Ed Solero! Thank you for those “Dawn of the Dead” stories! I first saw it at the Commack Drive in, and it was the only time that I went back and the same movie the following week! It’s one of my all time favorites. Ever better story; one of my best friends lives in Massapequa and saw “Dawn…” at the Sunrise Mall! At the time, the Sunrise Mall looked very similar to the “Dawn of the Dead” mall—ironic to say the least.
Just check my old Newsdays and I’m puzzled: 1) Newsday listed the Route 110 drive in as “Huntington” .It’s listed in the same column with …“York”….“Whitman”…..etc. And of course we all know it’s Melville; but moreover ; in this JULY 1976 edition of Newsday; NO Route 110 listed! It’s traditional for a drive in to close at “the end of the season”, naturally. I could have sworn it was still open in ‘76! Let me get back to my paper pile ………….
CORRECTION: THIS theater did NOT CLOSE in the 80s! Last year of business was the end of the 1976 season or the 1977 season at the latest. I have tons of old newspapers—especially when Elvis died in ‘77-so I will check . The marque remained standing till 1979-as memory serves me . I so wish there were some photos but this well-loved drive in but it has been an elusive phantom. I remember the marque was on an angle right in front with the booths to the right-fairly close to the road. There was a mini kids chair-o-plane as well as the train ride. I believe the same type of train ride is featured in the last Abott & Costello movie “Dance with Me , Henry” (late 50s?). I think the snack bar was the size and shape of the Westbury Drive In snack bar (again, I’m going on my memory). Historical Societies ? Fooey! When most of them were established , they did not consider the 1950s and 1960s old enough—especially if they were formed in the 1950s or 1960s. LOL.
OK, I have read about 2000 posts on Cinema Treasures; and goodbot-that was THE best story I ever read here! Thank you! I was hanging on every word! I was at the Mini Cinema only once, 1979 with my high school girlfriend for Rocky Horror. They showed the Tim Curry “music clips” before –“I Do Thee Rock / Paradise Garage” Nobody mentions the classic Rocky Horror buttons sold at the concession stand.These were the 2" black & white & red ones-(not those large color ones) The night we were there there were samples pinned to the wall. One of which (I guess the “rare” one of Columbia that I had never seen before—but had all the others) I asked the girl behind the counter (she had red or light brown curly hair??) that I wanted to buy one. She looked and they were all out of it, but she sold me the display one which had a dent in it. I have that button till this day and whenever I go through my junk drawer and see it —it reminds me of the Mini Cinema!~
As of March 2011; the Pylon is still up and in nice shape! Maybe this is something symbolic? The spirit of Cinema Treasures fans are keeping it preserved. I liked this theater because it looked “very 1960s” in the 80s!
1) This should be listed as the NORTHPORT Theater! It’s a decades old neighborhood movie house with a LONG HISTORY dating back to the 1930s!!!!! (Hysterical hyperbole)!!!!! It should not be listed as it’s latest incarnation AS A PLAYHOUSE from the last 10 years or so!! This makes it “invisible” to posters , researchers and fans!!!! Please let’s fix this. A theater such as this should have hundreds of postings, recollections and warm memories. This is a huge error. Saps, longislandmovies,ed solerno,Bway, Lost Memory, Warren G. back me up here! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I still have dreams about this theater !
Tova ! Any updates & pictures of the lobby !?
“Dawn of the Dead” was released May 1979 by the way.
Ed Solero! Thank you for those “Dawn of the Dead” stories! I first saw it at the Commack Drive in, and it was the only time that I went back and the same movie the following week! It’s one of my all time favorites. Ever better story; one of my best friends lives in Massapequa and saw “Dawn…” at the Sunrise Mall! At the time, the Sunrise Mall looked very similar to the “Dawn of the Dead” mall—ironic to say the least.
P.S. YES! I know it’s not a Johnny All Weather Drive in but I needed a kooky character on there.
