BobT; I have lots of OLD Newsday ads, wherein they advertise a “scary” midnight show…. I suspected that it would be nothing but old product ; either good (“Night of the Living Dead”) or bad ( left-over A.I.P. and Hammer minor titles). Somehow, I saw “Ben” in the (Deer Park)theater and not “Willard”. LOL. I saw the (crappy) 1976 “King Kong” at the RKO Commack at a matinee. Was I correct about the Deer Park being big and box-y like the Commack Mayfair ?
Sadly, the only known photo of the Benson Twin, is a screen-shot from the title sequence from…..“Saturday Night Fever” ! The marquee reads “Network” which was released November, 1976 or thereabouts.
The Twin 2, is illegable , but the word “love” may hint at an Adult “X” show? View link
I think it just LOOKS taller with the windows that were added. FYI, the first time I was here, my friend’s parents, took us to see “Earthquake” in SENSSUROUND! Great first experience for me with the 150! What a shame that it is gone!
I was lucky enough to see one of the best modern-day horror movies of the 1970’s at….the Larkfield! Thankfully, my parents did not let us stay for “Shampoo” (I would have been bored out of my skull!). View link
Here are some vintage Larkfield “stand alone” ads. Appropriately enough ; the more I find out about Larkfield’s history, the more it stands apart from other local theaters. The terrific lo-fi /no-frills ads, certainly reflect the Larkfield Theater’s character & decor(to anyone who remembers it!). View link
I think, it was shaved down to a “PG” for the double bill with “Grease”….in 1979? I actually saw the “…Fever” / “Laura Mars…” bill at Larkfield in East Northport. I saw “Mad Monster Party” at Northport in 1969 when I was in second grade ,at a Kiddie Matinee! Northport was a great theatre and seemed well kept till the end (or at least until I stopped going altogether by 1985/86) . Like I said before; a many-generations-old neighborhood theatre like Northport should have more postings, stories and memories on here.
Saps; YES; I have a few of the very plain stand-alone ads… gimme a few weeks to find em. The best one that I have , is for “Planet of the Apes” and “Alice’s Restaurant”…..I did an article in my Zine about the old days of lop-sided double features like this one. LOL. http://snackbar-confidential.blogspot.com/
P.S. I have a GREAT (but small) ad for the “Beast of Blood” playing at the RKO Commack (where I actually SAW it!) / RKO Rockville Centre in the new issue of my zine; Snackbar Confidential! http://snackbar-confidential.blogspot.com/
Wrapping things full circle: The Commack RKO Twin served hot dogs at the snack bar. This was unusual for a walk-in theater that was not a drive in!
The new issue of my zine; Snackbar Confidential is almost ready. It’s a small cut n' paste digest CRAMMED with old ads for movies, toys, fast food, and basic junk culture from 1966 thru 1976. SEE BLOG to get one. Lots of little Long Island related items as well! http://snackbar-confidential.blogspot.com/
RE: ZIPS! longislandmovies; weird and IRONIC: the Zips in downtown Huntington became a hot dog place in the very early 1980’s, called George E’s ! The owner was a tall grinning older guy that reminded me of a character from an old western series. Was that George himself ?? LOL.
frankaholic: Vigilante Realty, had a commercial,that was show at intermission time at……the Commack Drive In (in the very early 1970s)! How about that?
Saps: Yes, the concept (at Zips) was for kids to dump every single topping (except the YUCKY pineapple) in your little plastic batting helmet and go to town. I have a Zips newspaper ad that I will post when I find it.
Does anyone remember the smaller Pergaments (not the big one) in the Commack Corners shopping center? This would be like circa 1969 (I’m old). There was a “make-your-own-Sundae” Zips Ice Cream Parlor in downtown Huntington… man, that was such a BIG DEAL back then!
