I still cannot see how, with this economy, Redstone is going to come out of this without a major sell-off and closing of theatres. As my friend Tom mentioned above, here in New Jersey, several NA theatres have closed the past few years, including the Amboys (floor collapse) the All-Jersey in Newark, and the Atco. The only ones left now are Edgewater, Hazlet and West Windsor, as well as the Ritz in Haddonfield.
And in the past few years, Redstone has put an emphasis on the westchester area of New York. Its only been a few years since City Center opened in White Plains, and there already were seveal NA theatres in the area.
I must give credit, cablevision did a fabulous job renovating. I wonder if they might someday have movie premieres here like they do at the Zig, since this is over twice the size. It could really be a red carpet premiere here.
Hello Peter,
Sorry to hear about the loss of the Lafayette. I never made it to your classics, because I was always working. Wish I could have seen them. You know I do some at the Count Basie in Red Bank, N.J. but they don’t always get film, as is the case next week with Dr. Zhivago, one of my all-time favorites. I just wish I could get the owner of the 2700 seat Ritz in Elizabeth N.J. to get the booth up and running, and then maybe classics could show there.
You could be proud, because I never once heard anything negative about what you did up there.
And if the Ritz ever gets going, please, bring your classics there.
Maybe I’ll meet you someday at the Basie. I just posted this years schedule on their CT site page. I’ll be doing all the 35MM.
Take Care.
Here is the schedule for the upcoming ‘Take 9 Count Basie Theatre Foundation Film Series.’
Sun Feb 22 2:00pm Doctor Zhivago 1965 DVD
Wed Mar 4 7:30pm Citizen Kane 1941 35MM
Sun Mar 8 2:00pm Adventures of Robin Hood 1938 35MM
Sun Mar 8 7:30pm Dial M for Murder 1954 35MM
Tue Mar 31 7:30pm Cool Hand Luke 1967 DVD
Sat Apr 11 2:00pm Happy Feet 2006 DVD
Sat Apr 11 7:00pm Titanic 1997 35MM
Tue Apr 28 7:30pm American Graffitti 1973 35MM
Wed May 6 7:30pm Pretty in Pink 1986 35MM
More info can be found on the theatres website “www.countbasietheatre.org”
Ahh Justin, quality non-union projectionists at their best. Mis-frames, shortened snipes, gotta love it. And the management too!! That’s an old trick to avoid having too many voids. Someone mispunched a ticket to the morning show, and sold it to you in the afternoon. No voids. Also against company policy. Those splices during the movie probably happened because they wound the film onto the platter too fast, and it snapped.
If its like what they did here in New Jersey, pick one: parking lot, retail store, office buildind, condos.
Id rather have the old time movie palace, thank you very much.
I actually remember those 3-D porns, The Stewarsesses I believe was one. As far as the whole 3-D thing, those who want to pay will pay, those who dont care will go to a traditional 2-D theatre. Myself, I agree with CinemarkFan, and he knows this, give me 70MM anytime, anyday, and it will stack up against the best. Check out those 2 screens he posted above. Now THAT’S how to watch a movie.
I’m sure Mr John J. Fink that Meredith did indeed have something to do with the projection getting better. After Clearview kicked all the union projectionists to the curb to save money, (i’ll get to that in a moment) they had the popcorn poppers running the booths. No one knew what they were doing. And as far as saving money, they kicked me out of my 10-plex where I was making $17.00 per hour, and hired 2 people, one at $13.00 and the other at $8.00 to run the place. Now math was never my strong point, but even I know that adds up to more than 17. AND they had problems galore, which made me smile from ear to ear. They deserve all they get.
Good Morning LuisV and East Coast Rocker,
Thanks for at least hearing me out about the Ritz Theatre. Its funny how with that one and the Paradise, money spent just to sit. Now as mrbillyc points out above, the State and Count Basie, 2 theatres I happen to work at from time to time are surviving. And in the case of the State 20 years ago, people said they were crazy, no one would come. So I believe, if only the correct non-profit could be formed (or found) to run the above mentioned theatres and the Kings and this sites Ridgewood, why then palaces would be saved for ours and future generations to enjoy. We just need the right people. Thats the hardest part.
As much I hate to say it LuisV, you’re right. The Kings especially is one that needs to be saved. About you’re point of people being in business to make money, how do you explain the owner of the beautifully restored Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth N.J. spending millions to renovate, then just lets it sit there and do nothing. I know of people who tried to help him get stage shows in there, and I personally worked on the projection room and offered to help get movie series and classics in there, but nothing happens. That to me is a waste of time and effort.
