I Love You, Man. Monsters vs Aliens. X-Men Origins: Wolverine. All movies I want to see. All movies I want to see in Newark.
This is my plea to anyone with an extra couple million dollars laying around. Please wrestle control of the Paramount Theater on Market Street from whomever has it, and bring it back to what it should be, a thriving movie theater, not a “thug wear” clothing store.
From theater to thug wear...
Downtown Newark could use a movie theater, maybe now more than ever (easier said than done, I know). Everyone wants an escape from hard economic times, and movies provide that. Dropping $8 to see a one-eyed CGI blob crack jokes for 90 minutes, or an angry Hugh Jackman slash and claw his way through hordes of bad guys is just the kind of escape we all could use.
The Paramount used to be a movie theater, and before that, a stage theater, so the history is there. Owners closed its doors on April Fool’s Day, 1986, due to “skyrocketing liability insurance costs.“
With the area starting to generate a buzz, slowly but surely shedding its stigma of ill-repute, it only makes sense to try and expand the entertainment sector of Newark. So all you mega-millionaires looking to spend all that money of yours collecting dust under the mattress, please bring movies back to Market Street! And then toss me a couple thousand for giving you the idea… Hell, I’ll even be the ticket taker if I get first dibs on every Samuel L. Jackson poster.
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Damn it, Quade! I was just going to post about this, but from another angle. Was visiting Newark Screens at Springfield & Bergen. Not a bad theater; currently showing Freiday 13th, Hotel for Dogs, Knowing, Last House on the Left, Race to Witch Mountain, Watchmen, and Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail. Call 973-642-5555. Plenty of parking on site and served by 70 bus line on Springfield Avenue.
What I want to know is where are the independent movie theaters? Why isn’t there a little art house cinema in downtown? And, yes, of course, why isn’t there a giant multi-screen dodecaplex as well? Newarkers don’t want to trudge out to the burbs to see their favorite action picks or their foreign-language Oscar-nominated chi-chi, fou-fou pictures either. Believe me. The problem out here in the burbs is that there is nowhere to go AFTER the movie to have a drink or a coffee and TALK about the movie. Sheesh!
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:41 pm
My mom told me when she came to NJ in the 1950’s people would go downtown Newark for entertainment you had all types of jazz clubs, live shows restaurants etc.. Now we have NJPAC, The Prudential Center, art galleries and tons of new restaurants. Next up a movie theater for downtown Newark. I second that!
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Lets get this City back to it’s Glory Days. I would love to shop in a city without crossing the river.
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:01 pm
This town is trying to reshape its image with new and interesting place to see. Adding new buildings and venue’s is a great way to do this. Nothing would be a better shot in the arm for this town, then to renew an old landmark. Great article for these changing times
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:36 pm
If insurance costs were the culprit, someone convince Prudential to lend a hand on affordable plans ti unsure the place. It would only help improve property value in the area if that old theater was back to business.
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Suburbanista there are plenty of places to go to get coffee or a drink look around. Irondbound has all that and much more.
It would be great to see the movie theater come back to life (AMC needs to get in on this action!), maybe some jazz clubs, and some Improve Comedy Club. I would even go for a Dave and Buster’s! I would love Market and Broad turn into a Shopping District anything from Old Navy all the way up to Louis Vuitton. I have been here all my life and slowly i finally am seeing a big change happening and a small buzz going around in Newark. Hopefully this is the first signs of change.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Not sure how a D&B would go over in Newark with one being so close by in Midtown, but an arcade of some sort could go a long way here. A good comedy club would be amazing.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Quade, if I ever become rich after I open up my own bakery (called “Brookies”- coming soon to an area in NYC!!)- then i’ll invest in re-opening the Paramount so we could all enjoy movies there- and i could sell my cookies there too!!
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
No No No…guys are all wrong. To make downtown the place to be, you need a movie theater, great stores to shop, an H&M or Uniglo…I would love to have a Urban Outfitters but Newark isn’t ready for that. Then a great family friendly place to eat…a TGIF, Cosio or maybe an Ruby Tuesday..what about that guys??
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I love all these ideas, why should the nearest D&B be in NY? I went there and drinks were just way too expensive, not to mention Times Square traffic. No fair to use Jerseyans to have to travel to NY or Philly to partake in it. I love arcades. I also would love a Ruby Tuesdays/H&M/ all that!
