the Stanley Warner…but you say it was theaters 1-5?? That’s the main auditorium with the upstairs theater on the right….I always thought it was theater 6???
I believe you’re talking about the Stanley Warner…I wish I would have got to see the old theater before it was cut up….in the picture in the lobby it seems the original auditorium spread to where theater 2 was…huge….but I always remember it from 77…
Question…the original auditorium was alot bigger in 77 during Star Wars then cut up to include theater 2 and 3, correct?? I always remember the upstairs( balcony) was a single theater before it was split in 2…
I just hope it stays up longer as well, I saw every Star Wars flick in theater#1 and I want to see the new one (part 3) there so I can have a complete viewing memory of everyone of the Star Wars films at Stanley Warner (I still call it that)…wouldn’t it be nice if before they ever close they re-install 70MM equipment and have a Star Wars festival of original prints as a farewell??? Yea, right!!
At a recent screening as I was leaving the theater I looked in the booth by the entrance (the office) and on the wall were large pictures of when the theater opened featuring shots of the original exterior, interior with the balcony before splitting into a multiscreen, and the interior from the elevators. I meant to ask about them but the people sitting there didn’t notice me or ask me and they seemed aloof but I hope to get copies (although i doubt it) Does anyone have any pics of the previous theaters. or acssess to.
My first time there was in June 77 , waiting in line for Star Wars…it was a grand experience, 20 years later , I waited in line again to see it on the same screen, it was a great trip and nostalgic. In all the years I go there to see alot, I prefer the big theater as that’s the original with screen. I hear it may close if they build a new multiplex down the road. A shame.
Theaters 8 and 9 are to avoid as they are the small theaters with TV size screens. Does anyone remember the Route 4 Cinema?? Is theater 6 and 7 that theater?? or where was the Route 4 Cinema?? Appreciate a little help on this.
Overall, I go there as it’s the last of the classic theaters still going with the original auditorium even though it’s been re-done, but it’s the same as Star Wars 77 as there was no balcony then. A great theater, i hope they don’t close it.
Well, I did my part for the group, left my dwelling in rainsoaked NJ and ventured into NYC to the Astor Plaza possibly for the final time (unless I go to The Village next week) to see Spiderman 2. There was about 15 people in the audience and 2 people working. The person who tore my ticket was blank and unfriendly and didn’t even say “thank you enjoy the show”…but I guess I understand as she will be without a job as of next week.
I have to say the presentation (of the movie) was great. Good projection, excellent digital sound, large screen. I actually liked the movie, but it took me a long while before I got into it as I kept reminicsing about previous films and picturing the ones I never saw there (star wars etc).
My digital camera crapped out on me but maybe I’ll go again next week, maybe not. It’s a good theatre. The line outside was for MTV’s TRL show featuring some rapper. I’m sure the Astor Plaza will now guarantee tha tall the teens will get a seat now.
The Astor Plaza is going going gone. Time to say goodbye. In a few years there will be practically no single screen theaters left in the east Coast, save a few. We all have to savor our memories. Thank god (for me at least) for the Lafayette Theater in Suffern NY. In Sept. They’re having a Sci-Fi fest. (Them, 2001, Planet of Apes etc) and then they start the new series(Caine Mutiny,Gunga Din, Sting etc.) Single screen, Wurlitzer organ, curtains, a good expereince all. A theater like that can be saved, but the Astor Plaza owned by a corporation must face it’s end to please the teens. At least it didn’t go out with Catwoman.
and considering the presentation of films today, the multiplexes are where it’s at. No more 70MM, premieres where the public can go to, roadshow engagements….just crap…can you imagine a 70MM presentation of Catwoman????
I saw Earthquake at the Cinema 46 in Totowa. The Sensurround speakers were placed , one in each corner of the theater as well as 2 in the front. They were essentially just big subwoofers, but alot of fun. I’m surprised the Cinema 35 didn’t crumble to the ground.
BTW….regarding the old Stanley Warner(the Paramus 10 plex)…I saw I Robot there the other day and as I was leaving I stopped by the open office by the entrance and on the walls were old pictures of when the Stanley Warner first opened. The interior with the balcony, the outside facade…awesome pictures I’d love to get a print of…I didn’t ask about them as i assume the mgr. and office workers seemed to be pretty unimpressed by my viewing of the photos.
