Amid digital movie era, new Rosebud Theater travels back in time

WESTWOOD, N.J. — Welcome to the age of the digital cinema package. Movies at the cineplexes are getting bigger, bolder and sharper. Tickets prices continue to climb, and enticements of IMAX, 3D and in-theater dining are becoming more frequent. Finding a 35mm theater nowadays is tougher than discovering the Loch Ness monster. Finding a repertory theater is like finding the Holy Grail.

That’s why the Rosebud Theater, a jewel box that recently opened in suburban Westwood, N.J., seems so refreshing. The little gem at 316 Kinderkamack Road, roughly 30 minutes from New York City, sits unassumingly on a corner, much like a dentist’s office or pizzeria. But inside the theater, a time-travel machine awaits.

The Rosebud honors “Hollywood’s Golden Age,” as its website proclaims. I first found out about the theater from a friend who knows the owner, Ray Walsh, and at first the announcement felt like a spam email. How could a single-screen movie theater open anywhere in America, let alone New Jersey? And one that exclusively shows old movies? This seems too good to be true.

I’ve watched, with a sad heart, how the single-screen theaters in the New York-New Jersey area have gone the way of the setting sun. From the Rialto in Ridgefield Park to the Paramus Picture Show in Paramus (two of my favorites), single screens are largely gone, and so is a unique moviegoing experience. Finding something other than an AMC theater can be difficult.

The rundown, but somehow delightfully funky, movie theater in the parking lot of Garden State Plaza has been replaced by parking spots. The single screen Clearview Cinemas of my youth are mostly multi-screen nowadays. The Lafayette Theatre in Suffern, N.Y., seems to be one of the only palaces left, although its programming is not terribly expansive (a few screenings every week).

The Rosebud’s emergence, although small, hopefully will usher in a new wave of nostalgia for moviegoers. We need it … badly.

Although the golden era of Hollywood is the chief emphasis of the Rosebud (named after the famous line from Citizen Kane presumably), there are modern-day films on its current schedule. Tickets are $10 (no discounts), and all concessions are $1.50. Movies are shown off DVD or Blu-ray, so unfortunately 35mm is still not a possibility. But the Rosebud seems to be recreating an experience rather than worrying about specifics on formatting.

I’ll be frequenting the Rosebud often, starting with David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive the first weekend of May.

Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with the owner of the Rosebud, Ray Walsh. Answers have been edited for style.

Where did the idea originate to open a theater in Bergen County, New Jersey?

I thought it would be a good idea, and a neighbor and myself opened one in Ridgewood, N.J., in 1983. It was very small (48 seats) and lasted three years. We didn’t renew the lease as there was really nowhere to go with a theater so small. But it was fun.

What’s your mission with the movie theater?

To bring great old movies to New Jersey at present; we are the only one. There are still a half-dozen in New York CIty, but why not in New Jersey? So here we are.

Is it safe to say that most of the movies you show are movies you’ve grown to love and respect?

Yes, that, plus ones I’m not crazy about but that I think other people like (I figure I can’t just show movies I like).

What can audience members expect when they walk through the doors?

I hope they like the décor; old posters and furniture pieces which lend ambience needed for such a theater. Apart from that, a good show accompanied by friendly faces. We’re always there and patrons can talk to us about the films, which lends an extra friendly touch.

With the end of 35mm and the constant barrage of mainstream movies in cineplexes, it seems nearly impossible to find an older movie in a movie theater. Do you think the Rosebud will be able to compete with the mainstream, newer films?

That’s the challenge. As you know, older movies are substance over form rather than the other way around. No special effects or other cinematic tricks, just good stories and good acting. We hope The Rosebud will grow from a ‘niche’ theater for older movie fans and film students to a broader base, appealing to all types of moviegoers. Let’s wait and see.

We’re particularly excited for Mulholland Drive. Will you show more recent films as well as the classics? Any chances of an all-day film festival?

Yes, we’re trying to get a mix of different genres and eras to see what people want and who’s coming to the theater. We’ll have more programs of recent films, and we’ve thought that even a program of silent pictures might work. No all-day festivals, though. We are restricted to evenings only.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Upcoming movies at the Rosebud: Muholland Drive (April 30-May 3), Field of Dreams (May 7-10), The Usual Suspects (May 14-17), Frequency (May 21-24), Double Feature with The Last Crooked Mile and The Tiger Woman (May 28-31), Rififi (June 4-7), The Earrings of Madame De (June 11-14), The Night Visitor (June 18-21) and Mr. Hulot’s Holiday (June 25-28).