Exactly what I said too longislandmovies. I wish you could talk to the owners of the 2800 seat Ritz in Elizabeth N.J. Heres a treasure waiting to be used, but the owners just sit on it. And everyone tells me they have to be non-profit. I tell them why dont they just open, advertise, and maybe it can function. I’m also happy to hear your triplex out grosses these big sheetrock multiplexes. I always said give me a good 2, 3, or 4 screen theatre, and it will make money.
As someone who lives eats and will die by the theatre business, I cant help but think that this Ridgewood theatre thing is going in a bad direction. Look at whats happened around the country. Take a few years ago when the Colonial in Allentown PA. was demolished because the owner let it sit and rot since 1988. Or how about right here in New York with the Keiths in Queens. If these palaces are just allowed to sit and sit, its only a matter of time nothing good will come. I hope this one and the Kings in Brooklyn get the attention they need and deserve, and SOON.
This once mighty and glorious chain of theatres seems to be headed to the scrap heap. I remember when I worked for them from 1985 up till the end of 2004, how all the ducks were in a row, everything was like a well oiled machine. I can only imagine what the people who work there must be thinking day in and day out. If Shari Redstone cant wrestle away control soon, this chain will be history.
Seating Capacity for this complex. Please note that Theatres 1, 2, 5 & 6 are sloped, while 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 & 10 are stadium. Dolby Digital and D.T.S. sound thru out.
Went by the building tonight on my way home from work. The drop ceiling from office max is gone, and to my surprise, the front wall of the old projection booth was torn out, exposing the empty booth. The blue color wall paint looks just like it did in 1992 when the place closed.
Meredith, are you now doing all the tech work for clearview? I am wondering if you do the theatre I worked for 10 years, the Middlebrook Galleria in Ocean N.J.? I had that booth looking and running like a hospital ward. Clean and quiet. I’m sorry clearview kicked us all to the curb.
Hey Meredith, a quick question. My fellow union brother worked here up till March 2004. He spent like 3 years working with the tech’s from NCS getting everything in working order when clearview kicked us to the curb. Just how bad was the booth? I remember it running smooth when he left.
I have to agree with Peter and Bob Jensen. I still cant believe this digital thing is ever going to take off the way the theatres and studios hope it does, and Mini-Max is just owesome. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
And thats a shame, because the longer it sits, the worse the condition gets. It will reach a point someday (lets hope not) that the building will be beyond repair.
The theatre has recently had all its sound systems upgraded to Dolby Digital.
Seating capacity as follows:
Cinema 1..188
Cinema 2..143
Cinema 3.. 93
Cinema 4.. 83
Cinema 5.. 99
Cinema 6..115
Total of 721 seats. Very well kept theatre, and nice safe parking in the giant shopping plaza it helps to anchor. And it has matinees daily.
Very cool. I wish more of todays theatre used these, instead of those electronic signs that only flash one movie at a time. But then again, with 20 screens, you would need a marquee the size of a city block.
I know how you feel. Here in New Jersey, we have a theatre, the Ritz, in Elizabeth, that the current owner spent 3 years restoring it to its former granduer, only to have it sit there, with only an occasional spanish show. This 2800 seat house is pergect for concerts, roadshows classic film festivals, but it just sits. And with todays economy, I doubt anyone will buy it. And if that happens, then they should apply for non-profit 501(3)c status.
Go luck out there, and lets hope it gets saved. We dont need any more treasures falling to the wrecking ball.
Hi Vito, nice to hear from you again. Ross is a great guy. I know a few months ago he helped when I could not log onto CT. On a seperate note, if todays business where I work is any indication, TDTESS is not long for the theatres.
Yes Paul it is sad what happened to these 2 theatres. The Bellevue is now a quad, (2 up, 2 down), and the Clairidge is a 6-plex, with theatres going down, sideways, and even on all the way down where the screen and stage once were. Its just a shame no one has any regards for the past.
I’m sorry to say Lost, but in todays society, yes, using a “telephone” is old fashioned. I’m with you, heck I still use my CB radio, but, today its blackberries, blueberries and whatever else is the hot item of the day. I was told about 10 years ago by an executive with General Cinema, that I was a dinosaur, because I was a union projectionist.
There you go…
What a beauty. Glad to see it was saved (especially from the alternative, a parking lot).
Sounds like the second coming of National Amusements. The theatres are doing great, but all the other activities are sucking them dry.
Exactly what I said too longislandmovies. I wish you could talk to the owners of the 2800 seat Ritz in Elizabeth N.J. Heres a treasure waiting to be used, but the owners just sit on it. And everyone tells me they have to be non-profit. I tell them why dont they just open, advertise, and maybe it can function. I’m also happy to hear your triplex out grosses these big sheetrock multiplexes. I always said give me a good 2, 3, or 4 screen theatre, and it will make money.
