Comments from joemasher

Showing 201 - 225 of 318 comments

joemasher
joemasher commented about Riviera Theatre on May 17, 2005 at 4:23 pm

The auditorium is still walled off from the rest of the building. About 10 years ago I saw the back door open and went in. The theatre is in a dilapidated state, but could easily have been restored. Storefronts are fully occupied, and the theatre itself is next door to the former Strand Theatre. The Strand’s lobby functions as a restaurant, with the kitchen ‘under the balcony’. There’s a door off of the kitchen leading into the unused auditorium.
When both theatres were open, they shared one long trapezoid-shaped marquee which was attached to both buildings.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Forum Theatre on May 17, 2005 at 8:38 am

The Riviera (Stone Opera House) is still standing, next to the Strand Theatre, on Chenango St. in Downtown Binghamton.
Both have been converted to other uses, but their auditoriums remain sealed off and abandoned.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Gateway Playhouse on May 12, 2005 at 8:34 am

The Point 4 was demolished a few months ago—there is a sign on the property for a shopping center complex coming.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Merrill's Roxy Cinemas on May 3, 2005 at 7:43 am

This place opened as the independent Nickelodeon 6, which soon was sold to USA Cinemas. A year later, USA sold to Loews, who operated the Nickelodeon for quite a few years before selling it to Hoyts.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Paramount Theatre on May 3, 2005 at 7:42 am

In its final years as a movie house, this theatre was simply called “The Movies”. The Grand Theatre, located a block away, finished its days as a moviehouse known as “Movieland”. Both were operated by Cinema North, which currently has the Plaza 9 in Rutland and the Westway 4 in West Rutland.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Bennington Movieplex 3 on May 3, 2005 at 7:35 am

This theatre has been closed for a few years now. It originally was a twin, then one side was split again to make it three. There is a new theatre next door—called Cinema 7.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Music Makers Plaza Theater on Apr 20, 2005 at 9:33 pm

There is still a theatre-shaped building in the center of the plaza that is now a gym. Could this have been the Plaza?

joemasher
joemasher commented about Park Theatre on Mar 20, 2005 at 8:14 pm

The Park burned down in the 70’s and was demolished. A bank currently sits on the site. About six years ago, Clearview reopened the long-closed Caldwell Theatre down the street from the Park, which was turned into a 4-screen house when it was renovated. It originally closed in the late 50’s-early 60’s and was used for retail and as a factory before reopening.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Liberty Theatre on Mar 20, 2005 at 7:15 pm

I don’t believe the Liberty was ever 4-screens. It was a triplex, 2 down and 1 in the balcony, when it closed. In the commercial space on the second and third floors, a nightclub operated. One fateful night a fire broke out, and an employee had chained off some exit doors. Several people lost their lives, and the Liberty was damaged by smoke and water. The theater did not reopen afterward. It was gutted for retail, with the marquee still hanging about 5 years ago. On my last drive through Elizabeth, the building was still empty (about a year ago).

joemasher
joemasher commented about Elmora Theater on Mar 20, 2005 at 7:12 pm

It is currently a church. Before it closed as a theater, it was twinned, but apparently has been ‘un-twinned’ in its current role. Entrance is through a small shopping arcade that may have been at one time part of the lobby. The marquee still hangs outside.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Troy Hills Drive-In on Mar 3, 2005 at 6:38 pm

There is a K-Mart and Shop Rite on the site now…right near where Route 46 (then known as Rt. 6) and I-80 meet.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Movieland on Feb 19, 2005 at 6:34 pm

I am the General Manager of the Moss Family’s theater chain, Bow Tie Cinemas. We would love to see the picture—please e-mail it to me at Thanks!

joemasher
joemasher commented about Swap Shop Drive-In on Feb 17, 2005 at 7:49 am

At one time it boasted 14 screens…I think one of them blew down! One or two of the ‘screens’ are actually painted on the side of the flea market building. The theatre lost its signature neon Thunderbird logo some time ago from the back of its original screen.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Bow-Tie Madison Cinema 4 on Feb 17, 2005 at 7:47 am

The marquee on the Madison is not the original. The theatre features two stadium-style auditoriums, created from the original stadium area in the back of the house. The stage is still intact.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Ventnor Square Theatre on Feb 10, 2005 at 9:05 am

The Margate Twin was demolished. Condos are now on the site. The Ventnor is apparently owned by the Frank Theatre family, whose office is at the Towne 16 in Pleasantville, NJ. Their website is www.franktheatre.com (no ’s' at the end of ‘theatre’)

joemasher
joemasher commented about Ventnor Square Theatre on Feb 9, 2005 at 8:49 pm

The Ventor closed at the end of 2004, once again, and remains so.

joemasher
joemasher commented about AMC Kips Bay 15 on Feb 8, 2005 at 8:45 am

I was the Managing Director who opened this theatre—it’s a great neighborhood theatre spanning two city blocks! Theatre 10 boasts the largest screen (non-IMAX) in Manhattan – 68', and 676 seats in that house!

joemasher
joemasher commented about Maveli Twin Cinema 59 on Feb 6, 2005 at 10:17 pm

UA ran this theatre, as the Cinema 59 Twin. After they abandoned it in the late 80’s-early 90’s, the operator of the nearby Lafayette (Venturini) took it over and ran it as a second run. After not meeting with much success, it became a Bollywood house, which it remains to this day.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Movies 5 Nanuet on Feb 6, 2005 at 10:15 pm

The theatre featured five screens—two seated 500 each. It was actually quite a large plex. When Loews took over Cineplex Odeon, they turned the Movies 5 Nanuet into an art house. When the lease ran out, the place closed and was gutted.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Nanuet Mall Cinema on Feb 6, 2005 at 10:14 pm

This was part of the CinemaNational/USA Cinemas Chain. It opened and closed as a single screen. If you go around the back of the mall, you can make out the shape of the theatre.

joemasher
joemasher commented about UA Route 59 Theatre on Feb 6, 2005 at 7:24 am

I believe this theatre is now an outlet for Off Track Betting. The lobby has been separated from the theatre, and one must drive around back to enter the OTB Parlor. When this was closed by UA, they renamed their twin up the street in the Kennedy Mall Plaza to “Cinema 59 Twin”.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Criterion Theatre on Feb 5, 2005 at 12:57 pm

The Roundabout/Criterion Center/Stage Right-Stage Left was originally the International Casino on the second floor of the building. The theater auditorium was separate. The Bond 45 Restaurant has opened, and the food and decor are fabulous. The restaurant is situated where the front of the orchestra and stage of the Criterion were located. The entire building is now known as the Bow Tie Building, since it is situated in the Bow Tie of Times Square.

joemasher
joemasher commented about AMC Danbury 16 + IMAX on Feb 3, 2005 at 9:46 am

It has been announced that six more screens will be added to this theatre, as well as stadium seating in the original 10.

joemasher
joemasher commented about Tilton Square Theatre on Feb 3, 2005 at 9:45 am

Also, there are some great photos on their website – www.tilton9.com The original signage is still in place and in use!

joemasher
joemasher commented about Tilton Square Theatre on Feb 3, 2005 at 9:41 am

In my visit to the Titon, I found the auditoriums to be quite large, actually. The original house (single) was twinned, and the rest of the auditoriums are subsequent additions over time. Excellent concession stand.