Vincent: The Paramount Theater in Asbury Park is still intact. It’s opposite Convention Hall, on the other side of the arcade. My cousin and I were walking through the arcade last summer and the side doors to the Paramount were open for some reason. It still looks great, and my cousin had a flashback to 1960 when he saw PSYCHO there.
Rhett & Vincent: Thanks for talking about the great old single-screen theaters in North Jersey. I believe Cinema 46 had 70mm projection for PATTON and HELLO, DOLLY in 1970. Now it’s the site of a CompUSA store. The Bellevue in Upper Montclair was definitely 70mm – I saw THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN there in 1968 on a class trip and it was awesome. Nobody ever talks about that movie anymore, but to see and hear it like that was unforgettable. And the Clairidge, of course, had 3-strip Cinerama. I saw HOW THE WEST WAS WON there in 1963 – enough said. I go there once in a while to see current movies but it’s tragic to see it now, remembering what it once was.
I recall my first trip to the Music Hall, age 7, to see “That Touch of Mink” with Doris Day and Cary Grant. The ticket price was 99 cents if you sat in the balcony before noon. Talk about your bargains.
The overcharging for the Christmas show wouldn’t be so bad if it helped subsidize some classic movies being shown. And like I said before, the audience is out there. What a thrill it was to see “Psycho” in a theater that size with not an empty seat to be had.
I hope some Cablevision executives are looking at these comments. It would be so great to have classic films at the Music Hall again. When they had the week of WB classics a few years ago, they advertised it as the First Annual Radio City Classic Film Festival. The Friday night showing of “The Exorcist”, hosted by Ellen Burstyn and William Friedkin, was a complete sell-out and a real blast. Then the next year they showed films from Universal: “Psycho”, “Jaws”, and “Animal House” all played to 5,000+ people. Unfortunately, there haven’t been any showings since then, and the recent 40th anniversary showing of “West Side Story” was invitation-only and not open to the public. Why not give the people what they want (and make lots of money besides) and do something like the Classic Film Festivals every year?
Vincent, I waited many hours to see “A Boy Named Charlie Brown” in January 1970. It was a Friday and I don’t remember the exact length of time, but it definitely took most of an entire day to get in. We got there in the morning and it was dark outside when we came out (and it was a very short movie).
The review of “2001” was my most anticipated review ever. I was sure it would be the first sci-fi film since “The Day the Earth Caught Fire” in 1962 to get four stars. Imagine how I felt when I saw the **½ under the headline “Kubrick Space Film is Way Out”, over a dismissive review that occupied less than one column of a page in the paper. I think this was the first time I realized that it doesn’t matter what a critic says about a movie – it’s my own opinion that really counted (I was 13). I knew the movie was going to be great, and when I finally saw it … hey, it’s 36 years later and we’re still talking about it!
“Planet of the Apes” played the Capitol and the 72nd St. Playhouse at the same time starting in early February 1968. I can’t remember the exact date, though. The next movie to play the Capitol was “2001”. It was shown to the New York critics (who mostly tore it apart) on April 1st, and it opened to the public on April 3rd. I remember reading the **½ star review in the New York Daily News on the day Martin Luther King was assassinated, 4/4/68.
That’s great news, Ron. I will certainly look forward to your future posts with the results of all your hard work. It’s very enjoyable to read through these lists of movies and their release dates – so many memories come flooding back. And I know what you mean about working with microfilm – in my college years, I think I spent more time looking at pages from old movie sections in the New York Times than I did going to class!
I’ll never forget going to the Astor Plaza almost every weekend in the summer of 1977 and finding a seat as close to the screen as I could get to see “Star Wars”.
I’ll never forget going to the Astor Plaza almost every weekend in the summer of 1977 and finding a seat as close to the screen as I could get to see “Star Wars”.
I was born in Hoboken in 1954, and the Fabian was the first theater I was ever conscious of. I always asked my dad to drive past it whenever I was in the car with him. We moved out of Hoboken when I was 8 and I only got to go inside a couple of times, but I’m pretty sure my first wide screen movie experience was there: Doris Day in “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies”. I also recall the first movie I was NOT allowed to see there: “Village of the Damned”. My sister was 3 years older and she got to see it – I was awfully jealous.
