UA Movies at Patchogue 13

"Suffering" is an accurate word. Although UA is gone, the "let it run into the ground" theory of management remains. Unrepaired broken seats, marred screens and absolute minimum staffing are the rule today. It's clear that this is another giant multiplex that won't be with us for long.

Yeah, you are right, the Patchogue's days are numbered. It is dying a slow death now that the Island 16 opened up just north of it at the Expressway and the LIE. You can see it in the condition of the theaters. When I wrote the description above, I wasn't sure of one thing, it is still called, "UA Movies at Patchogue", but it's obvious that Regal owns it. Did Regal buy out UA, or did they just buy the UA Patchogue. If Regal doesn't own UA, it seems bizzarre that they would still call it "UA Movies at Pacthcogue" if they just bought this particular theater, which still has UA in the official name.
Also, they may be doing it for extra money, but it's also the kiss of death...on Sunday mornings, they even rent out one or two of the theaters in the multiplex to a church that does church services in the theater, a sign that they can use all the money they can get.
The same as when you see a "storefront church" in a shopping center, it's the kiss of death for the shopping center (a sign they can't get normal stores to rent there anymore), the same is true for a theater, and especially for a multiplex, such as the Patchogue, that it is dying.
Sad, I had many a good time at the patchogue (as I did at the now closed nearby Brookhaven Multiplex), but it's days do appear numbered.

In addition, I don't know where else to really ask this, but maybe someone familiar with Patchogue will see this here.
I am trying to find out the name of the movie theater that was once in the shopping center just east of the UA Patchogue 13. It was in the shopping center that is where Staples and Walbaums are the anchor stores in at the SW corner of Waverly Ave and Sunrise.
The theater was in the taller section in the middle of the Shopping Center. Currently, Howard's Cafe (a great little bar and grill), and La Strata Italian restaurant occupy the space once held by the movie theater. Any information would be appreciated (like when it closed, how many screens, etc, and what it's name was).

That was before I moved to the area, but you're right about Howard's Cafe!!!

Regal owns the UA theaters chain nowadays. They still use the UA name on numerous theaters.

A buddy at work told me that the theater where Howard's is today was the Sunwave Theater. He said that the last movie he recalls seeing there was "Never Say Never Again."

Thanks Andy! It makes perfect sense, as that shopping center is called "Sunwave Plaza", obviously a play on the intersection, Sunrise Highway and Waverly Ave.
I think I will add an entry for that theater. I don't have too much information on it, other than the name and that it closed in the mid-80's, but hopefully as time goes on, people will add some more information on it.

As for Howard's Cafe, I am always sorry to see a theater close, but Howard's sure is a good replacement to the theater. I had many a more good time at Howard's than I ever would have had at the theater!

For those interested in the Sunwave, almost next door to the Patchogue 13, I added the theater to the site thanks to Andy's help in getting the name.
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/7842/

Its hard to say how long this location has but rumors always have it closing and being sold for houses lots and lots of property here.

Not to carp but the theater was located more to the left of the shopping center, not exactly where Howards is but closer to duane reed. it was a terrific theater for a strip mall , and i saw butch cassidy there with my dad when it was re-issued in 1976,as well as the seven-ups and the bad news bears. i want to say that it was a UA theater but i'm not sure.
the patchogue 13 is a terrific theater, nestled in the woods as it is, but perhaps too huge for its size and the paltry lousy content coming out of Hollywood these days.
you know, i went to the island 16 the other day and the movie before 6 pm for me and my nephew was 13 dollars and for each of us to have a small bag of popcorn and a soda was another 17 bucks.
families would probably enjoy more movies together if they didn't feel like they were being mugged at the concension stand. some of these theaters are willfuly cutting their own throats through greed.

Nah, the theater was where Howards is. You can even see it where the roofline is. Howard's, La Strata, and the liquor store are in the theater location, the two story section of the shopping center. Actually it was Howard's Cafe that has moved. Howard's used to be in the corner in space now occupied by partly by Duane Reade. When Staples moved in, they took over some space once occupied by Rockbottom (the tenant before Duane Reade). That made Rockbottom need more space, so they took some of the store's once occupied Howard's and another store to the right of that. That's when Howard's moved into the theater's space (early 90's). La Strata moved into the theater space when Walbaums took over their location in the shopping center. When the theater closed, it became a carpet store for a while.

I agree with the craziness of the concession prices. Speaking of the price, as bad as the Patchogue 13's prices are, it is worse at some of the others! The new theater, the Island at Nichols and LIE is even worse! The popcorn and soda is in fact more than the movie itself!

ok, i stand corrected.
of course you KNOW i'll be driving over today to check out the roofline! haha.
i really hate to see these great old theaters go (ok that wasn't such a grand old theater but it was centrally located and fun!).
amazingly while all these changes are happening, wendy's and across the street long john silver's remains...go figure.

Hello;
I would like to make a correction here. I know the subject turned to the to the Sunwave, but I would like to say that the drive in in Patchogue, New York, started as the Patchogue Sunrise Indoor-Outdoor All Weather Drive In. If you dare to go to it, the indoor part of the drive in is still in use. It was the farthest theater to the last time I was there. The original concession is boarded up. A little piece of history about the drive in. For those of you who don't know about all weather drive ins on Long Island, they originally started by playing the same film both indoors and out, but they were later twinned so the outdoor and indoor played different movies. The same was true for the Smithtown Drive In. I just figured I would add something to this conversation.

Gustavelifting
I'm not sure I get what you were saying, the indoor theatre from the drive-In days is part of the current multi-plex?

its still there? where??? i would love to see it!

its in the vicinity of the multiplex, no?

i am not sure about that claim/ been to this theater 60 or 70 times

The original building is the "Farthest theater" from where in the current building? I also don't remember seeing a boarded up anything that was a concession stand. Is that behind the current building?

THAT WOULD BE THE LARGEST THEATER THEN WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BEEN THE AL L WEATHER?

It just seems odd to me that UA would build a new complex around that theatre. It had been closed for a long time prior to the drive-ins closing was it not?

true put that one theater is much larger than the rest would be strange to do that.

I am skeptical of the whole thing.

Okay;
Here is the location of the old Patchogue Sunrise Indoor. The former snack bar building is attached to the multiplex. You go passed the present snack bar, as far as you can go without walking into a theater. You should now be by the theaters in the rear. You turn left and go as far as you can go. There will be a wall on your right and doors on your left. Just walk through one of those doors and you are in the theater. Some of the longer standing employees may be able to help you if you can't find it. By the way, if you go around the left side of the building you can see where the old snack bar was. It's cemented over now. Also, the theater no longer has a curtain.

Thanks. I will have to check that out next time I am in the Patchogue.

Also, the theater no longer has a curtain.
posted by Gustavelifting on Oct 11, 2004 at 11:09pm


God forbid they keep one house looking like a real movie theatre with a curtain.

Ua has enough problems keeping the pic on the screen without the worry of a curtain.......

i find myself more and more buying dvd's of movies i saw in the "old" days , and less and less seeing new films. i hate to say it cause i know it sounds like bitching, but the movies WERE more exciting and better, and the audiences more courteous.
last time i was at this patchogue theater with my wife, there was a group of about 8 teenagers running up and down the aisles, kicking cardboard containers around, being generally disruptive, until we yelled at them.
and who was the genius who thought of placing the door window in line with the screen? not only are you distracted by blinding light every time some clod has to get up, but it casts a wan pale across the screen!

