Loew's Jersey Theatre
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
54 Journal Square,
Jersey City,
NJ
07306
98 people
favorited this theater
Showing 201 - 225 of 1,501 comments
Photos of the cleaned valences (my own, from yesterday’s excursion). Look for the crystal highpoints…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15851551@N04/6808016390/in/photostream/lightbox/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15851551@N04/6808016158/in/photostream/lightbox/
Not to mention the new traveler curtain:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15851551@N04/6954126725/in/photostream/lightbox/
Thoughts welcome!…
So the arch looks better because of improved lighting and not due to cleaning?
Have the cleaned valences been re-hung? I’d love to see of photo of those.
That’s great news about the new stage lighting. Looking forward to the continued improvements. Please consider continuing to use the original balcony flood positions—as one element of the lighting. The beams of light from those positions do something impressive for the auditorium during a show. It could be an “ah, ha” moment for the visitor. As in, “gee, sometimes they knew what they were doing in 1929.”
Totally unrelated question: is there a name for the central figure in the main cove over the stage (the one with the sunburst coming out of her)? Thanks, again.
And it’s very windy at Journal Square!
Thanks for answering our questions. I still need to learn that patience is a virtue.
The proscenium valence (pelmet) had been cleaned last summer, and the lighting on the arch has been improved.
We had been using the balcony flood positions, but now that we have more lighting instruments, our light plot has gotten more creative, thanks to our dedicated stage volunteers. Right now we’re also doing backstage work to get a modern computerized lighting system installed, and to catalog our inventory of new equipment.
The right rear exit is curtained off because there are doors missing from that exit alcove to non-public spaces in the building. As I am sure you’re aware, resources are limited, and we’re currently working on the infrastructure for both safety and performance that will allow us to bring more people into the theatre for more shows. The increased exposure (and revenue) from this work will allow us to work on cosmetic improvements.
As far as keeping the “boxes” at the rear of the auditorium goes, don’t look at it so much as “keeping” but as avoiding spending many tens of thousands of dollars demolishing them and reconstructing the rear of the auditorium. The scope of that work is a bit beyond the capability of our volunteers, especially considering that it would have to be done quickly as the auditorium would not be usable during the construction. We do use one of them as a sound control room as well. There are few things I’d like more than to see them go, but it has to wait.
The weight of the vertical sign is only a small component of the complexity of replacing it. The structural steel in the tower appears to be badly corroded from decades of water infiltration while the sign was installed, so it is in unknown condition and probably deficient for supporting any cantilevered structure. Even if a replacement sign weighed nothing, the wind loading on such a sign can subject the structure to tens of thousands of pounds of (potentially oscillating) force, so the structure would have to be in very good shape. I won’t say never, but barring having a couple of million bucks with nothing more pressing to use it on, it’s not going to happen.
With modern materials the blade could now weigh next to nothing and be twice as bright
Has the proscenium arch been cleaned? because it looked just great today. It is obviously better lit now, but it also looks cleaner to me for some reason… Thanks. What a precious jewel we have here in NJ! It could (perhaps it already has) become internationally famous. Not only is it a classic example of a movie palace, showing classic movies the real way (no pun intended), and has the theatre pipe organ (and a magnificent first rate instrument); but the theatre is also one of the most beautiful of it’s genre—no question.
Anyway, back to my question: has the arch been cleaned?
Also I noticed some definite improvements in stage lighting today. Are you using the balcony railing spotting bays again? It looked like it from where I was sitting. That would be neat if you were…
And I wouldn’t truly care if I didn’t raise a couple of concerns: why is the left most (from the auditorium) rear exit curtained off? I would think a restoration would be about re-opening all of the public spaces. Also, why are you keeping that hideous looking “box” room at the back of the auditorium orchestra level? A long time ago, I thought it might be used as a control room of some sort, but so far…
This Weekend:
Friday 2/24 at 8pm – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Saturday 2/25 at 6pm – Double Indemnity (1944)
Saturday 2/25 at 8:20pm – Psycho (1960)
WHAT AN AMAZING TIME I HAD LAST NIGHT AT THIS PALACE!!! THANK YOU FOR STIRRING UP HAPPY EMOTIONS FORM MY CHILDHOOD! I was raised in Hudson County & have the fondness of memories of these type of theaters. Meeting Piper Laurie was beyond a treat—such a LEGEND! at 80 yrs old she is witty, sassy & real.
What a great month it’s been at The landmark Loews. First “Cinema Paradiso” (in a beautiful print) and then, last night “The Hustler” with four stellar performances and a live interview with Piper Laurie. Now this is what I call “film programming” !
The Wonder Theatre Of New Jersey
It’s a new year for old movies at the The Landmark Loews Jersey Theatre, the metro area’s favorite venue for classic films!
The theatre is located directly across from the PATH subway station connecting Manhattan with Jersey City and it is also easy to reach from most area highways. Secure discounted parking is located directly behind the theatre. Have your parking ticket validated at the theatre’s boxoffice.
As Always, All Our Show Are Still Presented Exclusively From High Resolution 35mm Motion Picture Film With Genuine Carbon Arc Projection, On Our Giant 50 Foot Wide Screen.
