Westbury Theater

I drove by today and it still is there with the same info on the marquee.

Didn't the Westbury Theater show porno flicks for a number of years? Growing up on the Island, it was the closest porno theater to my home. Went in highschool with friends and we used to pray that we didn't see someone's dad hustling across the parking lot.

You are thinking of the Salisbury which was on Old Country Road. It may have been a Centurys house at one time but by the seventies was a XXX house. It closed in 1993 and is a National Wholesale Liquidators.

Indeed. Thanks for the clarification.

The address for the Westbury Theatre was 250 Post Avenue, Westbury, NY.

This "historic theater with store fronts and apartments" is going up for public auction at 10AM on September 30th at the Long Island Federal Courthouse in Central Islip, according to an ad in yesterday's real estate section of The New York Times. Inspections of the premises can be made September 13, September 20, and September 27, from noon until 2PM each day. Further details can be found at www.maltzauctions.com

I did an inspection of the premises today after reading the above post. The building "in bankruptcy" sits on Post Avenue awaiting its'
fate. I arrived at 12:25 and signed the waiver that all must do, to view the entire premises. The theatres closing date was about 5 years ago (not my estimate) and has seen better days. I will not go into the details of the inspection but the twin theatre (down the middle) was sad to see. The last time I was here was with "longislandmovies" to see "Trip To Bountiful" with Geraldine Page after she won the Oscar. The movie played there forever and then a day. This was true for most of the bookings. The owners were astute to "their rigid policies" (if you unwrapped a candy that was snuck in, you were ejected". This theatre with it's tremendous stagehouse would suit plays needind the space. Due to "deferred maintenance" the building's interior has suffered but the four walls and original structural supports are sound. The roof had it been maintained would have greatly improved its chances for survival as a L.I. Performing Arts Center. In its present condition though, it's going to take "a person with a vision and obviously "money". There are many vestiges of the old theatre in view but its' twinning saw the lobby "paneled and ceiling dropped" One third of the lobby entrance ceiling exists under the panels. The rest of the property in front of the theatre consists of 5 nice apartment containing 4 to 5 rooms each (now offices) and three storefronts that can be easily turned into 5 since two are quite large. The marquee was being changed for the proceedings which Warren has listed above. The owners were present and I remembered them from the movie days. I feel bad that they were not able to endure but they must know that they are responsible for the current condition of the property. To be honest, a performing arts center seems unlikely since the Westbury Music Fair handles the crowds and is established as a show and music venue and with the UA Westbury Stadium Theatres and Loew's Raceway and Roosevelt Field Theatres, movies don't make much sense either unless the building through renovation was quadded for "art and foriegn films" which seem never to get proper runs and then only at the Malverne and Huntington Community Cenetr. I hope that someone comes forward within the next two weeks with a vision for the ailing building. I'd hate to see it go.

There was a time that the Westbury was doing decent grosses for some of the art runs they presented. They also had "Jean De Florette" and "Manon of the Spring" for almost a year. The sad part is their gestapo antics cost them their patronage. Prior to the Kew Gardens Cinemas opening, I knew many people who drove there from Queens. It was easier to drive to Westbury then to put up with the crowds in Manhattan. Almost everyone I knew stopped going there as the antics of the owners made not only the newspapers but the tv news as well. I was listening to WOR one day and the topic was the condition of theatres. The phones lit up and one call after another complained about that theatre in Westbury. Sad, that the theatre may be gutted for such stupidity.

In addition to my comments posted yesterday, the village still wants a theatre here but if an offer is made to alter or demolish the property, it will probably happen after the auction on September 30 at a village board meeting. I'll keep you posted.

Today and next Monday are left for those who wish to inspect the property. The times are between 12 noon and 2 P.M.

I came I think twice to see movies here--once in the 80's to take my sister to see (I think) "The Care Bears Movie" and in 1997 to see "Casablanca." When I went to see "Casablanca", it felt like I was watching a movie in my basement: the lobby had tattered carpeting and cheap paneling on the walls; the ceiling consisted of tiles and the theater proper smelled dank and damp. And the people who ran it were pretty nasty. It's really sad, because, as noted, if someone had vision and money, this could be a really great theater.

Perhaps if it became some sort of community theater playhouse (not professional productions, like the Westbury Music Fair gets), maybe it could survive.

I am a theatrical and special event producer and have been interested in the location for some time. My company Chez-zam (formed in 1980)is based in Syosset and have been looking for a new "home" I just learned the property is going up for auction and (unfortunately) missed todays inspection. I am desparately trying to get my hands around the possibilities and current state of condition- any info from anyone who has seen it would really be appreciated.
Richard L Blau

In its final years, the Westbury Theater subsisted mostly on extended runs of Paramount releases.