In my research, I’ve found that they showed 70MM presentations when it was a twin…in 1982 they showed Poltergiest and Rocky III and the paper says both were 70MM. Does anyone remember seeing these…
I was there once. It is a great great theater. It only shows the independents but I wish they would use it for other films.
It’s such a shame that one of the only surviving single screen theaters doesn’t show the older big screen classics the way the Lafayette in Suffern does. If they showed Sound of Music, Bridge on River Kwai, Jaws, Ben-Hur etc. etc. on that screen at the Rialto, I believe it would put the theater on the map and they would get alot of people. The lafayette shows their classics on Satuday mornings at 11:30 am. recently they showed Casablanca (the same day it was also on TCM) and there was over 300 people there.
I hope the Rialto expands their program instead of just indies. It’s a great theater and should be used what it was meant to be used for. Showing the greats. It has to be owned by film lovers, the fact that it wasn’t cut up to multi screens.
I never realized that the original auditorium was used as the lobby. It just seems like a standard lobby. So, when you walk in, to the ticket booth, are you waling towards the original screen area??
JTH…it is a damn shame too. There is nothing like a 70MM presentation, that will even make bad movies a fine movie memoriy. I saw Staying Alive in 70MM , it was great. It seems that they are relying on this Digital Projection as the new thing and I must tell you I am unimpressed. I saw Attack of the Clones (at the Ziegfeld) in Digital Projection and I was not awed at all. Give me a good 35MM print anyday. In fact the 35MM I saw of Attack of Clones was much better than the digital.
I saw Lawrence of Arabia in 2002 at Ziegfeld in 70MM. AWESOME. Little did I realize that that would be the last one. Movies, as well as presentations are consistently going downhill, thanks to the youth oriented, quick buck making garbage of today.
good article of the sendoff..but, WILL there be a final hurrah as faintly implied in the article….if anyone finds out…give a big shout out… I will venture there next week to see Spiderman 2 and make my final visit….with camera in hand..
Camden, I saw Apocalypse there also. While I thought it was a great presentation, I had the Ziegfeld experience from 1979 too imbedded in my mind. Believe it or not, I was awed when I saw Redux a 2nd time, at the Imax screen at Lincloln Square.
But I had a bunch of great Astor Plaza experiences. I was fortunate to see 2001 in Dec. 01 , a re-release. it was great. The only problem was that they didn’t really publicize it and it played to a pretty empty house. Lucky me though, I brought my camera that day and took a few pics of the outside marquee.
But what was really great was the 25th Anniversary showing of The Godfather in 97. Man, that was something. A packed house, seeing on a huge screen with digital surround sound made it an awesome experience. Marlon ruled. Once again, it’s a damn shame the Astor is closing.
If they were to restore it, they’d have to remove the “metal box” supposedly that now resides in side the original theater.
Is there any way for someone to climb the ladder to see it?? Not that anyone who workes there would notice. It is a nice thought though.
The Garden, The U.S, The Rivoli…Downtown Paterson had plenty of theaters that all diminished one by one. I believe you can still see the Orpheum sign on a wall by one of the parking lots….In the Hillcrest section…The Plaza (which I hope to include on this site) was demolished 2 years ago. Paterson has nothing, but the Fabian…..a couple of towns over, in Passaic, there’s the Montauk, another former palace, still intact, still running…but, it’s showing porn and a true smut palace. The powers that be don’t have the sense to restore that one either because both towns are crime zones so why bother.
so…how does one go about becoming a projectionist??
I was to the Astor the other day…took pics with The Village marquee, as well as exterior and shots of the corridor on the side with the Astor signs.I will post pics when the site upgrades it’s “add photo” link…does anyone know how to do it from the comment section? I can post that way…
RE: the “Scene” mag. I’d love to see pics from the Astor hosting Funny Lady. Can you scan and post? BTW…I also took pics of the Embassy formerly Mayfair/DeMille on 7th and 47th. The marquee is there (nothing on it) and you can still see the exterior of what the theater was in it’s heyday…must’ve beeen something.
I was in NYC yesterday taking photos and i went to thhe old Embassy/DeMille?mayfair and took pictures. The marquee is still there, boarded up and I got a shot of the exterior of the theater which I’m sure was complemented by being the DeMille/Mayfair. I bet it was nice to look at even by my picture. Cinema Treasures is overhauling it’s “add a photo” options. When it is fixed, I will add the photo to this site. I also took pics of The Astor plaza, now closed, with The Village marquee.
