Lindenhurst Theatre

I am very sad to see the Lindenhurst Theater close. It has been a vital part of the Community of Lindenhurst and its families. One would wonder .. why isn't our own Village trying to preserve this building .. why isn't the Beautification of Lindenhurst Committee involved on keeping the Lindenhurst Movie intact. I moved to Lindenhurst in 1955 at the age of 15 1/2 from Brooklyn. My husband has lived in Lindenhurst since the age of two (1940/41). It was a wonderful treat as a child to go to the Lindenhurst Theater and see so many wonderful movies .. it was even better than to be allowed as a teenager to meet your friends there and see a movie only for a time later, to be entering the same movie theater on a date or with your future beau. So many special times shared on a Friday or Saturday Night or a Sunday matinee. I remember so well going to the Lindenhurst Movie Theater as a teenager and then bringing my own children to the same movie theater and to experience with them the same wonder that I felt as a child seating in the seats and waiting with excitement for the movie to begin. In Europe, new is built right next to the old buildings and the old buildings are preserved for all to enjoy. It is sad that here in young America, we do not follow that tradition of preserving heritage. The Lindenhurst Theater could be restored to what it originally was. There could be a wonderful mix of movies, old movies to be shown on a particular night which would be attractive to the senior citizens and current movies to entertain the young couples and single people and let us not forget the Disney Movies for our little ones to look forward to on a Saturday afternoon.""

I am also a resident of Lindenhurst. I graduated from NYIT as an architect major ... and I always would pass by thinking about how I would love to restore that building. The Lindenhurst movie theater is an icon to Lindenhurst. I would hate to see it go. Losing the Lindenhurst Movie Theater would be a great tragedy as watching Narragansett Inn on Montauk Hwy in Lindenhurst burn down. Narragansett Inn was run down before it was destroyed, but I would of love to see something more unique be designed in its footprint than senior housing. Now you just drive by Lindenhurst ... as if driving through lonely roads on an upstate hwy. I also once heard CVS wanted the corner of where the Lindy Movie theater sits. What a shame that will be? How many more Pharmaceutical, Pizza Palaces, Nail and Hair Places can cram into our small town? The town board needs to rethink there quaint town. They have started to beautify Lindenhurst with its elegant outside street lighting, old english style phone booths, and quiet little parks ... but the real key is to pressure these outside landlords, and store owners to upkeep their properties. I always looked at Lindenhurst as having great potential to be that model town for the when attracting business. We have a strong and caring community. We just need some focus and action with our Town Officials. If you ask me, as a designer, I would love to see the Lindenhurst Movie theater turn into a move theater/cafe. A theater that would show old time movies from the 20's to 90's in which patrons could sit at cafe style seating to eat and chat. I don't think the theater should compete with the farmingdale multiplex ... it should become something unique in itself. The theater has the charm ... it just needs the love for it to happen.

Craig S. Tupot - CTupot@aol.com

The architect of the Lindenhurst Theatre was Maurice D. Sornik. Other theatre he designed were the Central Islip, Central Islip,L.I. NY, Darien, Darien, Conn., Cort, Somerville, NJ, Center, Bloomfield, NJ..

Thanks to the Save the Lindenhurst Theatre Committee which I founded, this theatre will not become a Walgreen's Drugstore! Hooray for us! Over 7,500 local signatures presented to the Village of Lindenhurst, where the theatre is located forced officials to reconsider. The mostly Republican board states the building has no historical value along with the Lindenhurst Historical Society, so the building is still on the endangered list. An election on March 16, 2004 for mayor, Raymond Doran, the lone Democrat and theatre supporter through the fight to save it will be running. Hopefully he will win and forge ahead with his plan to save the theatre. Should the Republican nominee for mayor win, the theatre will be lost because he and his board have already thwarted Mr. Doran's efforts to save the Lindenhurst Theatre. (Tne drugstores have not given up as they're eyeing the Lindenhurst Bowling Alley opposite the theatre for their pill-popping enterprise). The owner who closed his Northport Theatre in retaliance to the Lindenhurst Theatre furor will wait out the community until he gets his way. (He has a long wait as long as I am alive and breathing). The Republican nominee for mayor has ties to the bowling alley owner and that owner has applied for the downgrading of the bowling alley property and all of this is to be resolved after the electoin which is 3 weeks away. I as a Lindenhurst resident outside the village border, will campaign for Raymond Doran, because I can't vote in the village election. I will be in front of the theatre for the two weekends and week prior to the election to insure that Raymond Doran gets elected mayor. I will respond to any inquires on the theatre via this site.

