Morristown Triplex Cinema
23 Washington Street,
Morristown,
NJ
07960
23 Washington Street,
Morristown,
NJ
07960
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing 16 comments
The triplex actually closed on September 2, 1986 with “Born American”, “Bullies”, and “Mona Lisa”, and the theater went on-sale. This left the Community Theatre the only movie theater in Morristown until the opening of the 10-screen AMC nearby.
I saw the very strange Eraserhead here in the late 1970’s. I seem to recall that the theater had two balconies, one over the other, the top one being very steep. Not a very good environment for someone with a problem with heights.
2 screens December 21st, 1978 and the 3rd screen by the end of 1978. Tiny grand opening ad in the photo section.
I can’t be certain, but I am ALMOST 100% sure that my wife and I saw the 1985 version of Godzilla at the Morristown Triplex (well, that’s what we always called it). So I can say that it was most likely still in operation in 1985. I used to save movie ticked stubs, but can’t remember where I used to stash them – if I can find the Godzilla stub I’ll know for sure.
I remember years ago going to an area theater where they put a dividing wall down the middle to create two theaters. Me thinks it was the Jersey Theater. The seats toward the inner side of either theater ended up facing a corner of the dividing wall, and you had to turn your neck somewhat to view the movie. I do now remember the 3rd theater which was origionaly the balcony. It was steep, wide, and not very deep.
Historic references to the Jersey Theatre are few, but I found a few that reveal that the house was operating as a legitimate theater during at least part of 1946. An item in a 1946 issue of Fire Engineering mentions an incident in which a production of W. Somerset Maugham’s play The Circle was interrupted when a faulty sprinkler system soaked the cast on stage and in the dressing rooms.
A June 8, 1946, item in The Billboard said that a production of Androcles and the Lion had abruptly been canceled and the house closed on May 18, leading to a fracas with Actor’s Equity about unpaid wages.
The September 30, 1926, issue of The Film Daily lists among theaters planned or under construction a house called the Jersey in Morristown which was expected to open in early October.
Wood theatres at one time had 6 theatres: Old Rahway (now Union County Performing Arts Center), Linden Twin (later 5), Lost Picture Show in Union, Strand in Summit, Verona Theatre and the Jersey (later Morristown Triplex). I worked at both Rahway and Linden many years ago.
Work as a part time manager for Wood Theaters. They owned theaters in Madison and some other towns. worked there while working at Bell Labs in Whippany. Also worked at AMC Rockaway Inside/Outside Cinemas.
The Jersey Theater was another victim of multiplex fever. The grand old theater was done an injustice when it was rebuilt as a triplex. As I recall one of its auditoriums had seats (possibly built over the cinema’s old balcony) situated on such a steep grade that you felt as if you were going to fall forward. You actually looked slightly downward toward the screen.
Unfortunately I do not recall ever seeing a production at the Jersey Theater before it was rebuilt as a multiplex cinema. Some of the films I saw there were THE ELEPHANT MAN, TERROR TRAIN and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. The last movie I enjoyed at the Jersey in the summer of 1982 was STAR TREK II.
Jumping ahead from summer 1982 to spring 1994. My minivan was at the Chrysler dealership for some warranty related work. The dealership was a few blocks down the road from Jersey Theater on South Street. Even though I had an appointment and the auto repair should have only taken an hour or so I quickly discerned that the cigar chomping shop manager was not going to grant my minivan priority treatment. Stranded in Morristown I wandered toward the Morristown Green (town square) and figured I would check out what was playing at the Jersey Theater. I was hoping that there might be a matinee.
Standing in front of the theater I noted that it had obviously been closed for some time. I later blundered into the Headquarters Mall and its cinemas, but by then my car was ready for pick up. Good-bye Jersey Theater.
1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/o34fmc
The Jersey sat vacant for many years. As kids in the 1950s, we used to prowl around the huge, dark theater, half scared to death. One time we met a derelict inside, but he didn’t harm us in any way and seemed to enjoy having some company.
I went to this theater for years in the seventies and early eighties. The last movie that I remember seeing there was Star Trek II which was 1982 but I think that it ran for a few years after that.
Also the Park was not demolished for a “freeway” but for an office building/hotel complex.
“Dad took me to my first R-rated film, NATIONAL LAMPOON’S ANIMAL HOUSE (which played forever at the Morristown Triplex)”
excerpt from http://s8.invisionfree.com/MHVF/ar/t4675.htm
So we have this theater still operating until at least 1978.
The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), April 18, 2000 p031
SCENE OF DESTRUCTION. (MORRIS)
Yesterday was demolition day for the old Morristown Triplex Cinema on Washington Street. Its razing makes way for a $15 million brick and stone apartment and retail building. Above, Bob Grecco, an employee of Royce Contractors, uses a grapple to separate debris. At right, a view of the building as it awaited demolition. Below, a $2 admission ticket sticks out from the rubble.
The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), March 16, 2000 p031
[0] REDUCED TO RUBBLE. (MORRIS)
Demolition workers raze two homes to clear another tract in preparation for Morristown Plaza, a six- to nine-story complex with 150 units and retail space on Washington Street and Cattano Avenue. Workers have already razed the former Elks Club building and have approval to take down the adjacent former Morristown Triplex Theater structure.
CAPTION(S):
PHOTO BY PHIL LANOUE
Listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s that I have from at least 1941 thru 1950 and beyond.