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Stacey, I’m with you on the family-friendly eateries. What’s Cosio? Never heard of it.
And when I talk about arcades and comedy clubs, I’m really just being selfish, because I would definitely spend my lunch breaks wasting money on Skeeball (a Jersey original) and whatnot. Sitting on those benches just isn’t gonna cut it!
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Wow, what a terrific idea!
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Sorry Quade, I spelled that wrong..It’s Cosi a franchise that has awesome food, great salads and flat breads cook with an open flame stove..Basically Subway upgraded..lol
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Everyone’s suggestions here are great, and it would be great if Newark turned into a sort of hybrid between Hoboken and New York City. The thing that gets me here is that sign though… Does it really say Flavor Thug Wear? My god… no wonder Newark has a bad rap.
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Here’s a link from NJ.com where the owner of the Paramount speaks. He tells us that he is interested in turning the theater into an entertainment complex.
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2009/03/newark_officials_trying_to_upd.html
Copy and paste, I guess.
For anybody who’s interested, we have a thread going on at njdevs.com, a New Jersey Devils fan forum, about the Revitalization of Newark.
http://www.njdevs.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=35203&st=500&#entry728188
March 23rd, 2009 at 8:11 pm
woo hoo, on dave & buster’s. and say, jersey city managed to relaunch the loewes theater on journal square, so it can be done!
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I’ve walked and driven by this place dozens (if not hundreds) of times and still love it. It has SO much potential. I’d love a movie theatre I could walk to. Maybe it could be a combo art house & mainstream films.
March 24th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Stacey, Still never heard of Cosi, but I can do $5 footlongs all day, so if it’s an upgrade of that, I’m down for it.
March 24th, 2009 at 10:57 am
The Paramount at its current state is too small for a high-end cinema. Maybe it can turn into a jazz or comedy club or a small theatre showing independent films(non porn of course, unlike Cameo and Little Theatres lol).
And you’re not getting a Dave and Busters or ESPN Zone. You’ll get a Wal-Mart or Chevy’s before you get that.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:48 am
2000 seats is hardly a small theater. Restoring old theaters has been successfully accomplished in other cities. Count Basie in Red Bank, Paramount in Asbury Park, State Theater in Easton PA, but the cost is extremely high. ($8 million for the Count Basie for example) All those buildings are designated historic landmarks and are run by non-profit organizations. I doubt the owner of the Newark Paramount is going to try to do anything with that old gem. If he couldn’t afford the insurance back in ‘86, he’s not going to invest in a restoration project now. Would be nice though, the theaters I mentioned are absolutely gorgeous!
March 24th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
I remember the RKO PROCTOR theater further up Market St. across from Rite-Aid. The ADAMS and the BRANFORD theatres were on Branford Pl. near Broad St. The BRANFORD had an alleyway entrance connecting to Market St. too. You can still see part of the marquis of both the ADAMS and RKO. Any info on the viability of these former movie palaces?
Oh yes, the best of the bunch was the LOEWS theater on Broad St. near the former Hahne’s store. “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”
March 24th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Great to see the excitment about the former old theaters in Newark. Certainly the Paramount marquis stands out–it’s amazing it has survived to this day.
There are several challenges:
1) The business model for traditional movie theaters is dying. The best of multiplexes around the country are suffering. Newark’s own multiplex in the Ironbound closed some time ago. The City-owned Newark Screens on Bergen Street is slated for a complete revamp to transform it into a dining/entertainment/cinema experience–I hope it works.
2) Too many theaters. In actuality, every city–small, medium, big–had vaudeville theaters in the early 20th century. The costs to keep these up or restore are enormous. I think Newark is unique for the sheer number of old theaters in close proximity to each other–if you walk around Newark’s downtown area and look up, you’ll see vestiges of old houses–arched windows, and antiquated fireescapes from upper balconies.
3) My favorite old theater is the largest–the old Mosque–now known has Newark Symphony Hall. I took a tour of that place–there are more performances spaces, halls, classrooms, and theaters than you shake a stick at. You all have got to visit it. The main hall (Sarah Vaughan Hall) and the large Terrace Ballroom are still in operation. It could use a new marquis–hey, why not transport the historic Paramount marquis to Newark Symphony Hall. Wouldn’t that be something? Recycling at its best.
