True, John. One full photo of the theater shows “The Pawnbroker” which was a big hit in the 1960s. What I also found interesting in this photo is that the entire theater is on Broadway. Generally, only the entrance would be on the main street and the auditorium in the back. Full Broadway frontage would cost a lot more taxwise than just a small entrance.
Things are looking up. The dumpster is gone. They took down the South Bay signage, covered the side marquee, repaired all the exterior cracks and applied some sort of primer. There are a number of units being installed on the roof, presumably to heat/cool the projected five auditoriums in the first phase of the renovation. See photos uploaded.
Of all the initial Prudential Drive Ins this was the largest until they built the three All Weather’s. Although the Cinema hard top was adjacent to the drive in it did not appear that they were trying to play catch up to the All Weather concept since the movies show in the two venues were always different.
I have uploaded a picture showing a portion of the signage for the Princess. I created the site indicating the theater was on Garnett because of a postcard image I found showing adjacent buildings to the Princess identified as Garnett Street.
According to Joe Vogel, in a comment on Henderson’s Stevenson Theatre site, the Princess was part of the small Stevenson Theaters Company which also operated houses in Burlington, Greenville, Mesane and Raleigh.
I determined that the Stevenson circuit was incorporated in 1925. It’s interesting that the company was “Theater” but their playhouses were “Theatres”.
Uploaded early photo showing the entire facade. Incidentally, Stevenson Theaters was an early operator of the theater, probably from the beginning, since Stevenson Theaters was incorporated in 1925.
Jack Carson appeared in many romcoms, often with his buddy, Dennis Morgan and, dramatically, in the film Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Don Defore starred in the Christmas film classic It Happened on Fifth Avenue and as “Thorny”, the next door neighbor, on the Ozzie and Harriet TV Series. Oscar Levant showed up in many musicals memorably in An American in Paris. Janis Paige starred as “Babe” in Pajama Game on Broadway and is remembered for being “out performed” by her opening act in Las Vegas, Sammy Davis Jr..
Located on the southeast corner of the intersection across from the Marion. There were also a number of short lived store front venues which have not been identified.
Located on the southwest corner of the intersection across from the Star. There were also a number of short lived store front operations in town whose identities are unknown.
To RobertR who created this site-you mention the theater played the same picture as the Park. I don’t recall any Park theater in the area. The only one I can think of is the Century in New Hyde Park.
Interestingly the Century Management Corporation was housed in the building; presumably the same Century as the circuit. This was leased property because any theater that Century had built could not be used to show movies by a subsequent owner according the the closing agreement.
The original concept of the various Prudential All Weather theaters was that the same movie was shown at the indoor and outdoor theaters, albeit at different times, regardless of the weather. By the 1980s when UA was the managing circuit it was not uncommon for one film to play indoors and a double feature of other films outdoors. This policy was also in effect at the Johnny All Weather in Copiague and the Patchogue Sunrise.
The overview is not totally accurate. When Prudential built this, and two other All Weather Drive Ins (the Patchogue Sunrise and the Smithtown, the same film played indoors and out, albeit at different times, regardless of the weather. It was only in the 1980s when operated by UA that it was not uncommon for two different films to be shown (actually three since the drive in portion always had a double feature).
True, John. One full photo of the theater shows “The Pawnbroker” which was a big hit in the 1960s. What I also found interesting in this photo is that the entire theater is on Broadway. Generally, only the entrance would be on the main street and the auditorium in the back. Full Broadway frontage would cost a lot more taxwise than just a small entrance.
Building was replaced by a modern structure.
Building no longer stands as it was destroyed by fire.
Uploaded an early picture
Uploaded a wider range photo of the Plaza in the day.
Uploaded a picture of the marquee.
The theater now provides a spectacular venue for weddings and other events. See photos uploaded from their site.
Interestingly the theater was destroyed after the Easter 1947 show. The new theater opened (Lindenhurst, elsewhere on CT) on Christmas 1948.
Things are looking up. The dumpster is gone. They took down the South Bay signage, covered the side marquee, repaired all the exterior cracks and applied some sort of primer. There are a number of units being installed on the roof, presumably to heat/cool the projected five auditoriums in the first phase of the renovation. See photos uploaded.
John, new picture will not replace the old. At best it will be in a rotation schedule.
Of all the initial Prudential Drive Ins this was the largest until they built the three All Weather’s. Although the Cinema hard top was adjacent to the drive in it did not appear that they were trying to play catch up to the All Weather concept since the movies show in the two venues were always different.
I have uploaded several pictures of the facade of the Stevenson as well as a postcard image (incorrectly identified as Main Street).
I have uploaded a picture showing a portion of the signage for the Princess. I created the site indicating the theater was on Garnett because of a postcard image I found showing adjacent buildings to the Princess identified as Garnett Street.
According to Joe Vogel, in a comment on Henderson’s Stevenson Theatre site, the Princess was part of the small Stevenson Theaters Company which also operated houses in Burlington, Greenville, Mesane and Raleigh.
I determined that the Stevenson circuit was incorporated in 1925. It’s interesting that the company was “Theater” but their playhouses were “Theatres”.
Uploaded early photo showing the entire facade. Incidentally, Stevenson Theaters was an early operator of the theater, probably from the beginning, since Stevenson Theaters was incorporated in 1925.
Jack Carson appeared in many romcoms, often with his buddy, Dennis Morgan and, dramatically, in the film Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Don Defore starred in the Christmas film classic It Happened on Fifth Avenue and as “Thorny”, the next door neighbor, on the Ozzie and Harriet TV Series. Oscar Levant showed up in many musicals memorably in An American in Paris. Janis Paige starred as “Babe” in Pajama Game on Broadway and is remembered for being “out performed” by her opening act in Las Vegas, Sammy Davis Jr..
Located on the southeast corner of the intersection across from the Marion. There were also a number of short lived store front venues which have not been identified.
Located on the southwest corner of the intersection across from the Star. There were also a number of short lived store front operations in town whose identities are unknown.
Just what you need in a movie theater, free WiFi.
Uploaded a photo of the shuttered All Weather pylon announcing the coming of the new multiplex.
To RobertR who created this site-you mention the theater played the same picture as the Park. I don’t recall any Park theater in the area. The only one I can think of is the Century in New Hyde Park.
Interestingly the Century Management Corporation was housed in the building; presumably the same Century as the circuit. This was leased property because any theater that Century had built could not be used to show movies by a subsequent owner according the the closing agreement.
Theater was still in operation in 1983 at a time when the larger venues were being chopped up and the independent one closing.
Still around in 1983 in an era where large theaters were being divided and subdivided and the smaller ones were going out of business.
The original concept of the various Prudential All Weather theaters was that the same movie was shown at the indoor and outdoor theaters, albeit at different times, regardless of the weather. By the 1980s when UA was the managing circuit it was not uncommon for one film to play indoors and a double feature of other films outdoors. This policy was also in effect at the Johnny All Weather in Copiague and the Patchogue Sunrise.
The overview is not totally accurate. When Prudential built this, and two other All Weather Drive Ins (the Patchogue Sunrise and the Smithtown, the same film played indoors and out, albeit at different times, regardless of the weather. It was only in the 1980s when operated by UA that it was not uncommon for two different films to be shown (actually three since the drive in portion always had a double feature).