In the book, Huntington Station “A Vanished Community” there are several pages devoted to the theater. There is also a grainy image which is of no value. One resident remembers, that as a youth, doing a balancing act to get from the retaining wall of the hillside in back of the theater to the theater roof and looking in the mushroom ventilation unit to see the movie.
From Route 111 you can see a mushroom ventilation unit. Was not the theater air conditioned from the beginning? Unfortunately the unit cannot be seen from ground level, only the significantly higher Route 111. Hence, no photo.
The following is the description of the Strand from the Archives of the Rockville Centre Public Library: “The Strand Theatre stood on the north side of Sunrise Highway between Park and Village Avenues. It had 1,035 seats, an organ, mushroom ventilation (the forerunner of air conditioning), large dressing rooms and large aisles. It opened on June 8, 1922 and offered both vaudeville shows and motion pictures.
According to local lore, boys would scrape together 10 cents for one admission. One boy would go in and open the fire exit in the balcony (which was not alarmed) to allow in his buddies.
Two photos circa 1930 added. The distance shot is from the Archives of the Rockville Centre Public Library. The frontal was originally posted by Warren Harris and subsequent relinked by Ed Solero.
I think artpf may be thinking about either of the two large theaters in Sunnyside, the Bliss or the Sunnyside, which were in the 2,000 seating range. According to the 1944 FDYB the capacity of the Center was 600.
I’ve added a current photo of the façade.
In the book, Huntington Station “A Vanished Community” there are several pages devoted to the theater. There is also a grainy image which is of no value. One resident remembers, that as a youth, doing a balancing act to get from the retaining wall of the hillside in back of the theater to the theater roof and looking in the mushroom ventilation unit to see the movie.
From Route 111 you can see a mushroom ventilation unit. Was not the theater air conditioned from the beginning? Unfortunately the unit cannot be seen from ground level, only the significantly higher Route 111. Hence, no photo.
The following is the description of the Strand from the Archives of the Rockville Centre Public Library: “The Strand Theatre stood on the north side of Sunrise Highway between Park and Village Avenues. It had 1,035 seats, an organ, mushroom ventilation (the forerunner of air conditioning), large dressing rooms and large aisles. It opened on June 8, 1922 and offered both vaudeville shows and motion pictures.
According to local lore, boys would scrape together 10 cents for one admission. One boy would go in and open the fire exit in the balcony (which was not alarmed) to allow in his buddies.
Two photos circa 1930 added. The distance shot is from the Archives of the Rockville Centre Public Library. The frontal was originally posted by Warren Harris and subsequent relinked by Ed Solero.
July 1, 1953 opening ad from Patchogue Advance of June 25th added.
I think artpf may be thinking about either of the two large theaters in Sunnyside, the Bliss or the Sunnyside, which were in the 2,000 seating range. According to the 1944 FDYB the capacity of the Center was 600.
Added 1914 image of Main Street showing the vertical of the New Regent.
Post card image of the Carlton Opera House added.
Added photo of crowd in front of theater for the St. Patrick’s day parade as published in 3/15/2014 Newsday.
Why would anyone favor a photo from the Chicago RKO Palace which is posted on the Old Country, Plainview, NY site. Doesn’t belong here.
Seems odd that it’s thriving when the Babylon in town couldn’t make it. The parking?
As I heard the story the theatre will be razed and a new, larger one built. Should be happening around now.
Is this a reno or a tear down and rebuild?
Theater was built in less time than the eight month reno.
Opening ad shows Hampton’s. Pylon didn’t have the apostrophe.
Advertising flyer added.
Theater plan and image added.
Old ad uploaded. Notice the apostrophe, as I set up the site. When the new Edwards opened the apostrophe was a thing of the past.
Uploaded opening ad. Notice the apostrophe is out with the old.
Photo added of November 22, 1928 opening.
Photo added.
Photos added of marquee removal in 1965 and demo in April 1966.
Photo added.
Added photo circa 1935