March 24th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
I agree, it would be great to have a movie theatre in Newark. I’d love to see an independent theatre, with all the foriegn and independent films. Save the Arts!! We’d visit, have a great dinner. Let’s all try and bring back the Paramount!! Yea, Newark!!!
March 25th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
It used to mean something to go to the movies. They were big and powerful and so were the theatres. Let’s not let these grand palaces of motion pictures go the way of the drive-in! How about Citizen Kane at the Paramount!!
March 25th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
IronboundA,
You mis-read my post. I’m saying there is no where to have coffee/drinks IN THE ‘BURBS after a movie. Everything closes down early. The entire point of my post is that I would love to see a movie in Newark where there are places to GO AFTER THE MOVIE TO CHAT ABOUT IT. Please re-read my original post.
The Paramount could work very nicely for a Clearview Cinema. This chain shows indepedent and alternative films as well as some big studio releases. Clearview already has a presence in the area in Montclair, South Orange and Millburn — so it wouldn’t be a stretch for them to locate in downtown Newark. Maybe someone from Clearview should take a look at this thread and see what pent up demand there is!
April 12th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
saw an article on this in the ledger the other day… u must be a psychic… or they just stole your idea lol…
April 19th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Some one sent me this web site and I must admit that it is well done. At least on face value. But my question is, where are you people from? If some one has 2 million dollars, how about putting it into a job program or helping people read or eat? This discussion of this movie theater is silly, ill informed and obviously elitist in its groundings.
You discuss Newark as if you are observing a social experiment…………For those of us here down on the ground,
this is disturbing and typical of the new group of people who have come into this city to slum.
The prudential center is nice, but for many of us here, it is a place for outsiders.
But my last question is, how many of you would come into Newark– or came into Newark before the enhanced police presence that you see at the prudential center? And how many police officers would you need to be able to feel safe at that movie theater if it is opened. Thug wear at the movie theater…….whew
Thug wear is being held down by kids from the suburbs as usual. You just buy this at the mall instead of a converted movie theater……………..
Underground movies, jazz clubs…..why don’t you just go to the village where for generations others have gone.
To listen to jazz, be trendy, and to feel connected to the downtrodden; through the appropriation of their pain.
Please lets stop making spirit necklaces from vanquished people’s magic.
IN closing there is a word for this
gentrification…………….
April 20th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Dear Senzala,
I would like to help answer the pointed question you posed in your comment, “where are you people from?”.
Who are we? We are your neighbors, we are the people you walk past on Broad and Market, some of us have lived in Newark all our lives, while others just work here or come into Newark to experience the food, culture and unique festivities at events.
We care about promoting and talking about places and issues that are overlooked by mainstream media. We want to support, promote, and sometimes when necessary, like a loving mother, scold small business because without them the city would crumble. We want them to succeed. All of them.
We believe Newark is more than just the sum of all the negatives you so eloquently pointed out in your comment.
Oh and those outsiders??? Those outsiders spend money in this city and that money turns into tax dollars which turns into city programs that help people eat and read. Oh yeah, and it creates jobs.
Newark is in the eye of the beholder, and we’ll take our Newark and leave you to yours….
April 20th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Well said Editor…I think it’s the mindset of people like Senzala that would keep the city from reaching it’s potential. I live in the downtown area and I look like the “outsider” Senzala speaks of. Although, I live in the area to Senzala I am the “outsider”. I want Newark to do well because I don’t want my family who has moved out of the area to worry about me living in the area. I want it to be a safe place for everyone and a place where people from all over can come enjoy Newark. If Newark was a place with no police presence, no entertainment, and had a wall keeping “outsiders” out then what kind of place would Newark be?
April 21st, 2009 at 12:54 pm
First off i apoligize
if i sounded like i dont love newark or its people all of them. Having said that
thanks for publishing my post.
I wont keep this thread going because it will become tiresome
of this I am sure.
The negatives, this is just called realism.
This point about wanting the best for newark.