You are right br91975, they played Paramount releases even the bombs forever. Sometimes with Spanish subtitles. Some of these films were such turkeys they must have had nobody show up. A friend of mine reminded me of one time we went there to see an Italian picture. We were waiting in the lobby for the current show to let out. The owner was making popcorn and literally badgering people to buy some. There was also a jar asking for donations to quad the theatre. We know that never came about.

Richard, there'll be another inspection on September 27th, I believe. From the recent newspaper articles that I have read, I don't think that it's in that great condition (in fact, the town took over the theater because it was in such bad condition--particularly the roof--and the owner claimed that she would make renovations "soon"). I'd love to see it revitalized and always felt that its potential was being wasted.

By the way, I've read that the former owner of the theater used to solicite donations to "renovate" the theater. What did she do wtih that money?

Thats how she paid for that godawful paneling they glued all over the lobby LOL

Read the posting on the Loews Kings page to read how they didnt even fix a skylight and let the rain pour into the theatre.

To the above posters, the Westbury showed Paramount films in the last few years, because as the owner told me, that studio had no shipping costs. There was a program there called "C-Note Chorus", in which for a contribution of $100 (a C-Note, get it?), you would help contribute to the renovation of the theatre, and have your name on the marquee for a week. I remember one week, my second grade teacher had her name up there! Yes, she tried to have me contribute, but being the poor boy I was (and still am), I kindly backed off. Unlike many patrons, the owners of the Westbury were very good to me, maybe because I was often the only customer there
(imagine seeing "Titanic" when it was still new, in a theatre all alone. My niece, then a Leo freak---what teenaged girl wasn't then?--
-was thrilled!) Or maybe it was because I never tried to "wake" them. One time, I tried to get them to install some 16mm equipment,
so I could lend them some of my public domain movies (every now and then, the theatre would have a repretory format, such as the Bogart
festival in the summer of 1997). One sight I would never forget, was
when I got up "to go to go", when there in the lobby, in a world
all his own, was the owner's husband, playing the accordian, and
singing Italian arias in a clear tenor voice! Clearly, I would have
loved to have saved the Westbury Theatre. That's why I'm hoping to
win the lottery tomorrow, so I can get in there and bid this
Thursday. Oh well, dream on...

Paul
You have me roaring here. I think a movie could be made about those two kooks. Have you ever heard of a theatre asking for donations? It was not a non-profit like Film Forum. The district attorneys office should have investigated all of this. I mentioned in an earlier post that they used to have a jar on the candy stand asking for donations to quad the theatre.

Some more memories: The owner once told me that AMC (not to be confused with the current abobmination) wanted to film a commercial there, but backed down, she said, because they wouldn't meet her price. She also told me at the same time, that she had turned down a lot of offers from newspapers and magazines offering to write articles about the theatre (some of which I am sure could have alerted people about the theatre), because "they always want to make me out as some kind of character".

Even under reporting their grosses I dont see how they managed to stay open as long as they did. Some of those Paramount movies played there long after they disappeared from even Manhattan houses. For the sake of paying Long Island Film Delivery the cost to ship a print, or they could have gone to Fort Lee and picked up the thing themselves they let the theatre sit and die. They lost all their art house crowd to the Malverne after the cough drops, camera and other insane stunts.

I wonder if a woman who was breast feeding an infant would have been kicked out for bringing in outside beverages?

In all seriousness, this is one instance where you can't blame the decline of a theater on faceless corporate conglomerates or greedy town supervisors. The Westbury Theater closed because of the owners' own incompetence. I mean, jeez, letting rain pour into the theater? No wonder why it smelled like a basement! Here's hoping that whoever wins the auction on Thursday will commit to revitalizing this theater--which, I believe, could be the lynchpin in revitalizing that section of town.

Oh, and I totally agree the someone needs to investigate what happened to those "donations" the owners collected.

Warren,

The Westbury had a two manual, six rank Midmer-Losh Organ in it. I saw it in '75. The console was disconnected and at the rear of the stage and the pipes were still in their chamber. Wonder if anything is left.

Today, the Weatbury Theatre, apartments and storefronts were auctioned in Central Islip Court House. Bids started at $500,000 and I had told someone this past Monday at the theatre that it would go for $1.5 million since it sits on 9 lots. I was off by $150,000. Two bidders made the price bid go back between the two of them for the million dollar increase. Then one bidder, who had not bidded at all put up the bid of $1,650,000 and won the property, with a second bidder coming in at $1,625,000. The high bidder prior to the start of the bidding asked if there were any tenants in the apartments or the storefronts (he was communicating on cell phone and did not inspect the property prior to bidding). If he would have inspected, he would have known that the property was vacant. This leads me to believe that other plans that don't include a theatre or the current structure will be in play after the title is transfered in thirty days, which was extended by the judge instead of the two weeks. I'll keep everyone posted. I took many pictures of the backstage area and some of the original stained-glass exit signs (numbered) that are falling out of their holdings. What a sad day for Westbury.