BTW…how would I add a photo to my message as a link, if that can be done?
Unfortunately, I was there not when it was a single theater…I remember in 1974, they showed the premiere of “The Savage is Loose” with an appearance by George C. Scott (while his wife, Trish Vandevere appeared across the county at the Wayne Preakness)…must have been something , seeing George C. outside the Hyway. I remember the Hyway played Jaws…I have the newspaper ads from these. Must’ve been a great single screen theater.
Now, it’s cut up into five screens. I was there when it was a twin. But the front 3 theaters are small with mono sound (at least when I was there)…these once great theaters are now chopped up into sardine cans to feed the public their daily dose of crap (meaning most movies)…I wouldn’t go to the highway to see a flick that rquires a large screen, digital sound and good projection… anyone have any pictures from the Hyway’s heyday?
ski…you mention screens to the left? and theaters to the right…I’m a little confused…can you elaborate…I saw the same films there that you mentioned…are you saying that during the original Star wars, the screen was more to the left in a bigger auditorium than it is now?? that when they cut the theater, they moved the screen to the right more??
RIP: Astor Plaza…It’s gone. The people at Loews didn’t do anything special because even though the people here made a big deal of the closing, they figured that as usual, it will all die down after the closing…and it will. I am so glas I went last week to see Spiderman2 there. We’re in a losing battle guys, and we lost this one. It’s time to say goodbye to a great theater. It’s just unfortunate that because of multiplexes and bad movies that make alot of money and stupid teens, that culture has to suffer.
I’ve never been to Loews jersey City, the showtimes never worked out for me but hope to….BUT….
A great theater does exist. THE LAFAYETTE THEATER, in Suffern NY…all this talk of 2001…on Sept. 12, 2004 they will be showing 2001 with an appearance (in-person) by both Kier Dullea AND Gary Lockwood…if that’s not enough, that same afternoon, they’re showing PLANET OF THE APES with an appearance by NOVA..Linda Harrison…it’s all part of their Sci-FI festival from Sept. 10-12, the next week begins the Big Screen Classic Series with …THE CAINE MUTINY…9/18
so, yes,, I too am bummed about the Astor Plaza but luckily, I have The Lafayette to have great films “experienced” as oppossed to viewed. I urge all here to go to The Lafayette and see what I’m talking about. For me, the theater has become a haven…see it on… www.bigscreenclassics.com
A GREAT theater.( was meaning to enter this theater on this site myself) When it was a single screen, the screen itself was indented (kind of 3 dimensional) and made of sheetrock. It was large and outstanding. They showed The Godfather there. I myself saw, films such as “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, “Scarecrow” , “Enter the Dragon”, “Westworld” etc. The last film I saw there as a single screen was “Chinatown”. They twinned it, and it re-opened in Nov. 74 with..Cinema One-Mixed Comany plus Westworld…Cinema II…The Seduction of Mimi…I remember the first film I saw there as a twin was “Death Wish”. When I walked in I was so disapointed. It was once a huge screen now smaller. They built a wall down the middle.
It stayed that way until Fall 1992 when they finally closed it. The fire then happened (suspiciously) then it was gutted (I remember the bulldozers) and now is the Office Max. I get nostalgic every time I go in there. I always remember the long lobby, and the entrance into the auditorium.
In the early 80’s they installed Dolby Stereo capabilities in Cinema One for the opening Empire Strikes Back then Raiders of the Lost Ark. Cinema II was always to be mono. The last films I saw before it closed were…Cinema One..Alien 3…Cinema II..Sneakers.
I loved riding by the huge outdoor marquee to see the signage and what was playing.
A truly great showplace undone by time and multiplexes. Totowa had 2 large theaters, Totowa Cinema and Cinema 46, a few minutes away. Both gone.
If anyone has access to photos from these theaters , it would be great. I hope there’s as good a forum on this theater as that of the Astor Plaza in NY.
ASTOR MEMORIES??…The first movie I saw there was 1492…a beat flick made better by the presentation (I believe it was 70MM)
I really enjoyed seeing The Godfather there in 97, on the big screen and I did see 2001 re-issue in Dec. 2001. I had forgotton it was 70MM. It was great although they never publicized it and there were maybe 20 people there. A damn shame. I just saw Spiderman 2 and I might venture in to see The Village. Yes, it’s a hole in the ground, but the fact that it’s a big screen, great sound and picture AND the last of the single screens does make these tributes more nostalgic.