HERE GOES; TO GET TO THE THEATER.
ONCE YOU PAY FOR THE TICKET, YOU WALK INSIDE. YOU PASS THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CONCESSION STAND AND THE PRESENT MEN'S TOILET. YOU MAKE A LEFT AT THE REAR CORRIDOR. IF YOU WALK DIRECTLY INTO A MOVIE THEATER YOU HAVE GONE TO FAR, GO BACK INTO THE HALLWAY. ONCE YOU REACH THE VERY END OF THE HALLWAY, WALK BACKWARDS JUST A FEW STEPS. THERE WILL BE DOUBLE DOORS ON YOUR LEFT HAND SIDE. WALK THROUGH THOSE DOORS AND YOU ARE IN THE ORIGINAL SUNRISE DRIVE IN INDOOR.

NOW; AS FOR THE SUNRISE CONCESSION
DO NOT ENTER THE BUILDING AT ALL COSTS. JUST WALK AROUND THE LEFT HAND SIDE. IT IS IN THE REAR OF THE BUILDING, ALL CEMENTED OVER.

MAYBE IS SHOULD CHECK THIS OUT.

That is pretty cool. I have been in that multiplex countless times, and never knew that. I think I had even seen movies in that particular theater. Is it a little bigger than the other theaters? I know exactly where you mean, as I was just on that side of the building a couple months ago (but not in that theater).
As a kid, I saw a few movies at the Indoor Drive In theater, so am happy to know it still exists. I thought it was all torn down when they built the UA Patchogue.

Is the the old indoor theater of the drivein, now part of the multiplex, the same size as it always was, or did they cut it in two? How many seats is that particular theater?

R143, the last time I was in that particular theater was about two years ago, and it was still the same size. I don't know the number, but I would not be surprised if it was 1,000. I'm glad someone figured it out.

I WOULD THINK THAT THEATER WAS 750 OR 800 SEATS/ SOME ONE MUST HAVE THE SEAT COUNT FROM THE OLD INDOOR.

Thanks logislandmovies;
I wasn't sure, but it seemed to be more than most theaters, including present playhouses that were once movie theaters.

Very true kind of reminds me of the old Whitman theater in Huntington had 780 seats.

this is awesome news, if true. next time i'll be sure to bring a camera!

Hello Again;
I was at the theater just today, and they did not cut that Sunrise Indoor in half. The look was updated. The movie in there on October 17, 2003 was Shark Tale. The hallway makes an S curve just before the theater, which has two sets of double doors. Oh, by the way, bway agrees, I forgot he mentioned it on the Bay Shore Sunrise Drive In Page, which means I only brought the subject to this one. I think he's rightfully upset with me for not mentioning that. Also, the snack bar is now the loading dock, it's in back.

I was there, and, well, let's just say I'm surprised it doesn't have any tagger graffiti. I remember the multiplex in its heyday and it's just a shadow, neigh, haunted house version of its former self. They need to fix the laminate by the men's room sinks. The canvas along the sides need to be cleaned, at least in theater one. If you want to go to a Regal, go to the one on Portion Road in Lake Ronkonkoma.

This theater is still in ok shape for a UA HOUSE

What I am saying is that it's just a shadow of what it was I recall when the theater was new, and it was a grand place. Maybe I overstated it. However, well, it's not what it was in the 1980s. The place is in decent condition. Maybe I shouldn't have said that I'm surprised it doesn't have tagger graffiti. That was probably prejudicial. It was a decent house, that's correct. I would be going there if they did not build the Island Sixteen where I live. It may also be that I think I'm still angry that they tore down the drive in screen. Excuse me, I sometimes have a tendency to overstate things.

FOR A UA HOUSE , THIS IS THE BEST YOU CAN HOPE FOR ...

GUST I WONDER IF I KNOW YOU OUR PATHS SEEM TO CROSS...?

Okay, I concede it was great for a UA House

lol

Gustavelifting over and out...and there was some laughter.

Gust, what number is the old drive in theater, now part of the multiplex? Theater 1?
As for the condition of the theater, it certainly is not as well kept as it used to be. While I have seen worse, they don't maintain it as well as they once did. It probably is struggling because of the opening of the Island 16.

What is the thinking behind letting a theatre go to crap the minute there is competition? There are cases of theatres surviving by finding their niche in booking and operations. What I cant figure out is the Crossbay 2, it's in a free booking zone and UA has let the place fall apart so bad it has to be seen to believe.

It's usually UA that lets the theaters go to crap (hense Cross Bay), and in this case Patchogue.
The UA Patchogue even rents one of it's auditoiums to a church on Sundays - you know they must be scrambling for any kind of income they can get if they have to do that.
But you are absolutely correct, because people that would come to the Patchogue to avoid the complete mayhem at the Island 16 may not even come to the Patchogue if they continue to let the theater decline. At least they would have a chance if they kept the theater a pleasant place to see a movie.

United Artists does not exist as an exhibitor today, only the name, therefore the current operators are responsiblle for the decline of the remaining U.A. houses. (That is not saying that U.A. itself contributed to their own theatres' decline.) United Artists started going down the drain once Salah Hassanien departed or was forced out by the incoming "takeover" which commenced the decline of United Artists Eastern Theatres.

TO BE FAIR this theater is not clean but the overall condition (seats ,floors ,walls )is in pretty good shape.......

IN MY OPINION Salah Hassanien was one of the WORST people ever in the movie bsns.

Bway , I dont think the theater renting to the church is a sign of weakness the managers are ALL told in all chains to go out and get rentals.

You are right, the Patchogue is not so much falling apart, but rather "dirty".

Okay;
I hope you guys aren't pulling my leg on this. The Sunrise Indoor is the Easternmost Theater. I don't know the number. However, it's not on the same side as of the corridor as the other theaters. It's past the main concession and make a left. You pass the satellite concession, and a bank of doors. It's alone, by itself. There aren't any other theaters near it. I have a feeling though, you all know where it is.

i t should read the southern most theater

Anyway, it's just the last theater on the left. That's all you really need to know. They extended the original building to the right.

yes THATS RIGHT.LOL

Okay, so you all got me. Gustavelifting over and out

Got you on what?
Your description was good, although i haven't been thee since I found out about this, I do believe I know which theater it is now.

In reply to a couple of questions above, the old indoor theater is now theater 13 and the seating capacity is 570.
On the subject of a church renting it, that's Regal policy - it is rented through corporate headquarters and is a good economic move, not a sign of impending doom.
If Regal couls get churches to rent all their theaters nationwide on Sunday mornings - and they have a very positive campaign going on to make this happen - I reckon they would net around $13m a year. Not bad profits.

This would probably be something that they did since it was a drive in. In the latter days of the drive in movies owners rented to churches for more income. I remember reading it in a book.

Back again;
A Farmingville Theater was added. You can now check out the College Plaza Twin in Farmingville, if anyone remembers it. I figured there were a bunch of Long Islanders on this section of the site who may also remember it.

You mean its in operation again? That's good news.

yes i saw the college listing

No the College is not in operation again. The theater had been gutted, and is now retail space.
Here's the listing for it if anyone is interested:
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/3871/

I'm sorry, I posted the wrong colleg theater. This is the proper link:
http://cinematreasures.org/theater/8582/

Bway;
The second one is right. It is not in operation. I live just up the street from the theater, and it's a Family Dollar.

Regal did not buy out UA - they both went bankrupt and this guy Robert Anschutz bought both of them, along with Act III Theatres, out of bankruptcy. He was running them as 3 seperate companies for a short time and then merged the Regal and UA operations with Regals management running the merged company. I'm not sure if Act III was merged into this or if they remain a seperate operation.

Correction on the previous post - the California circuit that Anschutz bought out of backruptcy was Edwards, not Act III - sorry for the error....

One minor correction - the name of the individual who is the majority owner of the Regal Entertainment Group (and also counts Qwest Communications, Walden Media, and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, among his other holdings) is Philip Anschutz.