We all do I think
thats not the point,
you discuss newark as if it should be made in a image that supplies you with your own needs
and thats ok too
ask your self why the other movie theators failed and what we can do to make the next one work
these are not negatives but reality
this discussion is also going on in other places
as far as the outsider thing
i was not born and raised in newark either
i am a artist who came to newark for its realness, and close proximity to new york
I am also considered still a outsider by many
and i try never to lose sight of the fact.
newark is a city of people who are struggling
yes good people in most cases
but still struggling
i made the commment about 2 million dollars to feed folks because that what is real
people are starving here
if you walk on broad st you can see all of the stores that are closing
all of the people who are homeless
this is not a negative
but reality
i have personally been teaching students in and around newark for over 25 years
I lived in the neighborhood that was displaced by the prudential center
so please excuse my passion.
in fact my building is now being turned into the richardson building
their were alot of artist and outsiders in that building too
but i doubt that when it is finished that i will be able to afford it
who will live there
i am not player hating here
just asking
about what will be done for those less fortunate
do you know what i am saying here
in closing what i am asking is
who are you building these things up for
progress is good
but newark has already lost many of its artist and muscicians who have been forced out
by the new breed of trendy art folks
and honestly
even with entertainment in mind
would you even sit in a movie theater
with those “thugs”
(and that is not my word but yours)
who store you seek to improve upon
as far as restoring business and the like and then creating jobs, that can happen
i hope it happens
but in most cases it becomes the trinkle down theory
thanks for posting my ideas
i do not seek to insult anyone,
i just ask when all of the new plans are made, that you just dont forget the people of newark, those who were here before us all
so far they have been excluded in many cases
artist, writers and the like are screaming and have been for over ten years
and dont let me put a damper on any thing
it takes all ways to change things
this is just my own concern
people like me will try to see that when these changes come that they will benifit all of newark
not just a select few seeking to expand
their cultural horizens
thanks again for the post
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
“Hooray for Hollywood! Dee dah dah deedy dah! as the old Broad way show tune says. Yes reconverting the old Paramount/RKO/ and Adams theaters are great ideas,unfortunately that is all they will or can be,(ideas), because the present owners(Paramount in particular) have other uses in mind and ones that will past muster with their real estate Bankers. Although Morris the owner of the Paramount is not opposed and would like to provide rental space for some form of family oriented entertainment that would co exist with the street level retail anchor at the base of his proposed Hotel project. Furthermore, the people in charge of site location for movie theaters, Barnes &Nobles and other mainstream retailers and restaurants(Dave&Busters/TGI FRI) still view Newark as in hospitable and income deficient for their operations (they are wrong!)I could delve into a solutions oriented polemic based on my knowledge and expertise in urban economic development and the purchasing dynamics of inner -city households,but this forum is not suitable for such a discussion. Here’s the “skinny Jack Benny” (for those of yo 30 and younger this means the 411) modern movie complexes and national retailers require a certain size foot print (lease space) that is economically feasible to undertake the project,They also require a certain disposable /median income as defined by the U.S, Census the one cited for Newark is deemed to low. A more nuanced yet ingrained problem is that the analysis is far to often viewed through the subjective lens of race and class (ie, middle class “white people” are the right people” lol) that skews in favor of a demographic population that is still a minority in Newark. Nor do they factor in the 20,000 office workers, 40,000 students, 50,000 commuters arriving/departing from Penn Station. The Paramount is within the Downtown Core Arena District that is zoned for entertainment use,unfortunately the use of
Eminent Domain can not be applied to the cluster of propertied that demarcated Broad &Market streets from Mulberry to Broad, thus the space needed to provide large retail/entertainment footprints that could accommodate a Loews/Regal/AMC anchored mix -use complex(the type of uses that should and must be in the arena district if it is optimize is presence and provide vibrant entertainment leisure experience for residents and visitors(jobs ,ratables,etc), thus no real pressure can be applied against the “legacy owners of the mid block and corner parcels that currently house urban apparel(”hip hop” street wear) and other merchandise that is targeted and purchased by low to moderate income Newarkers. For those of you(suburbanista) who want(me too) an Art/house/ Indy Theatre the Little Theatre loctated in the Washington Park/NJPAC area is available along with a full service restaurant Broadway Diner) for a mere $5million I mentioned this to Larry Goldman(NJPAC CEO)a two years ago and he sent some one to look at it
being that they don’t have a theatre that’d dedicated to this art form (film). Finally in defense of senzala, much of what he stated is correct there is a dichotomous and experiential perception of Newark depending on what side of the socio-economic racial you stem from and belong to. An the agendas often do not mesh. This divide is ingrained in the social reality and psychic real of Americans of all colors and incomes.
