Century's Alan

The closest theater to my home, the Alan was my own "Cinema Paradiso", and i've paid it homage. In my screenplay "Shooting Star" (hopefully a future film), which has a subplot about a neighborhood theater in danger of closing, when writing it, i was stuck for the name of my lead male character. So...he's now called "Alan". How perfect...how many theaters ever existed with a person's first name as its own name?

Keeping it going, I've named many other characters in the script after movie theaters i went to in my formative years on Long Island, and you can find some of them on the list of this website: Glen Oaks (spelled with only one "N" by the way), Syosset, Squire, Manhasset, Herricks, and Roslyn. (And i found a way to squeeze in the Park East theater into the dialogue!)

The Address for Century's Alan Theatre is 1614 Hillside Ave., New Hyde Park, NY.

Here is something I wrote about the Park East but I think it also belongs here too. The Jericho Tpke Hillside Cluster of Theaters were my home are, and one by one, they all closed. These were the theaters I grew up with until I was 14. Without them I would not a film and tv producer today. Because of the enjoyment from them, maybe want a career in the biz. Anyway, this I started writing about Park East but soon became all about the old century theaters

I am always sad to drive down Jericho Turnpike where there were so many theaters. I am only in my early 30s but I remember, along Jericho there as the Bellrose, Floral, and the Park East. For a young kid it was easy to reach by bus. It is sad when I pull out of the staples and the Park East Restaurant, especailly because now that Pathmark shopping center has declined. The old original Pergament is the Goodwill and even the Pathmark there has declined. I do not believe it is the area, because a block away the Walbaum shopping center is an eyesore. I think the problem with Park East was the non-constant movie program. I mean it was owned be Century theaters and a new company. I always felt the company was run by idiots and programmed by the blind leading the blind. I remember the Park East the worst example. The movies would open there on the standard opening weekend, but it seemed they waited until all of Nassau county to see the movie. I remember one instance as a pre-teen when Ghostbuster opened I believe July 4th weekend. It stayed there for two months. Even something like Titanic would stop yielding profit after a month. I think Century had idiots running it because they did it all over their chain. Working in the entertainment industry now, I know that when theaters open a movie first weekend is 90% for the studio and 10% to the studio, then the next week 80% for study and 20% for theater. Until by the 4th week it was a 50-50 split. That is why the concession in theaters are. Even then popcorn was ridiculous. I quote comedian Rita Rudner "Going to movies beside seeing the movie. The prices for the concession are ridiculous. Three dollars for a small tiny bag of popcorn. Popcorn cost 13 cents a "sylo??"(Spelled write? Sylo meeting the tall building on a farm with the round top) Instead of trying to reach the 50-50 profits, which by that time no one is in the theater, what is the point of showing the movie. I mean don't get me wrong, Ghostbusters was a great movies, but I even remember seeing one movie there that played forever, and when I went to the matinee, myself and my friend were the only ones in the theater. What is the point of running a movie with two people in theater.

The theater was huge and the resisted mutliplexing. In that area, between Garden City, and the lower part of the weathy northern Long Island suburbs, that area could be ripe for a new theater even built into the shopping center similar the Malverne. Where Charlie's is, the restaurants has changed so much. But with the dying shopping center, you can even make small art house type theaters in Northern Nassau, even the Malverne is like watching in the living room. But the area around New Hyde Park and Franklin Sq, Garden City, Floral Park and Garden City South has no real movie theater. The park east inside was mordern, and not as much as tradgedy like the Floral theater, which was crime, but close because lack of bargain. If anyone were to ask where the perfect place for a theater and Nasssau would be I would say, that area. The Herricks is nice, but growing up I watched it go from a twin to a quad. With fewer and fewer seats. The Park East maybe gone, but there is a huge opportunity for the right person and art film lover. The new Pergament, one of the biggest stores in the former chain has sat idle for years. It has lot of parking, great corner, and is empty. Anyone who remembers that store, knows if is perfect for someone to develop. It was one of the first real "box stores" so you have a huge building of just open space and parking. It is just a shame that now people from Floral Park east need to go to the mall or the Raceway to see a movies, with decent sound and not feeling like watching a moving in your living room. For me, unless I a really, really want to see a movie, I by pass the Franklin or the Herricks for waiting for the DVD, the sound is better on my own TV! The other thing I miss is bargain matinee. Remember when that was 1PM. Now with the Loews theaters, their first show "bargain" which is barely a bargain saving a $1.50 is at 9am. I think the movie going experience is ruined on the weekend when you have to get up at 7:30 am to see a movie. After a long work week, even an amazing movie, would put me to sleep getting that early.