The UA Patchogue is my second stop, at most, to see a movie. I go there plenty of times, most recently to see "National Treasure" and "The Polar Express", and I have to agree with all of you, it is in sad shape. I hate the idea that this theatre would have to close, as an empty patch in the woods is really depressing. Ah, nestled "in the woods", that's why I love this theatre. That idea is nifty, and it's always worth a nice laugh to look at the nearby estates and consider how cool it would be to live there as, "All you need to do to see a movie is walk down that road." Yeah, that's my mother's line.

I really hope something can be done to renovate this theatre for the modern days of moviegoing.

If only they took this place and the UA Coram Multiplex that shut down two years back and converted them back into drive-ins...

I dont think this theater is in that bad of shape , have seen much much much worse.

The only theater anywhere near here that is in worse shape is the Sutton.

This theater needs some tlc but the basics are not bad .Needs more of a good cleaning ..These theaters are in worse shape , Sayville, islip ,oceanside, sagharbor, greenport,southbay, the list goes on and on

This week the local Patchogue paper says this theater to close. 50 + houses to go on the theater lot.

The writing for this has been on the wall for some time now.

Well, there goes the old Sunrise, or should I find info on that to put on this site? There will be no memories of that left soon.

The Patchogue 13 is in the town of Blue point

Look for a new theater at the old loews south shore mall location a 16 plex is before the town of islip for review.

Okay

It isn't settled yet. And once it is, if it takes them as long to get their permits from the Town of Brookhaven as it does for most people, there are a couple of years left for the old theater yet.

Rogerbee

2006 would be my guess

The Long Island Advance, which is the "local" papaer that longislandmovies mentioned above, had a pretty cool aerial shot of the UA Patchogue a week or too ago with the article. From the aerial shot you can CLEARLY see the original Sunrise (Patchogue) Drive In structure, and how it's connected to the current multiplex building.
Gustavelifting, nah, you don't need to add another theater for the old Sunrise, because the Drive in "IS" the UA Patchogue 13 property.
Any information on the drive-in should be listed here, not in a different section. As we now all know too, even the indoor portion of the old drive-in still exists as one of the theaters of the Patchogue 13 multiplex, so it "is" the same theater. Although if it was in fact called the Sunrise Drive-in, in addition to the Patchogue Drive-In, that should be listed as one of the former names above.

The old theater is still there, at least someone found it.

check my aug 21st 2004 post

longislandmovies, the UA Patchogue 13's address is indeed Patchogue, not Blue Point as you mentioned above. The multiplex property straddles both towns, and is actually in the Blue Point school district, but the mailing address is indeed the Patchogue 11772 part of the property, and what they use as the mailing address. I have never seen it listed as Blue Point, even though a piece of the property is in Blue Point.
See here:
http://www.longislandexchange.com/movie.html

Gustavelifting, we all believe you. And like I said, you can very clearly see it in the aerial photo I mentioned above.

I know someone found it before. I just needed some levity

that is not correct call 411 it is a bluepoint listing and also in the news reporting they meet with the residents in bluepoint.

everyone thinks its patchogue but it is not

In every listing I have ever seen it is listed in Patchogue. They met with the residents of Blue Point because it is in the Blue Point school district and it will effect them (there is a small neighborhood in Patchgoue off Waverly Ave that is also Blue Point school district, even though they live in Patchogue).
In addition to the school district reasons for meeting with the residents of Blue Point, they met with them because the houses that abut the movie property are in Blue Point.
The town of Blue Point and Patchogue dividing line goes through the movie propety, but the mailing address of the theater IS Patchogue, and served through the Patchogue post office. Since the entire property as one piece sits partly in Patchogue, and partly in Blue point, once the property is divided up, there will be some that live in Patchgoue, and some that live in Blue Point, although all of the kids are within the Blue Point school district zoning.

The California Diner next door to the theater also sits in Patchogue:
California Diner
570 South Service Road
Patchogue, NY 11772

Have the paper in front of me lists the legal address as north bluepoint page 3 scnews

just called information lists the theater in bluepoint

the diner is in Patchogue

Well, they always used the address everywhere of the theater as 600 Sunrise Hway (or South Service Road sometimes) Patchgoue, NY 11772. Mapquest also lists it as in Patchogue not Blue Point. I am not denying that most of the actual physical property is in Blue Point (maybe even the majority of it), but part of the dividing line goes through the property. The part of the property fronting Sunrise Highway is the Patchgoue portion of it, and they always used Patchogue as the mailing address of the theater.
I will look into it tomorrow, as we have tax maps in my office where I can see it.

such important things/lol

Exactly, haha.

Well, I think most people agree that it is in Patchogue. However, if it will effect Blue Point then they should be consulted.

Any chance of hyperlinking the aerial shot of the UA Movies at Patchogue 13?

I hear this theater is being closing to become houses. Does anyone have details and the closing date?

Well, I guess there goes the old Sunrise Altogether. This is the first I heard of the place becoming houses. (Personally I would say they should put back up the drive in screen)

see post from january 7th

Darn, I forgot about that comment

Guys, here's a plan

1=buy all the houses
2=tear them all down
3=put up a screen
4=build a large parking lot
5=build a snack bar

What do yo all think? (LOL)

It's a great plan, but with the home probably being a half-a-million or just under, I dunno....

The situation as I understand it is that the theater has been under contract to a developer for a while now. However, the Town does not want to approve the zoning changes which would be needed to let the plan for building townhouses go forward.

There are no plans for the theater to close at this time, in fact it is turning a profit.

That's it as I see it.

I think they should make it a drive in again. What do you all think?

i think we need to patronize it more! i plan on going this weekend!

Does anybody know what will be playing in the old Sunrise Indoor this weekend? I don't, and I would like to see it again.

I recently went to see Amityville Horror here. Actually, it seemed a bit cleaner than the last time I was there.

i think rogerbee has it right. sooner or later zoning changes by the developer will be approved and bye bye theater. how long will this process take?

You can try to fight the zoning laws. However, if worse comes to worse, you can always go to the Island 16 in Holtsville.

what other smaller theaters are there? Island 16 is too big a complex for my tastes.

There's the old 4 screen Sayville Theater.

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/8563/

What about the Regal in Patchogue. That's on Portion Road, and not that far from Patchogue. Just head North on Nicolls Road, and take Portion Road East for maybe a mile or two.

What about the Regal in Ronkonkoma That's on Portion Road, and not that far from Patchogue. Just head North on Nicolls Road, and take Portion Road East for maybe a mile or two.

Guys, I normally submit without previewing. The second one is correct. The Regal is in Ronkonkoma.

Yes, the Regal in Ronkonkoma is a nice place to go. It's not as crowded as the Island 16, but is a nice theater. It's one of the first in the wave of modern multiplexes, with stadium seating etc. The Regal used to be packed when it first opened, but the Island 16 took a lot of business away from it it appears.

Thanks for the info on Regal and the Sayville Theaters.

Roe 5685;
I also thought of Movieland, which is on Route 112 in Coram, and the PJ Cinemas on the same road in Port Jefferson. They are also smaller theatres.

Speaking of Movieland, there is also one of those in mastic come to think of it.

You may be right, I haven't been to Mastic lately

If it closes so much for my petition to form a foot bridge across sunrise hyway. I personally knew both the kids that got hit by cars crossing surise to get to the McDonalds there.

Moosh;
When did this happen?

At some point in time, this was the NYC district headquarters for UA. The district manager's offices and signs on the doors are still up in the projection booth. Today, it is a refreshment lounge for the projectionists.

Here's a link to the church that uses one of the Patchogue's auditoriums on Sunday.
Notice the screen being used behind the "altar".

http://www.churchatthemovies.com/sundayservices.htm

Looks a lot different to the church I was sent to as a kid! Anyone been there?