The Lindenhurst Theatre will be a major concern for voters on March 16, 2004 in the Village of Lindenhurst. The Babylon Beacon will be running a story this coming first week in March.

Hello Orlando. I was researching theaters and came across this web page. I've had a dream of operating a performance space on Long Island for many years - something like a mini Westbury Music Fair but with more than just music. I have connections with www.statetheatre.org and would like to propose to the Village and/or owner of the Lindenhurst Theatre something similar. The State Theatre has a long history and is currently a successful and thriving non-profit performance venue due to it's skilled and creative board of directors and staff. Please contact me to discuss this further. Thanks. Robert. taeur35@yahoo.com

I think this is the same idea the owners of The Westbury Twin had, but thats a soap opera of itself.

The Westbury Twin, whose interior is in deplorable condition want grants to turn the crumbling building to a performing arts center. As owners, they are responsible for the condition of their theatre. The Westbury Music Fair handles this (the performing arts, etc.) very well and I doubt the patrons of the Music Fair will go to Post Avenue for events now handled by them. In the case of the Lindenhurst Theatre, the village and surrounding towns are crying for this. We don't have this on the south shore which would make this unique.

I agree, even if The Westbury theatre was in good shape they would not be in the running for the same shows as the Music Fair. I think the Westbury Twin had seating of 1200 so it's half the size.

Hi Orlando
How can I get a t-shirt?
Bob Dittmeier
Farmingdale

As sad as it is to lose a landmark, it has always been my opinion that "local officials" need to stay out of it. I consider myself an independent thinking, compassionate conservative, and to me, even republicans are too liberal.

As what I believe to be the American way, governments should stay out of ownerships. The government should not be able to tell the current owner of the closed theater that he can't demolish what is his. I am sorry to be saying what you don't want to hear, but that is how I feel.

Personally, I don't want to see it demolished. I would like to see it preserved, but that decision is not mine, nor the mayor's, nor anyone else to make but the OWNER.

The government has too much power as it is. As you all know, recently, in NY it has become illegal to smoke cigarettes even in bars. Even if 90% of the patrons AND the owner smokes. That is insane. It should be up to the owner. If the owner wants to allow smoking and risk the loss of business from non-smokers who choose not to patron his establishment, that should be his choice.

If the owner wants to ban smoking in his establishment and risk losing business from the smokers, that too, should be his choice.

And if the owner of the Lindenhurst theater wants to demolish it, and use the property to build a drug store, a nail salon, or anything he wants, he too, should have that choice.

Sorry, but this is the way I feel.

The only thing left to do is try our best to convince him NOT TO demolish it - but at his own free will not to.

He is the owner. That's the bottom line.

billy kess. www.lindynews.com

Just what Long Island needs more friggin drug stores.

A drug store on every corner! Why not?

In Forest Hills we have 7 of them within 8 blocks, including the Duane Reade that destroyed the landmark Forest Hills theatre.

Hi
Back in Brooklyn we had corner drug stores with soda fountains and corner candy stores but not on EVERY corner.

L.I.P.A. has turned of the electricity to the Lindenhurst Theatre on Monday, April 19. The theatre group who witnessed the men entering the theatre were annoyed that they were being photographed as we keep a journal on all that goes on within the theatre property. As far as we know, no demolition permit has been issued and locals keep an eye on the building, which is being graffitied so that it becomes an eyesore. The owner has re-submitted his proposal for a drugstore which was turned down by the new village mayor and the village board once again two weeks before. No electrical power has been in use since the theatre closed so why the owner waited more than a year and a halh is beyond thought. The front marble facade has become loose and two 3'x 3'pieces have fallen and smashed to the ground. A roof vent has rusted at the base and was knocked down by a windstorm. The roof vent which is now open to the weather will probably allow water from rain to enter the building which will sooner or later expose the theatre ceiling to collapse. The owner has recieved to offers of up to $800,000 from a church organization in West Babylon for a public assembly building within the theatre and has turned both offers down. He only paid $550,000 for the theatre when U.A. sold it at a bargain price during their bankruptcy reorganization.

