UA Lynbrook 6

As a projectionist, I wish I could have ran film there when it was a single screen... :(

I am suprised UA has not closed this yet, the current condition is hoorrible.

Tell me about it. I just did a double shift there yesterday. Word is, once the cuban restaurant on the property ends their lease, the place will be demolished and rebuilt from scratch. If you drive by, you will notice all the other businesses on the property are vacant. Only the cuban restaurant remains and is holding-up the plans.

I managed this theater for a short time in 1967-68. I was drafted in 68 and had to leave. This was a single screen theater at the time I was there and was set up with 70mm as it was used for Roadshows during the early 60's. The first reserved seat performance was Dr Zhivago followed by the Sound of Music. This was a great single screen theater with a full stage and a working pipe organ in the orchestra pit. Today the theater is in poor shape and the division of the auditorium had removed all the beauty of the theater. I understand its fate with the wrecking ball is only a short time away.... What a shame!!!

Two days ago, I had to go peeking around the place again. I was back in theater #5, the area that used to be the stage area. It is so cool to check out the old dressing rooms on the first and second floors. I had managed to go below and snoop into what remains of the covered-up orchestra pit. I have seen at least a thousand similiar theaters across the country, and each and every one tells a story of what had to be such an incredible era. For the life of me, I cannot understand why these palaces are not being used for their original intentions today. I love Broadway in New York; Every city should have its own little Broadway. Why are these treasures not supported by their communities?

Why dont they do to this what they did to the Midway?

Did the Lynbrrok ever have d-150 projection? According to one of the wide screen web sites they had the equiptment, but I have never heard this. Also someone told me the Brentwood in Suffolk county was also a d-150 theatre? I only knew about The Rivoli, UA Lefrak 150 and The late great Cinema 150 in Syosset.

To the best of my knowledge, this was never a D-150, only in Woodbury, L.I. and Lefrak City, Queens. The first sound/talkie on Lond Island premiered here. At one time in the late 1920's and early 1930's, Century Theatres leased the building. This was a money maker until the Sunrise Multiplex came along, but after awhile it regained its' lost audience when the crowds in Sunrise Multiplex in Valley Stream became unruly. Its' Roadshow status lasted from 1964 until 1968 ("Camelot" being the last one). "The Sound Of Music"'s Roadshow Engagement followed the Syosset's Roadshow, it was a moveover. Once the theatre is rebuilt, it should become popular again since the Sunrise doesn't offer stadium seating.

The Brentwood was not a D-150 theatre but I saw "Lady And The Tramp" in Cinemascope and the screen stretched the entire width of the auditorium which was hidden by a red satin curtain that worked and this would have been in 1985.

The Lynbrook will receive the "Midway" treatment at the end of this year, as will the Marboro, according to my sources.

As a projectionist at The Lynbrook during the 60s and 70s I can tell you the booth was not equiped for D-150, We had two Norelco 35/70 projectors and ran a lot of 70mm during which two projectionists on duty at all times. I remember "Oliver" as my favorite. "The Sound Of Music" played there a second time in 35mm with four track mag stereo sound.

UA Lynbrook 6, 321 Merrick Rd., Lynbrook, NY 11563, 516-593-1050:
http://www.uatc.com/

I was there tonight and was surprised about how not-awful it was. The three auditoriums (I know that's wrong!) I went in were all clean, no noticable broken seats and the screens were bright and focused. The lobby was also well decorated and pleasant to be in.

I saw a movie upstairs, which seems to be the original balcony divided in two, and it was nice to imagine what the whole thing must have looked like and felt like, and imagining where the original screen was.

I have heard both rumors about this place: That it will be demolished and a new house built, or that it will get the Midway treatment. Either way, I recommend seeing a movie here, especially upstairs, for a little taste of the olden days.

And there are five screens, number five on the old stage being the only one that could be called a shoebox, yet even it has a high ceiling and is roomier than you might think.

UA was not known for the upkeep of their theatres, usually they would run them into the ground. I've been to this cinema and it wasn't bad at all, but it is obsolete by modern Regal standards, and according to them it is due for an overhaul.

Sorry, I was there again tonight and there ARE six screens, number six being in a former retail space adjacent to the lobby and not part of the former auditorium. And it is a little shoe-boxy, though it's wide and shallow rather than long and narrow.

Gee, I wonder why the Sunrise Multiplex isn't listed? I'm sure lots of people have "interesting" stories about it.

As for the Lynbrook, this was one of my favorite theaters growing up. Maybe my memory is tainted but I remember it as being HUGE. And very ornate. It was done in a Spanish style. A lovely place to see a movie. The most memorable movie I saw there was "Rocky" in 1977. About a year or so later, it was multiplexed to four theaters. At first, this was cool. Wow! Four theaters in one place! But now I realize what a loss it was and is.