I've been in the theater, but to see a movie.....not a church.
I assume the rest of the week and day it's just a normal auditorium to see movies, like any other within the multiplex.

Anybody remember the old rialto theater on south ocean ave? or the plaza which was uptown heading east towards grants city? then you had the patchogue in town, then to the west you had the sunwave twin cinema up by playworld. my father use to take me to all the theaters when I was a kid, I miss those days. take care.

Yup, I remember all of them.
The Rialto burned down.
The Plaza hasn't seen a movie since the 80's, and the building is slowly falling apart.
The Patchogue Theater has been beautifully restored, and they show Broadway SHows and other events there now, but no movies anymore.
The Sunwave Theater is now Howard's Bar and Grill and La Strata Restaurant next to it.
Check their sections, all of them are listed on this site.

Does anyone have pictures of this theater?

EIther as it was or as it currently is?

Here is where those other Theaters are located in Cinema Treasures;

Patchogue= http://cinematreasures.org/theater/7402
Plaza= http://cinematreasures.org/theater/4515
Sunwave= http://cinematreasures.org/theater/7842

I just figured a few of you would want to know, if they didn't already.

This should be the last summer for this ua house plans seem to begoing ahead with new housing.

December of 1985 the drive-ins indoor screen was playing "Jewel of the Nile".
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/JeweloftheNile.jpg

Any word on what is the latest on the housing development that is supposed to be built here? Is the Patchogue still in danger of closing?

Well, I went here the other night to see a movie, and while I will get credit that it was perhaps the BEST popcorn I have ever gotten in a theater, the cost of concessions has gotten out of control. This is a trend everywhere, not just the Patchogue Theater. The movie was $9 each, so that's $18 for two. I proceded to buy two medium drinks, and two medium popcorns.....and that came to $22!!! The concessions now cost more than the movie! While again, I have to say, the popcorn was the best I had in a while, freshly popped....but $6 is just ridiculous. And $5 for a medium coke!
Again, this is not just the Patchogue Theater, but just chose this one to vent as it was fresh in my mind...
The theater itself was clean, even if showing it's age. I guess I am getting used to stadium seating in multiplexes, so it was a while since I have been in a theater with 'standard" seating, and I have to say....I am spoiled by stadium seating....hard to go back....

I've been reading a lot of comments on this site for a few hours now, and am convinced that some of you just don't know too much about movie theaters on Long Island. Mr Bway is not very clever, and Longislandmovies makes so many mistakes, its laughable. Do you guys just go to the movies, then sit back and make this stuff up? Try research. Try asking theater managers. Don't just rant on in blistful ignorance. Mr. Gustavelifting isn't bad, and rogerbee is better yet, so come on, think before you type. Why do theaters rent to churches? Why do property developers want land? Why don't drive-in's exist on L.I. anymore? These are all questions that can be answered with logic and thought. You don't have to be a movie person to figure this stuff out. Unless, of course, you're teenagers, in which case I apologize for assuming you know much about anything. I've worked in the theater industry on L.I. for decades. I worked at UA Patchogue for many of those years and several other theaters too. Try to seek out answers to questions and share them. Don't just talk out of hand and hope people will believe you.

FYI: Theater 13 at UA Patchogue is the original Indoor theater of the Indoor/Outdoor arangement. It used to seat 632 people before the handicapped sections were added, reducing the capacity to 570. The projector ports (for Bway: that's the holes where the light from the projector shoots through the wall) for the outdoor have been sealed by brick, but are still noticable in the projection booth as well as from outside. The outdoor screen sat in the south west corner of the parking lot. The Regal owned 13 plex sits astride the Patchogue/Blue point border. The business address is Patchogue, but the school district (as well as the fire district) is Blue Point(Think property taxes here boys). The old concession area opposite Th # 13 is actually a warehouse for Regal. The old district office upstairs serves as a lounge and storage area. As for the future ? Rogerbee is correct. According to my friends at UA, the land is already sold to the developer (Regal leases it now), but the town doesn't want to change the zoning, so everything is in limbo.

Sorry I ranted a bit myself, but I just couldn't take it anymore. I'll visit this site again soon. I can answer a lot of questions for you about a lot of theaters, but ask me good ones......

if you think any info is wrong please list and i will be happy to let you know how i got that info.........other than that you sound like a nasty bitter theater manager!

Hahaha. Yup, unfortunately, as an older multiplex, the Patchogue 13 is a lot more old fashioned, and run down than the others in the area, and I guess he's just bitter about that. I have to laugh when someone comes in so bitter. I was just at the Patchogue to see Casino Royale a few weeks ago, because it was playing there a little longer than some of the other theaters around, and I didn't get to see the movie sooner. I always go to the Patchogue hoping for the best, but of course, it lived up to what I expected. The screens are small, had spots on it, the bathrooms dirty (with water or hopefully it's water all over the floor), and it shows it's age. If they were planning to keep it open, it would need an upgrade, or at least some renovation. And of course in this day, people expect stadium seating. Don't get me wrong, I want the Patchogue to do well, (and it wasn't unbusy), and it's convenient. I want it to stay open. This is constructive critism. This is what people that come to the theater feel when they go therer. You can't with a straight face say that the Patchogue is a clean, well kept theater. It's not "that" bad, but unfortunately, it needs some work too, which I don't know will be done if it's questionable that they will stay open. It's probably even possible to convert the auditoriums to stadium (or some of them), if there was any hope of staying open.

And yes, while I can accept $19 for two movie tickets, but $21 for two popcorns and two drinks is completely outrageous (although that's about the same nonsense at most theaters today)....and again, to the credit, it was some of the best popcorn I have had at a theater in years.

Instead of coming here with a bug up your, well you know, remember, we are on your side, we want the Patchogue to stay open. But with that attitude, it's hard to keep a straight face.

I have been going to Patchogue 13 since I was a little girl. And that's going back 20 years. So I'd be really sad to see it go. I think all it needs is some love and attention. I have been to the Brookhaven Multiplex and Island 16 and they suck. Patchogue has the big screen in theater 13. When the original Star Wars was re-released the theater was packed. Not a seat or ticket available. I think if Patchogue was to get a better concession stand and better staff it'd rise again. Have some kind of coupons thing where you buy 2 candies and get 1 free. Or family day. Something to grab attention. Island 16 is a little too flashy and crowded for me. And there's no reason for a bar. You're there to see a movie not get tipsy. And their prices are outrageous for food. It's like you're there to have dinner, the things to choose from. But Patchogue could have a little of what they have. Burgers, fries, and chicken tenders. Patchogue 13 needs a miracle. And some smart heartful investors. If I had the money I'd give it in a second. So I'll just stay hopeful and maybe a miracle will occur.

I totally agree. I WANT the Patchogue to survive. It wouldn't be all that hard to do. But it DOES need some attention, and that's the constructive critism some of us are trying to give for it. The status quoi probably won't allow it to survive. The Patchogue is heathily busy on weekends or prime times. But it can be busier. But to get the other patrons, it has to be upgraded to compete with the other options available.
But the problem may be that they don't know if they will stay. I don't know if that housing development was approved or not. I certainly hope not.

Never mind the theatre. DO NOT eat at the California Diner next door. I ordered an omelet, and it came back topped with a dead moth!

I've eaten there more times than I can count, and have never had a problem. You'd probably never eat out again if you knew what was in most kitchens, of even the best of restaurants....

California diner is the worst!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I agree that some of the other ones like the Island Grill are better, but I wouldn't say the California is the worst diner I ever ate at....although granted, it's been a while since I have eaten there.

metropolis good stuff........were off topic.....lol

This cinema should not be listed as "also known as Patchogue Drive-In." They are two different venues. The current multiplex merely stands on land that was previously occupied by the drive-in.

not true ......The Patchogue was an indoor -outdoor theater--the indoor is part of the 13 screen theater that stands today....