Were the two owners present?

The owner, Corrine Staehle was present, sitting in the first row against the wall with her attorney. She was asking at the end of the bidding who the high bidder was. She looked like she was calm and sat quietly during the proceedings. Maybe l'll see you Saturday at the Loew's Jersey and give you the details.

I hate to sound cold, but Corrine and her fellow owner(s) have few other people to blame but themselves for the current state of the Westbury, both the structure itself and the fact that the property ever had to be auctioned off.

Hey Orlando, please do post the interior photos of the Westbury and any pending news on the new owner's intented use. Sounds like an attempt to save this theater is too late. What a shame for such a unique structure. From my last visit there a few months back, I'd estimate that the cost to save the place would have easily exceed the $5 - $7 million dollar range. My hunch is that the new owner will try to demolish the theatre and put some type of senior housing/assisted living units and/or an office building. Here's to hoping I'm wrong...
Another Westbury memory - anyone recall the annual recurrance of the following titles - Casablanca, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, La Traviata, Streetwise, Raiders of the Lost Ark? I'm assuming Corrine and Rod owned or conveniently held onto prints of these movies. Aside from Raiders, I could not picture them actually booking and paying for these same rep house titles over and over again. It seemed anytime Paramount was totally out of product, they'd play one of those films for as many weeks as necessary to fill the gaps. Who the world at Paramount was willing to even continue booking them all those years anyway?

More memories! I remember waiting for some popcorn with some other family (I think "Fairy Tale" was showing that week--er I mean season). The little girls' eyes lit up in amazement as the old fashioned metal corn popper spilled out its lushious white kernals. "Oh my God!" one of them exclaimed. Another time, a family was gathering to see "Snow Day" (that too ran forever) when I walked out of the auditorium to ask Mrs. S a question. The dad's face turned ashen white, and then he said cautiously, "guys, why don't we it playing at Roosevelt Field instead?", and they all left. Geez Pops, was it something I said? A lot of people thought I worked
there, and when the film would jump or break, and someone would ask
me "go tell them to fix it", I'd angrily reply "YOU tell them!" As
to the above poster, yes I do remember when the Westbury showed "La
Traviata" (I once thought the Westbury had originally opened as an
opera house, because of the [fake] boxes on either side, I felt I
was returning to their roots). I also saw "Mr. Smith...", and I
heard two old ladies exclaim to Mrs. S. as I walked out, "Oh Uncle
Billy was fabulous!", "Casablanca" too, as part of their Bogart
festival (which I tried to get them to extend another week with my
copy of "Call It Murder". They didn't have 16mm equipment) I think
the other films in the series was that war movie and noir movie he made for Columbia (the names escape me for now), "Sabrina", and "The Caine Mutiny". But the one movie that lasted forever there was "Tender Mercies". I remember Mrs. S. saying that she would show the movie until Robert DuVal made a personal appearance. She gave up after three or four years of showing it. As I said before, I have broken my back in lottery tickets over the past few weeks, hoping to win big to bid on the theatre. I didn't attend the auction, not only because of a lack of funds, but I was also rehearsing a show I'm doing in December at Symphony Space (plug, plug). The Westbury Theatre has given me alot of terrific memories. From the Saturday matinees in the 60's with a cold, stern, matronly woman keeping order with a scowl and a snear; the midnight shows of the 70's, where I saw "Reefer Madness", Beatle films, Betty Boop cartoons, and the like; from the couple taking over in the 80's, and watching the staff dwindle to just those two. Up to my almost weekly pilgrimage in the 90's, when I thought every week would be my last one there. They may take away the Westbury Theatre, but no one can ever take away the memories of that theatre. Memories of which I'll cherish forever.

Actually, in response to Robert's comment, the Salisbury Theatre is now a CVS Drug Store. National Wholesale Liquidators occupies the building formerly owned by Pergament Hardware.

I have known the owners for many, many years--over 30! Although some say they mismanaged the property, they loved the business and did their best to keep it going with little money.

