Editing Paramus, New Jersey (section)

==Arts and culture==
One of the earliest [[drive-in theater]]s opened in Paramus, featuring what was said to be the world's largest and brightest screen, located behind what is now Westfield Garden State Plaza. The Paramus Drive-In closed in 1987 after the last movie presentation, a double-feature of ''[["Crocodile" Dundee]]'' and ''[[The Untouchables (film)|The Untouchables]]''.<ref>Ervolino, Bill. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/bergen_news/168789516_Once_a_starlit_cinema__now_a_mall_parking_lot.html?page=all "Paramus parking lot was once a cinema under the stars"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', September 6, 2012. Accessed August 10, 2013.</ref>

Currently, Paramus' lone movie theater complex is a 16-screen [[AMC Theatres]] located in an area of new construction at Westfield Garden State Plaza. Prior to the opening of the AMC complex, a number of theatres were closed in the borough, including the Route 4 Tenplex and the Cineplex Odeon Route 17 Triplex, once located next to Westfield Garden State Plaza on Route 17. The Triplex and Tenplex theatres was opened on October 12, 1965, by Century Theatres and was closed on May 24, 2007, by [[Loews Cineplex Entertainment]].<ref>[http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/70mm_in_new_york_rte_4.htm 70mm Equipped Theatre Pictures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304132416/http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/70mm_in_new_york_rte_4.htm |date=March 4, 2020 }}, From Script to DVD. Accessed November 4, 2017. "Stanley-Warner Route Four opened on October 12, 1965."</ref> On May 25, 2007, the new AMC Theatres opened at Westfield Garden State Plaza.<ref>Gartland, Michael. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924172946/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-139681395.html "Epic theater soon to play its final reel"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', May 19, 2007. Accessed August 2, 2015. "The AMC Paramus Route 4 10 — known affectionately to locals simply as the Tenplex — will run its projectors for the last time Thursday, just one day before a bigger, more advanced cineplex opens down the road at the Garden State Plaza."</ref> The Paramus Picture Show, known as Cinema 35 until 1997,<ref>Brody, Leslie. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924175751/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22401735.html "No Need To Go Into Manhattan -- Paramus Gets Art Cinema"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', July 25, 1997. Accessed August 2, 2015. "The Paramus Picture Show will be in the spot known for 20 years as Cinema 35, a discount movie house that sold tickets for $3."</ref> closed in December 2004 in the wake of declining attendance.<ref>Spelling, Ian. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924172044/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-103078771.html "Theater closing down with a hunger benefit"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', December 3, 2004. Accessed August 2, 2015. "Unfortunately, too few people turned out to see such shows, and Paramus Picture Show will close Dec. 13."</ref> A 12-screen [[Regal Entertainment Group|Regal Cinemas]] was planned to open at [[Paramus Park]] as part of renovations that would have replaced the Sears store with a [[Stew Leonard's]] location.<ref>[http://www.regmovies.com/Theatres/Grand-Openings Grand Openings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011154400/http://www.regmovies.com/Theatres/Grand-Openings |date=October 11, 2016 }}, [[Regal Entertainment Group]]. Accessed September 24, 2016.</ref><ref>Verdon, Joan. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/business/mall-awaits-its-renaissance-1.1507599 "Paramus Park awaits its renaissance"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009060312/http://www.northjersey.com/news/business/mall-awaits-its-renaissance-1.1507599 |date=October 9, 2016 }}, ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', February 7, 2016. Accessed February 26, 2016. "In 2014, before the Sears deal was struck, Paramus Park received approval from the borough of Paramus for an expansion project that included a 13-screen movie theater and several restaurants."</ref><ref>Sullivan, S.P. [http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2013/05/paramus_park_mall_moving_forward_with_13-screen_movie_theater_addition_plan.html "Paramus Park Mall moving forward with 13-screen movie theater addition plan"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917030159/http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2013/05/paramus_park_mall_moving_forward_with_13-screen_movie_theater_addition_plan.html |date=September 17, 2016 }}, NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], May 24, 2013. Accessed September 26, 2016. "The Paramus Park Mall will move forward with plans to add a 13-screen movie theater to its stable of retails stores after a unanimous vote from the local zoning board Thursday, Paramus Patch reported."</ref><ref>Verdon, Joan. [http://www.northjersey.com/story/money/2017/10/13/stew-leonards-to-replace-paramus-sears/761311001/ "Stew Leonard's to replace Paramus Sears"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014022928/http://www.northjersey.com/story/money/2017/10/13/stew-leonards-to-replace-paramus-sears/761311001/ |date=October 14, 2017 }}, ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', October 13, 2017. Accessed October 16, 2017. "The Sears department store that has been an anchor of the Paramus Park mall since it opened in 1974 will be replaced by a Stew Leonard’s farm-style supermarket and a 12-screen movie theater under a plan submitted to Paramus zoning officials Thursday."</ref> However, the plans were cancelled after [[Stew Leonard's]] took up more space than expected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/bergen/2019/12/we-have-the-internet-and-american-dream-but-nj-malls-are-upping-their-game.html|title=These 8 N.J. malls are all upping their game. See the new plans.|last=NJ.com|first=Allison Pries {{!}} NJ Advance Media for|date=December 29, 2019|website=nj|language=en|access-date=November 20, 2020|archive-date=December 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229192947/https://www.nj.com/bergen/2019/12/we-have-the-internet-and-american-dream-but-nj-malls-are-upping-their-game.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Bergen Town Center]] had a performing arts theater called "Playhouse on the Mall". It had a seating capacity of 635 seats and was opened in 1960. From 1960 to 1970, author [[Robert Ludlum]] was the manager of the theater. The theater closed in 1982 due to rising costs and low attendance and was converted into retail space in 1986.<ref>Garvie, Glenn. [http://www.bergencounty.com/history-and-trivia/remembering-playhouse-on-the-mall-in-bergen-county-nj-1.1293172 "Remembering Playhouse on the Mall"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721032409/http://www.bergencounty.com/history-and-trivia/remembering-playhouse-on-the-mall-in-bergen-county-nj-1.1293172 |date=July 21, 2015 }}, ''(201) magazine''. Accessed August 2, 2015.</ref>

