I worked at Larkfield from 1974 until about 1978 — (The Exorcist was playing when I started) until I moved to NYC and the commute was too much, for a minimum wage job!
I loved working there, and became good friends with the projectionist, Steve Napoli. He taught me how to thread and run the projectors, do change-overs, raise and lower the curtain, dim the houselights, everything except prepare/repair/splice the film. He was a union man and that was strictly his domain.
I started as an usher/candy counter, and worked my way up to box office cashier. I also did the recorded announcements for most of the time I was there — “This is the Larkfield Theater, located on Larkfield Road in East Northport. This week we are proud to present an outstanding motion picture…For additional information, or if you wish to speak to the manager, please call 261-0902 during showtime, and thank you for calling the Larkfield Theater!”
I also changed the marquee every week, and inspired by 42nd Street, I tried to give it a little juice from time to time, although space and letters were limited.
Well, at least I was in show business for a while.
I also loved the owners Stuart and Sarah Baker, real old-school characters from a time long passed. Stuart taught me how to tie my necktie, and to this day I tie it the same way. Sarah was hard as nails, but soft on the inside with a face like Winston Churchill. She had intelligence and integrity and I treasured our time together.
Warren, many of the photos you have posted at Photobucket (including the one on 8/5/05, say that the “page is not found.” I hope you can activate some of these defunct links, here and on other theater pages.
That was a lovely post, Alistair Schneider; your wistful reminiscenses brought a little lump to my throat. I think you have summed up the appeal of this Cinema Treasures website: for most of us, we appreciate that “older theaters [have} so much life in them, whether they were first run or ‘For Adults Only.’”
Do we know which version of Blade Runner is getting a new print for its week at the Ziegfeld? I prefer the 1982 with the narration, but the 1992 has merit, too. (“What’s a tortoise?” Gotta love it.)
This is my favorite house in the city, apart from the Ziegfeld. (Regal E-Walk is next.) I’ve never had the problems others have encountered, and the presentation and ambiance are first-rate. My only caveat is that they used to play more art films here, on the top level, but now it’s mostly run-of-the-mill multiplex fare.
To reach one million customers the Ziegfeld would have to sell an average of 2,740 tickets per day, which is possible but not probable. I bet the AMC does that easily.
There is a documentary running on PBS this week called “P.O.V. Prison Town USA” and there are several shots of this Main Sreet mainstay, with its vertical sign and yellow marquee, in plain view. I was happily surprised to find that such a seemingly depressed location is able to support this theater. (There is another theatre in town, the Uptown, but I didn’t notice if it too was shown.)
This link at the first comment still works; check it out for all things Susanville.
I had been to both the upstairs and downstairs here several times in its last years. (I preferred the upstairs…so expansively raked and comfortable.) I wish I’d had enough sense to appreciate where I was, and that it wouldn’t last forever.
I was here not too long ago for a screening of “Singin' in the Rain” with my 2-½ year old daughter. We’d seen the DVD many times, but we were both mesmerized by the beautiful Technicolor print and full sound up there on the big screen. She didn’t budge an inch for the entire running time, except once to climb on my lap to get more comfy.
Before the show, they had a drawing for a free pass and let her pick the winning number out of a bag — and she picked my ticket! (The fix was in?…nah!)
This theater’s marquee and outside vestibule are featured in the new Verizon cable TV commercials, which is somewhat ironic since the Manhasset is owned by Clearview, which is owned by Cablevision, which is Verizon’s main competitor.
How did something like that slip by, or is Verizon zinging it to Cablevision? Either way, it made me chuckle.
I saw Poseidon Adventure here (it must have been at the very end of its run) and I was blown away. I had no idea it was about a sinking luxury liner — based on the name I thought it was about mythological gods or something and I didn’t really want to see it! Boy, was I surprised. When that ship turned over my heart was in my throat.
Parents would drop their kids off while they shopped, and I recall that it was pitch black in that little theater at the back of the store, near the grocery pickup. I think there were also kiddie rides nearby.
And here is its website: www.terracetheater.com
Congrats!
Beautiful web site. Clear, attractive graphics, easy to navigate.
I was looking for the Cinema Treausures listing.
I worked at Larkfield from 1974 until about 1978 — (The Exorcist was playing when I started) until I moved to NYC and the commute was too much, for a minimum wage job!
I loved working there, and became good friends with the projectionist, Steve Napoli. He taught me how to thread and run the projectors, do change-overs, raise and lower the curtain, dim the houselights, everything except prepare/repair/splice the film. He was a union man and that was strictly his domain.