As someone who lives eats and will die by the theatre business, I cant help but think that this Ridgewood theatre thing is going in a bad direction. Look at whats happened around the country. Take a few years ago when the Colonial in Allentown PA. was demolished because the owner let it sit and rot since 1988. Or how about right here in New York with the Keiths in Queens. If these palaces are just allowed to sit and sit, its only a matter of time nothing good will come. I hope this one and the Kings in Brooklyn get the attention they need and deserve, and SOON.
This once mighty and glorious chain of theatres seems to be headed to the scrap heap. I remember when I worked for them from 1985 up till the end of 2004, how all the ducks were in a row, everything was like a well oiled machine. I can only imagine what the people who work there must be thinking day in and day out. If Shari Redstone cant wrestle away control soon, this chain will be history.
Seating Capacity for this complex. Please note that Theatres 1, 2, 5 & 6 are sloped, while 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 & 10 are stadium. Dolby Digital and D.T.S. sound thru out.
Cinema 1.. 97
Cinema 2..128
Cinema 3..181
Cinema 4..283
Cinema 5.. 97
Cinema 6..128
Cinema 7..245
Cinema 8..210
Cinema 9..197
Cinema 10.181
Total of 1747.
Very nice and unique 10-plex. Movie props thru-out the lobby and hallway ares.
It looks like the theatre is intact, except for no seats.
Went by the building tonight on my way home from work. The drop ceiling from office max is gone, and to my surprise, the front wall of the old projection booth was torn out, exposing the empty booth. The blue color wall paint looks just like it did in 1992 when the place closed.
Meredith, are you now doing all the tech work for clearview? I am wondering if you do the theatre I worked for 10 years, the Middlebrook Galleria in Ocean N.J.? I had that booth looking and running like a hospital ward. Clean and quiet. I’m sorry clearview kicked us all to the curb.
Hey Meredith, a quick question. My fellow union brother worked here up till March 2004. He spent like 3 years working with the tech’s from NCS getting everything in working order when clearview kicked us to the curb. Just how bad was the booth? I remember it running smooth when he left.
I have to agree with Peter and Bob Jensen. I still cant believe this digital thing is ever going to take off the way the theatres and studios hope it does, and Mini-Max is just owesome. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
If its not 15 perf 70MM Imax, I cant be bothered.
Jack Roe USA Inc sells rods. Toll Free number is 800-213-9956.
We need more people like you Bill. Happy Holidays.
And thats a shame, because the longer it sits, the worse the condition gets. It will reach a point someday (lets hope not) that the building will be beyond repair.
The theatre has recently had all its sound systems upgraded to Dolby Digital.
Seating capacity as follows:
Cinema 1..188
Cinema 2..143
Cinema 3.. 93
Cinema 4.. 83
Cinema 5.. 99
Cinema 6..115
Total of 721 seats. Very well kept theatre, and nice safe parking in the giant shopping plaza it helps to anchor. And it has matinees daily.
Nice to here someone still knows how to run a theatre the RIGHT way.
Very cool. I wish more of todays theatre used these, instead of those electronic signs that only flash one movie at a time. But then again, with 20 screens, you would need a marquee the size of a city block.
I know how you feel. Here in New Jersey, we have a theatre, the Ritz, in Elizabeth, that the current owner spent 3 years restoring it to its former granduer, only to have it sit there, with only an occasional spanish show. This 2800 seat house is pergect for concerts, roadshows classic film festivals, but it just sits. And with todays economy, I doubt anyone will buy it. And if that happens, then they should apply for non-profit 501(3)c status.
Go luck out there, and lets hope it gets saved. We dont need any more treasures falling to the wrecking ball.
You know he will movies10063. Beggers cant be choosers.
Yeah, but those movies were more enjoyable. They didn’t need all the computer graphics and bells and whistles todays movies need.
The beginning of the end for the once mighty Redstone empire.
Hi Vito, nice to hear from you again. Ross is a great guy. I know a few months ago he helped when I could not log onto CT. On a seperate note, if todays business where I work is any indication, TDTESS is not long for the theatres.
Yes Paul it is sad what happened to these 2 theatres. The Bellevue is now a quad, (2 up, 2 down), and the Clairidge is a 6-plex, with theatres going down, sideways, and even on all the way down where the screen and stage once were. Its just a shame no one has any regards for the past.
I’m sorry to say Lost, but in todays society, yes, using a “telephone” is old fashioned. I’m with you, heck I still use my CB radio, but, today its blackberries, blueberries and whatever else is the hot item of the day. I was told about 10 years ago by an executive with General Cinema, that I was a dinosaur, because I was a union projectionist.
There you go…