No, Theater 13 IS the former indoor drive in theater. If you drive to the back of the building, you can even see the cemented up concession stand for the drive in on the wall of what is now Theater 13 of the multiplex.

the old candy stand is is cemented up but theater 13 is the origional indoor theate..

Right, that's what I meant to say, if it didn't come out right. Theater 13 is the original indoor drive in theater. Obviously, the refreshment stand on the back wall (that is cemented over now) is not needed, as that was the refreshment stand for the outdoor drive in.

I agree with Warren's March 12th statement. This site has a nasty habit of combining theaters that just happen to operate on the same piece of real estate, but at different times. This theater has nothing really to do with the Patchogue Drive-In. The Patchogue DI has it's own storied history.

Anyone remember the dark burgundy red color of the exterior of the building? Most of the people I spoke to after opening in November of 1986, really disliked that color. The story I heard at the time was that the color was actually chosen by Salah H. himself. I think it was rather ironic that Salah was involved in such mundane details, but Sal, one of the original theater managers, told me that Salah only actually visited the theater once after construction. Soon afterwards, he vacated his position with United Artists (this is back when TCI didn't really want anything but bean-counters in the home office. Gee, I'm so glad that's changed!).

The real problem with the burgundy color was with all the salt in the mortar joints that were used to build the concrete block exterior. They couldn't stop the salts, which manifested itself as whitish streaks, from running down the sides of the building. This was due to the exterior moisture getting into the cured mortar (a condition known as "efflorescence"). Priming and re-painting was a temporary solution, at least until the next rain storm. We used to laugh and say that they must have used beach sand in the mortar; hope they got it cheap! Well, a couple of years after construction, they gave up on it, and painted the building a color remarkably similar to the annoying salt stains. It's been the same exterior color ever since.

In some cases this may be true, but in the case of the Patchogue, Theater 13 IS the same exact building it always was, even when it was the indoor theater for the drive in. They did NOT demolish the building, and instead incorporated it into the new multiplex attached to it. If they tore down the drive in indoor theater, I may say you guys have a point, but in this case, you are sitting in the exact same theater you would have sat in when attending the drive in indoor theater when you vist Theater 13 today. I saw Empire Strikes Back at the Patchogue drive in's indoor theater....if I attend a movie in Theater 13, it's the SAME theater.

Bway, your point is well taken. But my point is that a vintage 50's- 60's indoor-outdoor (ala Smithtown DI and Jonny All-Weather) have very little to do with the multiplex-styled theaters of the 1980's. Even #13, for the most part, was brought into the '80's, when the Patchogue-13 was built. The ADA improvements (circa 1994) have also somewhat brought #13 into the 1990's. However, that being said, "they" deserve a tremendous amount of credit for realizing the value in retaining the old indoor: there simply aren't that many mutiplexes with such a sizeable auditorium, repleat with stage and curtains. What that auditorium is lacking is the old Haywood-Wakefield seats with painted concrete floors, and "tectum" (shredded-wheat) panels on the walls. A couple of old "art-deco" chandeliers wouldn't hurt, either!

Bway, I like this site because it gives me an opportunity to "mix it up" with real movie theater people, like yourself.

There will be no miracles for Regal's UA Patchogue theater. Since the land is outright owned by the corporation they can do whatever they want - close it or sell it at their whim. And the corporate headquarters are banking on a zoning change in which case they will close that theatre without warning or notice to the public (two weeks notice for staff). The theatre does make a profit however the land is worth millions (more money than it would cost to renivate to modern fixtures and ammenities). Corporate only sees the big bottom dollar and does not want to wait for the money it would receive in the future (if they fixed up the place - because people would come back to it) - they would rather take the big payday when they sell the land (for more homes on a highway)!

Needless to say, not one dime will be spent on the building as they await the zoning change. The roof has patch job leaks, the mold is dangerously hazardous (because of the poor a/c system that is no longer maintained - just fix when broken) and the cleaning is bare minimum - no sterilization (Only one person has a food handlers license). I don't know how they are still open with the mouse/rat infestation - which is why I don't go there anymore.

One of Regal values include bare minimum staffing. This is their absolute motto - not one more person than you need - so budgets are designed for very little staff (who are required {otherwise fired} to walk through the auditoriums every 15 minutes with a flashlight.

Regal only supports it's new fancy theatres and is slowly closing less modern theatres. It's a better financial situation for them business wise. They don't have to hire the lowest bid contractor - and hence avoid the hassle of dealing with contractors - or the lawsuits that come later from the poor work done to remodel. It is easier to build a new megaplex in your backyard than to fix up the family theatre you've gone to your whole life - why? Because it's a corporation that has absorbed all the bankrupt chains along the way -there is no family friendliness at the theatre (did you see a baby changing table at the theatre? there is no room in the bathroom so they are ignoring this compliancy telling parents to go their cars - official policy) or corporate level. Consumers are the faceless patron (when and if you complain you get a generic letter that won't address your specific complaint - oh and free passes) and employees (from the concession stand to management) are replacable at a cheaper rate.

Regal is truly a conglomerate corporation that is just after the all-mighty buck, especially yours.

so budgets are designed for very little staff (who are required {otherwise fired} to walk through the auditoriums every 15 minutes with a flashlight.


Yeah, what the hell is that! Itg must be true, as I have seen this myself! Every friggen so many minutes some guy would walk down the aisle in the middle of the movie with a flashlight, and then walk out. VERY distracting. What the heck is the reason for that?
While I must say, the popcorn was great at the Patchogue (probably the best I have had in a while in a theater), that's about the only positive I could say about my last experience there. The cost of a popcorn and a drink was more that the price of the tickets themselves, and I missed the beginning of the movie because the line took forever to buy the concessions.
A real shame, because the place was quite busy, it would probably be even busier if it was better maintained.

"Auditorium Checks" are supposed to be the greatest customer service Regal can offer. You no longer have to get out of your seat if you have a complaint - they come to you every 15 minutes so that you can notify the employee from your seat if there is a temprature problem, film presentation/sound problem, baby crying, someone is having sex or smoking (if it's pot - you probably got it from the staff they don't drug check and if they did - nobody would have a job, not even management). Really, it is just a disturbance every 15 minutes and the usher usually doesn't know what to do, and since they have to do all 13 theatres - and then tell management about any problems, it could be a while to have the problem fixed (if the usher remembers the problem). And yes they are required - or the employee may be fired for failing to provide you with the best customer service possible.

If they really wanted to serve you better - they would clean everything. The seats are no longer cleaned every 3 months - they are spot-cleaned as needed since the cost is expensive and there is a minimum to be cleaned when the professionals are called in (which they do not do any longer - since they may close). And with the seats no longer being cleaned - the mold is a growing problem. Bring your own flashlight and look at your seat - it is gross on top and even worse on the bottom metal of the seat- you may never want to sit in a seat ever again. They can't replace the seats with new exact replacements because the seats were made in 1985 and are no longer in production (and the repair parts are becoming scarce) - which is why you see gaps in the rows of seats; when a seat is beyond repair it is removed and classified as a designated spot for the disabled- regardless if it is in the middle row and is inaccessible to a disabled person (it just sounds like UA is doing something nice, but they aren't really).

Then the mold spread to the walls - especially near the black areas up front by the screens. But that all stems from the a/c system. Again, their system is so old and beyond repair - the costs to update to working modern equipment is well beyond the pockets of UA. There are theatres were the unit never stop cooling or warms up. They show movies regardless of the temprature inside any particular theatre - as they say, the show must go on. But the real kicker is at night when the theatre closes - there is no heat or a/c at all (regardless of temprature outside) - the power to the air system is shut down - so mold has a good chance to fester and spread (which it has to unsafe levels -which is why I stopped going there after watching a movie while sitting against the wall and getting sick. My doctor said I was exposed to mold and sure enough - I researched and discovered the mold growth at the theatre - which everyone should know for their health and safety).

