Sign in front of building is advertising retail space. Looks like the building owners are converting the space to retail as was the case with the Strand Theater in Summit.
Well Cinema lab was able to rescue the movies at SOPAC and will be renovating the Maplewood Theater, so it's a shame to see another good movie theater so close by being turned into something else. There's a gorgeous-looking theater right next to Madison station too that's been closed for years, I'd love for someone to make that a viable concern.
Madison’s theater is a large excavated hole in the ground. Sorry. No more Madison Theater, either. And the little Chatham Cinema is no longer, either. That ran mostly art-ish films. Sad community losses.
Madison’s theater is a large excavated hole in the ground. Sorry. No more Madison Theater, either. And the little Chatham Cinema is no longer, either. That ran mostly art-ish films. Sad community losses.
I wouldn't be surprised if Maplewood Theater goes next. More pandemic fall out for local business from the fake political science in town. I real shame. Sad news.
I wouldn't be surprised if Maplewood Theater goes next. More pandemic fall out for local business from the fake political science in town. I real shame. Sad news.
even a troll should be able to read the previous comments.
First, Bellevue Theatre in Montclair, now Millburn, soon Maplewood Theatre, then SOPAC. Maybe SOPAC will survive a little longer, but I wouldn't count on it. And the businesses keep on vanishing. Where's Kings?
First, Bellevue Theatre in Montclair, now Millburn, soon Maplewood Theatre, then SOPAC. Maybe SOPAC will survive a little longer, but I wouldn't count on it. And the businesses keep on vanishing. Where's Kings?
I find your insight wonderfully refreshing and you are a valuable addition to our online community.
I'm sorry movie theaters are in decline generally but I won't miss the Millburn theater, which I haven't gone to in many years. Bad experiences in a place that has been cut up little boxes for a long time.
Bow Tie operated the theaters in both South Orange and Milburn, and they never seemed to do anything but play the exact same movies in both places. Once the movie theater opened up at sopac I don't think I went to Millburn more than once or twice. They didn't even seem to try to alternate the showtimes to try and make it more convenient for their customers.
I love going out to the movies, and I am glad that people are investing in keeping movie theaters open. I was very sorry to hear the Maplewood theater was closing, because I loved being able to see some lesser-known movies there. I hope the new owners adopt a business model that allows that, and that it's well-publicized so they get good audiences.
I'm sorry movie theaters are in decline generally but I won't miss the Millburn theater, which I haven't gone to in many years. Bad experiences in a place that has been cut up little boxes for a long time.
I grew up in Millburn… class of ‘60. My first memories of the theater, I was probably 6 or 7… and the Saturday matinees.
For 25 cents, you got 10.cartoon, a serial episode and two features (3rd or 4th run westerns, Tarzan or whatever.
ya got to run up and down the aisles, hoot and yell snd cheer and go home at 5:00 with the biggest sugar high that you didn’t eat supper.
later, in high school, I was hired as an usher in the Millburn. Cheap pay, all the popcorn you wanted and you and your date got in free on Saturday night.
First, Bellevue Theatre in Montclair, now Millburn, soon Maplewood Theatre, then SOPAC. Maybe SOPAC will survive a little longer, but I wouldn't count on it. And the businesses keep on vanishing. Where's Kings?
Bellevue is opening up soon.
Maplewood theatre was closed due to the pandemic. It’s been dying a slow death for years prior. Also the manager passed away earlier this year. Who knows what will happen next? It was closed in the late 80’s for a couple of years also. Millburn I won’t miss. When did you move to maplewood? Last month?
I would argue the theater wasn't dying a slow death, as you say, because it had become a local spot for smaller-release and foreign films. But it was a fantasy of mine that if I ever won the lottery I'd invest in fixing the place up a bit.
Millburn didn't seem to do anything to differentiate itself. With a multiplex ten minutes away in Mountainside, and another in Essex Green (with the dining experience) it faced an uphill battle.