This is sad, it's amazing though the place only sold for $550,000

Why would the owner not accept 800k for this property? It must be costing him something to keep it, if only taxes on it? Any idea what offer he might accept?? What funds would be available from the village or local government to have this theather restored?? Anyone know?

New to this, but very interested,

JR

The owner had plans with Walgreen's for the property. Walgreens probably would have payed for the demolition of the theatre, the erection of a Walgreen's Drugstore and the landlord (theatre owner)would collect rent from Walgreen's in a lease agreement. If Walgreen's is willing to pay $12,000 or more in monthly rent, it would be wise for him not to sell for $800,000 to the church. He would also still own the property with Walgreen's and not with the church. Taxes for the theatre were 2,500 village, 6,000 county tax for the year that I know of when it closed in 2002. He is looking for $1.3 or 1.4 million. That's 150% more than the $550,000 that was paid to U.A. in 1998. The Village, Town, and elected officials have pledged up to 50,000 per year for their terms in office. Volunteerism will get the job done in about 3 months time with local businessman providing the materials and labor for the different aspects of renovations. Fundraisers and other efforts would follow. The renovation costs could be kept in tow.

So pardon my ignorance here, but do you mean if he gets his price, then we (and I do mean we :) could hopefully get money, labor and materials enough to actually restore the theater for the community? And the owner has no mortgage outstanding I assume? I am not liking this guy too much right now...

Thanks again for your response,

JR

What a nice theater very well run as a bargin priced house .

Second Preservation Alert!!!
There maybe an impending sale or lease of this property. It was shown last Friday and this Monday to a Boat Dealership for a showroom. More information to follow. I believe our first alert on this website help stall the procedings, "Let's Do It Again"!

Second Preservation Alert!!!
There maybe an impending sale or lease of this property. It was shown last Friday and this Monday to a Boat Dealership for a showroom. More information to follow. I believe our first alert on this website help stall the procedings, "Let's Do It Again"!

Has the interior been kept up or have vandals gotten inside and ruined it?

The only damage is the graffiti on the exterior walls in the parking lot. There was a little water damage which can easily be repaired. Any damage to the interior now boarded up was done by the owner's staff, who the last time in the building (for exterior maintenance to the overgrown grass) were seen "graffiting" the outside white marble facade with black spray cans. The Boat dealership which is unknown at the time states the building will remain as is and fixed up for the transformation. Since this theatre doesn't have a severe rake to the floor, only the seats will be removed for the boats and the loge will be converted into the sales space overlooking the main floor. All the theatre elements will remain outside. I'm assuming the theatre can be put back together again at a later date should that arise. Now the question is, now that the building will not be a theatre, will the extra parcel of land for the extra parking the theatre needed in 1964 revert back to residential use. It is stipulated that this must happen and only the Village Board of Lindenhurst must uphold this covenant to the building. If not, it can result in a lawsuit by the residents around the theatre that don't want the boat dealership there. There is a lawsuit now pending on the Werner's Bowling Alley, closed since September, for the same reason. The second question is "Is the building being sold or being leased to the Boat dealership?" I certainly hope the boat dealership does its' homework in regards the theatre before they "buy" or "lease" the property.

P.S. The Werner's Bowling Alley is diagonally across from the theatre on the southwest corner, the theatre on the northeast corner.

I'm a former Lindenhurst resident and still have connections to the area.
Like many present and former Lindenhurst residents; I have many good memories
of the Lindenhurst Theatre. With that said, I'd like to congratulate, and thank, Orlando
for his efforts to save the theatre.

Additionaly, I'm a filmmaker. I'd like to propose the possibility of making a
documentary on the Save The Lindenhurst Theatre campaign. This is being
proposed to hopefully help the cause by bringing further attention to it.

Orlando, if you would like to discuss this further, let me know by responding to
this thread on Cinema Treasures, and we will make arrangements to be in touch.