Here is a link to my tribute art sign to the Route 110 Drive In Theater!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lanceart/5577355185/
They never showed triple features-who wrote the opening preface ?
I’m not sure the flea markets were open AFTER the drive in closed, but I could be wrong
not listed in 1976
correction: My 1960’s Newsdays listed Route 110 under “Huntington” I should say
Just check my old Newsdays and I’m puzzled: 1) Newsday listed the Route 110 drive in as “Huntington” .It’s listed in the same column with …“York”….“Whitman”…..etc. And of course we all know it’s Melville; but moreover ; in this JULY 1976 edition of Newsday; NO Route 110 listed! It’s traditional for a drive in to close at “the end of the season”, naturally. I could have sworn it was still open in ‘76! Let me get back to my paper pile ………….
Locals (I live near Huntington) refer to this as the “Huntington Route 110 Drive In”.
CORRECTION: THIS theater did NOT CLOSE in the 80s! Last year of business was the end of the 1976 season or the 1977 season at the latest. I have tons of old newspapers—especially when Elvis died in ‘77-so I will check . The marque remained standing till 1979-as memory serves me . I so wish there were some photos but this well-loved drive in but it has been an elusive phantom. I remember the marque was on an angle right in front with the booths to the right-fairly close to the road. There was a mini kids chair-o-plane as well as the train ride. I believe the same type of train ride is featured in the last Abott & Costello movie “Dance with Me , Henry” (late 50s?). I think the snack bar was the size and shape of the Westbury Drive In snack bar (again, I’m going on my memory). Historical Societies ? Fooey! When most of them were established , they did not consider the 1950s and 1960s old enough—especially if they were formed in the 1950s or 1960s. LOL.
I was here once in 1982. My friends had an apartment down the block. This was a rough area in the 1980s! I hear it’s been gentrified. No surprise.
Oops. 1984
I think I saw “Spinal Tap ” here because it was one of the few theaters showing it at the time —anyone else remember ? 1986 ??
wow-this was someone’s “dream” grind-house !
Techman; what was in the letter ???????
The Roller-Rama had flea markets on Sundays, circa 1976 ? 1977 ? Anyone remember ?????????????
P.S. I CANNOT FIND THE YOUTUBE posts you all spoke of !!!!!!!
OK, I have read about 2000 posts on Cinema Treasures; and goodbot-that was THE best story I ever read here! Thank you! I was hanging on every word! I was at the Mini Cinema only once, 1979 with my high school girlfriend for Rocky Horror. They showed the Tim Curry “music clips” before –“I Do Thee Rock / Paradise Garage” Nobody mentions the classic Rocky Horror buttons sold at the concession stand.These were the 2" black & white & red ones-(not those large color ones) The night we were there there were samples pinned to the wall. One of which (I guess the “rare” one of Columbia that I had never seen before—but had all the others) I asked the girl behind the counter (she had red or light brown curly hair??) that I wanted to buy one. She looked and they were all out of it, but she sold me the display one which had a dent in it. I have that button till this day and whenever I go through my junk drawer and see it —it reminds me of the Mini Cinema!~
View link
my tribute sign that I had painted to Johnny All Weather ! Enjoy
As of March 2011; the Pylon is still up and in nice shape! Maybe this is something symbolic? The spirit of Cinema Treasures fans are keeping it preserved. I liked this theater because it looked “very 1960s” in the 80s!
1) This should be listed as the NORTHPORT Theater! It’s a decades old neighborhood movie house with a LONG HISTORY dating back to the 1930s!!!!! (Hysterical hyperbole)!!!!! It should not be listed as it’s latest incarnation AS A PLAYHOUSE from the last 10 years or so!! This makes it “invisible” to posters , researchers and fans!!!! Please let’s fix this. A theater such as this should have hundreds of postings, recollections and warm memories. This is a huge error. Saps, longislandmovies,ed solerno,Bway, Lost Memory, Warren G. back me up here! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Ridgewood Theater Murder Case: says online “ someone was apprehended and then acquitted” …that’s all I could find.