Finally a confession! I’ve spent more the 30 years looking for the person that sneaked in through the fence.
When I was 6 years old, my brother and I were horsing around in the back seat of the car while my parents were watching Rock Hudson and Joseph Cotton in “The Last Sunset”. I had to stand behind the car for the whole second half of the movie. Ah, All Weather Drive-in memories.
Mr. Wesley, you mentioned as owners of the Hampton Arts and Suffolk, was my high school teacher at Berner High School, in Massapequa, in the late 60s-early 70s.
According to a book on the New Amsterdam Theatre, Max Cohen, who owned the New Amsterdam as well as the Anco, named the Anco Theatre for his wife, ANn COhen.
I’m surprised nobody mentioned that Donny Osmond stared in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at the Chicago Theatre for nearly two years! An earlier post stated that Broadway shows didn’t appear there. I saw “Joseph” at the Chicago Theatre and it was wonderful, including Donny Osmond flying above the audience!
It’s amazing. Out of the many photos I’ve seen of 42nd Street between 7th & 8th Avuenes, I’ve never seen a shot of the Anco. The Victory, Lyric, Times Square, Apollo, Selwyn, New Amsterdam, Cine 1 & 2, Harris, Liberty, and Empire, all there, but never the Anco. I know it was at the 8th Avenue end across from the Harem, but you never see it.
City Cinemas Sutton 1 and 2
205 E. 57th Street, New York, NY 10022 Map
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I remember the odd booking of “Jetsons: the Movie” which played for a few weeks. The theatre name “Cinema 3” must have ticked off the Cinema 1 & 11 when they had to name their third theatre “Cinema 3rd Ave.”
I remember the special lodge seating section in the rear of the theatre that was marked off with railings. Great rocking chair seats. I think “Rainman” was the Pequa’s last movie.
The Amity Theatre was on Carmans Road in South Farmingdale. It was a single screen that burned down in 1968. It was rebuilt and opened with “Planet of the Apes” a few months later.
The Massapequa Drive-in was on Sunrise Highway where Lucille Roberts is now. Was a Prudential, then UA. Spent hundreds of evenings there.
Here’s a little history of exactly where the Sunrise Mall Theatres were located. I grew up a block from where the mall sits. It used to be a huge sand pit where people would dump old cars and teens would hang out. In the early 70s, construction began. The site was never anything but a mall site with the original 5-plex. They were real shoebox theatres. Simply awful. The other theatres in the Massapequa area included:
-Amity Theatre (Carmen Road, South Farmingdale) an A.I.T. Theatre located in a strip mall.
-Amityville Theatre (Main Street, Amityville) A real class theatre complete with big screen and balcony.
-Pequa Theatre (Sunrise Hwy, Massapequa) Real nice theatre with a comfy rocking chair section. (we used sneak into that section as kids!)
-Bar Harbour Theatre (Merrick Road, Massapequa Park) an A.I.T. stand alone theatre in a shopping center that spealized in art house stuff.
-North Massapequa Theatre (North Massapequa) another tiny A.I.T. Theatre right below a dance studio in a shopping center.
-Massapequa Drive-In (Massapequa) a simple no frills drive-in near the corner of Sunrise Hwy and Unqua Road.
-Johnny All Weather Drive-in (Sunrise Hwy, Copiague) one of America’s best and largest drive-ins.
-Jerry Lewis Twins (Sunrise Hwy, Massapequa) built just east of where the Massapequa Drive-in was located.
Everyone of them are gone. Great memories, though.
I wasn’t aware that there were two Roxy sites. I knew of the one to the left of the New Amsterdam. But, now that you mention it, I do remember reading that the Movieplex 42 was a converted porno house.
Do any interior photos of the Anco exist?
I have since found quite a few “Showcase” ads in the NY Times for the Anco. I guess, from time to time, they let the Anco join the big boys with first run showcase attractions. I have a photo aimed east on 42nd St from 8th Avenue. There is a marquee, next to a Blimpie sign, across from the street from the Harem. Is that the Anco?
The photo of the All-Weather brings back fabulous memories!!!! You can see the outdoor seating atop the full service restaurant. Great find, Bill.
Bill:
Finally a confession! I’ve spent more the 30 years looking for the person that sneaked in through the fence.
When I was 6 years old, my brother and I were horsing around in the back seat of the car while my parents were watching Rock Hudson and Joseph Cotton in “The Last Sunset”. I had to stand behind the car for the whole second half of the movie. Ah, All Weather Drive-in memories.
What theatres are left in the East 59th-60th Street area? Think 1970 and how many theatres were there!
chelydra:
Mr. Wesley, you mentioned as owners of the Hampton Arts and Suffolk, was my high school teacher at Berner High School, in Massapequa, in the late 60s-early 70s.
