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Author
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Topic: What an incredible theatre!
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Bob Furmanek
Film Handler
Posts: 7
From: Clifton, NJ, USA
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted 05-07-2000 10:46 AM
Thanks for your comments Mark. The Vitaphone set-up is basically just for show. People are really amazed with it when we take them up to the booth on the tour. I'm not sure about the sound system. Everything in the booth (except for the Brenograph and lamphouses) are donated. They haven't started their fundraising campaign yet. I'm sure that when they do, someone will want to invest money to upgrade the sound system. It's still pretty cool to have a working Perspecta integrator! BTW, the theatre never had Dolby. It went 4-track mag in 1954, and then remained mono optical until it closed in 1986. I'm not certain what model the Kinetone projectors are. I can find out. Again, they were donated. The booth was converted to platters when it was triplexed in the early seventies, and all the modern equipment was removed when the theatre was closed. The clock tower is awesome, and I can't wait to see and hear it working again. Same with the Morton organ. It's such a joy to see a theatre like this come back to life. Most of these older palaces in the New York area have been demolished, are converted to other uses (mostly churches) or are deserted and crumbling. Most of them are in very bad areas as well. The Jersey is fortunate to be in a good area with ample parking, and lots of pedestrian traffic. It sits right across the street from a major transportation center. I got involved in the fight to save it about ten years ago. It came VERY close to demolition, and it was only after a major battle with one of New Jersey's largest developers (Hartz Mountain) that the theatre was saved. Thanks for your interest! Bob Furmanek
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Russ Kress
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 202
From: Charleston, WV, USA
Registered: May 2000
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posted 05-08-2000 05:38 PM
Very nice! Our company has one in Huntington, WV. http://www.ourshowtimes.com Follow the links to the Keith-Albee Theatre. There are a few pics on the web sight, but we are planning a history page for the Keith sometime soon (as soon as my boss can get time to do it). This theatre is still operated by the same company that built it. It was designed by Thomas Lamb and was completed in 1928 at the cost of 1.5 million dollars. I believe that they showed nickel matinees when they opened (I guess they weren't in any particular hurry to re-coup their investment!). There was a Vita-Phone (I think it's still there). The theatre has a fully working stage. Marshall University brings in Broadway productions as well as various concerts. Alice Cooper played there once! The only bad memory I have is that I managed that theatre the year I was married (Brad, are we allowed to cuss here?). Oh well, into each life... Oh! While your at the sight, you can see me live on the lobby cam at the Park Place Stadium Cinemas! (I'm the pretty one) Russ
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