So, there one sad thing about, the Floral, Park East, Westbury Twin, Bellrose, (the theater that became the appliance store Eldee and then an office building) in addition also the RKO Century Alan on Hillside ave, these films were in my neighborhood. The west side of Garden City, near New Hyde Park road. My mother preferred them, because she did not want leave me and friends at a young age at the mall because of the bus hub and the bad element could be there. But the saddest thing of the closure is that today in my early 30's I am a producer of film and television. These long gone theaters were the theaters that maybe love movies and one day work in the biz and make them. Who knows if I went to these giant multiplex at Roosefelt Field or Green Acres and my movie experience was see films at a time with no stadium seeding, not much better sound, and thin walls that in those days, if you were watching a quiet scene in a film, and and action film was in the theater next door, the soundproofing was horrible if any, and on top of that, the only benefit of Roosevelt Field was the size of the theater. The seats were still crapp and until the Raceway Opened, every two years, they would keep cutting theaters in half, to make more theaters. The one godsend of the raceway is at least the Roosevelt field theater has allowed Roosevelt Field to reopen with less theaters and more space instead of trying to show every movie out.

One other memory I am sure you all have of the teaters of Jericho Tpk and areas around it. Remember during the matinee, as security for the kids, she would walk up and down the aisle almost row by row to make sure, the kids are ok, and no one is harassing or doing anything wrong. I think back now as an adult, knowing more about life and now with the church scandals and crack down on sex offenders, if someone is sexual harrassing you in the theater, who would these elderly ushers with flashlights who were also considered security guards, could have helped you even if someone was bothering you. If remember, these theater were skeletoned staffed. A ticket book clerk, a ticket ripper, maybe one or two concession persons and the manager/projectionist. Looking back, if would love to have seen these elderly, usher/security women taking on a 200 pound man.

Those are the days, that were great growing up, encouraged me to go into the film and entertainment world. But that history is gone. Maybe someone can make a highlight reel for me like for Cinema Paradiso or artifacts from these old theaters.

However, not only going to film school, but an MBA, that area is still perfect for a well managed theater, especailly showing movies like the Malverne or Angelica. I look at the Pergament Local Box store across from the old Park East. It has been for rent for so long, it would be perfect for an Arthouse theater and house the parking. Either that but a store also missing from this nook of Nassau county, Trader Joes. But I would trade Joe for a theater anyday!

How do you follow up a post like Ligg's after so many months? Why, with photos, of course! I work in the area so recently grabbed some photos during lunch break. Also snapped the Herricks as well as the former Park and Floral theaters.

Anyway... the Alan sits in a largely vacant strip mall recessed off Hillside Avenue (to allow for parking) just east of the intersection with New Hyde Park Road. The upper facade looks original - except for the window you'll see in the photo (I'm assuming that was added after conversion to retail/office space). The retail space on the ground floor (it was a "Dollar" discount store) is vacant and for rent. Peering through the window, the space does not appear to run all the way back to the rear of the former theater space and features a low drop-ceiling. The doorway under the "1614" address sing leads to a set of stairs going up to the 2nd level. There were a number of UPS trucks parked or idling in the rear lot adjacent to the theater, so some of the space might be used by the company, though I saw no signage to that effect. You can spot the balcony fire escape in the rear photo.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Nassau%20Theaters%202005/IMG_0986.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/GuanoReturns/Nassau%20Theaters%202005/IMG_0987.jpg
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Those photo links from my message on December 6th no longer work. Here's an updated link where the pics are now located.

Anyone remember what went in there after? Consumer's Distributors, which was just like service merchandise? Remember those days when they had that big catalog and did not stock things, and you had to order from it, and wait a few weeks! Yes a few weeks for something to come. I remember, being so long, after my parents ordered stuff like Star Wars merchandise, the few weeks felt like eternity!

I was doing a search on google for my business purpose when I ran across this blog(?) for the Alan theater. I remember as a child always asking my parent, "come on, let's go to the Alan Theater. All my friends go there!" Well, I never really did get a chance to go to the Alan before it closed. Actually, I never remember even seeing it as a child. At present, I am the Pres. & Co-Founder of Smart Brain America Franchise Corp, a children's after school program dealing in Right Brain Enhancement and Abacus Arithmetic. A few months ago I was expanding our franchise operations and found this great spot that for some reason attracted me. It was a New Hyde Park spot on Hillside Avenue. I liked the space and signed the lease. I later found out that I just leased the space to the old Alan Theater!! I was absolutely beside myself. I never had a chance to come here a kid, but I now run a children's program here after all these years. I still love going to visit my franchisee there - just to give me the excuse of being in the Alan. And, yes, I did check high and low for left over reminants of the glory days, but there was not a negative, spool, or screen to be found. That did sadden me a bit. But, I thought you guys and gals may want to at least know that it didn't go to waste by renting it to someone who said, "Alan what?", "Theater? Who cares." Thought you may find this interesting.
Regards,
Surendra M. Gupta, CEO/Pres. & Co-Founder
Smart Brain America Franchise Corp.
www.SmartBrainAmerica.com