Frankaholic: the “oh soooo 1970’s” wine & cheese bar in Commack Corners was called Tiffany Touch ? Sound right? Sound stupid? LOL. I did As well as see PARASITE (in 3-D) at Elwood too! The Commack Roller Rink was called “Laces” (?) in the mid 1980’s? Was it called something else in the 70’s? *********BOB T : Baskin Robbins was much more expensive than Carvel, so many parents avoided it altogether. I do not recall one in Commack Corners OR Mayfair Shopping Center…..As for the no-name electronic store in Commack Corners;
we were there a few times when renting VIDEO TAPES as well —– it was not easy back in 1982/1983!. You guys remember when they charged like $129.99 a year to join? Geez….and the only movies to be had were “The Sound of Music”, “Jaws” and the 1979 “Superman” movie! LOL!
SEPT. 2007—— UPDATE: the building is gutted! They are putting a Cheese Cake Factory there—-YET the pylon for the Whitman theater STILL STANDS tall & proud! LOL. Someone go and take it down as a keepsake!
Commack addendum: places of yesteryear: that strange ice cream parlour next to Toy’s R Us (which was Bargain Town USA when it opened in 1971 or 1972??) , Bargain Books (in the Mayfair shopping center), Pergaments!, Hardees, the 5 & 10 store in the Commack Corners plaza, and where Starbucks is now, it was a vacant lot for years going back to the 1970’s….but back in the 1960s it was a small shopping center with a beauty parlour!
Frankaholic, I was also at the Commack Drive In for Friday the 13th/ Frightmare (forgot the name of the second bill!), and When a Stranger Calls at the RKO Twin! The great Fog/Phantasm double bill trailer (commercial) turns up on DVD trailer comps, (I think on Something Weird Video?) The voice-over said: “The Fog grabs you! Phantasm never lets you go!” . I would have never paid money to see Caveman, however. LOL. I saw Grease at the Mayfair. I’m telling you- we need to have a Commack Drive In / RKO reunion in the parking lot of that shopping center! Bring beers and tell stories……..
Saw “Aliens” here……
HERE IS A GREAT AD !
View link
BobT; I have lots of OLD Newsday ads, wherein they advertise a “scary” midnight show…. I suspected that it would be nothing but old product ; either good (“Night of the Living Dead”) or bad ( left-over A.I.P. and Hammer minor titles). Somehow, I saw “Ben” in the (Deer Park)theater and not “Willard”. LOL. I saw the (crappy) 1976 “King Kong” at the RKO Commack at a matinee. Was I correct about the Deer Park being big and box-y like the Commack Mayfair ?
C'mon folks! Lets dig up some vintage photos of the Benson !
Sadly, the only known photo of the Benson Twin, is a screen-shot from the title sequence from…..“Saturday Night Fever” ! The marquee reads “Network” which was released November, 1976 or thereabouts.
The Twin 2, is illegable , but the word “love” may hint at an Adult “X” show?
View link
I think it just LOOKS taller with the windows that were added. FYI, the first time I was here, my friend’s parents, took us to see “Earthquake” in SENSSUROUND! Great first experience for me with the 150! What a shame that it is gone!
Jerry Lewis; his prices are INSANE !
View link
….more Larkfield ads….and one of their BEST kiddie matinees ever…….
View link
I was lucky enough to see one of the best modern-day horror movies of the 1970’s at….the Larkfield! Thankfully, my parents did not let us stay for “Shampoo” (I would have been bored out of my skull!).
View link
Also, I do remember Larkfield’s ticket prices was lower than the other theaters.
Here are some vintage Larkfield “stand alone” ads. Appropriately enough ; the more I find out about Larkfield’s history, the more it stands apart from other local theaters. The terrific lo-fi /no-frills ads, certainly reflect the Larkfield Theater’s character & decor(to anyone who remembers it!).
View link
I think, it was shaved down to a “PG” for the double bill with “Grease”….in 1979? I actually saw the “…Fever” / “Laura Mars…” bill at Larkfield in East Northport. I saw “Mad Monster Party” at Northport in 1969 when I was in second grade ,at a Kiddie Matinee! Northport was a great theatre and seemed well kept till the end (or at least until I stopped going altogether by 1985/86) . Like I said before; a many-generations-old neighborhood theatre like Northport should have more postings, stories and memories on here.
just a brief article on lop-sided double features…I will find the ads by next week..