In 2016, the [[Garden State Plaza]] added a [[Bergen Performing Arts Center]] performance area for shows and performances located near [[Macy's]], which took up the former space of the Venetian carousel. There was also a Bergen PAC ticket center located near the performance area. The Bergen PAC performance area, however, was short lived as it was replaced by a video game theater, then it became a lounge area in 2017.<ref>[http://www.northjersey.com/news/garden-state-plaza-carousel-stops-spinning-1.1504302 Garden State Plaza carousel stops spinning. "NorthJersey.com"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204090742/http://www.northjersey.com/news/garden-state-plaza-carousel-stops-spinning-1.1504302 |date=February 4, 2016 }}. Accessed February 2, 2016.</ref>

The [[glam metal]] band, [[Trixter]], formed in Paramus.<ref>Jaeger, Barbara. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121021130015/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22641559.html "Paramus Band Feels At Home In The Studio"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', July 17, 1992. Accessed October 15, 2007. "For all those Trixter fans who've been wondering when the Paramus-based band will be releasing a new album, guitarist Steve Brown has these encouraging words..."</ref> The hardcore/punk rock band [[The Escape Engine]] formed in the borough from 2002 to 2006.<ref>Pryor, Terrance. [http://fakewalls.com/blog/2012/3/21/the-escape-engine-announce-new-album-reunion-show.html "The Escape Engine announce new album & reunion show"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024231045/http://fakewalls.com/blog/2012/3/21/the-escape-engine-announce-new-album-reunion-show.html |date=October 24, 2014 }}, FakeWalls.com, March 21, 2012. Accessed October 24, 2014. "Paramus rock group The Escape Engine have announced the release of their sophomore album: ''When You Dance With The Devil.''"</ref>