Cinema 9
960 Route 9,
Sayreville,
NJ
08879
960 Route 9,
Sayreville,
NJ
08879
2 people
favorited this theater
The Cinema 9 was opened July 25, 1973 with Roger Moore in “Live and Let Die”. This strip mall theatre located on Route 9 was operated by Brandt Theaters in the mid-1970’s. It was closed in 1981, but after a year it reopened briefly in 1982 only to close on August 3, 1982 with William Shatner in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”. Two weeks later it reopened as an adult movie theatre. It became one of the last pornographic theatres still open in New Jersey until it closed in 2003.
Contributed by
Robert R
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Recent comments (view all 26 comments)
Listed as a Brandt Theater in the 1976 International Motion Picture Almanac.
Here is a myspace page for the bar. It looks like they have comedy, billiards and mechanical bull riding as well.
http://tinyurl.com/cf6fg4
More’s the pity.
Here is a January 2009 follow-up to the September 06 story. Click on the interior photo for a better view.
http://tinyurl.com/cyd49t
Okay. I guess it’s time for me to admit to myself the movie theater will not return.
I can’t recall what the last movie I did see at Cinema 9 was. However, I remember the “Gone With The Wind” reissue in the 70’s. Warm feelings of showmanship remain such as watching the curtain close as the title card “Intermission” and the outgoing music appeared. My mom wouldn’t buy me more popcorn at intermission because of the prices. Good thing she doesn’t take me to the movies today.
Watching a midnight viewing of “Tommy” and falling asleep thanks to the pre movie beverages and other assorted chemicals consumed. I have since remained awake till the credits.
Or unable to see a Disney movie because the theater’s policy after 7 pm was that children 15 and under had to have and adult accompany them.
Looking out the car window at the marquee and wishing I can see the Rated R movies playing there. For example “Lenny”. Eventually I did see my first rated R movie at Cinema 9. The night before I was confirmed. “Saturday Night Fever”. That movie taught me words I didn’t know existed! Hey, might as well get my last sins in before the confirmation.
I have some more memories that are best saved for myself. For some reason I dreamed of this theater last night and wanted to share.
Side note, the Sayrewoods Theater (Country Buffet now closed stands in it’s spot) did play legit films occasionally.
Anthony
Ah Lost Memory, that photo brings back memories. To clarify a few things to the above posts. Having worked here as one of the union projectionists from 1985 to 89 (as well as the Sayrewoods 80 to 89 and Amboys 85-05), I can tell you that Sayrewoods was all porn from 1973 on. This Cinema 9 theatre was porn from 1981 on. The Sayrewoods closed in 91 for the big highway reconstruction project. As for the Madison Twin Cinema, it opened in 1961 and was twinned in 75. It remained open till late 84 or early 85. All these theatre have listings here on CT.
I lived nearby in Madison Park and went to many movies there in the 70s/early 80s including some of the x rated variety. I remember seeing “Squirm” a movie about giant snakes terrorizing the people, and walking home through the woods getting terrorized a bit by some Sayreville punks.
Cinema 9 is a common name, There one in Rock Forest and Gatineau, both in Quebec and both with nine screens.
This opened on July 25th, 1973. Grand opening ad in the photo section. It opened with “Live and Let Die”
The Cinema 9 first started life as a first-run mainstream theater until 1981 when the theater went dark for more than a year.
The Cinema 9 relaunched again back as a mainstream theater the following year but only for a very short stint before briefly closing again after its August 3, 1982 showing of “Star Trek II”. The Cinema 9 reopened as a X-rated house two weeks later.