Pete and Bill:
I wish I was there to see ET at Cinema 46. I saw it at the Wayne Theater in Preakness Shopping Center after all the hoopla and I loved it as well , being about to be a senior in college.
It must have been something, especially in the projector booth to have side by side 70MM showings of Rocky III and Poltergeist at Route 17. Was there 6-track sound also?? I bet the walls shook.
It’s amazing how we all took these showings for granted. Example: In July 1983 at the Cinema 46 they showed the double feature of Star Wars and Empire in 70MM 6-track…I kick myself now as “How the hell did I miss that?”…footnote : In April 1997 those were the last 2 films shown at the Cinema 46 before it closed. I saw them both, stayed to the end credits ( I did see Empire in 70MM there in 81) so it was nostalgic that that was the last one I saw. However it was shown in 35MM with an inferior projectionist.
Bill: You are right about Pete putting on great shows at the Lafayette. He is truly a great movie showman and worthy of tribute on this site. I wish I had a job like that…it would be a dream come true…The Lafayette is THE BEST theater around. No where else can you see the great movies on a big screen with superior presentation..I wouldn’t be surprised if one day they rent 70MM equipment for a special showing.
The reason there won’t be any single theaters is because the multiplexes bring in the kids that have the money to pay for the crap they’re showing. The Astor Plaza shuts down next week, the only one left is the Ziegfeld which shows a movie that’s playing on 6 screens across town and Radio City, which only shows an occasional premiere for invited audience. There’s no more movie people around guys….we are a rare breed.
Joe, can you clarify for me a bit?? The old Route 4 Cinema was another theater along with the Stanley Warner…but you say it was theaters 1-5?? That’s the main auditorium with the upstairs theater on the right….I always thought it was theater 6???
I believe you’re talking about the Stanley Warner…I wish I would have got to see the old theater before it was cut up….in the picture in the lobby it seems the original auditorium spread to where theater 2 was…huge….but I always remember it from 77…
Question…the original auditorium was alot bigger in 77 during Star Wars then cut up to include theater 2 and 3, correct?? I always remember the upstairs( balcony) was a single theater before it was split in 2…
I just hope it stays up longer as well, I saw every Star Wars flick in theater#1 and I want to see the new one (part 3) there so I can have a complete viewing memory of everyone of the Star Wars films at Stanley Warner (I still call it that)…wouldn’t it be nice if before they ever close they re-install 70MM equipment and have a Star Wars festival of original prints as a farewell??? Yea, right!!
At a recent screening as I was leaving the theater I looked in the booth by the entrance (the office) and on the wall were large pictures of when the theater opened featuring shots of the original exterior, interior with the balcony before splitting into a multiscreen, and the interior from the elevators. I meant to ask about them but the people sitting there didn’t notice me or ask me and they seemed aloof but I hope to get copies (although i doubt it) Does anyone have any pics of the previous theaters. or acssess to.
My first time there was in June 77 , waiting in line for Star Wars…it was a grand experience, 20 years later , I waited in line again to see it on the same screen, it was a great trip and nostalgic. In all the years I go there to see alot, I prefer the big theater as that’s the original with screen. I hear it may close if they build a new multiplex down the road. A shame.
Theaters 8 and 9 are to avoid as they are the small theaters with TV size screens. Does anyone remember the Route 4 Cinema?? Is theater 6 and 7 that theater?? or where was the Route 4 Cinema?? Appreciate a little help on this.
Overall, I go there as it’s the last of the classic theaters still going with the original auditorium even though it’s been re-done, but it’s the same as Star Wars 77 as there was no balcony then. A great theater, i hope they don’t close it.
Well, I did my part for the group, left my dwelling in rainsoaked NJ and ventured into NYC to the Astor Plaza possibly for the final time (unless I go to The Village next week) to see Spiderman 2. There was about 15 people in the audience and 2 people working. The person who tore my ticket was blank and unfriendly and didn’t even say “thank you enjoy the show”…but I guess I understand as she will be without a job as of next week.
I have to say the presentation (of the movie) was great. Good projection, excellent digital sound, large screen. I actually liked the movie, but it took me a long while before I got into it as I kept reminicsing about previous films and picturing the ones I never saw there (star wars etc).