But it is not amendable of irrevocable we just have to find the common ground. Comming Soon a Theatre near us in downtown Newark,
Hopefully soon!
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Regarding the above ,Please for give me for the typos and sloppy proof reading/editing.
Sincerely
The GURU.
October 19th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Great discussion. It’s probably best to develop the entire block as a whole if possible, as opposed to piece-meal development. I think it’s an ideal site for a premiere comedy club, such as Caroline’s in NYC.
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January 25th, 2010 at 11:26 pm
I could give many kudos for the site as well but I have many problems.
There are two movie theaters in Newark. The Multiplex, down neck by the highway and Newark Screens, formerly Loews, formerly AMC. I want to piggyback on what Urbanguru already said but say it in maybe a more blunt way
Here’s the problem with people who are not of Newark who come to it with gentrification in mind:
You don’t know the city nor its people, outside of the soundbites you get while speeding through or the few years you get on campus at Rutgers or NJIT.
There’s plenty of culture, plenty of shopping, plenty of entertainment and even more in recent times, plenty of somewhat diversity, etc and has been for quite some time. The issue is this: Newark is a city for its current people…. NOT the people who come to it, nor the people who want to be attracted to it. The people who are in Newark maybe except the Ironbound (down neck, as we Newarkers call it) like it just fine with perhaps a bit of cleaning. The stores and shops that exist there are exactly what caters to the people who frequent them. Don’t like the urban-wear stores? tough. Leave. Where do you expect those people to go, then, once Louis Vuitton comes as one replier suggested? There is a dominant population in and around Newark that is served by the things that exist there. We like our halal food joints and bean pies and kufis and hearing the call to worship on fridays and our house music and beauty supply stores and so on. They serve us. The minute a Louis Vuitton would be on Broad and Market would be the minute not a single black face would be seen in the city except hired help or those who make at least 6 figure salaries.
Honestly speaking, I/we couldn’t give a crap less what Devils Fans want, and feel it’s a huge hassle that they even come to the city at all. WE do not frequent the games. It’s a logistical nightmare and rocks the entire area to its core. Have you any idea how much historical, thriving area of the city was DESTROYED to even make that stupid arena (including historic Mulberry Market)?! It and the Riverfront Stadium were some of the worst ideas ever! Jobs and whole businesses and ways of life, old things that we loved that were fixtures of the city, old restaurants and clubs and all this culture that people claim the area needs so bad, were uprooted, bought out, knocked down and the like all in the name of that ugly monster gentrification.
I am all for helping the city and upgrading it in some sorts. I am all for improvements but let’s really examine our way of thinking here. And I don’t want to hear from people (mostly, if not only white) who want to talk about Newark’s glory days which generally point to the days before there was much of a Black/Latino population (and trust me, I’m not just going by word of mouth and ignorant negro urban legend… I’ve done theses of my own on the city and my family has been in Newark since the 40s during the 2nd Great Migration so I know what I’m talking about). With the discussion going the way it’s going at this point, riddle me this: what do you think the people who already frequent those areas and already live in those areas and always have will have to say about your so-called desires and improvements? Realize what you’re saying! You’re speaking as though the place is a void. But it’s full. It’s just not for certain people. Unfortunate/inconvenient for them, but true. The country/world is not going to look like a suburb or college campus. Our way of life, some improvements notwithstanding, is just as acceptable as anyone else’s.
If you want to direct millions to some improvements I can think of a laundry list that would be more effective than most things mentioned so far. (although I realize now that you most likely won’t even post this)
March 11th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
I read the article about the current owners trying to get this place back open except they needed the financial help. Little do people know that place is worth millions.. And probably a land mark. Maybe we should try to make it declared such or even do a fundraiser to get some money to help getting rid of the little hood shops that aren’t doing anything positive for the community.