You are thinking of the Salisbury which was on Old Country Road. It may have been a Centurys house at one time but by the seventies was a XXX house. It closed in 1993 and is a National Wholesale Liquidators.
I remember seeing a fun double bill here once of Mamie Van Doren in High School Confidential paired with Jane Mansfield in Three Nuts in Search of a Bolt
The days of single screen theatres have sadly ended for the most part, but I always felt this kind of programming could exist in a complex where one screen could be totally off-beat. Imagine one screen of a plex where the outside of the auditorium doors and wall were made to look like a small neighborhood cienema. It could have a mini marquee and even its own candystand. The confines of a plex would keep the costs down and the theatre could take alot of chances with bookings. The Westbury would make an interesting house like this, since it is large enough to quad and keep its gothic flavor intact. I guess the owners never got their live theatre idea going, although the exterior still seems well maintained.
Loews totally gave up on this place the outside was so full of grafitti and burned out lights it looked closed. They were stupid after all the renovations Cineplex did on the outside. I hope someone else opens it up.
I was looking at the Keiths the other day and since the downstairs is currently used the owner should close off the balcony and make it a triplex cinema.
The reason the Whitman died was the bizzare booking habit of taking theatres that are only performing so-so and using them as a dumping ground for moveovers and garbage product. I always wonder if they somehow do this to justify closing them? The Whitman was in an upscale area and could have made a good house to open big films in and then move them over to the Shore Quad. Loews destroyed the Smithaven Mall theatre when they opened Stoneybrook down the road. They also did the same to Cinema 5 (city) in Fresh Meadows. Cineplex redid the theatre and when Loews merged with them they let the outside become such an eyesore that business dwindeled. Even though they have the Fresh Meadows 7 across the street there was ample product for both. I remember when Centurys still had the Glen Oaks. The last big film they played there first-run was Silkwood. It did really good grosses. Then for some reason they followed it up with weekly second run pictures that were playing every where for $1 or $2 (remember those great days). Why would anyone pay first prices when it was playing in a dozen or so neighborhood houses at the same time. They did tyhis for about a year and then closed it. If anyone remembers it, it was almost identical to the Whitman, right down to the masks and was in pristine condition till the end.
It’s almost ironic in the 50’s that the big barns remained and the smaller houses closed. In a few short years those small theatres would become the norm. I cant wait to hear what The Majestic was like inside. I had friends over there for years and did not know it was a former theatre all the times I passed it. I always thought the marquee looked theatre like. This must have been a cute place when it was open, I bet it never had air-conditioning like the Glenwood.
Is it still a triplex?
You are thinking of the Salisbury which was on Old Country Road. It may have been a Centurys house at one time but by the seventies was a XXX house. It closed in 1993 and is a National Wholesale Liquidators.
This theatre was called Cinema Wantagh.
I remember seeing a fun double bill here once of Mamie Van Doren in High School Confidential paired with Jane Mansfield in Three Nuts in Search of a Bolt
I cant believe all the theatres in Glendale-Ridgewood. This site is a true history lesson.
The days of single screen theatres have sadly ended for the most part, but I always felt this kind of programming could exist in a complex where one screen could be totally off-beat. Imagine one screen of a plex where the outside of the auditorium doors and wall were made to look like a small neighborhood cienema. It could have a mini marquee and even its own candystand. The confines of a plex would keep the costs down and the theatre could take alot of chances with bookings. The Westbury would make an interesting house like this, since it is large enough to quad and keep its gothic flavor intact. I guess the owners never got their live theatre idea going, although the exterior still seems well maintained.
Loews totally gave up on this place the outside was so full of grafitti and burned out lights it looked closed. They were stupid after all the renovations Cineplex did on the outside. I hope someone else opens it up.
I was looking at the Keiths the other day and since the downstairs is currently used the owner should close off the balcony and make it a triplex cinema.
That “someone” talked about above must have been Ralph Donnely.
The reason the Whitman died was the bizzare booking habit of taking theatres that are only performing so-so and using them as a dumping ground for moveovers and garbage product. I always wonder if they somehow do this to justify closing them? The Whitman was in an upscale area and could have made a good house to open big films in and then move them over to the Shore Quad. Loews destroyed the Smithaven Mall theatre when they opened Stoneybrook down the road. They also did the same to Cinema 5 (city) in Fresh Meadows. Cineplex redid the theatre and when Loews merged with them they let the outside become such an eyesore that business dwindeled. Even though they have the Fresh Meadows 7 across the street there was ample product for both. I remember when Centurys still had the Glen Oaks. The last big film they played there first-run was Silkwood. It did really good grosses. Then for some reason they followed it up with weekly second run pictures that were playing every where for $1 or $2 (remember those great days). Why would anyone pay first prices when it was playing in a dozen or so neighborhood houses at the same time. They did tyhis for about a year and then closed it. If anyone remembers it, it was almost identical to the Whitman, right down to the masks and was in pristine condition till the end.
This place was never kept up properly, with the right management it could still be open. Not everyone in Brooklyn is a fan of the Sheepsead Bay.
I think there a live show in there now.
I think he may have been the one who programmed it when it was revival and art films.
I thought of the slogan on the one sheet of The French Line “J.R. in 3-D, need we say more”? Miss Russell was made for that process for sure.
It’s almost ironic in the 50’s that the big barns remained and the smaller houses closed. In a few short years those small theatres would become the norm. I cant wait to hear what The Majestic was like inside. I had friends over there for years and did not know it was a former theatre all the times I passed it. I always thought the marquee looked theatre like. This must have been a cute place when it was open, I bet it never had air-conditioning like the Glenwood.
Why is one side of the balcony closed off?
ErwinM is correct the Richmond Hill Casino was a small one level theatre and never had a water tower.
This is what makes this site so great, the memories of all the neighborhood and dollar houses.
The Casino is a Chase bank.
I know I love hearing about the movies, especially the double bills that played these great old houses.
“I am not sure, but that might be the Monroe Theater, at 4 Howard Avenue, near the RKO Bushwick”
There is not a posting yet for the Monroe, I met the last owner of the theatre once. When he had it they were running porno.
Is the auditorium still intact?
I know the Ridgewood played “House of Wax” on it’s 1971 re-release.
Are the theatres still intact here?
This is awesome news !!!!!! Now lets see if the Kings rises also.