"it will get the Midway treatment" from saps above dated 8/2/04.

What is the Midway Treatment?

The Midway was totally gutted down to the four walls. They then added new floors to create a multiplex. It is the only UA theatre they ever multiplexed properly.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the Green Acres in Valley Stream and the Fantasy in Rockville Centre did get this so-called Midway treatment, right? In some ways I find that more brutal as it complete destroys anything that resembled the old theater.

I was on LI over Thanksgiving and went by the Lynbrook. GOD that place was huge. You can see how high up the arched ceiling goes. I guess a creative architect could've maintained the original architecture while multiplexing it but the cost would've been cost prohibitive.

Yes, Cineplex did the same with the Green Acres, Fantasy, Fresh Meadows and I think a theatre in Brooklyn. As far as Lynbrook is concerned it's a miracle it's still open with UA running it.

The UA Lynbrook is a terribel place to see a movie when its crowded. In Theatres 1 and 2, the seats have obstructed vews with the persons head blocking the film.

The upstairs auditoriums are MONO. No stereo or digital sound. Cinemas 1 and 2 have DTS.

REGAL plans to expand it to 10 to 14 screens. The Fantasy in Rockville Center was built in 1989 was design properly. All Fantasy screens had DTS sound.

The Fantasy might've been designed properly but they also gutted a fine looking theater.

I recently had the opportunity to meet the projectionist here, a great guy called Meredith Rhule. He took me to all four (!) projection booths (one for the two orchestra theaters, one for the two balcony theaters, one on the former stage and the last in a former commercial space off the lobby) where I watched him run a grade-A show. We talked a lot about the deplorable state of modern movie presentation and had a few laughs at the expense of the dopes at Regal/UA for some of their arcane practices. Meredith was cool enough to show me around the place as well; we poked around the old backstage dressing rooms and downstairs I got a look at the orchestra pit, which really is a pit nowadays. We searched a bit for any signs of the former ornamentation, but little is left. It was a real treat to shoot the breeze with a true union professional, a man with a sense of history (he also worked the Chinese Theater and at private Hollywood screening rooms for many years before moving east). This guy takes pride in his work and it shows, a precious commodity in a world where the high-school usher often runs the show.

Ugh! None of the old ornamentation is left? What a disgrace. This place was one of LI's true movie palaces. If I remember correctly, it was (and pardon me if my architectural phraseology is not up to snuff) done in a "Spanish" style. What a shame.

There once was a small Kimball theatre organ in this theatre. I looked at it once, back in the early 70's while I still lived on Long Island. The console was intact and the cables still connected to the windchests in the chambers. The blower also still could be started. Unfortunately almost all of the pipe work had been removed. Everything relatively small, from Tenor C up had been removed by someone. The manager, whose name I have forgotten, was surprised to learn this from me. She had no explaination. Systematic vandalism, I suppose.

Thanks for mentioning the theater organ. I never thought to check the theater organ list for this theater. Unless there was another Lynbrook Theater, this theater had a Kimball organ Size 2/9 installed in 1923. At the time of installation in 1923, this theater is listed as the Fox Lynbrook Theater.

I remember this theater as a quartet back in the late '70's and early '80's. I saw many movies here (and snuck around from auditorium to auditorium on a single ticket on more than one occasion). We lived in Laurelton, which is the last neighborhood in Queens as Merrick Blvd crosses into Nassau County and becomes Merrick Road, and we'd often take walk to the Nassau border in Valley Stream so we could take the N4 bus to the Lynbrook. There was another smaller theater on Hempstead Ave just a block or so away called Studio One. I remember one night my Mom took a whole bunch of us out to the movies and everyone wanted to see "Rocky II", except for me and my friend Mike who had seen it already. So they all saw that movie at the Lynbrook while Mike and I took in "Alien" at the Studio One.

I remember taking my little brother to see "The Muppet Movie" here and the virtually X-rated gore fest "Dawn of the Dead" was playing the downstairs theater on the right. Back in those days (and maybe still today?) the doors to the auditoriums had these square windows through which you could view the screen. My brother was too small to peer in to the theater, but he was curious about the zombie flick - which I had already seen and giddily described to him in vivid detail. I picked him up and let him peek in through the window just in time for him to watch one of the characters in the flick plunge a screwdriver deep into the ear of a zombie in graphic close-up. He was 7 years old at the time and it's an image that is burned into his memory - as well as a story he still loves to tell to this day!