Saps; YES; I have a few of the very plain stand-alone ads… gimme a few weeks to find em. The best one that I have , is for “Planet of the Apes” and “Alice’s Restaurant”…..I did an article in my Zine about the old days of lop-sided double features like this one. LOL.
http://snackbar-confidential.blogspot.com/
P.S. I have a GREAT (but small) ad for the “Beast of Blood” playing at the RKO Commack (where I actually SAW it!) / RKO Rockville Centre in the new issue of my zine; Snackbar Confidential!
http://snackbar-confidential.blogspot.com/
PINK FLAMINGOS???!!!! Was Commack ready for John Waters in 1972 ?!
Wrapping things full circle: The Commack RKO Twin served hot dogs at the snack bar. This was unusual for a walk-in theater that was not a drive in!
The new issue of my zine; Snackbar Confidential is almost ready. It’s a small cut n' paste digest CRAMMED with old ads for movies, toys, fast food, and basic junk culture from 1966 thru 1976. SEE BLOG to get one. Lots of little Long Island related items as well!
http://snackbar-confidential.blogspot.com/
also: Zips had these little plastic molded seats, I think they were bright yellow. This place was so popular, how come it closed?
RE: ZIPS! longislandmovies; weird and IRONIC: the Zips in downtown Huntington became a hot dog place in the very early 1980’s, called George E’s ! The owner was a tall grinning older guy that reminded me of a character from an old western series. Was that George himself ?? LOL.
frankaholic: Vigilante Realty, had a commercial,that was show at intermission time at……the Commack Drive In (in the very early 1970s)! How about that?
Saps: Yes, the concept (at Zips) was for kids to dump every single topping (except the YUCKY pineapple) in your little plastic batting helmet and go to town. I have a Zips newspaper ad that I will post when I find it.
Does anyone remember the smaller Pergaments (not the big one) in the Commack Corners shopping center? This would be like circa 1969 (I’m old). There was a “make-your-own-Sundae” Zips Ice Cream Parlor in downtown Huntington… man, that was such a BIG DEAL back then!
Frankaholic: the “oh soooo 1970’s” wine & cheese bar in Commack Corners was called Tiffany Touch ? Sound right? Sound stupid? LOL. I did As well as see PARASITE (in 3-D) at Elwood too! The Commack Roller Rink was called “Laces” (?) in the mid 1980’s? Was it called something else in the 70’s? *********BOB T : Baskin Robbins was much more expensive than Carvel, so many parents avoided it altogether. I do not recall one in Commack Corners OR Mayfair Shopping Center…..As for the no-name electronic store in Commack Corners;
we were there a few times when renting VIDEO TAPES as well —– it was not easy back in 1982/1983!. You guys remember when they charged like $129.99 a year to join? Geez….and the only movies to be had were “The Sound of Music”, “Jaws” and the 1979 “Superman” movie! LOL!
SEPT. 2007—— UPDATE: the building is gutted! They are putting a Cheese Cake Factory there—-YET the pylon for the Whitman theater STILL STANDS tall & proud! LOL. Someone go and take it down as a keepsake!
Commack addendum: places of yesteryear: that strange ice cream parlour next to Toy’s R Us (which was Bargain Town USA when it opened in 1971 or 1972??) , Bargain Books (in the Mayfair shopping center), Pergaments!, Hardees, the 5 & 10 store in the Commack Corners plaza, and where Starbucks is now, it was a vacant lot for years going back to the 1970’s….but back in the 1960s it was a small shopping center with a beauty parlour!
Wish we had pix of the interior— sometimes The Larkfield, till this day, pops up in my dreams/nightmares!
Frankaholic, I was also at the Commack Drive In for Friday the 13th/ Frightmare (forgot the name of the second bill!), and When a Stranger Calls at the RKO Twin! The great Fog/Phantasm double bill trailer (commercial) turns up on DVD trailer comps, (I think on Something Weird Video?) The voice-over said: “The Fog grabs you! Phantasm never lets you go!” . I would have never paid money to see Caveman, however. LOL. I saw Grease at the Mayfair. I’m telling you- we need to have a Commack Drive In / RKO reunion in the parking lot of that shopping center! Bring beers and tell stories……..