Here’s the final word on the Garden, folks. My parents both grew up in Springfield Gardens in the 20s and 30s, and my father worked as an usher at the Garden Theater, which was known as “The Itch”. The building can’t be found because it was torn down in the late 50s, when the LIRR tracks were raised. It was just north of the grade crossing at Farmers Blvd. when the trackes were at street level. The huge building at Farmers and Merrick was indeed a roller rink, and NEVER a theater. It was converted into a TSS in the 50s, and the building still stands, now operated as a meat market.
There’s a lot to reply to here, but I can’t cover everything. I lived in Valley Stream for the first 25 years of my life, and I remember very well when the Belair opened in the early 60s. It was in a brand-new shopping center that housed Hills Supermarket, and it did NOT start life as a twin. It was an art house for many years, with an occasional revival, like the 1939 “Wuthering Heights” It was still arty/indie in the late 70s; I saw Bergman’s “Autumn Sonata” there, with subtitles, and it still hadn’t been twinned that late in the decade. They also had the occasional first run studio movies, like “Julia”. If anybody thinks they saw the Dave Clark Five perform there, they’re mistaken.
I agree with Gary C. above, I can’t believe that the Kingsway didn’t survive. The neighborhood, from what I hear, is still fine, so what’s the issue? Don’t people go to the movies anymore? I’ve read all the comments about the Kingsway being twinned, but the date of that happening varies with people’s memories. I’m sure it was NOT a twin when I saw “The Rose” there in 1979.
I have fond memories of the Highway, a tiny and ramshackle house, even as long ago as the 70s. My friends and I always joked that you could here someone flush the toilet when you were sitting in the auditorium. One movie that I know for a fact that I saw at the Highway was “Paper Moon”.
I lived in the area in the late 70s and early 80s, and saw a couple of movies at the Kent, “The Main Event” on Labor Day weekend in 1979, and “Fame” in 1980. I can’t believe my eyes when I read that it has been “multied,” because it was tiny, even as a single-screen venue. It was also a jewel of Art Moderne, both inside and out, and when I was there the late Deco period decor was very much intact. At least it’s still open!
Here’s the final word on the Garden, folks. My parents both grew up in Springfield Gardens in the 20s and 30s, and my father worked as an usher at the Garden Theater, which was known as “The Itch”. The building can’t be found because it was torn down in the late 50s, when the LIRR tracks were raised. It was just north of the grade crossing at Farmers Blvd. when the trackes were at street level. The huge building at Farmers and Merrick was indeed a roller rink, and NEVER a theater. It was converted into a TSS in the 50s, and the building still stands, now operated as a meat market.
There’s a lot to reply to here, but I can’t cover everything. I lived in Valley Stream for the first 25 years of my life, and I remember very well when the Belair opened in the early 60s. It was in a brand-new shopping center that housed Hills Supermarket, and it did NOT start life as a twin. It was an art house for many years, with an occasional revival, like the 1939 “Wuthering Heights” It was still arty/indie in the late 70s; I saw Bergman’s “Autumn Sonata” there, with subtitles, and it still hadn’t been twinned that late in the decade. They also had the occasional first run studio movies, like “Julia”. If anybody thinks they saw the Dave Clark Five perform there, they’re mistaken.
I agree with Gary C. above, I can’t believe that the Kingsway didn’t survive. The neighborhood, from what I hear, is still fine, so what’s the issue? Don’t people go to the movies anymore? I’ve read all the comments about the Kingsway being twinned, but the date of that happening varies with people’s memories. I’m sure it was NOT a twin when I saw “The Rose” there in 1979.
I have fond memories of the Highway, a tiny and ramshackle house, even as long ago as the 70s. My friends and I always joked that you could here someone flush the toilet when you were sitting in the auditorium. One movie that I know for a fact that I saw at the Highway was “Paper Moon”.
I lived in the area in the late 70s and early 80s, and saw a couple of movies at the Kent, “The Main Event” on Labor Day weekend in 1979, and “Fame” in 1980. I can’t believe my eyes when I read that it has been “multied,” because it was tiny, even as a single-screen venue. It was also a jewel of Art Moderne, both inside and out, and when I was there the late Deco period decor was very much intact. At least it’s still open!