Willowbrook Cinema
1400 Willowbrook Mall,
Wayne,
NJ
07470
1400 Willowbrook Mall,
Wayne,
NJ
07470
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The Willowbrook Cinema was opened October 18, 1969 with Christopher Plummer in “Lock Up Your Daughters”. Located in the Willowbrook Mall, this was the first movie theatre to open inside the mall. It was rebuilt with 4-screens, opening on November 25, 1977. It was closed in 1984 and replaced by retail.
Contributed by
Justin Fencsak
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
When you go to the map, it shows the United States. My guess is because my Rand McNally lists no Willowbrook in New Jersey. I think Willowbrook Shopping Center is in Wayne, but I don’t know for sure, I’m 40 miles south of Chicago, what do you think?
It is in Wayne; Willowbrook is just the name of the mall the theater was in, and of a nearby road, on which is located the AMC Loew’s Wayne 14. The heading should be corrected.
The Little Cinema page should also be listed in Wayne. Its map link doesn’t work either.
I grew up in neighboring Verona, and I loved this cinema. It was mod-60s comfort and style with nice size. The area-exclusive run of HELLO DOLLY, mentioned in an above posting, was accompanied by a lavish display of costumes from the film all around the mall. The promotional posters and displays were everywhere in the then almost brand-new mall. It was thrilling for a kid with a growing interest in movies. The Willowbrook was different from the other cinema inside the mall, the Little, which was indeed showing porn films by the late 70s on at least one of their screens. It was also different than the better known RKO Theatre outside the mall which lasted longer. The Loewes multiuplex on the other side of the parking lot came much later (maybe the 80s) and has nothing to do with the three theatres (image that, three for 1 mall) in and around the mall dating from the mall’s construction in the 60s and expansion in the early 70s. The Willowbrook was packed for the Bond film “Diamonds are Forever” and later (in the twin phase) I remember lines deep into the mall for “Saturday Night Fever” in Dec. 1977. I’m sorry it was demolished, but I’m glad that it was spared becoming one of those theatres of ugly cut up boxes. It was wonderful as a single-screen, and at least acceptable as a twin. Does anyone remember any more? When did it close?
I first went to the Willbrook Mall in the summer of 1972. It was the first mall I had ever been to and I thought it a wonderful, magical place. Not long thereafter I went to see “The Posiedon Adventure” at the Willowbrook Cinema. It was a huge, beautiful theatre with a giant screen. I remember shrinking into my seat in awe as the tidal wave swept across the screen towards the ship. Incidentally, this was the first cinema I remmember being in where the seats rocked.
For some reason, although I went to Willowbrook Mall frequently, I think this was the only film I saw at the Willowbrook Cinema. I guess they rarely showed anything I wanted to see. I often went to the neighboring Little Cinema, however. Nevertheless, I was sad when it closed. I’d never get to sit in those rocking seats again!
I remember seeing “The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh” here in April 1979. I was 10 years old.
As manager I opened the Willowbrook Cinema in 1969 with 1000 seats. We (Spyro Lenas)later added the “Little Cinema” in a different location. We did show “I AM Curious Yellow” to a large turnout and some complaints. A better program was the reserved seating showing of “Hello Dolly” which was presented in 70mm. “Patton” was also presented in 70mm and stereo sound.
I left this theatre in 1971 and don’t believe it was ever operated by Loews Theatres. Lenas did sell the Anthony Wayne Drive-In Theatre(next door)to Loews which put a 6 plex on that site.
Ken Lehman, First Manager
Come next year, the movies will return to willowbrook with cinemark opening up a 12 plex where the Sears auto shop used to be.
This opened on October 18th, 1969. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
This was rebuilt with four screens on November 25th, 1977 and closed in 1984. It was operated by the Colonial Cinema Circuit and Devisser Theatres. Grand opening ad posted.