Opened in the late 1980s shortly after this one story mall opened. Immediately became strong competition for GC’s Mercer Mall and AMC’s Quaker Bridge Mall, both very close and both of which are now closed. The big selling point at the time of opening was stadium seating, which the others didn’t have. The opening of the AMC Hamilton 24 also attributed to the demise of these two mall theaters.
The p/w is my library card number (a NJ perk). Here is the article:
The Record (Bergen County, NJ), Dec 8, 1999 pL3
ADULT-THEATER OWNER SENTENCED IN INSURANCE SCAM; GETS 4 YEARS FOR SUBMITTING INFLATED CLAIMS ON WAYNE FIRE. (NEWS) Dan Kraut.
Full Text: COPYRIGHT 1999 Bergen Record Corp.
By DAN KRAUT, Staff Writer
The owner of a defunct adult theater in Wayne was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison for trying to scam two insurance companies after his business burned down.
The sentencing came five months after Jack Chesner admitted submitting claims to two insurers in 1994 in which he said the Ramapo Theater was worth more than $100,000, even though he knew it to be worth less.
Chesner’s scheme unraveled when investigators found the insurance policies were not purchased until hours after the fire at the Ramapo Plaza Mall at Valley Road and Hamburg Turnpike, authorities said. He tried to cover his tracks by submitting premium checks dated before the fire.
Chesner, a retail and entertainment consultant who lives in Union, was indicted in January on charges that could have led to a maximum of 10 years in prison. Under a deal reached in the summer, however, authorities agreed he would be sentenced to between three and five years in exchange for a guilty plea, said Edward M. Neafsey, state insurance fraud prosecutor.
Because Chesner never collected any money in connection with the scheme, he was charged with attempted theft by deception.
Chesner, who was 67 when he pleaded guilty this summer, asked for a reduced sentence Tuesday because of poor health. Superior Court Judge John Triarsi, who presided over the case in Elizabeth, rejected the request, Neafsey said. The judge also imposed a $2,000 fine.
The fire was never fully explained. Officials initially suspected that a natural-gas leak at the Plaza set the stage for an explosion and subsequent blaze. But the structure was demolished before the investigation was completed, Neafsey said, leaving questions unanswered. Prosecutors do not suspect arson.
Chesner has also pleaded guilty in federal court to filing false tax returns and to obstructing an Internal Revenue Service investigation. He is scheduled to be sentenced for those crimes in February and remains free on bail until then, Neafsey said.
Chesner will begin his prison time after federal sentencing and will ultimately serve the longer of the two sentences.
Attempts to reach Chesner or his lawyer Tuesday evening were unsuccessful.
Chesner made news in 1994 during an unsuccessful bid to open an adult shop in Rochelle Park.
Hill Theatre Studio
35 West Broad St. Paulsboro NJ 08066
This is one of the only studios in the Tri-state area. They have done Reebok commercials with Allen Iverson, the makeout rain scene for Kevin Smith’s “Chasing Amy”, and they just did the rain for Nicolas Cage’s new film “Atlantis”. The studio used to be one of the oldest movie theatres in South Jersey, although the seats have been ripped out, but the old movie theatre lobby still exists. The film will be projected on a thirty foot high seamless green screen that will be painted white for the best projection.
There was a Seaview Square Mall in Neptune. It is now a shopping center (Target, Costco, etc.). Perhaps there is a link between the two (PS Asbury Park is not too far away)
Photo of the VFW hall can be seen on this link:
http://www.fortleenj.com/Main%20Street%20West.htm
Interesting. I’ll do some digging.
Is this the old Woodbridge Cinemas, located on Rt. 1 across from the Woodbridge Center mall?
Operated from circa 1945 to circa 1955.
Built around 1930. In the 1950s operated under Brandt theaters.
Is this a duplicate of the one in Willowbrook?
Located inside the Willowbrook Mall.
Main address:
1400 Willowbrook Mall
Wayne, NJ 07470
973-785-1655
RobertR – you are correct. drive-ins.com has the history
Nice current photo on page 163 of Reader’s Digest Discover America ISBN 0762104341.
Nice night photo on page 126 of Reader’s Digest Discover America ISBN 0762104341.
Opened in the late 1980s shortly after this one story mall opened. Immediately became strong competition for GC’s Mercer Mall and AMC’s Quaker Bridge Mall, both very close and both of which are now closed. The big selling point at the time of opening was stadium seating, which the others didn’t have. The opening of the AMC Hamilton 24 also attributed to the demise of these two mall theaters.
