It served a purpose back in the 70s and 80s. I think I saw Animal House there at least a half dozen times. For under a buck. Can’t beat that. Grew up in Merrick and there were a few cool neighborhood theaters. Then they all closed one after another. For a while in the 90s there were none. (And parents in the ‘burbs wonder why their kids are so bored out of their minds that they sit on the side of the parkway chugging beers and smoking weed.)
If anyone knows any of the old owners, I’d love to ask them if they still have any videos from the Mini’s various birthday parties. I remember horsing around outside and getting on some of their tapes. It sure would be fun to see me yacking it up as stoned dummie (with a full head of hair) in the Mini parkig lot 25 years ago.
Didn’t the Westbury Theater show porno flicks for a number of years? Growing up on the Island, it was the closest porno theater to my home. Went in highschool with friends and we used to pray that we didn’t see someone’s dad hustling across the parking lot.
It’s a damm shame that places like the Mini don’t exist anymore — even in NY City. The Film Forum and other venues in NYC show some interesting stuff, but its all so damm serious. People trying to show how sophisticated their taste are and what wonderfully intelligent people they must be. The Mini was about going to to the movies and having fun. It will always be a treasured part of my memories of growing up on Long Island and, believe me, those great memories of Long Island are few and far between. It really harkens back to an era where people weren’t afraid to let their hair down for a few hours and let themselves go. There will never be another. Maybe somewhere in the great USA there are theaters like the Mini still packing the kids in. Eraserhead or El Topo, anyone?
Loved the place. Saw every damm thing they showed, as it was walking distance from my house. Saw world premiere of Rock n Roll HIgh School. Todd Browning’s Freaks many times. Blood Sucking Freaks. Eraserhead. Asparagus. El Topo. Rust Never Sleeps. Pink Floyd at Pompeii. KIng of Hearts. I could go on and on. Birthday Parties for the place where they just strung hours of stuff together. If you were getting high, the ushers would join you for a hit. Want to bring in booze? Never a problem. Beer bottled rolling up and down the aisles. What a place. Never saw an unpleasant scene in 10 years. Just the height of cool. There will never be another.
Mike: Loved the Utube clip. Brought back a bunch of great memories. What a treat to see. Thanks very much for posting.
It served a purpose back in the 70s and 80s. I think I saw Animal House there at least a half dozen times. For under a buck. Can’t beat that. Grew up in Merrick and there were a few cool neighborhood theaters. Then they all closed one after another. For a while in the 90s there were none. (And parents in the ‘burbs wonder why their kids are so bored out of their minds that they sit on the side of the parkway chugging beers and smoking weed.)
If anyone knows any of the old owners, I’d love to ask them if they still have any videos from the Mini’s various birthday parties. I remember horsing around outside and getting on some of their tapes. It sure would be fun to see me yacking it up as stoned dummie (with a full head of hair) in the Mini parkig lot 25 years ago.
Indeed. Thanks for the clarification.
Didn’t the Westbury Theater show porno flicks for a number of years? Growing up on the Island, it was the closest porno theater to my home. Went in highschool with friends and we used to pray that we didn’t see someone’s dad hustling across the parking lot.
It’s a damm shame that places like the Mini don’t exist anymore — even in NY City. The Film Forum and other venues in NYC show some interesting stuff, but its all so damm serious. People trying to show how sophisticated their taste are and what wonderfully intelligent people they must be. The Mini was about going to to the movies and having fun. It will always be a treasured part of my memories of growing up on Long Island and, believe me, those great memories of Long Island are few and far between. It really harkens back to an era where people weren’t afraid to let their hair down for a few hours and let themselves go. There will never be another. Maybe somewhere in the great USA there are theaters like the Mini still packing the kids in. Eraserhead or El Topo, anyone?
Loved the place. Saw every damm thing they showed, as it was walking distance from my house. Saw world premiere of Rock n Roll HIgh School. Todd Browning’s Freaks many times. Blood Sucking Freaks. Eraserhead. Asparagus. El Topo. Rust Never Sleeps. Pink Floyd at Pompeii. KIng of Hearts. I could go on and on. Birthday Parties for the place where they just strung hours of stuff together. If you were getting high, the ushers would join you for a hit. Want to bring in booze? Never a problem. Beer bottled rolling up and down the aisles. What a place. Never saw an unpleasant scene in 10 years. Just the height of cool. There will never be another.