Lastly there are the UA mascots (as proclaimed by the joking management)- the rodents. It seems befitting as Patchogue UA is the bottom feeder of movie theatres on Long Island. When you cut back on cleaning efforts to save money, you invite this problem into your business and it's safe to say that the rats do good business.

It's just a pity that the Regal corporation headquarters has let this building go down hill - and it's only getting worse. UA was always frugal but always talked of doing modern renovations since it used to be a serious money making theatre. But since Regal took over, it looks at Patchogue as just a pile of cash, just waiting to sell it off. Besides, corporate officials actually believe that Regal patrons are so loyal that they will travel past the Island de Lux theatre to get to the Ronkokoma theatre. Somebody is smoking something? and it ain't just the Patchogue Pothead Staff. Really, what a shame.

I know the huge theater everyone is talking about. Back in the 90's, when they reissued star wars, I saw it in the previous sunrise drive in one that was put into the theater.

I have heard that they received permits to build condos on the site. when is it going to close and what are the details of the condo development?

I would love to know you're real name JBock...I've worked for Regal since 2000 and have worked at Patchogue as a manager in 2006.

WHAT HAs SHAPPENED TO GEORGE FON....past manager for many many years

It appears this theater is in it's final days, from what I heard, the housing development for the site is approved, will begin as soon as the theater closes.

I know of George Fonzone...met him a few times but briefly. He left Regal and is the manager of the now independently owned Douglaston theatre. I believe thats correct...

Anyway, the theatre still does not have a closing date...but very, very, very soon.

I have often visted this site and have never commented before, despite the ingnorant comments that are occasionally posted. There are always people who think they know how thinks work but are rarely accuate as is the case with JBock. I, too, would like to know who he or she is. Hmmmmm.... Bitter?

As for the theatre closing, there is alot involved and there is really no way of knowing when it will be. In the meantime, please give the staff the credit they deseve. They work very hard while not knowing the future of their employment and their "home". Walk in someone else's shoes, JBock. Patchogue is a "family" place and THAT is why patrons will "travel past the Island de Lux" to come here. I also agree that we do have the best popcorn around. Some of the staff will be going to the Regal Ronkokoma and you will see how loyal our patrons are.

George is doing very well and is managing several theatres in a privately owned chain since leaving Patchogue 3 years ago. He is still a great friend as are most of the people that I have worked with in the past 11 1/2 years.

so who is uarules???? do i know you??

It's actually sad to hear the theater is officially closing. We will have to come by one last time for the popcorn! Now that my husband has retired, we left the island and now we get to go to the wonderful New Rochelle theater, which is hard to imagine that is run by the same corporation. Their popcorn just isn't as good as Patchogue's (its only redeeming quality).

Considering they use the same corn, oil, and salt....I cant imagine how the popcorn could be worse. Also...it clearly depends on who makes the popcorn.

Yes, the popcorn is the Patchougue's one redeeming quality, as its apparent the building isn't being maintained as well as if the theater was going to remain open, but obviously, who can blame them on some issues of maintenance when it will be closing anyway....
I was hoping it was only rumors that it was going to close, but unfortunately, it appears it's days are really numbered. Last I heard the church uses one of the auditoriums on Sundays is in a frenzie trying to find someplace else to go for services. They said they have had cooperation with the Island de Lux in Holtsville...but no deal was struck. They were hoping to find something in the Patchogue Medford area as obviously, that's where much of their congregation is.

But that all aside, that newstory I read appears to be the final nail...the theater is going, and it will be soon.

the church is now using the Regal Ronkomkoma theatre for services.

Okay, that is new.... When I read the article a few weeks ago they were still looking.

say goodbye sept 9!!!!!!

But they are advertising special shows in late September on yahoo movies. Are you sure of your Sept 9 date for closing down?

yup! 100%

it is true - patchogue closes its doors on sept 9th.. say goodbye to an era..
btw - we never have used yahoo for our ads. FANDANGO!!!!!!!!!

http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes/showtimes.html?z=11772&r=sim#T1
see this link for events at patchogue theater over sept. what is going on?

It should not be listed. Patchogue WAS scheduled for those events, but they will not be open so they were cancelled. trust me - I am 100% sure. The listings for those events will be removed from all the websites today.

Well you have advised that the last day of the Patchogue Theater will be Sept 9, 07. O.K. My next question is where will all the customers now go to see movies? What theaters will pick up the business and what % for each acquiring theater? I also note that the Islip Theater has permanantly closed its doors too. Where will it all end?

Probably the Island 16 right down Nichols Rd from the Patchogue. I doubt they will go to the Movieland Cinemas of Mastic. ISome may go to the Regal Ronkonkoma.

What about the Sayville Theater?

Perhaps. It's still open too. But I don't know how much Sayville's 3 or 4 screens will replace the 13 screens of the Patchogue.

they will go to Ronkonkoma, island 16, and mastic.. until the new UA opens in Deer Park.... that will open in May '08.

Sayville will pick up a chunkof this .....new owners there.......

DEER PARK??? sorry..thinking out loud...

as for SAYVILLE it's a bookers dream...

also it could run later shows....

as for sayville vs 13 screens...by the time a movie gets to theatre

13 it's out on dvd...

here's the question....do you think most movie goers, have a good idea what they want to see when they select a theatre or
the amount of screens...
-------------------------------------------
HEY LET'S GO TO THE WALLYWOOD CINEMA'S!
what's playing there?
I DON'T KNOW BUT THEY HAVE 30 SCREENS...
------------------------------------------
as for island 16, it's really nice but, it's like a food cort with theatres on the side...

hey UA..hope DEER PARK is a real deal..
--------------------------------------------
maybe block buster on dpa should become north babylon theatre again.
thinking out loud again.

Hahahaha, Deer Park????? That's about a half hour away!!! If lucky!! I think the Island 16 and the Ronkonkoma will see it first....

As for when the way I pick out a movie I want to see....I first pick out the theater I plan to go to....see if the movie is even playing there....then see if the time is convenient....if any of those things don't match, I go to the next theater, and do the same. Unfortunately, even when the Patchogue was open, it usually wasn't my first choice, because of the condition of it...and the screens were much smaller...the lack of stadium seating, etc..... But I would have much rather seen the Patchogue retrofitted and redone with those amenities than see what happened to it.....

So by the way....is it official? did it close yesterday for good? I guess sadly if it's true, the theater status can be changed to 'closed"....until the sad day when demolition becomes reality....

Wow,I grew up in Deer Park and we used to go to the Patchogue All Weather DI/ Movies 13, as well as the Lowes South Shore Mall, Bayshore Sunrise DI, UA Bayshore Cinema, UA Bayshore, The Regent, The Islip, The Lindenhurst, North Babylon, and Deer Park of course and they are all gone now. With more and more people and more and more movies opening, from Deer Park to Patchougue there's only the SouthBay and The Babylon left. What's wrong with that picture? The Newsday movie clock used to take up three pages. How depressing.

Long Island needs more theaters...........Any one go the last night to patchogue?

Well when it was a drive in, and you want to go to a drive in to see a particular movie, of course you would travel, as you don't have too much of a choice. But with the choices of multiplexes out there nowadays, I don't see many people traveling all the way to Deer Park to see a movie that's easier seen so much closer....