My digital camera crapped out on me but maybe I’ll go again next week, maybe not. It’s a good theatre. The line outside was for MTV’s TRL show featuring some rapper. I’m sure the Astor Plaza will now guarantee tha tall the teens will get a seat now.
The Astor Plaza is going going gone. Time to say goodbye. In a few years there will be practically no single screen theaters left in the east Coast, save a few. We all have to savor our memories. Thank god (for me at least) for the Lafayette Theater in Suffern NY. In Sept. They’re having a Sci-Fi fest. (Them, 2001, Planet of Apes etc) and then they start the new series(Caine Mutiny,Gunga Din, Sting etc.) Single screen, Wurlitzer organ, curtains, a good expereince all. A theater like that can be saved, but the Astor Plaza owned by a corporation must face it’s end to please the teens. At least it didn’t go out with Catwoman.
and considering the presentation of films today, the multiplexes are where it’s at. No more 70MM, premieres where the public can go to, roadshow engagements….just crap…can you imagine a 70MM presentation of Catwoman????
I saw Earthquake at the Cinema 46 in Totowa. The Sensurround speakers were placed , one in each corner of the theater as well as 2 in the front. They were essentially just big subwoofers, but alot of fun. I’m surprised the Cinema 35 didn’t crumble to the ground.
BTW….regarding the old Stanley Warner(the Paramus 10 plex)…I saw I Robot there the other day and as I was leaving I stopped by the open office by the entrance and on the walls were old pictures of when the Stanley Warner first opened. The interior with the balcony, the outside facade…awesome pictures I’d love to get a print of…I didn’t ask about them as i assume the mgr. and office workers seemed to be pretty unimpressed by my viewing of the photos.
In my research, I’ve found that they showed 70MM presentations when it was a twin…in 1982 they showed Poltergiest and Rocky III and the paper says both were 70MM. Does anyone remember seeing these…
I was there once. It is a great great theater. It only shows the independents but I wish they would use it for other films.
It’s such a shame that one of the only surviving single screen theaters doesn’t show the older big screen classics the way the Lafayette in Suffern does. If they showed Sound of Music, Bridge on River Kwai, Jaws, Ben-Hur etc. etc. on that screen at the Rialto, I believe it would put the theater on the map and they would get alot of people. The lafayette shows their classics on Satuday mornings at 11:30 am. recently they showed Casablanca (the same day it was also on TCM) and there was over 300 people there.
I hope the Rialto expands their program instead of just indies. It’s a great theater and should be used what it was meant to be used for. Showing the greats. It has to be owned by film lovers, the fact that it wasn’t cut up to multi screens.
peter…great site. Are there any other theater pics on this site?
I never realized that the original auditorium was used as the lobby. It just seems like a standard lobby. So, when you walk in, to the ticket booth, are you waling towards the original screen area??
JTH…it is a damn shame too. There is nothing like a 70MM presentation, that will even make bad movies a fine movie memoriy. I saw Staying Alive in 70MM , it was great. It seems that they are relying on this Digital Projection as the new thing and I must tell you I am unimpressed. I saw Attack of the Clones (at the Ziegfeld) in Digital Projection and I was not awed at all. Give me a good 35MM print anyday. In fact the 35MM I saw of Attack of Clones was much better than the digital.
I saw Lawrence of Arabia in 2002 at Ziegfeld in 70MM. AWESOME. Little did I realize that that would be the last one. Movies, as well as presentations are consistently going downhill, thanks to the youth oriented, quick buck making garbage of today.
good article of the sendoff..but, WILL there be a final hurrah as faintly implied in the article….if anyone finds out…give a big shout out… I will venture there next week to see Spiderman 2 and make my final visit….with camera in hand..
Camden, I saw Apocalypse there also. While I thought it was a great presentation, I had the Ziegfeld experience from 1979 too imbedded in my mind. Believe it or not, I was awed when I saw Redux a 2nd time, at the Imax screen at Lincloln Square.
But I had a bunch of great Astor Plaza experiences. I was fortunate to see 2001 in Dec. 01 , a re-release. it was great. The only problem was that they didn’t really publicize it and it played to a pretty empty house. Lucky me though, I brought my camera that day and took a few pics of the outside marquee.
But what was really great was the 25th Anniversary showing of The Godfather in 97. Man, that was something. A packed house, seeing on a huge screen with digital surround sound made it an awesome experience. Marlon ruled. Once again, it’s a damn shame the Astor is closing.