Thanks, Ron, for that fantastic list. I appreciate all the work you must have done to put it together. I only wish I’d lived in DC during all those years so I’d be able to see “Around the World in 80 Days”, “West Side Story” and all the Cinerama features on the Uptown screen.
Do you know how long “Star Wars” played there? It played 65 weeks at the Loew’s Astor Plaza in New York, which is where I saw it for the first time.
Six separate engagements for “2001”, huh? May there be many more.
The first time I went into New York City to see a movie without my parents (age 14), it was at the Trans-Lux West: Rod Steiger in Ray Bradbury’s “The Illustrated Man”. So many memories come back unexpectedly when I look at this great website.
I saw 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY at Cinestudio last week. It was tremendous in every way. Hard to believe that such a wonderful big-screen, big-sound theater is located in the basement of a college science building. Come to think of it, what better place to see the greatest science-fiction movie of them all than in a science building?
I saw “2001” from the front row of the Uptown on November 12, 2001. The greatest movie-watching experience I’ve ever had. If only there were a way for the Uptown to show this movie once a year – I’d never miss it. Thanks, Uptown Theater!
In February 1983 I was almost stuck in the Ziegfeld overnight. It was after a showing of GANDHI while a blizzard was socking New York. I was considering asking the Ziegfeld staff if I could sleep in the theater instead of going out into the brutal storm. I always regretted not having done it! New York’s best theater by far.
I was lucky enough to see 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY here in June 1968. I’ve never forgotten the movie, or the theater. New York sure could use another one like it right now.
I’d also like to know when 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY will be coming to the Uptown. I live in NJ, but since it looks like it isn’t being shown in New York, and the Uptown has a real Cinerama screen, it will be more than worth it to make the trip to DC.
Vincent: The Paramount Theater in Asbury Park is still intact. It’s opposite Convention Hall, on the other side of the arcade. My cousin and I were walking through the arcade last summer and the side doors to the Paramount were open for some reason. It still looks great, and my cousin had a flashback to 1960 when he saw PSYCHO there.
Rhett & Vincent: Thanks for talking about the great old single-screen theaters in North Jersey. I believe Cinema 46 had 70mm projection for PATTON and HELLO, DOLLY in 1970. Now it’s the site of a CompUSA store. The Bellevue in Upper Montclair was definitely 70mm – I saw THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN there in 1968 on a class trip and it was awesome. Nobody ever talks about that movie anymore, but to see and hear it like that was unforgettable. And the Clairidge, of course, had 3-strip Cinerama. I saw HOW THE WEST WAS WON there in 1963 – enough said. I go there once in a while to see current movies but it’s tragic to see it now, remembering what it once was.
I recall my first trip to the Music Hall, age 7, to see “That Touch of Mink” with Doris Day and Cary Grant. The ticket price was 99 cents if you sat in the balcony before noon. Talk about your bargains.
The overcharging for the Christmas show wouldn’t be so bad if it helped subsidize some classic movies being shown. And like I said before, the audience is out there. What a thrill it was to see “Psycho” in a theater that size with not an empty seat to be had.
I hope some Cablevision executives are looking at these comments. It would be so great to have classic films at the Music Hall again. When they had the week of WB classics a few years ago, they advertised it as the First Annual Radio City Classic Film Festival. The Friday night showing of “The Exorcist”, hosted by Ellen Burstyn and William Friedkin, was a complete sell-out and a real blast. Then the next year they showed films from Universal: “Psycho”, “Jaws”, and “Animal House” all played to 5,000+ people. Unfortunately, there haven’t been any showings since then, and the recent 40th anniversary showing of “West Side Story” was invitation-only and not open to the public. Why not give the people what they want (and make lots of money besides) and do something like the Classic Film Festivals every year?
Vincent, I waited many hours to see “A Boy Named Charlie Brown” in January 1970. It was a Friday and I don’t remember the exact length of time, but it definitely took most of an entire day to get in. We got there in the morning and it was dark outside when we came out (and it was a very short movie).