This was also known as the US 1 Drive In. It was located on US 1 Business Southbound, just south of the split off from expressway US1.
This is open in a shopping center on Route 206 North. I belive the shopping center is called Montgomery Center. The theater’s address:
1325 Route 206, Belle Mead, NJ 08502
The p/w is my library card number (a NJ perk). Here is the article:
The Record (Bergen County, NJ), Dec 8, 1999 pL3
ADULT-THEATER OWNER SENTENCED IN INSURANCE SCAM; GETS 4 YEARS FOR SUBMITTING INFLATED CLAIMS ON WAYNE FIRE. (NEWS) Dan Kraut.
Full Text: COPYRIGHT 1999 Bergen Record Corp.
By DAN KRAUT, Staff Writer
The owner of a defunct adult theater in Wayne was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison for trying to scam two insurance companies after his business burned down.
The sentencing came five months after Jack Chesner admitted submitting claims to two insurers in 1994 in which he said the Ramapo Theater was worth more than $100,000, even though he knew it to be worth less.
Chesner’s scheme unraveled when investigators found the insurance policies were not purchased until hours after the fire at the Ramapo Plaza Mall at Valley Road and Hamburg Turnpike, authorities said. He tried to cover his tracks by submitting premium checks dated before the fire.
Chesner, a retail and entertainment consultant who lives in Union, was indicted in January on charges that could have led to a maximum of 10 years in prison. Under a deal reached in the summer, however, authorities agreed he would be sentenced to between three and five years in exchange for a guilty plea, said Edward M. Neafsey, state insurance fraud prosecutor.
Because Chesner never collected any money in connection with the scheme, he was charged with attempted theft by deception.
Chesner, who was 67 when he pleaded guilty this summer, asked for a reduced sentence Tuesday because of poor health. Superior Court Judge John Triarsi, who presided over the case in Elizabeth, rejected the request, Neafsey said. The judge also imposed a $2,000 fine.
The fire was never fully explained. Officials initially suspected that a natural-gas leak at the Plaza set the stage for an explosion and subsequent blaze. But the structure was demolished before the investigation was completed, Neafsey said, leaving questions unanswered. Prosecutors do not suspect arson.
Chesner has also pleaded guilty in federal court to filing false tax returns and to obstructing an Internal Revenue Service investigation. He is scheduled to be sentenced for those crimes in February and remains free on bail until then, Neafsey said.
Chesner will begin his prison time after federal sentencing and will ultimately serve the longer of the two sentences.
Attempts to reach Chesner or his lawyer Tuesday evening were unsuccessful.
Chesner made news in 1994 during an unsuccessful bid to open an adult shop in Rochelle Park.
Article CJ70523741
Some 1987 ads about midway down this link:
View link
Not listed in the 1951 FDY, so yes, it has been closed for many years.
LM: I think that you have enough information to ‘book it Danno’!
PS – I have a 1991 NJ newspaper that can provide the theater chain information. My guess is GC or AMC.
Interesting history of the organ, which was moved to a private home in 1960 and then upon the owners death in 1974 to a high school auditorium:
http://theatreorgans.com/nj/
Hill Theatre Studio
35 West Broad St. Paulsboro NJ 08066
This is one of the only studios in the Tri-state area. They have done Reebok commercials with Allen Iverson, the makeout rain scene for Kevin Smith’s “Chasing Amy”, and they just did the rain for Nicolas Cage’s new film “Atlantis”. The studio used to be one of the oldest movie theatres in South Jersey, although the seats have been ripped out, but the old movie theatre lobby still exists. The film will be projected on a thirty foot high seamless green screen that will be painted white for the best projection.
Nice description from http://www.kphat.com/john_premiere.html
There was a Seaview Square Mall in Neptune. It is now a shopping center (Target, Costco, etc.). Perhaps there is a link between the two (PS Asbury Park is not too far away)
This mall opened in 1976.
Nice night photo from 1973 at this link (you must scroll to the RIGHT to find it):
View link
Listed in the 1951 FDY with 600 seats.
According to in70mm.com, “2001” opened in this theater on July 17, 1968 and ran for 36 weeks.
Wow – not exactly Academy Award material. Looks like a “B” theater to me.
Thanks for the post.