We used to lie about our ages to get into R-rated movies. Even at 14 or 15 we passed pretty easily for older kids and rarely had a problem. One time, however, we couldn't convince the cashier that we were 17 and had to buy tickets to a PG-rated movie, when in fact we wanted to see "Dawn of the Dead." I want to say we bought tickets for "Rocky II" but I'm not entirely sure. Anyway... we snuck into "Dawn of the Dead" regardless and were allowed to settle in and enjoy the flick for about 25 minutes until one of the ushers (a young guy probably college-age) came in shining his flashlight and asked to see our tickets. When he saw the stub, he just looked at us slyly, said "Son of a gun!" and escorted us to the front doors! So, we plopped down on the curb waiting for the bus to take us back to Queens and after a while that very same usher comes out of the theater and sees us sitting there rather dejectedly. He tells us that he was just getting off and wasn't going to come in after us, but found himself gripped with a strong sense of duty! We certainly weren't as amused as he so obviously was with himself and sent him on his way with a few choice words. We wound up finally seeing “Dawn of the Dead” at the Rivoli Theater in Times Square, where age restrictions weren’t quite as dutifully monitored.

I also remember having to walk all the way home from this theater after seeing a late show here one week night in the summer. The movie let out around 11pm or so and we didn't realize that the bus stopped running completely after 10pm! We sat at the bus stop in front of the theater for nearly an hour before an usher exiting the theater informed us that there would be no bus until about 5 in the morning! What a walk that was! I was never so happy as when we finally came to the 7-11 located near the Queens border and realized (a) we could get something to drink and (b) the end of our journey was near! My sides start to hurt me just thinking back on that trek.

The UA Lynbrook was one of my many local cinematic haunts during the time. We also had the little Laurelton Theater on our side of the border, the Valley Stream, Belaire Twin, Century's Green Acres and Sunrise Cinemas in Valley Stream as well as the RKO Twin and Fantasy Theaters in Rockville Center, the RKO triplex in Lawrence and the discount second-run Five Towns Theater in Woodmere.

Is Meredith Rhule still posting on this site? He is (was) the projectionist here and posted back in 2004 that the only thing holding up the demolition of this theater was the Cuban restaurant that occupied one of the store fronts in the building. While the other retail spaces do indeed seem to remain vacant, I passed by the place the other night and noticed that a new Greek restaurant is now a tenant in the building (to the left of the theater entrance). Is this where the Cuban restaurant was? Is it the same business owner operating under the same lease as before or have plans to demolish the building been scrapped and a new lease written for the Greek place? Just for old times sake, I ought to catch a flick here one day. If nothing else, it'll be an excuse to grab some Cold Stone Ice Cream across the street afterward!

I was here Saturday night and was happy to see the place was packed. There's nothing like the excitement of a crowded movie theatre, everyone there to have a good time.

Meredith has moved on. But I think he reads this page so maybe we'll hear from him.

Saps... just curious. Are there any remnants of the theater's original decor in its current configuration? It's been ages since I saw a film here and I frankly don't recall much detail about the interior other than the windows on the doors leading from the foyer into the original orchestra-level theaters.

There is little evidence of the original decor. On the orchestra level the windows are still in the doors, but the wide booth blocks the view of the screens.

Hmmmm. Is the view of the screen through the doors completely blocked or just partially? I can clearly remember being able to see the screen (or part of it) through those windows back in the late '70's and '80's. I recall the incident I described previously where I frightened my younger brother with a glimpse of the original "Dawn of the Dead" and on other occasions waiting patiently for the end of the previous showing of a particular movie to end - trying very hard to resist the temptation to peak a glimpse at the film's ending.

I think that you can see the screen from the end (side?) doors, but the center door views are blocked by the booth. Next time I go I will make some observations.

Yes... that's right. Each auditorium had two sets of doors - one closer to the center lobby area and the other down the foyer hallway leading towards either side of the theater. I think there used to be benches against the wall near those doors down the hall.

Used to be a grand theater.

The cinematour site has this vintage postcard rendering of the Lynbrook's original exterior and marquee. I can't recall if there was ever a structure on the corner to the right of the theater during the days I frequented the place, but the postcard indicates something was there. It's currently a vacant lot with the full side elevation of the theater exposed to Hempstead Ave. And I believe the current marquee is flat with no canopy over the entrance to the building.

FYI my nephew has taken a new 30 year lease on the former Cuban restaurant. There are no plans to demolish; however it is a separate property from the theater. I have never been in the theater but during my stay on LI (I helped renovate the restaurant) I noticed that it was doing a very enthusiastic business.

Hi Saps and Ed. Yes, I still pop in and check out the posts, only now I do it from South Carolina. Take Care y'ALL!!!