Any chance for Nostalgia reasons in converting it back to a theater, at least part of it. In its hey day, I remember it to be pretty big. But then Consumers Distributors moved in and gutted the place. From what I remember, it was most recently a dollar type store.

If not a theater, I do have to wish you luck renting in that strip, as most of the stores seem to change hands or go out of business every few years, from Bella and several other restuarants, to Fabric Bonanza.

The only thing that seemed to have lasted the longest is the Indian grocery store. However, I see from your website you are like a Sylvan learning center, a destination, not a retail location to drive by, so I wish you luck.

Can I ask if any remnants of the theater remains? An artifacts etc?

Hello Ligg,
I thought of one day making it a theater again, but is something easier said than done. Not to mention, it's not my business nor do I have a clue. Consumers Distributers? Man, haven't heard that name in a long time. Also, I don't have to worry about renting in that strip as the space is leased. And, NO, we are nothing like a Sylvan, Huntington, Kumon, etc. They are tutoring centers and we are quite the opposite in Abacus training and brain development.

Not a single remnant of any kind. I suppose when Consumers Distributers gutted it out, they did a pretty good job. Just before I took it over, there was some sort of food preperation and marketing company there. I really, really was hoping to stumble upon something great there. Go by and say hello to the place one day. A few locals already have. What was it about the Alan that everyone loved so dearly, anyhow?
Thanks for visiting our website and your thoughts of luck to us. Much appreciated.
Regards,
Surendra M. Gupta, CEO/Pres & Co-Founder
Smart Brain America Franchise Corp.

Well actually, I work in entertainment and honestly, what is needed north of Jericho Turnpike would be an "art house" type theater like the one in Huntington, the Angelica and Sunshine in Manhattan and the Malverne theater.

The theater in Malverne was just like every other theater originally on Long Island, in the center of town, and probably would have closed, had the owner, or the person who bought it quaded the theater and started showing films from Miramax and other indie distributors. It is the only theater of its kind in Nassau County, and actually does not really attract the residents in the surrounding areas, but rather mainly college students and wealthy seniors from the five towns area. Look up what they show in Newsday, and you can see why people travel all the way to Malverne.

I live by the NHP station, and I travel there to see films. I always thought there would be a market for a similar theater in the area north of Jericho Turnpike, for the "gold coast" residents who are the audience for that type of films, plus the residents of Northeast Queens.

Of course a theater like the Malverne in New Hyde Park North, would HAVE TO reserve at least one screen for Bollywood films which are lacking on Long Island. I myself am not Indian, but I love the Bollywood films and try to watch them whenever I get a chance to. At my apartment in Brooklyn, for some reason, the Indian network that is usually you need to pay the ridiculous charge of $12.95 a month, but it is free for some reason on Sunday mornings. Damn, those movies are great, and being in the biz, it is amazing for what they do on a budget so small. They for the most part recreate an entire MGM musical for less than one non A-List star here.

Chicago was considered a lower budget film when it was made and went on to win the Oscar at $20 million and it did not have the large cast of the old MGM movie. Imagine how much it would cost in India, with a huge huge cast? Probably $500,000.

Anyway, I feel that the many theaters along Jericho and Hillside area that were local theaters "missed the boat." and could not see the future showing more alternative films the multiplex.

But then again, around this time, Ted Turner bought MGM and could only afford to own it for nine months, before selling it back to Kirk Kevorkian at a huge loss. The only thing he held on to was the MGM library which also included all the Warner Brothers films pre-1948. Unless a movie was a big hit and famous, no one had any need for "old black and white movies." Who would of thought 5 years later an entire network was launched with this library and over ten years later, is one of the most watched basic cable network.

Is only someone could see past the "multiplex mentality" some of these theaters could have been saved!