I drove by the Patchogue mutiplex on Monday. There is wording on the marquee that it is closed and to "go to Ronkonkoma cinemas".
I will be going to Sayville and Island 16.

good choice roe....

west babylon...babylon...sayville last 3 movie theatres in a down

town [and or] main street until you get very east of patchougue..

grew up in west babylon, still don't know where down town is

kinda' like deer park..have any idea where ua would put a theatre?

some where around lie i would guess..

keep us posted..

Ronkonkoma has all the new movies...stadium seating and is not as busy as Island 16...clearly the better choice

Absolutely. Ronkonkoma is where most of the clientele will go, it's only about 10-15 minutes away.

omg. i wrote a beautiful elegy to this theater and its wonderful staff, and then checked TERMS OF USE. my essay disappeared.
i rewrote as much as i could remember, then clicked PREVIEW. told me i wasn't logged in, and wiped me out again.

third time may be lucky but i'm running out of steam here.

when i first drove past the theater last night and read that it was closed, i was heartbroken. at 1 am , i wrote this to a local paper...


For half a century the Patchogue All Weather Indoor/Outdoor Theater was the jewel the surrounding community flocked to every weekend. With speakers that hung heavily from your windows, and the best popcorn in town, Patchogue showed double features with all the intermission cartoons intact and of course Woody Woodpecker cartoons before and after each feature. There was a little park set up with a swingset for kids to play on.
The indoor theater also did a brisk business: you would wend your way through a brightly lit refreshment area and then walk down a long hallway back to the theater.
Mary Poppins, Patton, The Sorcerer, Orca - they all played at the Patchogue indoor/outdoor. The night of my high school graduation , the family packed into the car and we went to see The Big Bus and The Paper Chase. On Sundays, Mom would drop us in her car to see The Sting, Cool Hand Luke, Jeremiah Johnson, The Exorcist.
I saw The Great Gatsby with my sister in the giant indoor theater with only the usher who took a seat, for company. As years went by, they began showing really bad horror films (still to packed audiences). As a budding writer, I would scribble on little pads of paper between shows. The popcorn, as always, remained terrific.
Sometime in the 1980's they did a curious thing. They demolished the outdoor theater, made the indoor into a multiplex - retaining the great indoor auditorium as "screen 13".
When I read earlier this year that the theater was being torn down for 'condo's' I resolved to go back to take pictures of that wonderful place. Like everyone else, I procastinated too long, and now the marquee on Sunrise Highway notes that the theater is closed. I really hope someone somewhere (are you listening Newsday?) took pictures of this wonderful theater before it too becomes rubble and another piece of Long Island history exists only in our minds..
A tip of the hat then to a grand old theater, and a million magical memories and impressions that began in the dark of that wonderful cavernous auditorium or outside under the stars of a not-so-distant past.



*****

still not satisfied, i drove by this afternoon as they were taking the letters off the building. some people came out to greet me as i explained that i would love to take a few pics for Cinema Treasures. they called the main office for permission, and we waited over a half hour, talking. turns out they ARE aware of CT , that they objected to some of our sillier comments (management , as anyone in business should know, is not always responsible for all of the directives they are forced to carry out. especially in a merger).

keeping an eye out for 'some guy in the warehouse' who might object to pictures, i was permitted to take a few on the fly. The popcorn stand, the smaller theaters, #13, the original, the projectors on the 2nd floor. The place was dark ,the pictures grey and not nearly as detailed were i allowed more time, but to me, they are gold. i wanted to take a picture of the staff - who after days of packing seemed as tired as the building - but i didn't want to get anyone in trouble. suffice to say, they are as big lovers of film and the film-going experience as any of us . some are going to the Regal in Ronkonkoma. some back out east, some to nassau. We need to support them all. they are terrific dedicated people who sometimes run these theaters in lieu of seeing family. they could have kicked my ass out, but they didn't. they might have laughed at the woman who went there yesterday in tears, talking about how the theater was part of her life, but they didn't.
tip of the hat to all the staff at Patchogue, past and present, for keeping that ship afloat for 50 years.

as i left, they sealed the doors for the last time. it sounds silly but i felt a little sense of closure. i drove around the left side of the theater (for the first time) and saw the old building ledge, the old wall. The mound of grass and dirt where the outdoor screen stood. i pulled back for a long shot - that magnificent building - letters off, but the red shadow of the letters still strong. United Artists 13 - the trees, the blue blue skies. Out on the highway, they were pulling the last letters down from the marquee with those long grabber poles.
inside those forever darkened theaters, a little of each of us will always remain.

Nice words Vince, I'm sure they are appreciated. How sad that kids today growing up on Long Island don't know the excitement of a drive-in. Patchogue, Copaigue, Westbury, Bayshore, Massapequa, Shirley, Valley Stream all gone. What innocent times as a kid getting to go out in your pajamas, can you imagine? Hoping not to get stuck with the car's floor hump as your brothers and sisters wrestle for the best position, blankets and pillows all jumbled, getting all comfy in the back seat to watch a movie. Or as an older kid going with Dad to the concession stand to bring back the popcorn while navigating through a sea of cars with music echoing across the lot through hundreds of small speakers hanging from the drivers side window. Watching the on screen clock ticking away until oh boy, another, movie starts only to find out you're pulling out with a long line of cars as the credits roll and you realize you've slept through it. Both my parents are gone now but it's just yesterday I watched the back of my Mom's head as she chuckled at Robert Redford dancing "Barefoot In The Park" and my Navy Vet Dad watching JFK command "PT 109". I wouldn't trade those memories for today's 12 years old's 2" video iPod ever. That's why we come to this amazing site, for those who will never really know the joy and for those that lovingly did.

you captured it perfectly Bob.
i thought some of those impressions were lost on others - but you nailed them!
very touching words,too: those are very nice memories of your parents that you'll carry forever.
you know what's funny - i find myself buying back all the films i saw as a kid, and forcing the young 'uns in the family to revisit them.
and its not a hard sell.
when they visit my house, neices and nephews ASK me for Yogi Bear, The Flintstones, The Pink Panther, Charlie Chaplin, Peter Sellers! Barefoot in the Park is STILL a terrific film, and out on dvd! Walmart sold it at Valentine's time for under 5 bucks.
Before i started screening for the kids, they'd never heard of the 3 Stooges, or John Wayne! My God, Jerry Lewis! Presley in Viva Las Vegas or Girl Happy. I can't even imagine growing up in a world without Laurel and Hardy, Mickey Rooney or Gene Kelly.

Last count i heard there were 363 drive ins left in America. I visited one about a year ago in Turro, Cape Cod (?) that showed a double feature, with cartoons and the original intermission films! What a treat! They even had those wonderful weighty speakers! I think there are a few left in Pennsylvania - one owner generously offered to talk to me when i looked into starting one on Long Island once. They really were a special treat for the whole family. There certainly aren't many left.

Hey Vince, I know what you mean about collecting the old movies. Last year I had an opportunity to meet Jane Fonda and I've taken to having movies that mean something to me signed by the actor. Now Jane has had a great movie career but I never thought twice about her signing anything but "Barefoot". She has won two Oscars and produced, but this one was my first and only choice because of the drive-in. She was actually delighted I had it and we ended up having a lovely conversation about it and how it does hold up, how that $75 a month studio apartment was probably $2000 now and how the world needs laughter.

was just over here, on the east side of the building, there are 2 dumpsters full of movie history. . . reels, ticket stubs sorted in bags by date. . projection manuals, seat and soundsystem catalogues. . . bank deposit slips, and not just in relation to this theatre, e. meadow as well, hamptons etc. . . .
check it out if interested.

i will , thanks. the staff seemed not unaware of the value of some of the history. pretty wild. i keep meaning to check out what was playing the LAST day. i see from an old advert someone posted that it had its grand opening with The Sons Of Katie Elder!

shamas shamas el ma kababis. for 75 dollars these days, you couldn't even find room in that dumpster let alone a studio apartment with Charles Boyer upstairs!

the interplay between an angry Paul (Redford) and the phone repairman (Herb Edelman) always makes me laugh..