I believe the place is non-union now.

All the charm and atmosphere of the original interior appointments may be lost, but the exterior is still in good condition and I snapped a few photos of the place last week as I travelled with my camera around this area, as well as Valley Stream, Woodmere, Lawrence and Laurelton, Queens, to photograph some of the old theaters (and sites) I used to attend when I was a kid.

Long shot from the West
Theater facade
Marquee and entrance
Marquee and upper facade
Upper facade detail
Facade detail
Facade corner detail
Corner view from East

As I snapped these photos, I noticed a good number of children and their parents walking in for some matinee (probably Disney's "Eight Below"). Whenever I stop in at the Cold Stone Creamery across the street, I notice many older kids and adults coming in and out of the theater - and usally adding to the very long Cold Stone queue for an after-movie dessert. From all observation, this theater is still very well attended.

A stage housing w/ fly space is evident in the long exterior shots of the building... I believe someone noted previously here that the former stage area and dressing rooms are still in existence.

I also took some shots of the former Laurelton Theater (including interior shots), RKO Lawrence and 5 Towns theaters as well as of the structures that are now in place where the former Studio 1, Valley Stream and [url=http://cinematreasures.com/theater/8367/]Belair Twin[url] theaters once stood.

Here's a new link to my Lynbrook Theater album on photobucket.

This is a postcard picture of the Lynbrook theater. Caption with picture reads:

"This photo of the Lynbrook Theatre from the early 1920's shows "Shorty the Cop" directing traffic".

Thanks Lost... looks almost identical to the postcard I posted from the cinematour.com site back on December 15th. According to the two features advertised on the marquee ("The Nth Commandement" and "Truxton King") the photo from which this postcard was made dates from 1923. I wonder what is spelled out before the word "Lynbrook" on the front side of the marquee... can anyone make that out or care to make an educated guess?

Nice collection of images on that site... Unfortunately, I couldn't find any for the Arcade/Studio 1 Theater that was located on Atlantic Ave around the corner from the Lynbrook.

That site also has the same postcard that you linked to on Cinematour, Ed. I believe that postcard was dated at 1918. This is probably wrong, but it looks like William Fox Lynbrook.

Here are couple of night shots I took recently:

The Lynbrook - long shot
The Lynbrook - tight shot

A few weeks ago when I passed by, the right half of the marquee was dark. Looks like they've fixed the lights behind the main panel, but the yellow border lighting on the right side still appear to be out.

Anyway... judging from the signage, looks like the official name of this theater is actually "United Artists Theatres The Lynbrook."

This Christmas 1954 as lists the Lynbrook as a Century Theatre, was it ever?
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/TheRobeChristmasDay1954.jpg

Lost Memory . . . awesome postcard photo. I worked in the Lynbrook quad for a couple of years in the early 80's. Many, many fond memories. The old stage, and the "elephant doors" opening to Hempstead Avenue are gone I guess (WHAT a pity), but what about the basement changing rooms? I've been there since it was six-plex'd and there doesn't appear to be any use now of the basement, but it is there. And the ghost stories . . . anyone?

In October, 1966, this was one of three UA theatres on Long Island offering exclusive "Reserved Seat Presentations":
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/uatrio.jpg

I saw a movie at the Lynbrook this weekend and when I asked if Tom the projectionist was working that night, I was shocked to learn that they have fired all their projectionists, and now the "managers" are running the show. I spoke to a manager and she told me it happened about a month ago, to save money, and was happening at the smaller UA sites. This was always a union shop and I dread that the quality of presentation will now deteriorate. The night I was there, they couldn't get the sound to work on the pre-show advertising (a blessing?) and I guess it's all downhill from here.

Meredith, what say you?

The changeover to managers in the booth is spreading all over the country. IATSE Local 640 of Nassau and Suffolk counties has been able to keep the wolves from the door until now, but it has been common in New Jersey and Westchester for a while now. Only NY Local 306 is able to prevent this, due in part to the requirement by NYC law of an operator’s license. Although I suppose one could argue it’s only a matter of time before managers get licenses or the license is done away with. Optioning a license requires only a written exam; the practical booth exam has been done away with, and costs only$60 every two years. I retired in 2005 but still plan on renewing my license every two years.
Of course the quality of the projection goes down hill with ushers running the booth, but managers in some circuits are receiving projectionist training prior to going into the booth and as a result seem to be doing a fair job. The problems come about when managers are required to perform other duties simultaneous to their booth work, or when union operators are required to operate two locations at a time. I believe the projectionist should never leave the booth.
As for cost, of course it’s cheaper for the exhibitor to employ managers, and they are of the mindset if they lose a show or two it’s still cheaper than having a pro in the booth full time.
So the sad truth is, expect less and less professionals running the show and more and more mishaps on the screen. I do however believe it will be quite a while before you see that in city theatres, I hate to see that change anytime soon.

