I found this site after seeing “Song of Bernadette” (1943, Jennifer Jones [Oscar]) on cable the other night and was reminded of my childhood. In the late 1950’s I attended St. Agnes Elementary School in Rockville Centre and every year we would be marched in 2 columns down the sidewalk from the school to the Fantasy Theater to watch “Song of Bernadette.” Naturally, as a kid living in Rockville Centre, I was at the theater on many, many Saturdays. There were weekly chapter-released action shorts before the noon feature. Westerns were still very popular. I remember they had a “chaparone” sitting in the balcony’s 1st row to prevent kids from throwing popcorn down into the orchestra! The ceiling was magnificent – high with a recess for the large light. The burgundy velvet-like curtain had gold braiding on it & opened vertically from the center first in a crescent shape. My main memory of this theatre was walking outside (always still daylight!) and not being able to see and having to cover your eyes! Too bad it wasn’t restored & saved.
I found this site after seeing “Song of Bernadette” (1943, Jennifer Jones [Oscar]) on cable the other night and was reminded of my childhood. In the late 1950’s I attended St. Agnes Elementary School in Rockville Centre and every year we would be marched in 2 columns down the sidewalk from the school to the Fantasy Theater to watch “Song of Bernadette.” Naturally, as a kid living in Rockville Centre, I was at the theater on many, many Saturdays. There were weekly chapter-released action shorts before the noon feature. Westerns were still very popular. I remember they had a “chaparone” sitting in the balcony’s 1st row to prevent kids from throwing popcorn down into the orchestra! The ceiling was magnificent – high with a recess for the large light. The burgundy velvet-like curtain had gold braiding on it & opened vertically from the center first in a crescent shape. My main memory of this theatre was walking outside (always still daylight!) and not being able to see and having to cover your eyes! Too bad it wasn’t restored & saved.