The review of “2001” was my most anticipated review ever. I was sure it would be the first sci-fi film since “The Day the Earth Caught Fire” in 1962 to get four stars. Imagine how I felt when I saw the **½ under the headline “Kubrick Space Film is Way Out”, over a dismissive review that occupied less than one column of a page in the paper. I think this was the first time I realized that it doesn’t matter what a critic says about a movie – it’s my own opinion that really counted (I was 13). I knew the movie was going to be great, and when I finally saw it … hey, it’s 36 years later and we’re still talking about it!
“Planet of the Apes” played the Capitol and the 72nd St. Playhouse at the same time starting in early February 1968. I can’t remember the exact date, though. The next movie to play the Capitol was “2001”. It was shown to the New York critics (who mostly tore it apart) on April 1st, and it opened to the public on April 3rd. I remember reading the **½ star review in the New York Daily News on the day Martin Luther King was assassinated, 4/4/68.
Could someone who knows the closing date of this theater please post it here? I’d like to go back one more time. Thanks.
That’s great news, Ron. I will certainly look forward to your future posts with the results of all your hard work. It’s very enjoyable to read through these lists of movies and their release dates – so many memories come flooding back. And I know what you mean about working with microfilm – in my college years, I think I spent more time looking at pages from old movie sections in the New York Times than I did going to class!
One more reason to dislike MTV.
I’ll never forget going to the Astor Plaza almost every weekend in the summer of 1977 and finding a seat as close to the screen as I could get to see “Star Wars”.
One more reason to dislike MTV.
I’ll never forget going to the Astor Plaza almost every weekend in the summer of 1977 and finding a seat as close to the screen as I could get to see “Star Wars”.
Actor and Hoboken native Joe Pantoliano (“The Sopranos”) writes in his autobiography about going to the Fabian to see “West Side Story”.
I was born in Hoboken in 1954, and the Fabian was the first theater I was ever conscious of. I always asked my dad to drive past it whenever I was in the car with him. We moved out of Hoboken when I was 8 and I only got to go inside a couple of times, but I’m pretty sure my first wide screen movie experience was there: Doris Day in “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies”. I also recall the first movie I was NOT allowed to see there: “Village of the Damned”. My sister was 3 years older and she got to see it – I was awfully jealous.
Thanks, Ron, for that fantastic list. I appreciate all the work you must have done to put it together. I only wish I’d lived in DC during all those years so I’d be able to see “Around the World in 80 Days”, “West Side Story” and all the Cinerama features on the Uptown screen.
Do you know how long “Star Wars” played there? It played 65 weeks at the Loew’s Astor Plaza in New York, which is where I saw it for the first time.
Six separate engagements for “2001”, huh? May there be many more.
The first time I went into New York City to see a movie without my parents (age 14), it was at the Trans-Lux West: Rod Steiger in Ray Bradbury’s “The Illustrated Man”. So many memories come back unexpectedly when I look at this great website.
I saw 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY at Cinestudio last week. It was tremendous in every way. Hard to believe that such a wonderful big-screen, big-sound theater is located in the basement of a college science building. Come to think of it, what better place to see the greatest science-fiction movie of them all than in a science building?
—Bill
I saw “2001” from the front row of the Uptown on November 12, 2001. The greatest movie-watching experience I’ve ever had. If only there were a way for the Uptown to show this movie once a year – I’d never miss it. Thanks, Uptown Theater!
2001 begins a 2-week run at the Uptown on November 2nd. I’ve gotta get down there somehow!
In February 1983 I was almost stuck in the Ziegfeld overnight. It was after a showing of GANDHI while a blizzard was socking New York. I was considering asking the Ziegfeld staff if I could sleep in the theater instead of going out into the brutal storm. I always regretted not having done it! New York’s best theater by far.
I was lucky enough to see 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY here in June 1968. I’ve never forgotten the movie, or the theater. New York sure could use another one like it right now.
I’d also like to know when 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY will be coming to the Uptown. I live in NJ, but since it looks like it isn’t being shown in New York, and the Uptown has a real Cinerama screen, it will be more than worth it to make the trip to DC.