I remember when we had 2 of these here in new Jersey, the Plainfield-Edison Indoor/Outdoor and the Turnpike Indoor/Outdoor. What was great was after they twinned the indoors, they showed all different movies in and out. So if you went to an early indoor show, you could get out, move the car and watch the double feature showing outside. Great days, never to return again. How sad.
But again, after watching the NY 1 News video, only the facade would be protected. They could still destroy the interior, and then still no theatre. I am so sick of the ‘out with the old, in with the new’ attitude.
A buddy of mine has 2 century JJ2 35/70MM projectors he wants to sell. Dont know for how much. Best bet is to go with dual projectors, 6000 foot reels and changeovers, rather than a platter system. Just my opinion, since thats what I prefer.
This seems to be heading the same way of the Circuit City retail chain, where they try in vain to sell off assets to stay afloat, then when that don’t work, it just gets shut down forever. One of the best run chains I ever worked for now seems headed for the scrap heap.
You won’t see anything like that anymore. Too bad too, but they call that ‘progress’.
markp
commented about
Eric Twinon
Jan 20, 2009 at 9:11 am
I remember how hot that summer was because I was working at the General Cinema Woodbridge. It was still a single screen, to be twinned that fall. I worked also at the General Cinema Menlo Park Twin where we were showing “Star Wars”. The reason I remember the heat was because I always changed the marquee signs, and even at 10:00 at night it was blistering hot.
Well you know Love movies, even today you will get a movie that has some staying power, I agree, but for the most part, it doesn’t happen to often. As far as Meteor, I remember this one because it was the last movie to play the Mann Fox Theatre in Woodbridge N.J., a beautiful 1700 seater, never twinned, 70MM equipped, curved screen, the works. I remember the demolishon as if it were yesterday.
I remember when we ran “Alien” and “Moonraker” at the old Menlo Park Twin in Edison N.J. It was the middle of AUGUST and we were still selling out almost 800 seats in each theatre, everyday. That’s when movies had legs, not like today when it cones out on a million screens and its dead in 2 weeks. I agree with lovemovies, those memories are great for me.
I still cannot see how, with this economy, Redstone is going to come out of this without a major sell-off and closing of theatres. As my friend Tom mentioned above, here in New Jersey, several NA theatres have closed the past few years, including the Amboys (floor collapse) the All-Jersey in Newark, and the Atco. The only ones left now are Edgewater, Hazlet and West Windsor, as well as the Ritz in Haddonfield.
And in the past few years, Redstone has put an emphasis on the westchester area of New York. Its only been a few years since City Center opened in White Plains, and there already were seveal NA theatres in the area.
I must give credit, cablevision did a fabulous job renovating. I wonder if they might someday have movie premieres here like they do at the Zig, since this is over twice the size. It could really be a red carpet premiere here.
Glad to see this one back up and running. Hey LuisV, although nothing is happening now, the Ritz in Elizabeth N.J. also has been restored.
Hello Peter,
Sorry to hear about the loss of the Lafayette. I never made it to your classics, because I was always working. Wish I could have seen them. You know I do some at the Count Basie in Red Bank, N.J. but they don’t always get film, as is the case next week with Dr. Zhivago, one of my all-time favorites. I just wish I could get the owner of the 2700 seat Ritz in Elizabeth N.J. to get the booth up and running, and then maybe classics could show there.
You could be proud, because I never once heard anything negative about what you did up there.
And if the Ritz ever gets going, please, bring your classics there.
Maybe I’ll meet you someday at the Basie. I just posted this years schedule on their CT site page. I’ll be doing all the 35MM.
Take Care.
Here is the schedule for the upcoming ‘Take 9 Count Basie Theatre Foundation Film Series.’
Sun Feb 22 2:00pm Doctor Zhivago 1965 DVD
Wed Mar 4 7:30pm Citizen Kane 1941 35MM
Sun Mar 8 2:00pm Adventures of Robin Hood 1938 35MM
Sun Mar 8 7:30pm Dial M for Murder 1954 35MM
Tue Mar 31 7:30pm Cool Hand Luke 1967 DVD
Sat Apr 11 2:00pm Happy Feet 2006 DVD
Sat Apr 11 7:00pm Titanic 1997 35MM
Tue Apr 28 7:30pm American Graffitti 1973 35MM
Wed May 6 7:30pm Pretty in Pink 1986 35MM
More info can be found on the theatres website “www.countbasietheatre.org”
Corporate america at its best. Give them a coupon, we already got their money!!!
