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…
How about in most policy trailers, they ask for silence and no texting or cell phones. Now we can text, next we’ll be able to talk, then they can just close down the whole damn industry.
As of today, Dec 11, 2008, there is a lot of heavy machinery around the building. The entire west side of the building has been demolished, showing the exposed steel beams.
Rest in peace Woodbridge.
Walter Reade must be turning over in his grave.
Another treasure gone, even though the building hasnt housed a cinema since 1992, it was always my hope it could be returned to its former glory.
Now it will forever be a memory, like so many before it.
Goodbye.
As I said above, I posted right after vito’s assessment of the movie. I did not see anything wrong with it. He just didn’t like it. No big deal. Freedom of speech, we’re all supposed to have it, but I guess…
I would like for that to happen too tom, but National has already closed at least 3 multiplexes in the past 3 years here in New Jersey. The Amboys, (due to a major floor collapse in the lobby), the All-Jersey in Newark and Atco. And everytime I drive somewhere in the state, all I see is Regal and AMC. We dont need them 2 to get any bigger. Together they are everything thats wrong with the movie theatres today. newt up above worries about the future, so do I, but I also worry about the present. Things with this economy could hit this business hard, and then you’ll see every big chain have problems, which is why I think its going to be hard for Redstone to unload National.
I know how Vito Feels. I posted a response to his comment of TDTESS, and it to was removed. I ’ve only been a part of CT half as long as you guys, but I guess I did something wrong.
I also hope vito stays, since I know him personally, and consider him a dear friend. Hope you get some cool classics to watch and introduce at the Zieg.
Hi verranth1, you know me, movie534. I will try to see if I can contact anyone I worked with, and see if they have this info. No guarantees however, because most of these people I have not seen in over 15 years. I know yesterday i left on the site what I could remember, but you thats far from perfect.
Inside industry rumors are that just this week, after the above announcement was made, that National canned all the division managers in the company, in an effort to stem the bleeding. And as far as any of the larger chains, AMC or Regal taking it over, I think CTCrouch is on track. It would be divided among many, because AMC and Regal are almost at their braking point as far as debt-load is concerned. And dont forget, a lot of these theatres sit on company owned property, something Sumner Redstone did years ago, when he converted all his drive-ins to multi’s. The land value alone could help to ease Nationals debt, if it sells the buildings to any developers.
I guess right now they are trying to gauge how this goes over. But my guess would be that in the future, it would be used for bigger events, like say an all-star game, or the super bowl, or college bowl games. To use this sort of thing for average everyday games seems to me like it would get old in a hurry.
So first New Jersey was the only state that did not have a drive-in, then the Delsea in South Jersey reopened after like 20 years. Now Delawre will be the only state without a drive-in. What a shame, that land and costs are making it so prohibitive from these venues being able to survive anymore.
It is true that National closed some of their aging multiplexes here in New Jersey. Newark was just a bad location, it was only 15 years old when it closed. Amboys closed because of a caved in floor in the main lobby. At least it was 27 years old when it closed. As I stated on other posts here on CT, having worked for them, I felt for years that General Cinema and National Amusements were the 2 best chains that were. But in the past few years when I did work for National in New York, I could see the changes. Too many of the people I knew were gone, or close to leaveing. And Redstone didnt help by not letting his daughter run the company. If she had total control, things would probably be different.
I do agree with LuisV, although I am a little luckier. My wife is working on the show, and I had free tickets early in November. I took my 75 year old mother, who up till then had never been inside the music hall. ( Her and my father had been to the Roxy in the 50’s). What a great time she had, and the joy on her face said it all.
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…
And NOT for the better.
How about in most policy trailers, they ask for silence and no texting or cell phones. Now we can text, next we’ll be able to talk, then they can just close down the whole damn industry.
Ahh, the good old days. Give me this anytime over what we have today.
As of today, Dec 11, 2008, there is a lot of heavy machinery around the building. The entire west side of the building has been demolished, showing the exposed steel beams.
Rest in peace Woodbridge.
Walter Reade must be turning over in his grave.
Another treasure gone, even though the building hasnt housed a cinema since 1992, it was always my hope it could be returned to its former glory.
Now it will forever be a memory, like so many before it.
Goodbye.
Reel-to-reel and 35MM. Just the way it should be. Love it!
As I said above, I posted right after vito’s assessment of the movie. I did not see anything wrong with it. He just didn’t like it. No big deal. Freedom of speech, we’re all supposed to have it, but I guess…
I would like for that to happen too tom, but National has already closed at least 3 multiplexes in the past 3 years here in New Jersey. The Amboys, (due to a major floor collapse in the lobby), the All-Jersey in Newark and Atco. And everytime I drive somewhere in the state, all I see is Regal and AMC. We dont need them 2 to get any bigger. Together they are everything thats wrong with the movie theatres today. newt up above worries about the future, so do I, but I also worry about the present. Things with this economy could hit this business hard, and then you’ll see every big chain have problems, which is why I think its going to be hard for Redstone to unload National.
Hello Ziegfeld Man,
How have you been? Its been a while…
I know how Vito Feels. I posted a response to his comment of TDTESS, and it to was removed. I ’ve only been a part of CT half as long as you guys, but I guess I did something wrong.
I also hope vito stays, since I know him personally, and consider him a dear friend. Hope you get some cool classics to watch and introduce at the Zieg.
Opening all digital…hope they know what their getting themselves into.
Most likely.
Not a chance. They are under too much of their own debt burden to take on anymore.
Hi verranth1, you know me, movie534. I will try to see if I can contact anyone I worked with, and see if they have this info. No guarantees however, because most of these people I have not seen in over 15 years. I know yesterday i left on the site what I could remember, but you thats far from perfect.
Inside industry rumors are that just this week, after the above announcement was made, that National canned all the division managers in the company, in an effort to stem the bleeding. And as far as any of the larger chains, AMC or Regal taking it over, I think CTCrouch is on track. It would be divided among many, because AMC and Regal are almost at their braking point as far as debt-load is concerned. And dont forget, a lot of these theatres sit on company owned property, something Sumner Redstone did years ago, when he converted all his drive-ins to multi’s. The land value alone could help to ease Nationals debt, if it sells the buildings to any developers.
I guess right now they are trying to gauge how this goes over. But my guess would be that in the future, it would be used for bigger events, like say an all-star game, or the super bowl, or college bowl games. To use this sort of thing for average everyday games seems to me like it would get old in a hurry.
So first New Jersey was the only state that did not have a drive-in, then the Delsea in South Jersey reopened after like 20 years. Now Delawre will be the only state without a drive-in. What a shame, that land and costs are making it so prohibitive from these venues being able to survive anymore.
It is true that National closed some of their aging multiplexes here in New Jersey. Newark was just a bad location, it was only 15 years old when it closed. Amboys closed because of a caved in floor in the main lobby. At least it was 27 years old when it closed. As I stated on other posts here on CT, having worked for them, I felt for years that General Cinema and National Amusements were the 2 best chains that were. But in the past few years when I did work for National in New York, I could see the changes. Too many of the people I knew were gone, or close to leaveing. And Redstone didnt help by not letting his daughter run the company. If she had total control, things would probably be different.
I do agree with LuisV, although I am a little luckier. My wife is working on the show, and I had free tickets early in November. I took my 75 year old mother, who up till then had never been inside the music hall. ( Her and my father had been to the Roxy in the 50’s). What a great time she had, and the joy on her face said it all.
This is how films SHOULD be presented. This is totally cool. I wish this could come to New York City area.