They may have loved the business but even putting aside their abuse of customers, they knew nothing about booking. To play Paramount movies just because they shipped free was sheer lunacy. They could have picked up the prints themselves if they did not want to pay Long Island Film Shipping to do it. Many of the art distributors would not service them anymore, for reasons I wont go into on here. They never would offer a bargain matinee and acted like it was a privilege to be allowed to see a movie there. It worked for awhile when they were about the only place in Nassau County to see an art film. The minute the Malverne and Manhasset and later Kew Gardens went art nobody in their right mind went there anymore. That theatre could have even went $3 and played second run moveovers and would have done alot more then it took in. One last thing, I wish I could remember the double feature that one of the film companies released in the early 90's (so rare even then)but they actually put one film in each screen and charged a seperate admission for each. Every place else it was a double feature. I can guarantee they reported the grosses from just one side and not the total, if anyone was crazy enough to see them there.

Here is a story from the Westbury Times regarding the theatre last year. Seems it was about to be auctioned off before.


http://www.antonnews.com/westburytimes/2003/11/21/news/movietheater.html

If only she spent $200 to fix the hole in the roof.

http://www.antonnews.com/westburytimes/2001/08/17/news/

http://www.antonnews.com/westburytimes/2001/07/13/news/

http://www.antonnews.com/westburytimes/2004/10/08/news/movietheatre.html

http://www.incweb.fsnet.co.uk/wtp/

Sadly, the last link is for a "Campaign for a Theatre in Westbury" refers to Westbury, Wiltshire, in ENGLAND (in the southern region, west of London). It would have been nice if the people of Westbury, New York were as enthused about their theatre as the people of Westbury, England are.

Sorry, dumb mistake on my part. I saw the web address had UK in it, but with those 2 you never knew what was going to happen.

Any action taking place here yet?

Not only did the theatre owners forbid "outside food," one time, they practically followed my friend's mother back to her car to make sure she didn't surreptitiously return with the contraband can of diet soda.

I only saw two movies there: Raiders of the Lost Ark when it was re-released in 1982, and The Trip to Bountiful. At the second one, I was sucking on a lifesaver, and an usher told me to spit it out and I refused, and he said he'd get the manager and I said, "Go ahead," but nothing happened. Then, they shut off the projector during the end credits. That completely set me OFF and I yelled at the usher, "I paid $6.50 to see this movie and I want to see ALL the goddamned credits!" He was mystified and I stormed off.

Why anyone put up with this lunacy is beyond me, these two should have been put in an asylum and the key thrown away.

Here's one more annoying memory about the owners who were kooks. This happened after the infamous cough-drop incident.

My and a few friends were there to see an "art" film (maybe "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" or something like that. While waiting on line, this guy had one of those car radios that you used to remove from the dashboard (don't know if they still make them). Anyway...the woman owner was working the counter and noticed this. She sent her husband over to the guy to tell him he couldn't take it into the theater. The husband told the guy this and a pretty nifty little fight ensued. Of course the guy with the radio argued that it was a car radio but the owners would have none of it. Long story short, the guy was ejected from the theater (with his friends). We all had a big laugh. The owners, honest to God, were very strange people. Seemed like nerdy control freaks.

And yes, for awhile, it was one of the few places to see independent/art films on Long Island. The only other place was the New Community Cinema out in Huntington.

I feel like writing a screen play about this once great theatre and the insane couple who ran it into the ground, but who would believe it.

RobertR: it would be a comedy, drama and tragedy. What's sad is that these people must've loved the idea of owning and running their own movie theater. But they were so odd and genuinely mean spirited that one had to wonder why they were doing it. Was it just for the novelty? Did they treat the theater itself like some kind of big toy and couldn't be bothered with the details like being nice to your patrons? It was and is a very strange story...

Odder even then leaving an open hole in the roof that left rain pouring in and destroying the place while it was still open. Then there was collecting money to quad the theatre that they just seemed to put in their pockets. There was a whole program to get your name on the marquee if you donated $100. What a sham.

An odd spectacle. I hate to say this but the theater was doomed in more ways than just the owners. Then neighborhood itself is in decline and it's got stiff competition just around the corner with the Raceway Theaters off of Hempstead Turnpike.

When they were one of the only full time art houses in Nassau County they did decent grosses (and that's just what they reported). Without the screaming and badgering they could have survived. Who did they think was going to come there for all the Paramount movies they played with Spanish subtitles? One side of Westbury has million dollar homes and could have supported an art house indefinitely.

Well, the one side of Westbury(actually Old Westbury) has the million and multi-million dollar homes BUT it's quite a stretch from where the Westbury Theater is located. 10-15 years ago, the main street in Westbury was very nice. But I was back there about a year ago and was kind of shocked about how it's sunk. Westbury is a strange town the way it's split. One area (near where the movie theater is) is rather run down and low on the economic scale. The area across Jericho Turnpike is beautiful. But I'd be willing to bet that the residents of Old Westbury don't go near the old "downtown" area.