I started as an usher/candy counter, and worked my way up to box office cashier. I also did the recorded announcements for most of the time I was there — “This is the Larkfield Theater, located on Larkfield Road in East Northport. This week we are proud to present an outstanding motion picture…For additional information, or if you wish to speak to the manager, please call 261-0902 during showtime, and thank you for calling the Larkfield Theater!”
I also changed the marquee every week, and inspired by 42nd Street, I tried to give it a little juice from time to time, although space and letters were limited.
Well, at least I was in show business for a while.
I also loved the owners Stuart and Sarah Baker, real old-school characters from a time long passed. Stuart taught me how to tie my necktie, and to this day I tie it the same way. Sarah was hard as nails, but soft on the inside with a face like Winston Churchill. She had intelligence and integrity and I treasured our time together.
Did they fix that water damage on the auditorium ceiling yet? Or even paint it? Every time I’m there it looks just awful.
Can’t seem to locate this house under the name Terrace or in the city of Charleston.
ummm?
Warren, many of the photos you have posted at Photobucket (including the one on 8/5/05, say that the “page is not found.” I hope you can activate some of these defunct links, here and on other theater pages.
That was a lovely post, Alistair Schneider; your wistful reminiscenses brought a little lump to my throat. I think you have summed up the appeal of this Cinema Treasures website: for most of us, we appreciate that “older theaters [have} so much life in them, whether they were first run or ‘For Adults Only.’”
Do we know which version of Blade Runner is getting a new print for its week at the Ziegfeld? I prefer the 1982 with the narration, but the 1992 has merit, too. (“What’s a tortoise?” Gotta love it.)
Saw my first James Bond movie here, Live and Let Die. In a word, wow!
Wasn’t this recently sold by Boardman? He also owns the Art, a lovely art theatre with good picture and great sound in Champaign, IL.
This is my favorite house in the city, apart from the Ziegfeld. (Regal E-Walk is next.) I’ve never had the problems others have encountered, and the presentation and ambiance are first-rate. My only caveat is that they used to play more art films here, on the top level, but now it’s mostly run-of-the-mill multiplex fare.
To reach one million customers the Ziegfeld would have to sell an average of 2,740 tickets per day, which is possible but not probable. I bet the AMC does that easily.
There is a documentary running on PBS this week called “P.O.V. Prison Town USA” and there are several shots of this Main Sreet mainstay, with its vertical sign and yellow marquee, in plain view. I was happily surprised to find that such a seemingly depressed location is able to support this theater. (There is another theatre in town, the Uptown, but I didn’t notice if it too was shown.)
This link at the first comment still works; check it out for all things Susanville.
Not the greatest twin cinemas in creation, but the loss of any is still a blow to the heart.
Craig O'Connor, what say you?
I had been to both the upstairs and downstairs here several times in its last years. (I preferred the upstairs…so expansively raked and comfortable.) I wish I’d had enough sense to appreciate where I was, and that it wouldn’t last forever.
I was here not too long ago for a screening of “Singin' in the Rain” with my 2-½ year old daughter. We’d seen the DVD many times, but we were both mesmerized by the beautiful Technicolor print and full sound up there on the big screen. She didn’t budge an inch for the entire running time, except once to climb on my lap to get more comfy.
Before the show, they had a drawing for a free pass and let her pick the winning number out of a bag — and she picked my ticket! (The fix was in?…nah!)
This theater’s marquee and outside vestibule are featured in the new Verizon cable TV commercials, which is somewhat ironic since the Manhasset is owned by Clearview, which is owned by Cablevision, which is Verizon’s main competitor.
How did something like that slip by, or is Verizon zinging it to Cablevision? Either way, it made me chuckle.
I’m working not far from here and plan to visit real soon.
I just started working in the neighborhood and am sorry to see this is closed. I came here once or twice when I lived in Flushing over 20 years ago.
Maybe I’ll check out the church; all are welcome, right?
I saw Poseidon Adventure here (it must have been at the very end of its run) and I was blown away. I had no idea it was about a sinking luxury liner — based on the name I thought it was about mythological gods or something and I didn’t really want to see it! Boy, was I surprised. When that ship turned over my heart was in my throat.
Is that photo above of the Cinerama in Seattle? I’d vote for that one, too.
Parents would drop their kids off while they shopped, and I recall that it was pitch black in that little theater at the back of the store, near the grocery pickup. I think there were also kiddie rides nearby.