Amboy Multiplex Cinemas
US Highway 9 and State Route 35,
Sayreville,
NJ
08872
US Highway 9 and State Route 35,
Sayreville,
NJ
08872
15 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 228 comments
It was demolished in August 2023. I drove past there on the Parkway the other day (December 2023) and the building was gone. I wouldn’t be surprised, like most of Middlesex County, if apartments or condos are planned for the site.
I saw many, many movies there in the ‘80s and early '90s, until the Loews opened on Rt. 1 in New Brunswick in 1996.
The theater and physical location had a complicated history, but it now belongs to the ages.
Does anyone know what the final movies were playing when the theater closed?
Rumor is more retail. I say they put up a 3 screen drive in theatre.
Is anything planned to be built on this site?
rcampton yes Ed was Teds son. I remember Evelyn. I seem to remember a Charlie Ralston as a Division Manager.
Rcampton, yes I remember all of them. Mark P was someone who was there the whole time I was. And didn’t Evelyn work alot of the time with concessions?
Awalz266, it’s very possible i did hire you. Other managers were Mark P., Mike B., Evelyn S. do you remember any of them?
markp, i remember all of those guys too and most of them are gone now. wasn’t ed teddy’s son? i think the managing director in 1984 was either steve horton or tim ramps. do you remember either one of them? i was the house manager when tim was the MD.
rcampton, I started working the re as an usher about August 1984. Could be that you were the manager that hired me. Do you recall any other managers names at that time. I’ve seen alot of different managers during my time there too. Your name is familiar to me. It was alot of fun working those years there. Made alot of friends. Still run into some occasionally. Also met my wife while working there. Good to see people commenting on this. Too bad the theater is gone. Remember it from the time it was a drive in. Was working there when they did the extension on the end of the building. And if I recall, didn’t they split 2 theaters near the lobby to make 2 more. It really was good times there.
rcampton, I was one of the projectionists from 1984 till it closed in 2005. I remember Ted, Jimmy, Frank, Danny and Ed the other projectionists. I got in to the booth on one of the last days before it was demolished. Everything was gone. It was all pushed over into theatre 13. Office equipment, everything. All the theatres were full of water. The roof in 14 had holes in it and a tree was growing in there. It was sickening and sad at the same time. Im 64 years old now and realize I spent a third of my life there. Best of times for sure.
I was a manager at Amboy Multiplex from September 1982 until March of 1987. So sad to see this building being demolished. I have a lot of great memories from my time working there. If anyone here worked there during the same timeframe I’m sure we know each other and would love to hear from you.
Went to the theatre yesterday. Had a very weird experience. I was able to get in to video the projection room on my cell phone. Phone stopped recording twice, which it never did. Had 5 min to do it. Got back to the car and had 6 seconds of video, which looked like a white swoosh. Ghosts??? And as a 48 year projectionist veteran and having worked here for 21 years, I was sick to see all the projection equipment pushed thru holes cut in the walls by 5, 8 and 13. All trashed. Booth was completely stripped except for a few Mark 4 peg board automations.
Went by again today. One correction, the entire projection room was stripped. A worker told me it all went for scrap. Cinemas 1 thru 6 are gone. They are now up to the original 1979 build which housed the original 6 plex, later cinemas 7 thru 14.
Demolishon has begun as ofJune 26. Thus far cinema 1 and 2 are gone. Cinema 3 and 4 are close. Today they were scooping chairs out of Cinema 5 and 6. Projection equipment going down with the building.
A chronology of 70mm presentations in Northern New Jersey has been published. The Amboy Multiplex Cinemas is mentioned numerous in the article.
Drove by yesterday. Chute and dumpster are gone. All doors have been removed from the building. So strange to see the walls of the interior corridors leading to the theatres.
Well, drove by today and there are a few dumpsters in the parking lot with a shoot coming out of the second floor. Its being emptied out. Truely the end for this once great multiplex. Supposedly retail will be built. I still like my idea for a 3 screen drive in, but thats just me.
markp answered the question about the theaters to ridethectrain. As for the tickets, I worked as an usher. But I’m pretty sure all the National Amusements theaters changed their theaters to New ticket systems around the same time. I can remember the tickets, coming through that metal flap when they were purchased. I hope that gives you an idea about the machines. I also remember when they split the theaters. And the addition at the end of the left side of the building. That’s the left as being in the lobby and facing back wall behind concession stand. I saw a picture of one of the poster holders on the wall. They were to the left and right sides of the concession stands. I do still have the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade poster that was hanging in the theater lobby. I’ll post a pic of it later.
I was a projectionist here from 1984 till it closed in 2005. The original screen 3 and 4 (from the opening 6 plex) were split and became screen 11 and 12. There were 3 add ons. Screen 1 & 2 was added in 84. Screen 3 & 4 were added in 83. Screen 5 and 6 were added in 81. And the 11-12 split was also in 84. Dolby stereo CP-65 processors were in screen 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13 and 14. Screen 7 (original build 1) had 70mm.
On a seperate note, I had wished someone would have put a 3 screen drive in on the site. Dont know what else would work there. Oh well.
which screen were split in half how many add ons which had Dolby before NA added all around 2000 at awtz266. also when did they start using the pacer computer tickets after the old school tickets. Sunrise was in 1985
I used to work at Amboy Cinemas from 1984 to around 1991. I saw comments on the theater layout, and some questions about where things were around the building. Maybe I can provide info if anyone would like to know. I was there the time the melee happened too.
Looks like something is finally happening to the site. https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/middlesex-county/2022/10/03/sayreville-nj-amboy-cinemas-redevelopment/69524885007/#l8st3y4ogmhnu4fxsiv
Hey just saw a new video of the theater and actually shows a way into the building, unfortunately this also means that more unscrupulous people have found their way in and have added graffiti and possible further damage to the structure which is very disappointing, though not these guys in the videos. These two photographers did manage to do one thing that to my knowledge others have not and that it finding their way to the roof! I highly recommend you all check this video out! https://youtu.be/SD4F8tLIlQ8
markp, are you still interested in my personal ?
Excellent very much looking forward to speaking to you directly !