Hey
I was just thinking what was that famous French comedy where the inmates were running the asylum? My story about the Westbury could be a remake.

"King of Hearts"?

Yup thats the one LOL

Has there been any activity here lately?

Went by there yesterday. There is now blue plastic covering on the roof. Other than that, nothing.

It's doomed. Sorry but the neighborhood is in decline and has been for years. And there's way too much competition in the area with the new megaplexes.

I grew up in Nassau County and I go back there fairly frequently to visit friends and relatives (I'm in NJ now). Nassau is becoming like a borough of NYC now, demographic wise. I was shocked two years ago by the horrible condition of the Roosevelt Field Mall and it's movie theater. The mall removed that great "spitting" fountain that they had for what???!!!! A kiddie train ride...to generate revenue. Ugh!

Back in the 80's, Roosevelt Field was THE mall to go to. And the theater, though mightily multiplexed, was fantastic. It was clean as hell and just a great theater to go to. HELL, even this Westbury place was OK. It was one of the few close by places to show unusual fare such as "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown", "My Life as a Dog", "Jean DeFlorette", "Murmur of the Heart" and so many others. The only other theater on LI that show stuff like this was the New Community Cinema in Huntington. And that was quite a schlep. I would never have gotten the chance to see these fine films without the Westbury. Yes, the owners were a well documented couple of nut-burgers but they booked good stuff in the mid to late 80s.

CConnolly
Maybe there meds were adjusted to the proper levels back then LOL. Seriously though they stopped doing good bookings as one of the above posts mention, they wanted the Paramount films because they were shipped free. If they had even gone second run with clean theatres and normal people working there it might have survived. How sane can someone be leaving holes in the roof while the theatre was open? Instead of playing the accordian in the lobby he could have glued some patches onto the holes in the roof.

I live in the downtown Westbury area and have to agree with the previous poster about Post avenue. It has certainly been going downhill. The grafitti is all over the theater building and they even tagged my building as well. Usually the grafitti says one thing, it's a gang symbol and all over town. I never saw any movies there at The Westbury but it's a shame that downtown theatres like these are neglected and then often torn down.
I agree that Nassau is looking like a 6th borough of New York City. I've lived in Nassau all my life (grew up in Levittown) and remember how much better it was. Roosevelt Field mall's side roads are riddled with potholes and sometimes the gangs hang out there. The movie theater there is very rowdy I never go there, I usually go to Levittown's Nassau multiplex.

Unfortunately, most suburbanites do not walk to shop in local commercial cooridors. As mediocre as shopping malls are, they are more appealing to the lazy who could not even bear the thought of parking along a street that isn't near the entrance of their destination. This is a result of poor urban planning that has taken place in the past fifty years with stagnant clusters of suburban homes that bear no architectural significance and have no offical center of town. Since there is no center of town in these developments and there is nothing worth walking to, except for a neighborhood shop that residents probably drive to anyway. I think
that downtowntown shopping cooridors will be a thing of the past if people continue to plan these developments so poorly. If community residents would take pride in supporting these local shopping cooridors, they could be greatly improved.

Nassau could never look like a borough of the city of New York!

"Nassau could never look like a borough of the city of New York!"

HA! Want to make a bet? It already does and Westbury/New Cassell is quickly turning into Nassau's version of Brownsville or East NY...especially New Cassell.

Nassau fell apart in the 80's. Back in the 70's, it still felt like a decent suburb. But they developed the living hell out of it in the 80's and destroyed so much.

Now it's even worse than it was. I'm shocked at what I see there now...the gangs, the graffiti. I know no one my age who wants to live there anymore. Maybe 30 or 40 years from now, it will begin to regentrify. Brooklyn has more potential than Nassau does. How ironic...the 5 boroughs were nearly destroyed by the post war housing boom on LI. But now Nassau's on the decline while the 5 boroughs continue to get hotter and hotter.

Sorry...I know this is not the place to have a discussion about urban/suburban development. But in some ways, the decline of movie theaters DOES pertain to the topic.

I live in Forest Hills in Queens and although my area has stayed nice many other areas have gotten so bad. I looked at houses in Nassau but all the areas I would live in have taxes of 8 to 10,000 a year. Great Neck, Manhasset and Garden City are still top areas. The weird thing is the Loews Roosevelt Field is in Garden City but is drawing a rough crowd at times.

Look where Garden City is. One of the most bizarre aspects of LI is that drive up from Baldwin through Hempstead. Going north along Henry St.in Hempstead, you hit the remains of the old trolley line and the street became Clinton St in Garden City. You literally go bump and one second you're in slummy Hempstead and the next, beautiful Garden City with mansions all around.

