Central Theater

The Central was doing very nicely until 1979 ( I saw Close Encounters there in 1977, which I think about often ) The opening of the Sunrise Multiplex in 1979 basically killed this theater, which is sorely missed, as there are no theatres left in the Five Towns. The theatre briefly triplexed and then died, being replaced by the abomination known as the "Cedarhurst Center," which opened with the best of intentions as a really beautiful building with commercial space. Nice boutiques, little restaurants, and a health club. Within a few years, the place became a "white elephant"; some stores remain, the health club has changed hands a few times, but it never lived up to its expectations. A few years ago there was interest in turning it back into a movie theatre, but it never happened. Cedarhurst is a splendid little village with nice people and nice stores. I work there. Boy, do I wish the Central was still there.

A Moller theater organ opus 3471 size 3/10 was installed in the Central Theater in 1923.

I made a visit to the former Central today with my camera in hand. There are some stores at street level, but the main purpose of the building itself seems to be office space. A sign in the front entryway indicates that plenty of space is available within. I was very surprised to see how large the theater structure is - this must have been around a 1500-seater and probably the largest theater built in the Five Towns area. Folks probably had to travel to Rockville Centre or Lynbrook to find a larger house.

Facade
Rear view
New rooftop glass atrium
View from down Central Ave
Building profile

It doesn't appear that there was ever any stage-loft space, so I doubt this was ever anything other than a cinema. You can glimpse what appears to be a curved glass rooftop structure in the third photo that was presumably installed when the building was gutted for conversion to office/retail space. The pink facade is a pretty lightweight material that has a stucco-like surface and feels hollow to the touch. I imagine the original facade was stripped down to bare brick.

The address of the building is now 445 Central Avenue (can't say for sure that the theater used the same #) and the zip would be 11516.

I'd never been to Cedarhurst before and was delighted to find such a vibrant and hopping commercial strip here in what seems to be a thriving and largely Orthodox Jewish community.

Here's a 12/9/1980 ad from Newsday, by which time the Central had been triplexed and under the stewardship of B.S. Moss along with the Belair Twin in not too distant Valley Stream.

This Daily News ad for "Flash Gordon" comes just a few days later and identifies the theater as a B.S. Moss house.

So, we need an AKA above for "Central Triplex." I'd also enter the address as 445 Central Ave (until other evidence to the contrary comes to light) and update the zip.

Hi Ed:

I think we are both fans of the Ziegfeld Classics as I believe I see your name on the Ziegfeld page many times. I work in Cedarhurst (we could have had lunch together yesterday!) I sorely miss the Central, that's where I saw Close Encounters in its original run. Incredible evening almost thirty years ago. These days I go over to Green Acres (not the Sunrise) or The Fantasy in RVC. I have issues with the Lynbrook at the five corners, and don't get me started on the Malverne!! Best of all is the Ziegfeld. I saw Porgy and Bess not too long ago at Moving Image in Astoria. Reviving it at the Ziegfeld is a very creative move on Craig's part. It's not a well known film-but beautiful-I just hope people show up to see it!!

Best,

Gary

Hi Gary. Yup, I recognize your comments from the Ziegfeld page as well. I've bemoaned the present condition of the Lynbrook over on its CT page, particularly after having recently given it another couple of visits in the last month or so. Never been to the Malverne.

Ed:

Let's connect at some point, since I live over in Woodmere. White Castle is a guilty pleasure of mine.

Just came from Moving Image in Astoria, a place I love and support. There was a preview of the new "3:10 to Yuma"-FABULOUS.
Go see it tomorrow!!!

The Malverne gives new meaning to "glued to your seats."

Best,

Gary

The Central Theatre first opened in 1922 and was built by local interests at the urging of movie mogul William Fox, who had a summer home in Woodmere, according to press clippings in the theatre's file at the Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center, NYC. The Central quickly proved a success and was taken over by B.S. Moss, whose company continued to operate it after his death. The address is reported as 449 Central Avenue in trade directories and in newspaper articles and advertising. The Central was twice partially destroyed by fires, the first in 1937 and the second in 1962. The first removed all traces of the Central's original auditorium, including a magnificent crystal chandelier that had been considered one of the seven wonders of Cedarhurst. After both fires, the Central was re-built and the seating capacity somewhat increased. It was reported as 1,500 at the time when the Central was converted (unsuccessfully) into a triplex.