Director's Chair Cinema

Although the title suggests an art house, it seems the last few years B action movies played here.

I was the original manager for the small, single screen theater. I think it only sat about 300 people comfortably (about the size of the Greenwood in Trenton, NJ. It had Cinemamechanica projectors and automation in the booth with 6000 and 9000 foot free wheeling reels. It was owned by the Tommaro Brothers, produce and fruit distributors in Hamilton, NJ, and directed by Tony Tommaro. I do not believe it ever became a money maker. It was originally going to be a part of the Jerry Lewis Theater Chain but that organization went bankrupt.

In June of 1973, the Brookwood Plaza Shopping Center was getting a Jerry Lewis Cinema. By the time this theatre opened, the Lewis Circuit had folded. The 350-seat automated theatre launched April 3, 1974 with “American Graffiti.” The center housing the cinema became the Brook Plaza Shopping Mall. The Director yelled cut closing on February 18, 1982 with “Cinderella.” The theatre was one of two Director Chairs location and this one remained a single screener. It was renamed the Playhouse and staged live plays in 1982.