Not to beat Nassau into the ground, but even Garden City isn't what it used to be. Bloomingdales is now a SEARS!!!!!!!!!! The famed N. Franklin Street is NOTHING like it used to be. People who live there now brag about how nice it is. Huh? You didn't see it back in the 70's when it got and deserved it's name as the "Fifth Ave. of LI".

As for Roosevelt Field, this is not the place to discuss it but what the hell...as I've said before, it's a shadow of it's former self. Even back in 1998, it was still a great mall. But in a very short time, it's become a disgrace...dirty, lack of maintenance, you name it. I have heard (from a couple of friends of mine who still live on LI) that the reason for the mall's turnaround is a re-routing of several bus lines. I shall not elaborate. But I don't think it's just that.

God, I remember the mall and the theater back in the 80's. It really was like a small city...with all the stores and that great WELL maintained theater. EVERYONE went there. Then I went there in 2002 and it was sooooooooooooooooooooooo depressing. I could not believe how bad the place was.

As for Westbury, I remember taking my future wife for dinner in a restaurant a couple of doors down from the theater (forgot the name) and then catching "Ghost" at the theater. Lovely time. Now? I shudder to think of what the area looks like now.

CConnolly
No amusing stories about seeing Ghost at the Westbury? Back then they still used to get people into the theatre at least.

Honestly, it was a shock to see it playing there and it was first run in the summer of 1990! I remember taking my wife there and she said "oh my God, isn't this the place with the weird owners?" Now keep in mind, she was from Brooklyn. She had even heard of the stories. We actually had a fine time. The theater was packed and my wife loved the fresh popcorn. She said how nice an experience it was. That was what was so paradoxical about the place. It could be nice or not so nice. Like you said before, depended upon what meds they were taking.

Anything going on here?

I was born in Westbury and brought up in Old Westbury. I have not been back there since 1961. I have many fond memories as a child of going to the Westbury Theater on Saturday afternoons to see a movie. Sundays were spent going to St. Brigid's Church, buying rolls at the bakery and a Sunday paper at the Drugstore and then heading home. In the 1940's and 1950's I spent many many hours at Annie McCarthy's candy and grocery store/house which was located on the left across from the gas station as you headed into town on Post Avenue. She was my grandmother. It is heart breaking to read what has been happening to Post Avenue and the theater.
ShirleyA

I went today to buy tickets at Westbury Music Fair (actually it's new corporate name is Northfork Music fair)so I swung by the Westbury. The roof is covered with tarps nailed down to keep them from blowing away. I peeked in the lobby and nothing seems different except a lot of plaster and drop ceiling have fallen from the water leaking. The sides of the marquee have had the letters saying "Support the Westbury Performing Arts Center" removed, but the front still says "God Bless America". All of the stores are empty, as is the apartments upstairs. It looked very sad and forgotten.

Went by there yesterday. The new owners have soaped the windows so it is no longer as easy to see through. However, I noticed that the concession stand, where the popcorn was still popped right before your eyes (see previous post) has been removed, while around the corner, the trees by the building have been chopped down. The whole place looks very gloomy.

From the Village of Westbury Newsletter:

After several years of litigarion, the Village won the
right to forclose on the (theatre) property and the
courts finally sold the building through a bankruptcy
auction. Although (the) new owners have not completed
plans, they have met with Mayor Strada and agreed to use
their best efforts to fulfill the wishes of the Village
and re-energize the theatre in at least some portion of
the building. The Village will keep this as a goal and
continue to work with these new owners.

Let's hope so. In the past few years, a pair of stadium sized condos have been going up near Post Avenue, dwarfing everything in site!

I only went there once. In '83 Universal had an experiment where they were going to open "The Pirates Of Penzance" starring Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt both theatrically and on Pay Per Veiw at the same time. I worked for UA at the time and of course none of the chains would touch it. Well, the Westbury was the only theatre showing it and I had never been there before and I had seen the Broadway show with the same cast so what the hell. I only have one thing to say about the experience, it was raining that night.

To Bob T: Thanks for reminding me that the "Pirates..." played there in '83. I remember the marquee read MAJOR STUDIO WORLD PREMIERE, and I had wanted to go very much. Now I remember why I didn't: it WAS raining VERY HARD that night!

Here is a picture of the marquee advertising the bankruptcy sale.

www.antonnews.com/westburytimes/2004/09/24/news/

There are pictures here of the marquee with the infamous "C-note" donors and the ceiling coming down.

www.antonnews.com/westburytimes/2003/08/08/news/

Anybody drive by here lately?

I go by there every day on the N 35 bus. Nothing has changed since my March 7th post.