Hello "Ligg",
Interesting take on the current state of the movie/art industry. I, too, do not look past the vast offerings of the modern day multiplex. I love them for what they are and offer. But, o' yeah, the artistry of the industry is certainly going to fade away with this current generation. If you want, we can blame rock n' roll, the internet, or acid rain. Not sure, but people have shifted their eyes to the Netflix way of things and gotten away from the art style. Honestly, art has that long lasting quality that pulls communities together. At the very least, gives a quality to life. I'm getting a little sick and tired of Broadway prices for the local hour and a half film filled with garbage and smut. Gone With The Wind? Yep! I would have to agree.
On a separate note, you like Indian films?! Really? I personally think most of them are bordering uselessness. Same story line, same actors, same village, same evil mastermind, same director. Only difference is the movie title and those ridiculous dances they choreograph. They do have the ability to make some great films, but then the locals just don’t shell out to see them. But, there are definitely a few keepers.
What exactly is your involment in the entertainment industry?
Regards,
Surendra M. Gupta, CEO/Pres & Co-Founder
Smart Brain America Franchise Corp.

I prefer not to talk about what my involvement in entertainment is on here. I will email you are your business email. My email is a derivative of "Ligg" so if you see a name with these initials it is not spam.

The alan had a balcony if I remember. I went there a few times. This theater was SO close to opening again a few years ago. Unfortunately it fell through.

So close to opening, by whom? From what I understand the place was gutted by Consumer Distributors. Who was going to reopen it? Cleaview or AMC or Loews or a smaller chain or indie.

If that is the case, there are other locations near by that were not movie theaters that can be opened as movie theaters.

In today's world and these old theaters, once they are gone, they are gone. For today's films, those old theaters were not made for the sound, or the large projection. Renovating a theater to preserve it in order to show these films is a good investment, but to rebuild something like the Alan from scratch after being gutted as an empty space, one would be better off taking an empty space with a lot of parking. That giant Pergament on across from what was the old Park East Theater comes to mind. It has sat empty for years, has a huge parking lot and has no windows. So if you are going to take raw space which the Alan has become, that would be a better location.

Remember the one thing about the Alan was that, when it was open, the stores around it flourished and like several theaters, the Bellrose comes to mind, there was just not enough parking for the "car culture" Long Island has become. It is a sad fact, but without enough parking, people will park on the residential street, and then the residents will start complaining about the late night parking, and the noise from people in front of the house.

Then the no parking signs go up, and there is nowhere to park.

As much as I hate the fact that the multiplex killed the neighborhood theater, many people would shy away from a theater if they show up and cannot find a parking space. That is what made theaters like the Alan unique. At the time, when Long Island became a post war suburb, it was THE theater that everyone in the neighborhood would go to, walk to, and support.

I am interested though in who was thinking of reopening the Alan. You say they came so close. Who were these people? Were they looking to open a theater or just the Alan for nostalgia purposes?

So close to opening, by whom? From what I understand the place was gutted by Consumer Distributors. Who was going to reopen it? Cleaview or AMC or Loews or a smaller chain or indie.

If that is the case, there are other locations near by that were not movie theaters that can be opened as movie theaters.

In today's world and these old theaters, once they are gone, they are gone. For today's films, those old theaters were not made for the sound, or the large projection. Renovating a theater to preserve it in order to show these films is a good investment, but to rebuild something like the Alan from scratch after being gutted as an empty space, one would be better off taking an empty space with a lot of parking. That giant Pergament on across from what was the old Park East Theater comes to mind. It has sat empty for years, has a huge parking lot and has no windows. So if you are going to take raw space which the Alan has become, that would be a better location.

Remember the one thing about the Alan was that, when it was open, the stores around it flourished and like several theaters, the Bellrose comes to mind, there was just not enough parking for the "car culture" Long Island has become. It is a sad fact, but without enough parking, people will park on the residential street, and then the residents will start complaining about the late night parking, and the noise from people in front of the house.

Then the no parking signs go up, and there is nowhere to park.

As much as I hate the fact that the multiplex killed the neighborhood theater, many people would shy away from a theater if they show up and cannot find a parking space. That is what made theaters like the Alan unique. At the time, when Long Island became a post war suburb, it was THE theater that everyone in the neighborhood would go to, walk to, and support.

I am interested though in who was thinking of reopening the Alan. You say they came so close. Who were these people? Were they looking to open a theater or just the Alan for nostalgia purposes?

Ligg
The North Shore has the Manhasset which plays the same type of films as Malverne. Clearview has done a nice job cleaning it up and it's a nice place to catch an art flick.

Ligg, part of the reason the Alan fell through was because of the fact that it was gutted. It wasnt known how gutted it was till they were well into the plans. I find it funny that you mentioned the old Pergament store. That is exactly where they are looking into putting a theater. They are a very small group of indian people. They are looking at possibly 5 or 6 screens there. Remember, this is still early in the process.

Are they looking for the Bollywood approach to film or are they looking at the indie films like the Malverne.