-i said, do you want a drink?
-who?
-you.
-me?
-yeah.
-no.
-right!

Your kinds words of support are heartfelt and greatly appreciated. However, "Big Brother" also knows about "CT" and monitors this board.

FYI- going onto the property and into the dumpsters is trespassing. The police have been contacted to arrest anyone who does.

the movies playing on the last day were:

SIMPSONS
HAIR SPRAY
CHUCK AND LARRY
BALLS OF FURY
RUSH HOUR 3
MR BEAN
TRANSFORMERS
BOURNE 3
SUPERBAD
BECOMING JANE
NANNY DIARIES
NO RESERVATIONS
HALLOWEEN

thank you! not a bad line-up. (and now its here for posterity).
thanks.

i could kick myself for not visiting in its last days. i read in that rag Newsday it would be closed in May. when it continued through the summer i thought 'ah, must have been reprieved by the governor.'

i could write much about 'big brother' and corporate America but i'll spare you. suffice to say that if i ever write a book on how to run a business into the ground, i have much material just from my own former company.

when i was a kid, i used to pass the dumpster by the Jerry Lewis Cinema in Ronkonkoma (now OTB) and rescue pieces of 35 mm film from the trashman. they'd just be laying on the top.
i had frames from Cabaret, The New Centurions, a few others. i suppose some collector somewhere would pay some pittance for them but who cares. i grabbed them for the inspiration they gave me (to write, to dream of directing my own films).
a friend of mine was passing Metromedia (tv channel 5) when they had a 2 yard dumpster behind the building. He found an old camera (that MIGHT have been one of three used to shoot The Honeymooner's). Another friend found old kinescopes of Chuck McAnn, Sandy Becker, etc. Seinfeld's first appearance on tv. No one had heard of DVD's or realized the collecting market potential out there. One man's dross is another's gold.
Seems like nothing has changed. U/A was created by Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin. You think they'd have a better sense of their own history, or an eye toward a future cineaste museum. Ah well.
MY guess is that most of the crap in a dumpster belongs there... :)

MY guess is what didn't make it to the dumpster was dumped on

other UA theatres....

this fall on CBS....CSI PATCHOUGUE 13...CHECK THE DUMPSTER FOR

D N A U A...

MY guess is what didn't make it to the dumpster was dumped on

other UA theatres....

this fall on CBS....CSI PATCHOUGUE 13...CHECK THE DUMPSTER FOR

D N A U A...

very very sad...

well, last night someone set the dumpster on fire.. now it is all forever destroyed.

evil...evil people

Question: Was Patchogue open during the day on non-school holidays or just at night?

Patchogue was open 365 days a year.. there was no such thing as holidays.Both matinees and evenings. Ronkonkoma is picking up the matinees now.

did any of the staff move to ronkonkoma?

it's regal/ua right?

when will deer park break ground?

There were not many staff members left (many went to college and were not replaced for obvious reasons) but almost all have transfered to Ronkonkoma, with the exception of 2 associate managers, who have transferred to other locations. All the long-timers will be at REGAL Ronkonkoma.

Last word on Deer Park was a May '08 opening.

Where on Deer Park Ave will that be?

Tanger outlet center

GOOD MOVE UARULES..WHERE ARE YOU?

Thanks, but where will the Tanger Outlet be?

Only visited it once, to see Ray in Dec. 04, since it was the only LI theater playing it @ a convenient time for me...sorry to see it go (and didn't even know it had closed!), looked like they kept a good bit of the mid-80s ambience. RIP, Patchogue 13. :-(

Oh, and great essay, Bob...sorry you had to lose it twice, but I can def say it was worth the extra effort!

There is a bunch of photos on my message board of this theater. http://www.lioddities.com/forums/index.php?topic=5923.msg82830#msg82830

Included is a photo journey of a trip I took there in April 2007 with my wife and mother.

Someone posted pics and videos of the projection rooms as well.

Sad....thanks for the photos. I am really going to miss the place.

Your welcome. My wife and I had been going there for years. The employees were top notch, the management was awesome. When we heard it was closing we aked them if we could take some pictures and they all hinted they would look the other way. Good thing. All my favorite theaters are gone. Island16 is no replacement. The employees are nasty, its expensive, the popcorn tastes days old and stale. I hate Island16!

As I said many times above....one thing I had to say about the Patchogue is it had GREAT popcorn!! I agree, the Island16 is overpriced.

while the photos posted by LI Oddities are definately UA Patchogue, the videos are definately NOT! That projectionist never worked there and Patchogue had Century projectors, not Christies.

I didn't take the projection room photos or videos, so I cannot vouch. I did however take the interiors of the ticket counter, concesion counter, and the arcade. Yes, that is actually my and my mom sitting in the theater. Wish I remembered which number that was in.

That is theatre 9

Vince - I see that your article finally got into Newsday Saturday. Congrats and well done

Oh man, I missed the article. Newsday called me asking for certain shots that I didn't have. Can someone post the article or a link. I would be much apreciative. ;)

I had been to this theater a few times back in the day, but I feel just in the past year I really discovered a love for it. Going to late night horror films then walking out into that creepy secluded lot in the dark was such a cool feeling. That location was so perfect. I miss this place tremendously already. It had character, which is more than I can say for Island 16. It's funny, many people I know from the area didn't realize this place closed, but when I tell them they all look disappointed, like a piece of them is gone. All to put up yet another assisted living home or condos or whatever other multi-million dollar development investment.

It seems that anything that is even slightly unique, or has any character must be destroyed to put up something dull, boring, and inimaginative.

My wife and I just moved back home 2 months ago and I heard that Patchogue was closing but everytime I drove by everything looke d fine. Until today when I saw that it was closed. I wont lie this wasnt my theatre of choice but I remember spending quite a bit of time during my high school years. In fact I remember that my first girlfriend lived right through the woods and we used to cut through them to catch a flic. What I really loved about that theatre was how it was set back away from everything. That drive through the woods just had a nice touch to it. Today all of the theatres are located out in the open on busy roads. Anyway it is a shame to see all of these theatres closing down. And I would like to say thank you to all of you guys and girls who have helped me learn alot about the histories of the theatres I used to attend to. Finding this site by accident a month ago has been a real treat!

thanks uarules, just got back from vacation and saw my ugly mug next to Paul Newman's in the paper (for the record, his picture is on the right!).
and thanks to Cinematreasures for 'allowing' them to reprint it (i copied and pasted the same night, not really thinking about reprints etc). my understanding is that they were glad for the publicity so it worked out all the way around.
i had a sentence in there about the hard working staff too but of course it never made the cut. working matinee's, holidays, weekends - these are the real unsung heroes.

The status of this theater needs to be changed to "closed", as the theater closed last year, and the lot is all gated up. It may even be demolished, but that's not confirmed yet. It is definitely closed though.

The patchogue theater site is owned by a property developer who is going to build condos. it will not reopen as a theater.

Does anyone know if the theater has been torn down yet?

Hi Bway-
I reckon uarules could give you a more accurate date, but I know the building has been razed: I'm guessing before Christmas 2007. The irony of it's closing in September 2007: the land now sits totally undeveloped and vacant (probably a victim of the lackluster economy). I guess the owner is now looking for new town building permits: there's a few of those "Public Meeting" signs in front of the property right now, on Sunrise Hwy.

Ahh, that's too bad. Since you can't see the theater from the street, I had a glimmer of hope that perhaps the theater was still back there, and now with the crappy economy there was a very small glimmer of hope they would reopen it as a theater again. I didn't realize they took it down so quickly. I guess they did so there would be no chance whatsoever of a change in plans....