"Orca" played the Westbury the summer of 1977
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Orca.jpg

Another sad day in Westbury: Tear and Gershon, a staionery/candy store that stood across the street from the Westbury Theatre for over 50 years, and where a reporter in the audience of the infamous cough drop caper went to phone the story in (they didn't have cells back then) has shuttered and closed.

Is the theatre still just sitting there?

Sorry to say, nothing has changed since my March 7th post.

I worked on the 2/6 Midmer Losh organ for the owner in 1976. His name was Brandt if I recall correctly. He had no interest in the instrument other than to sell it, which he did about a year later. It went into a private home, I believe. The main chamber to the right of the proscenium contained all six ranks. The opposite chamber had only a tubular chime set. The main chest had a Diapason, Stopped Diapason, Dulciana and Salicional, all at 8' pitch. A Bourdon 16' and Vox Humana 8' stood on offset chests. The console was a typical Midmer Losh with an extended 73 note lower manual and a pre-wired, synthetic oboe stop tab. While working there, I noticed lots of stage equipment still in place, including scenery and curtains hanging way up in the fly. There was also an early Vitaphone sound system, erected on a scaffold behind the screen. It was still in use at the time, I believe, although I never saw a film in this theatre. It was a depressing place to work late at night. I can still smell the popcorn and carbon tetrachloride.

Depressing? Sounds fascinating. Too think I saw "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother" with Gene Wilder here in 1976 and all that "stuff" was there when I saw it. Amazing.

"Shoes of the Fisherman" on its neighborhood run in 1969
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/If.jpg

I was riding past the theatre the other day, when the cab driver told me "Y'know, dey're restorin' it". Too shock to hear the rest of what he was saying, I decided to investigate the next day. Sure enough, through the soapy glass doors, one could see that the lobby has been torn out, replaced by wooden support beams, while sawdust and a ladder were on the floor. Around the corner stood two dumpsters filled to the rim. I have no idea if the theatre is being restored, or if the building is being converted for other uses. Anyone out there with any news???

Not too long ago, the village of Westbury received a grant for a much-needed revitalization of its shopping/commercial district. Many changes have already taken place, and the plan has sparked residential development - two upscale condominiums (92 and 90 units, most of which I believe are one-bedroom) are either under construction or near completion, and other developers are expressing interest to build as well. These are attracting mostly young urban professional types who like the location for its walking-distance proximity to shopping and mass transit, as well as retirees who are "downsizing". The housing is an "affordable" alternative (relatively speaking) for those who work in NYC and want convenient access to it without having to live in or near it. This housing alone is expected to attract almost 600 new residents to the village.

If only those idiotic owners hadn't turned the theatre into a pile of garbage, they could have capitalized on all of these changes. Still, it's better off now that it's out of their insanely incompetent hands - someone might actually come in now, renovate and make a successful go of it. Considering what developments are occuring in the village, it could be a prime opportunity.

All of this is happening despite the fact that just directly to the east is unsavory New Cassel, for years a depressed "minority" neighbourhood that over time has become permeated with drugs, gangs and [illegal] immigrants (I would advise against travelling through there, especially at night). A blight on the landscape and boil on the backside of one of Long Island's most vibrant and popular shopping destinations - the Westbury/Carle Place/Garden City area.

I tried looking at the online edition of the Westbury Times but could not find out any information about the theatre.

Indeed, RobertR. Where I live, I can buy the print edition of the Times, but if I don't see any news about the theatre on the front page, I pass it by. Getting back to the subject at hand, does anybody out there know what is happening to the theatre building proper?

I went past the Westbury yesterday. Workers were gutting out the second story office space at the front of the building. They gave me the following phone number as a building contact if anyone wants to try it...646-529-0977...

I would advise all of you NOT to phone the number that Nova posted. I tried it myself today, and was greeted by a very gruff "HELLO". The man treated my interest in the Westbury theatre building with suspicion. He wanted to know why I was so interested. I told him that the building had just stood vacant for many years, that I hoped something good was coming out of it, and that I hoped it would be a theatre again. He replied "yeah, something's good coming out of it, but what, we don't know". I simply said "keep up the good work", and that was that. Only time will tell what happens next.

Some great news everyone. It seems there is a good chance the Westbury will be turned into a performing arts center if the new owner and the town can agree on some things.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Theatres/Westburytheatre.jpg

SO much time has passed and nothing seems to be happening here?

Went by it just yesterday. Sheets of white paper now cover up the doors and windows, making it impossible to see from the outside. This year incidentally, marks Westbury's 75th anniversary as an incorporated village, as well as The Westbury Times' centenial anniversary.

i saw ghost at the westbury theater too. i also saw Neighbors there. the dan aykroyd john beluchi film.