Was this the “86th Street East” from the 60s & 70s? It used to day & date with the Victoria, DeMille and Astor.
According to a book on the New Amsterdam Theatre, Max Cohen, who owned the New Amsterdam as well as the Anco, named the Anco Theatre for his wife, ANn COhen.
I’m surprised nobody mentioned that Donny Osmond stared in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at the Chicago Theatre for nearly two years! An earlier post stated that Broadway shows didn’t appear there. I saw “Joseph” at the Chicago Theatre and it was wonderful, including Donny Osmond flying above the audience!
I remember seeing the “orange” marquee going through Rockville Centre on the LIRR. I’ve never seen an orange marquee since.
It’s amazing. Out of the many photos I’ve seen of 42nd Street between 7th & 8th Avuenes, I’ve never seen a shot of the Anco. The Victory, Lyric, Times Square, Apollo, Selwyn, New Amsterdam, Cine 1 & 2, Harris, Liberty, and Empire, all there, but never the Anco. I know it was at the 8th Avenue end across from the Harem, but you never see it.
RobertR:
I posted the other “Amity” theatre awhile ago. It was actually in South Farmingdale. The Big “A” Amityville was the only theatre in that town.
This is still posted on the Moviefone website.
City Cinemas Sutton 1 and 2
205 E. 57th Street, New York, NY 10022 Map
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Duh! The theatre is gone.
The screen has a huge whole in it. What’s up?
Roll'in Ice.
I remember the odd booking of “Jetsons: the Movie” which played for a few weeks. The theatre name “Cinema 3” must have ticked off the Cinema 1 & 11 when they had to name their third theatre “Cinema 3rd Ave.”
I remember the special lodge seating section in the rear of the theatre that was marked off with railings. Great rocking chair seats. I think “Rainman” was the Pequa’s last movie.
By the way, the rebuilt Amity had a powder blue facade.
The Amity Theatre was on Carmans Road in South Farmingdale. It was a single screen that burned down in 1968. It was rebuilt and opened with “Planet of the Apes” a few months later.
The Massapequa Drive-in was on Sunrise Highway where Lucille Roberts is now. Was a Prudential, then UA. Spent hundreds of evenings there.
Here’s a little history of exactly where the Sunrise Mall Theatres were located. I grew up a block from where the mall sits. It used to be a huge sand pit where people would dump old cars and teens would hang out. In the early 70s, construction began. The site was never anything but a mall site with the original 5-plex. They were real shoebox theatres. Simply awful. The other theatres in the Massapequa area included:
-Amity Theatre (Carmen Road, South Farmingdale) an A.I.T. Theatre located in a strip mall.
-Amityville Theatre (Main Street, Amityville) A real class theatre complete with big screen and balcony.
-Pequa Theatre (Sunrise Hwy, Massapequa) Real nice theatre with a comfy rocking chair section. (we used sneak into that section as kids!)
-Bar Harbour Theatre (Merrick Road, Massapequa Park) an A.I.T. stand alone theatre in a shopping center that spealized in art house stuff.
-North Massapequa Theatre (North Massapequa) another tiny A.I.T. Theatre right below a dance studio in a shopping center.
-Massapequa Drive-In (Massapequa) a simple no frills drive-in near the corner of Sunrise Hwy and Unqua Road.
-Johnny All Weather Drive-in (Sunrise Hwy, Copiague) one of America’s best and largest drive-ins.
-Jerry Lewis Twins (Sunrise Hwy, Massapequa) built just east of where the Massapequa Drive-in was located.
Everyone of them are gone. Great memories, though.
I wasn’t aware that there were two Roxy sites. I knew of the one to the left of the New Amsterdam. But, now that you mention it, I do remember reading that the Movieplex 42 was a converted porno house.
Do any interior photos of the Anco exist?
Jerry:
Did the Movieplex 42 use the Anco’s auditorium? If not, what did they use for their 5 theatres?
I have since found quite a few “Showcase” ads in the NY Times for the Anco. I guess, from time to time, they let the Anco join the big boys with first run showcase attractions. I have a photo aimed east on 42nd St from 8th Avenue. There is a marquee, next to a Blimpie sign, across from the street from the Harem. Is that the Anco?
I have an exterior photo of the Cine 1 & 2 (circa early 90s). I’ll e-mail it to some if they want to post it.
I have an exterior photo of the New Amsterdam (circa early 90s). I’ll e-mail it to some if they want to post it.
I have an exterior photo of the Liberty (circa early 90s). I’ll e-mail it to some if they want to post it.
I have an exterior photo of the Lyric (circa early 90s). I’ll e-mail it to some if they want to post it.