Ahh Justin, quality non-union projectionists at their best. Mis-frames, shortened snipes, gotta love it. And the management too!! That’s an old trick to avoid having too many voids. Someone mispunched a ticket to the morning show, and sold it to you in the afternoon. No voids. Also against company policy. Those splices during the movie probably happened because they wound the film onto the platter too fast, and it snapped.
If its like what they did here in New Jersey, pick one: parking lot, retail store, office buildind, condos.
Id rather have the old time movie palace, thank you very much.
I actually remember those 3-D porns, The Stewarsesses I believe was one. As far as the whole 3-D thing, those who want to pay will pay, those who dont care will go to a traditional 2-D theatre. Myself, I agree with CinemarkFan, and he knows this, give me 70MM anytime, anyday, and it will stack up against the best. Check out those 2 screens he posted above. Now THAT’S how to watch a movie.
The point is as you say vhase, its not what played there years ago, its GONE, and thats the real sin here.
I’m sure Mr John J. Fink that Meredith did indeed have something to do with the projection getting better. After Clearview kicked all the union projectionists to the curb to save money, (i’ll get to that in a moment) they had the popcorn poppers running the booths. No one knew what they were doing. And as far as saving money, they kicked me out of my 10-plex where I was making $17.00 per hour, and hired 2 people, one at $13.00 and the other at $8.00 to run the place. Now math was never my strong point, but even I know that adds up to more than 17. AND they had problems galore, which made me smile from ear to ear. They deserve all they get.
Good Morning LuisV and East Coast Rocker,
Thanks for at least hearing me out about the Ritz Theatre. Its funny how with that one and the Paradise, money spent just to sit. Now as mrbillyc points out above, the State and Count Basie, 2 theatres I happen to work at from time to time are surviving. And in the case of the State 20 years ago, people said they were crazy, no one would come. So I believe, if only the correct non-profit could be formed (or found) to run the above mentioned theatres and the Kings and this sites Ridgewood, why then palaces would be saved for ours and future generations to enjoy. We just need the right people. Thats the hardest part.
As much I hate to say it LuisV, you’re right. The Kings especially is one that needs to be saved. About you’re point of people being in business to make money, how do you explain the owner of the beautifully restored Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth N.J. spending millions to renovate, then just lets it sit there and do nothing. I know of people who tried to help him get stage shows in there, and I personally worked on the projection room and offered to help get movie series and classics in there, but nothing happens. That to me is a waste of time and effort.
The building is being carved up into several shops and an Irish pub and resturant.
I remember when we had 2 of these here in new Jersey, the Plainfield-Edison Indoor/Outdoor and the Turnpike Indoor/Outdoor. What was great was after they twinned the indoors, they showed all different movies in and out. So if you went to an early indoor show, you could get out, move the car and watch the double feature showing outside. Great days, never to return again. How sad.
But again, after watching the NY 1 News video, only the facade would be protected. They could still destroy the interior, and then still no theatre. I am so sick of the ‘out with the old, in with the new’ attitude.
Another of the once mighty Redstone empire bites the dust.
A buddy of mine has 2 century JJ2 35/70MM projectors he wants to sell. Dont know for how much. Best bet is to go with dual projectors, 6000 foot reels and changeovers, rather than a platter system. Just my opinion, since thats what I prefer.
Another piece of the Redstone empire crumbling away….
This seems to be heading the same way of the Circuit City retail chain, where they try in vain to sell off assets to stay afloat, then when that don’t work, it just gets shut down forever. One of the best run chains I ever worked for now seems headed for the scrap heap.
The once mighty Redstone empire crumbling away slowly but surely.
You won’t see anything like that anymore. Too bad too, but they call that ‘progress’.
I remember how hot that summer was because I was working at the General Cinema Woodbridge. It was still a single screen, to be twinned that fall. I worked also at the General Cinema Menlo Park Twin where we were showing “Star Wars”. The reason I remember the heat was because I always changed the marquee signs, and even at 10:00 at night it was blistering hot.
Well you know Love movies, even today you will get a movie that has some staying power, I agree, but for the most part, it doesn’t happen to often. As far as Meteor, I remember this one because it was the last movie to play the Mann Fox Theatre in Woodbridge N.J., a beautiful 1700 seater, never twinned, 70MM equipped, curved screen, the works. I remember the demolishon as if it were yesterday.
I remember when we ran “Alien” and “Moonraker” at the old Menlo Park Twin in Edison N.J. It was the middle of AUGUST and we were still selling out almost 800 seats in each theatre, everyday. That’s when movies had legs, not like today when it cones out on a million screens and its dead in 2 weeks. I agree with lovemovies, those memories are great for me.