I'm sorry movie theaters are in decline generally but I won't miss the Millburn theater, which I haven't gone to in many years. Bad experiences in a place that has been cut up little boxes for a long time.
I grew up in Millburn… class of ‘60. My first memories of the theater, I was probably 6 or 7… and the Saturday matinees.
For 25 cents, you got 10.cartoon, a serial episode and two features (3rd or 4th run westerns, Tarzan or whatever.
ya got to run up and down the aisles, hoot and yell snd cheer and go home at 5:00 with the biggest sugar high that you didn’t eat supper.
later, in high school, I was hired as an usher in the Millburn. Cheap pay, all the popcorn you wanted and you and your date got in free on Saturday night.
.
You need to share whatever it is you eat and drink because we all want to live to be 115!
I'm 79 next week. My genes are good. My father lived to 84, smoking 3 packs of unfiltered Luckies a day. Mom lived to 98.
-- and I've never spent a day or night looking at the ceiling of a hospital room.
Do you sleep on your stomach?
(I'm sorry ... it was right there).
I'm 54 and have a vague recollection of there being a cartoon before a feature film, but that wasn't common. No double features. The second-run theater was $2.
I would argue the theater wasn't dying a slow death, as you say, because it had become a local spot for smaller-release and foreign films. But it was a fantasy of mine that if I ever won the lottery I'd invest in fixing the place up a bit.
Millburn didn't seem to do anything to differentiate itself. With a multiplex ten minutes away in Mountainside, and another in Essex Green (with the dining experience) it faced an uphill battle.
Yes sadly Dan passed away in February. We had the repast at les saisons. My son was the person who worked the projectors since he was in Columbia. It was the owners of the theatre who didn’t want to upgrade. Dan and Susan had no choice.
Maplewood theatre was closed due to the pandemic. It’s been dying a slow death for years prior. Also the manager passed away earlier this year. Who knows what will happen next? It was closed in the late 80’s for a couple of years also. Millburn I won’t miss. When did you move to maplewood? Last month?
Maplewood's theater is going to reopen. Cinema Lab has acquired the space.
Maplewood's theater is going to reopen. Cinema Lab has acquired the space.
Yes I heard that. It’s such an important part of maplewood. The previous owners really didn’t care too much for anything else except money. These historic movie theaters should be preserved. Montclair is doing a great job in that sense.
Maplewood's theater is going to reopen. Cinema Lab has acquired the space.
Yes I heard that. It’s such an important part of maplewood. The previous owners really didn’t care too much for anything else except money. These historic movie theaters should be preserved. Montclair is doing a great job in that sense.
If you want CinemaLab to reopen Maplewood, as they plan to, I strongly suggest watching movies at SOPAC until then, so that the fledgling company succeeds.
If you want CinemaLab to reopen Maplewood, as they plan to, I strongly suggest watching movies at SOPAC until then, so that the fledgling company succeeds.
Agree. M/SO never supported the Maplewood theater the way Montclair supports its theater. I hope this will change.
Isn't SOPAC a partnership between South Orange and Seton Hall? I don't think SOPAC will close (in general) unless S.O. decides to close it.
The performing arts center is run by SO with involvement by Seton Hall. The movie theater operation on the first floor is run by a different entity.
It is even messier than that. SOPAC is run by a nonprofit, which leases out the movie theaters, I believe. But due to decisions made a couple of decades ago, the village built before the non-profit was in place or fundraising seriously, and ended up holding the construction bonds. So the facility, as valuable as it is to the community, is taxpayer guaranteed, but needs a healthy non-profit and a healthy theater leasee to keep the subsidy modest. Seton Hall donated a million or so to improve the theater facilities, in return for the right to use for some time each year, but has no ongoing obligation. Hoping I got the details right!
Sign in front of building is advertising retail space. Looks like the building owners are converting the space to retail as was the case with the Strand Theater in Summit.