Thanks,
RC

Unfortunately, they have started to gut the interior of the building on Monday, Nov. 29, 2004. So far, seats and other parts of the theatre, restrooms etc. I am sickened by this and discussing it makes it no better. They started the work WITHOUT permits as the Village of Lindenhurst has no idea ? ? ? of what's going on. The building does have asbestos and I believe the proper permits have not been obtained. So far in three days, 3 dumpsters of waste has been removed. Goodbye Lindenhurst Theatre.

My e-mail is lopes1956@hotmail.com

Orlando: I know this might sound dumb but why don't you contact the Lindenhurst building department and report this if you know it's illegal and all? That's how these idiots get away with stuff like this. They know that no one will do anything about it.

I'd like to revisit JR's comment about purchasing the theater. If enough investors (or loans) were involved, we could possibly buy and renovate the building.
I'd also like to inquire about how or where to sign any necessary petitions of find out about legislature regarding the theater.

thanks

The theatre building has been sold to Surf Side 3 Boats (now located opposite Chateau La Mer. Windows will replace the entire Wellwood Avenue brick side of the building for the viewing of the boats. This means that the asbestoes walls have to be demolished and therefore throughout the building as well. The corner entrance and marquee will be retained as well as other "theatre" elements, the loge of five rows will probably provide the offices overlooking the sales floor "as I am told". All the seats have been removed and the floor is being tested for "weight of boats" (It was a level theatre floor to start with, no rake whatsoever. The last four rows were raised slightly. No work is going on now. The purchase price is not known since occured December 1, 2004.

Hi Orlando. I just discovered this site from a friend, John Dousmanis who frequently corresponds on this site. You and I met on the Theatre Conclave to Seattle a few years back. I feel badly that things had to come to this. The Lindenhurst Theatre was worth saving. Too bad the Studio Theatre couldn't have gotten it to put on their shows instead of their present site with patrons having to walk up such a long flight of stairs. Anyhow your work in trying to save Lindy is admiralable. Hope all is well with you. Maybe I'll see you this summer in L.A. GeorgeStrum@aol.com .

Just a note f.y.i. this wasn't the "original" theatre in Lindenhurst. A much older one served the town on Wellwood Avenue and burned down in the late 40's a year or two before the "new" one was built. My cousin salvaged a reel of film from the rubble I believed it was "Tarzan's New York Adventure". My cousin has passed on and that reel is lost. It may be worth a trip to the library for a view of old newspapers or microfilm about the earlier Lindenhurst movie house.

Valencia;
Film Daily Yearbooks 1941 and 1943 show the original theatre in Lindenhurst was called the Wellwood Theatre and it is listed as having 350 seats.

ps. You will see me in LA in June as I am a co-director for the THS Conclave (I'm in charge of the San Diego part)

Kenroe thanks for your comment and I'd be glad to meet you at the THS Conclave this summer. Haven't heard from Orlando, hope he's well and going too.

I met up with Orlando during this summer's conclave in L.A. and he showed me heart breaking, gut wrenching photos of the destruction of this once proud theatre.

Let's see 'em

talked with the lindenhurst mayors office.... lindenhurst theater is going to be a marina and boat shop.

If you read the previous comments you wouldn't have to waste your money on aphone call

If you read the previous comments you wouldn't have had
to waste your money on a phone call.

Ooops!, sorry about the " message. I am planning a tour of the Lindenhurst and Babylon area theatres on September 11 2005, on a Sunday. It will start at 10:30 Lindenhurst LIRR and end at the Babylon LIRR station with a BBQ lunch at my house and slide lecture on the area's theatres. We will see Washington Hall (circa 1916), the Studio Theatre, the old National/Welwood/Lindenhurst site and the current Lindenhurst Theatre conversion, almost completed. BBQ lunch from 12:00 - 3:00 with slide show. Then the RKO Babylon Twin site, South Bay Theatre (1967), the Capitol/Babylon theatre (only working vertical sign in use in all Long Island, and the Alhambra and first Babylon Theatre site. You may depart from Babylon LIRR a 30 second walk from the last theatre site at approximately 6 PM. Open to the first 25 people to respond to: lopes1956@hotmail.com
This will be my first tour as New York Director of New York City of The Theatre Historical Society Of America. I will be planning more. RSVP to my website by August 31, 2005.