Right now, the block booking and long term exhibitor/distributor contracts with the big multiplexes, independent theaters need to carve out a niche for themselves. The Blockbusters will not come there way, unless they are happy with second run, weeks after it plays in the multiplexes.

To answer about the Manhasset theater, it is still a Clearview Cinema chain owned by Cablevision. They might play several indie films simply because the are IFC productions and Cablevision owns IFC, the independent film channel which has gone into movie distribution and production finance with foreign partners.

However, the Malverne is a true indie and relies on the indie studios for its output. Is is a marriage of inconvenience something that Manhasset probably will never go down. Remember, now with IFC productions, the Weinsteins, the Miramaxes, the Sony Classics etc, are their competitors.

From a corporate approach, Cablevision is not likely to make Manhasset anymore "arty" than it already is, and uses theaters like Manhasset, the out of the way theater for their own output.

We cannot forget that Clearview is big chain that cablevision did try to unload until it started IFC Productions, and Indie film distribution company. Also, Cablevision and Clearview have the collective bargaining power to bring in the top films, even though on Long Island, they own a handful of theaters, Cablevision does own the Ziegfeld, the Multiplex on 23rd Street in Chelsea and many, many theaters in New Jersey.

Looks like they are going Bollywood.

Hmm, as much as I do enjoy the once in a while guilty pleasure of Bollywood, that 750 films are made a year in Bollywood, far more than Hollywood produces in years, and the growing South Asian population in and around New Hyde Park, I wonder if the community could support a multiplex of just Bollywood films.

In a single theater like Bombay, or double theater that was in the "old downtown", such as the neighborhood theater in Fresh Meadows turned porn house when the Multiplex opened there in the 70's- 90's to reopen as, "The Bombay" theater a successful Bollywood theater in the late 90's in Fresh Meadows, 5 or 6 screens of Bollywood all the time might be too much to be financial viable. In addition not all the films are good enough to watch in Mumbai let alone export them.

Look at Italian cinema, and the French, which was popular with Americans at one time, the industry there is on "life support" There are many Italian and French films made each year, think about how many actually make it to the United States?

The same with Bollywood film. When "Bride and Prejudice" came out, Hollywood was buzzing that this film would be huge hit and bring Bollywood into mainstream America and the beautiful woman whose names escapes me was being marketed as the next exotic foreign beauty, the next "Sophia Loren." I remember even Nightline, which at the time was still, "a gold standard and sophisticated" did a whole show on Bollywood and this beauty. She also made the rounds of all the entertainment shows. Then, nothing, the box office failed, and that was the end of Bollywood. In the US industry, if you flop your first film in a new "genre" you are dead since this film was financed by the Hollywood studios.

So I guess what I am trying to say is, a local theater with one or two screens, with low rent, would be served by the Indian comunity. One would not get rich, but could stay in business. A full on multiplex would be huge gamble and probably unsuccessful, since by not showing at least mainstream art films, you are leaving out a huge majority of your clientele, American teenagers. Also since teenagers are the biggest spenders at the cinema, if Bollywood is not hip or becomes hip for a year and then disappears, without diversification I cannot see an entire multiplex of Bollywood all the time.

Hey Ligg... Not sure if I read your 2nd paragraph above correctly, but just wanted to clarify that the neighborhood theater in Fresh Meadows you're talking about was never a twin. The Mayfair Theater was always a single screen, to the best of my knowledge, right through its dying days as a porn house and re-birth as the Bombay. I lived near the theater for many years and posted some photos that I took last year (plus an exterior shot from the early '90's) on its CT page.

Another note, the Mayfair had gone porn long before any multiplexes had opened in the area. I think it just eventually succombed to competition from television and the larger Century's Meadows Theater on Horace Harding Expressway (which opened in the 1940's). The Meadows didn't go twin until the Mayfair was already running XXX. It was gutted and turned 7 screen multiplex around 1989 - probably due to competition from the Cinema City 5 screen theater that had opened a few years earlier from converted retail space on the other side of the LIE.

Hey Ligg - why are you allowing the funny named guy Surendra Gupta to advertise his business on this site - it seems that he should consider some ad-space ? The 1614 Hillside was a great place - but its a dump now !

I am not responsible for the post on here. That guy came and advertised without my knowledge. I have to much going with my own life to complain to the webmaster here. If you feel his post is inappropriate, then you need to go to Cinema Treasures and tell them to delete it.

It always seemed to me that the Alan and Franklin had the same design albeit different facades. The Alan had no flashy marquee. The first time I went there I missed it. In later years they added a big signboard attached to the front of the theatre.

Anybody remember when they went single feature for a bit?