This is a magnificent story and a theatre that was treated with respect and brought back to life. All New York has is greedy landowners who hacked away the facade of the once beautiful Sutton so it could not be landmarked. California should be commended for all the theatres they have restored, and continue to show classic films in.
I just came across a Long Island Press ad for 11/7/68 and at time the theatre was being run by UA and was showing Clint Eastwood in “Coogans Bluff” on showcase. The theatre address can also be updated to Rockaway Avenue.
br91975 I agree, to think it made it from 1913 and then into the new millenium and then greed closed it. I drove by it a few times but never saw the inside. Never saw inside The Astro either but went buy it a few times.
Grave Robbers LOL that reminds me that the original name of Plan Nine From Outer Space was Grave Robbers From Outer Space. I would love to see the lineup of theatres where that originally played.
I remember the 70mm print looking washed out and dull compared to the 35mm version. Making it widescreen and projected on that enormous screen just seemed to fade the otherwise brilliant colors.
Vincent
I am also reminded of another total dog I saw at RCMH, do you remember “Matilda-the Boxing Kangaroo” with Eliot Gould? I could not believe the music hall playing an AIP picture. At the same time was the Film Vincent Minnelli did for Liza and Ingrid Bergman called “A Matter of Time”. AIP may have also released that. In spite of it all seeing even bad films there was still special. One of my happiest memories was seeing “Magic of Lassie” which I mentioned in an earlier post. Although I was already a teen it was still a kick seeing Lassie on stage in the stage show.
Look at what we used to get when we went to the movies. A theatre to die for along with a movie, stage show and the organ. We were fortunate to have it until 1979, I dont think any other theatre had this policy after the 1950’s did they?
I was looking through the programs I saved from RCMH and forgot all about “The Blue Bird”. Does anyone remember that one? Elizabeth Taylor and Ava Gardner. It was billed as the first US-Soviet co-production. George Cukor directed it. I have never seen this film again on tv or video.
It’s too bad this could not be saved as an all purpose theatre. Since the owners of The St George seem adamant about never running movies, a venue like this could get alot of publicity. The Suffern and Loews Jersey City do well with sporadic classic nights.
In spite of the rear projection I loved seeing movies here. I remember a Marlene Dietrich triple bill where we waited on a huge line that went around the block. What happened to those days? The film forum does revival on one screen but its just not the same. The Thalia is back but nothing has played there yet that makes me want to trek to the city.
I hope in typical UA fashion they dont rename it The Movies at Bay Parkway. I hate all these new theatres names after streets. It would be great to see names like The Avalon, Capitol or Belvedere used again.
It was a very similar layout to Centurys Green Acres the lobby was along the front of the building then and there were two staircases that went up to the balcony.
Green Acres is actually doing better under Redstone since it can play the more upscale product there as opposed to the hovel Sunrise Cinemas. When Cineplex had the theatre they could barely get enough good product to fill it the screens. The heyday of The Green Acres was the years when Centurys would open exclusive Nassau engagements there like Towering Inferno in 70mm.
This is a magnificent story and a theatre that was treated with respect and brought back to life. All New York has is greedy landowners who hacked away the facade of the once beautiful Sutton so it could not be landmarked. California should be commended for all the theatres they have restored, and continue to show classic films in.
The last owner of the U also had the Chopin in Greenpoint.
Loews operated this Drive-In
longislandmovies
What was so bad about this house?
I just found a 1968 ad showing this as a B.S. Moss house
I just came across a Long Island Press ad for 11/7/68 and at time the theatre was being run by UA and was showing Clint Eastwood in “Coogans Bluff” on showcase. The theatre address can also be updated to Rockaway Avenue.
This cinema was located on South Oyster Bay Road and status should show as closed.
This drive-in has a nice web site with pictures. It’s so good to see a place like this still thrives with double bills.
br91975 I agree, to think it made it from 1913 and then into the new millenium and then greed closed it. I drove by it a few times but never saw the inside. Never saw inside The Astro either but went buy it a few times.
Grave Robbers LOL that reminds me that the original name of Plan Nine From Outer Space was Grave Robbers From Outer Space. I would love to see the lineup of theatres where that originally played.
I remember the 70mm print looking washed out and dull compared to the 35mm version. Making it widescreen and projected on that enormous screen just seemed to fade the otherwise brilliant colors.
Vincent
I am also reminded of another total dog I saw at RCMH, do you remember “Matilda-the Boxing Kangaroo” with Eliot Gould? I could not believe the music hall playing an AIP picture. At the same time was the Film Vincent Minnelli did for Liza and Ingrid Bergman called “A Matter of Time”. AIP may have also released that. In spite of it all seeing even bad films there was still special. One of my happiest memories was seeing “Magic of Lassie” which I mentioned in an earlier post. Although I was already a teen it was still a kick seeing Lassie on stage in the stage show.
Look at what we used to get when we went to the movies. A theatre to die for along with a movie, stage show and the organ. We were fortunate to have it until 1979, I dont think any other theatre had this policy after the 1950’s did they?
I was looking through the programs I saved from RCMH and forgot all about “The Blue Bird”. Does anyone remember that one? Elizabeth Taylor and Ava Gardner. It was billed as the first US-Soviet co-production. George Cukor directed it. I have never seen this film again on tv or video.
It’s too bad this could not be saved as an all purpose theatre. Since the owners of The St George seem adamant about never running movies, a venue like this could get alot of publicity. The Suffern and Loews Jersey City do well with sporadic classic nights.
In spite of the rear projection I loved seeing movies here. I remember a Marlene Dietrich triple bill where we waited on a huge line that went around the block. What happened to those days? The film forum does revival on one screen but its just not the same. The Thalia is back but nothing has played there yet that makes me want to trek to the city.
Technically there is no more UA, they just leave it up on the theatres that have it, although they did change Union Square to Regal.
A 50s view of Sheridan Road, showing the towering vertical sign of the Granada, can be seen here.
posted by Bryan Krefft on Apr 22, 2004 at 11:06pm
This sign was HUGE what a loss it’s all gone
I hope in typical UA fashion they dont rename it The Movies at Bay Parkway. I hate all these new theatres names after streets. It would be great to see names like The Avalon, Capitol or Belvedere used again.
Did the Godfather even open at the Madison? :)
It was a very similar layout to Centurys Green Acres the lobby was along the front of the building then and there were two staircases that went up to the balcony.
Does anyone have any memories of this theatre or films they saw here that they could share? I am also curious what year did it close?
Green Acres is actually doing better under Redstone since it can play the more upscale product there as opposed to the hovel Sunrise Cinemas. When Cineplex had the theatre they could barely get enough good product to fill it the screens. The heyday of The Green Acres was the years when Centurys would open exclusive Nassau engagements there like Towering Inferno in 70mm.
Century’s Green Acres did monster grosses in the old days as did Kings Plaza.
Actually it was his son Michael Todd Jr.