By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Bob and Christine Russo’s romance sounds like one for the movies, and that romance for the past three decades has played out in Bradley Beach and surrounding shore towns.
Bob Russo recently recounted that he and Christine have spent almost all of their weekends in the shore area for the 30 years they have been together.
They currently rent a year round apartment in Ocean Grove from where they venture out to area restaurants and always to the Beach Cinema in Bradley Beach.
In fact the couple have been such regulars at the cinema that owner John Esposito gave them their own tee shirts with the Beach Cinema logo on it.
Bob says he and his wife have regular seats in the back row of the theater and make sure to arrive early so they don’t lose them.
“We go no matter what’s playing. Some have been boring, but most of the movies have been very good,” Bob said.
Last week they saw the latest feature “La La Land,” and enjoyed it.
“It was colorful; a musical, sad and happy,” he said.
But its the theater itself that captivates the Russos.
“The history of that theater, it’s like a romantic story there,” he said. “It just has such meaning there for us…the Bradley Beach movie is a part of our life.”
Making reference to the shore’s favorite native son, Jack Nicholson, he said, “And you see who’s hanging on the wall there.”
The Russos give movie going the full treatment, snacks and all.
“Christine always gets a popcorn with a lot of butter on it. And I get chocolate candy,” Bob says.
During the holiday season they makes sure to see the special showings of classic Christmas movies at the cinema
Their history at the shore goes back to their first vacation spent at The Cashelmara Inn in Avon and continues to this day as they frequent area restaurants including The Columns, The Starving Artist, The Avon Pavilion and many new ones in Asbury Park.
And although they travel to other places to visit friends and relatives during the year, summers are saved for the Jersey shore.
“In the summer we just go to the shore, Monmouth County is our second home,” Bob said.