For January 2012, we have two separate weekend programs. The first on January 20th & 21st features films that feature movie theatres. The second on January 28th celebrates the films of actress Piper Laurie, who will appear live to discuss her career.
Friday January 20th at 8:00pm – Cinema Paradiso
Starring Philippe Noiret, Salvatore Cascio, Marco Leonardi, Jacques Perrin. Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore.
A movie about the magic of going to the movies, Cinema Paradiso is a brilliantly realized comedy-drama about a successful Roman film director who returns to the village he was born in for the funeral of a friend, a retired projectionist. In so doing he begins a journey back to his boyhood in the years after WWII when townsfolk tried to escape grim times as often as they could by entering the world of the local movie theatre. Cinema Paradiso, which won the 1990 Oscar for best foreign film
Saturday January 21st at 6:00pm – Purple Rose Of Cairo (1985)
Starring Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels. Directed by Woody Allen. (82 minutes, Color)
Mia Farrow plays a woman stuck in an abusive marriage and a bad job in a small town during the Great Depression. Every chance she gets, she escapes into the magical darkness of the local movie theatre. Then one day, the hero of one of the movies, played by Jeff Daniels, literally climbs down off of the screen to join her in the theatre. Soon, he’s running off with her so she can show him the “real” world. Filmed about 40 miles north of the Loews Jersey in Piermont NY, and about 40 miles west of the Loews Jersey at the recently closed Bertrand’s Island Amusement Park on Lake Hopatcong NJ.
Saturday January 21st at 8:30pm – Sherlock Jr. (1924)
Starring Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, Ward Crane. Directed by Buster Keaton. (45 minutes, Silent, B&W.)
Keaton plays a hapless projectionist who’s studying to be a detective and falls in love with a beautiful girl, only to lose her to a rival who frames him for the theft of her father’s watch. The dejected Keaton falls asleep while he’s projecting a movie about a jewelry theft – and dreams that he walks down the theatre isle and climbs right up and into the movie screen. The movie characters become his rival, girlfriend and her father – and Keaton, of course, becomes the suave detective who puts all things right.
The Buster Keaton silent short, The Play House (1921) will also be shown. Both shows will feature acclaimed organist Bernie Anderson playing the Loews Jersey’s mighty Morton Wonder Organ.
Saturday January 28th Actress Piper Laurie Live & 2 Of Her Films On Screen
5:15 pm – Meet Piper Laurie With Admission to “The Hustler”
6:00 pm – The Hustler (1961) Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott.
7:45 pm – Meet Piper Laurie With Admission to “Carrie”
8:30 pm – On-Stage Interview with Piper Laurie
9:15 pm – Carrie (1976) Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Nancy Allen, Amy Irving. Dir: Brian De Palma
Visit The Landmark Loews Jersey web site at for details.
The Landmark Loews Jersey Theatre Lobby
Life’s Too Short-RobMinichino, Thanks for the info.
I believe the sign was removed in the late 1960s. Not only is the structural steel for it badly corroded, the support structure for the sail-like sign was likely deficient since the day the theatre opened.
I have heard that the structural supports for the vertical have greatly weakened over the years, making the idea of putting it back a very expensive proposition. I think someone from the LJ organization mentions it above.
I would love for the Blade to be restored but I don’t think that is currently in the cards. I do, however, believe that they plan to restore the old marquee!
Does anyone know when the vertical “Loews Jersey” sign was removed from the building?
I’m so glad I live in N.Y.C. This theatre is now on my to do list.
What an amazing place. I wish I lived closer. Happy New Year, Loews, may you have a prosperous one.
Ha! Where’s the “like” button for that last comment?!?
> Just like a real movie theater.
Nah, to make the Loews Jersey just like a real movie theater, we would have to remove all the ornate plaster, the curtain, the pipe organ, the huge 50 foot wide screen, the 35mm film projectors, and replace them with flat walls, bare screen, commercials before the show, and install video a projector. :)
Wow! Just like a real movie theater.
> Used before & after each movie?
Yes.
Actually, the theatre always had a curtain, but the old one started tearing from dry rot a few years ago making it impossible to use. There is now a brand new curtain that opens at the start of each movie and closes at the end.
Email stated they have a curtain now! Bill refers above to a curtain. Used before & after each movie?
This coming weekend, on Friday 12/9 the Landmark Loews Jersey will be presenting two holiday classics, Laurel & Hardy in March Of The Wooden Soldiers and on Saturday 12/10, The Wizard Of Oz. Both films will be presented in 35mm.
Last night there was a big event at the Loew’s: the 40th anniversary screening of “The Homecoming: A Christmas Story”, the TV-movie which inspired the TV series “The Waltons”. 14 members of the movie/series cast appeared in person, including Michael Learned and Richard Thomas. Patricia Neal played Learned’s role in the movie, and there was a very nice tribute to her after the screening (she appeared on the Loew’s stage a few years ago for a showing of “The Day the Earth Stood Still”). The movie was apparently a DVD presentation, but it looked absolutely perfect up there on that big screen. I was really impressed. The stage curtains were either cleaned and repaired, or replaced, and they looked amazing. Not to mention all those people in the seats, easily more than 1,000. Taking all this into consideration, the Loew’s never looked better.