P.S. We will get indoor tours of the Lindenhurst, South Bay Theatre and Babylon if I get access. The South Bay Theatre is a certain, a lot of improvements here. The Babylon Theatre has the Beekman Theatre seats (NYC) which I sat in last week.

P.S.S. This tour is open to all Cinema Treasures and THSA members.

P.S.S. This tour is open to all Cinema Treasures and THSA members.

Sounds like a great day........

Twelve people are signed up for the Lindenhurst/Babylon Theatre tour on Sept. 11, 2005. There is room for another twelve. The neon Lindenhurst name on the marquee is soon to be taken down, this will be your last opportunity to see it in place. E-mail me ASAP if you're interested in attending by clicking my e-mail address several comments above this posting.

Sounds like a great day........

Sounds like a great day........

The beauty of having a movie theatre in town was its convenience. We kids didn't have to wait for our parents to "drive" us to movies. We were able to walk by ourselves or ride our bikes to the Lindenhurst. In those days you didn't need a parent to occupany you to most movies anyway. There used to be a children's section policy but that was given up and a kid could sit anywhere. You were allowed to sit through two or three showings. Smoking was allowed in the balcony and looking up at the cloud of smoke was awesome from below. I loved it when the gold curtain opened as the titles began and closed on the words The End at the percise moment. I will miss this theatre. Something could have been done to have at least The Studio Theatre find a home there, but no, it stays in that upper story clap trap with poor access for the handicapped and escape for patrons. Live and Learn.

Just about 50+ years ago I worked as a maintenance "man" at the Lindenhurst when I was 15yrs old. I had come out of the city for the summer and was enjoying the good life of Lindenhurst.
I was also sparking the beautiful "Beverly" and living life to it's fullest. The Theater was in it's prime and so was she.
God chose to take her early in life and now the theater is falling to "Greed".
The owner may want to examine the following quote from Mr. Ralph Waldo Emerson
" You cannot do a kindness too soon
For you never know how soon
it will be too late!"
Consider giving back the "Heart" to the community.

The theatre is closed, but the building is still standing and is presently a marine supply store.

What ever happened to ORLANDO?

Orlando is doing fine and working hard at the Loews Paradise in the Bronx.

I was the manager for the summer of '82. This was my first full time managing job. At the time it was a discount house. It was never a beauty, I saw b-film double features as a kid there, but it was always safe and clean. I gotta tell ya, the sense of community was amazing. Every Friday and Saturday there were lines around the corner on warm summer nights. As one employee would tell me the thing to do would be see a movie and then go to Friendly's Restaurant, further up the street in town.

My first night was a Friday with two shows shows of a drama called "Making Love", one of the first gay love stories and there comes a scene where the two lead actors kiss. Well, half the audience got up and left. No words, no requests for refunds, just up and left. It happened every single show where it became a joke, where we would just open the front glass doors right before the scene so exiting would be smoother. The only film I ever opened the balcony for was "Raiders Of The Lost Ark" which had been playing for months and months first run. The whole atmosphere of going to the movies on LI has changed with the gradual extinction of the neighborhood theater.

The theater was captured on film in Lindenhurst's own Hal Hartley's "The Unbelievable Truth" starring Robert Burke, who went on to play RoboCop, a very young Edie Falco and Adrienne Shelley, who tragically made headlines this year for being murdered.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100842/

Not living in Lindenhurst, I went there once and only once in the summer of 2000 and saw "Frequency". I figured the place was on it's way out cuz the staff was unorganized and I was able to walk in without a ticket.

Re a 2005 posting the old theatre, the Wellwood, was actually in town. It is in the directory. It was destroyed by fire. A year or two before the Lindenhurst closed, they, too, had a fire but the cause of their demise is the one plaguing all single screen theatres and, lately some of the multiplexes.

I'm glad there's a visual of the theatre. It looked small from the outside but was surprisingly large inside. I remember a plaque over the refreshment stand which stated it had won some sort of designing award.

I was a kid and went to see Funny Face the Astaire/Hepburn musical. As an adult now I appreciate the old film but back then as a kid I hated it. When the musical number "I Like Pink" came on I had enough and asked for my money back. The lady in the ticket booth was a very old and grouchy woman. "No! No refunds!" Then she pointed her finger at me "Ain't you the one we threw out last week?" I was. I ran out of there fast and didn't go back for months after.