Maplewood Theatre

Tried searching for some reviews about this theatre but could not find any. Any feedback on this theatre  - cleanliness, ambience, audio/video quality etc ? Is their 5$ Tuesdays worth it ?

How to put it? The Maplewood Theater is likely to disappoint movie viewers discerning enough to vet theaters beforehand and wonder if $5 will be worth it.

I'll take the hit.

It's small, dated, and dirty.

I'm not one to review movie theaters.  And I certainly won't start now.

except not all the movies are $5.

ghostbusters was $8 when we went on a tues nite.

oots said:

except not all the movies are $5.

ghostbusters was $8 when we went on a tues nite.

We noticed that one of the caveats posted on ticket window says Sony Pictures films are excluded.

The Maplewood Theater is a part of Maplewood history. It served as a legitimate theater prior to its conversion to show motion pictures. Much of the old interior architecture was lost when it was later converted to a multi-screen facility. Seeing One True Thing there was a special treat since the theater was featured in the film.

It's a wonderful place and we should all go there and support it.

Astute observation

DaveSchmidt said:

How to put it? The Maplewood Theater is likely to disappoint movie viewers discerning enough to vet theaters beforehand and wonder if $5 will be worth it.

Yes, it's small and dated, but they've upgraded the audio and video equipment in recent years and the quality is quite respectable now. Also, they have some of the best non-mainstream programming in NNJ.

nan said:

It's a wonderful place and we should all go there and support it.

And this. Try to image Maplewood village without the theater.

The Maplewood Theater may not have the best in sound or or sight lines but we should all support it. It's hard to find independent theaters in this day and age. Most theaters are chains and show blockbuster films almost exclusively. The Maplewood Theater also shows a lot of films that are independent films and are hard to find.

If you want stadium seats, pizza delivered to your seat while you watch a movie with the sound so loud that it distorts, go to West Orange.

Maplewood Theater is simply, you get what you pay for. The movies are there and in focus. The sound is o.k. The popcorn and soda are overpriced and that is how they pay for the place. I'm glad we have it.

Have seen a mouse scoot by there but I have seen a mouse scoot by where I live and I am certainly not

going to abandon the building. All of life is a bit of give and take.

My experience is that whatever you want to review or research, there always are folks who will say that something four or five towns over is better. So it comes down to how much time you want to spend driving around, versus spending time where you actually live.

ml1 said:

Astute observation

DaveSchmidt" target="_blank"> DaveSchmidt" target="_blank">https://maplewood.worldwebs.com/profile/discussions/u/DaveSchmidt">DaveSchmidt said:

How to put it? The Maplewood Theater is likely to disappoint movie viewers discerning enough to vet theaters beforehand and wonder if $5 will be worth it.

If there is a movie there which you want to see why not try it, especially if it's only $5.00.

I go there fairly frequently. I've seen the Governor of NJ there, (Cody). It's not the Roxy. It's not even the Loews Paradise in the 60s, but it's OK.

It has an interesting mix of movies, as you'd expect from a not-a-chain theater.

The physical conditions are fine, although the clientele is obviously superior to what you'd find in the average movie palace.

nan said:

It's a wonderful place and we should all go there and support it.

My thoughts exactly. It is NOT a chain but owned by people who are our neighbors and who are invested in the community. And it's great to see friends sitting in the next row. Please patronize !

the only thing I can see to criticize is that the building is approximately ohno60 feet tall.

I remember there was a period of time when the Maplewood Theater was closed down for quite a long while. It seemed like Maplewood Village was comparatively like a ghost town until it finally opened up again.

I'll admit to being disappointed the time I went there. I wanted to like it, but the seats not pointing at the screen is something I can't ignore. I had the same problem with my old neighborhood theater in Washington Heights. The movie theater at SOPAC is also not perfect, but it's definitely the one I prefer of the two.

Love the Maplewood Theatre and the really nice people who work there.

I really don't need sizzling-hot fajitas brought to my eight-position reclining seat to be happy; give me some stale popcorn and junior mints and I am in movie-going heaven!

I remember when I was in junior high school and a bunch of us would go to the Maplewood Movie Theatre. At the time our science teacher worked there too. Mr. Brooks. So......... that meant no fooling around and making scenes at the movies when he was working LOL

---- side diversion. Years ago, (approx. 1975, stone age for 'yutes) I was in the Millburn Theater. Usual pre-movie stuff was shown.... trailers, ... buy your popcorn, ... be quiet.... (nothin' about cell phones since they weren't invented).

Anyways, A big cartoon of a garbage can shows up on the screen. "Hi, I'm Herbie the garbage can. Don't throw your trash on the floor, (Herbie's cartoon mouth opens wide) Throw it in here."

I swear... people stood up and started throwing stuff at the screen --- soda, candy....

I never saw Herbie at the movies again.

I saw Jaws at a drive in. drive ins were cool.

ml1 said:

the only thing I can see to criticize is that the building is approximately ohno60 feet tall.

It was Grandfathered

jerseyjack said:

...you get what you pay for. The movies are there and in focus. The sound is o.k. The popcorn and soda are overpriced and that is how they pay for the place.

In other words, it is a movie theater - any movie theater.

I am glad we have it too.

Imagine if they were to try to do in Maplewood Village what they are doing in Summit - turn what was a movie theater into a West Elm.

This brings back memories. When I was a teenager almost every Friday night I would go with friends to the Maplewood theater. In those days they had ushers and we were a bunch of giggly girls. There was a woman usher who would flash the light on us and we'd try to stifle our laughing. When the movie was over we'd stop at the manager's office. If we were lucky they might have the display photos from the previous week's movies. They were poster size and great to put on your bedroom wall. Wish I had saved them.

qrysdonnell said:

I wanted to like it, but the seats not pointing at the screen is something I can't ignore.

What?