Is there ANYTHING going on with this theater? Or does anyone know the current whereabouts of the former owners (just out of curiosity).

The plastic has blown off the roof and there are huge gaping holes to let the rain and snow pour in. I'm sure the new owners want to tear this down or they would have at least replaced the roof.

Worked there as an usher in the mid 70s. The theater itself sure was beautiful, but that was before it was twinned. Seen so many movies there from old Disney films like Herbie the Love Bug, Old Yeller and such. When I was working there, we had very popular movies, typically shortly after they opened. The Excorsit was one to remember, we had folks walking out during various parts of the movie praying, cursing, vomitting, you name it. The theatre was always a break-even on ticket prices with profit coming from the candy counter. Shortly after Close Encounters played there, many of the staff left en masse to open The Cine Capri in Old Bethpage, me among them. Enough disparaging remarks about Post Ave already, I prefer to remember it like it was when I was a kid from Donahue's Funeral Home and the Methodist Church all the way to Jay's Stationary, right across from the RR and on to St Bridgid's. Van Cleef & Rofield Realty, Bohack's, Proschels Flowers, Gray's Saddlery, The Village Deli right next to the theatre, Franks Pizza, Smilies?, Tear and Gershon's, Cavallaro Sporting Goods in that little alley, Abete's? lol been too long. Good old Westbury, what a great place to grow up. Used to get quite a bit of making out action in those loge seats!!

When I moved to Westbury 13 years ago I liked the convenience of the "local" theater. They were never showing anything that interested me to go in UNTIL the 10th anniversary re-release of Star Wars came out which the Westbury theater was showing. I thought this would be a great opportunity for my 7 year old son to be introduced to this great epic. So, he and I went the following friday and went in to purchase our tickets. It was dead in the lobby but I didn't think much of it. It looked like nothing in it had changed in 50 years (reminded me of the Old RKO theater in Flushing that I loved going to when I was younger). We purchased our tickets and then my son wanted popcorn which need to be popped. The old gentleman said not to worry that for us to go in and he'll "bring" the popcorn to us. I thought how odd? How will he find me? Anyway I said fine and proceed into the theater to find my seat. Well, now I know how the old man was going to find us, we were the old two people in the theater! It was a bit creepy at first but then I felt like the king in his private old theater with freashly popped pop corn brought to our seats! I have never had service like that since. After the movie ended we proceeded to leave and past the old man at the ticket booth. Well he was obviously a movie buff because we wanted to talk and talk about Star wars! I was thinking, doesn't he have a theater to run? Finally I just had to cut him off since my son was getting fidgety. This was my one and only visit to the Westbury theater shortly before it closed.

Still just sitting looks like nothing is going on.

This is from Newsday, July 6, 2008
<<The Tudor-style Westbury Theater, built in 1927, has sat in poor repair for several years. But Mayor Ernest Strada said the village is working with the theater's owner to overcome a major hurdle: parking.

He said the village hopes to seize land north and east of the theater through the eminent domain process and to allow the owner to build a parking lot there. Strada said he expects the theater to be restored within the next two years.>>

In his recent memoir A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity, Bill O'Reilly writes that, when he was in the fifth grade, he went with the entire student body of the Catholic school he attended to see a movie at the Westbury. It was a revival of the 1943 The Song of Bernadette, for which Jennifer Jones had won the Academy Award.

He writes, "The thinking here was to use a Hollywood film to reinforce the Catholic faith. Since the movie jaunt got us out of math and English, the outing was fine with me.

"Unfortunately all plans can go awry, and this one proved that beyond a reasonable doubt. The turn-of-the-century theater had an extensive balcony from whence water balloons were launched just as the Virgin Mary was appearing to Jennifer. Pandemonium ensued; the sanctity of the occasion was lost.

"Clem and I denied any part in the sacrilege. One of us was lying."

Here is a January 23, 2009 article about the possible renovation and conversion of the Westbury Theater into a performing arts center.

CHECK OUT TODAYS [ FEB 13TH] NEWSDAY..

I'm very happy to hear that things are finally looking up for the Westbury Theatre. Sadly however, I moved out of Westbury nearly a year ago!

Here's the Newsday article mentioned above yesterday:
http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-lithea136033701feb13,0,4359995.story

I'm glad they are finally going forward with this project...we need to save our historic theaters.

Here's the Westbury Times' take on the situation:

http://www.antonnews.com/westburytimes/2009/02/20/news

Here's an update of the ongoing Westbury Theatre saga from the Westbury Times:

http://www.antonnews.com/westburytimes/2009/05/01/news