EdSolero- Re: your 11/24 comments on the marquee, they re-did the marquee at the Criterion on Times Square in the same manner - United Artists across the top and 'The Broadway' on the bottom. I never knew what that was suppose to mean as they continued to advertise in the paper as United Artists Criterion.

Here is another photo of the Lynbrook.

Another recent photo of the Lynnbrook can be seen here.

hey we in lynbrook like our theartre ya it has fallen into disrepar but that can b fixd ,if u want 2 have more screens than when the resterant next door closes than add more but keep the orgininnal structure!!!
that theatre is historic, it dates back to around 1918
the stage uptairs is amasing, i was there 4 a friends bday party many years ago, most people dont even know their is a stage up their!!!!
yes their is plenty of room 4 improvement but it doesnt mean that it has 2 b rebuilt

many historic things in lynbrook r gone like the lynbrook airdome
half the reason the site was maid was to PRESERVE THEATRES so how about WE DO EXACTY THAT

hey we in lynbrook like our theartre ya it has fallen into disrepar but that can b fixd ,if u want 2 have more screens than when the resterant next door closes than add more but keep the orgininnal structure!!!
that theatre is historic, it dates back to around 1918
the stage uptairs is amasing, i was there 4 a friends bday party many years ago, most people dont even know their is a stage up their!!!!
yes their is plenty of room 4 improvement but it doesnt mean that it has 2 b rebuilt

many historic things in lynbrook r gone like the lynbrook airdome
half the reason the site was maid was to PRESERVE THEATRES so how about WE DO EXACTY THAT

I'm a little shocked that I've come across this site. I'm currently a manager at the UA Lynbrook and have been since February 2000. In June of 2005 I was transferred to the UA Westbury theatre but have recently split my time between these two theatres as well as the UA Patchogue theatre. While the condition of the theatre has clearly shown it's age it hasnt been given fair treatment with reguards to ownership. Prior to 2002 United Artist's had full intentions of giving Lynbrook a new 12 screen theatre. The village and CEO's for United Artist's were in constant talks and blueprints were even created. United Artist's filed Chapter 11 in 2000 and Regal Cinemas (now known as Regal Entertainment Group) acquired Edwards theatre's and United Artist's in 2002. Plans for the new theatre were put on hold due to the fact that they have been unable to work out an agreement on parking, the restauraunt next door is an issue, and of course other projects. From what I have heard there is now no plans for at least the next two years to do anything with the theatre. They have replaced a large portion of the roof which cost around $30,000 as well as purchase 3 new compressors for the HVAC system....maybe $10,000....and have had some of the hallways in the past few weeks repainted and fixed. The theatre needs to be knocked down...and I hope that the company sees this soon before it's too late.

As for the loss of the union projectionist's...I'd like to add that most manager's now are level 4 certified operators. We are capable of running the booth properly and have done a quality job since the loss of the union in most of our theatres. However, I will say that this does not make up for the experience that most union operators have. I would prefer for the union to be doing the job instead of me...but I don't want people to believe that managers are incapable of threading up and running a show flawlessly.

I used to attend movies at the Lynbrook back in the 1980's when it was a quartet. I've recently moved into Lynbrook from Queens and have visited the theater twice in the last few weeks. The first occasion was to see the movie "1408" which was playing in the pitifully small theater that has been constructed within former retail space just off the entrance foyer. Avoid this "screening room" at all costs if you like to see movies on a big screen - the room is a small square box and the screen anything but big. The night I went, the A/C was out in the main building but was working in the two newest theaters (the store front space I attended and the theater converted from the old backstage area).

Just a week or so ago, I took my son to the Lynbrook to see "The Simpsons Movie" and once again found that the A/C was not working in the main building. The wonderfully nice ticket-taker (an older gentleman who has worked there for years) was advising that the upstairs theaters were unbearably hot but that the two former orchestra auditoriums were reasonably comfortable. He allowed me to walk in to check out the room before I had to purchase our tickets. It seemed OK so I forged ahead. Little did I realize that I would be spending much of the movie swatting at the gnats that were buzzing around the theater in the humidity. I probably should have asked for my money back, even though we stuck it out to the end of the movie.

The place (particularly the older four theaters) has definitely been neglected over the years - the usual UA treatment. I would have guessed that the well worn padded wooden seats were the originals from 1923, but they probably only date back to the original division of the orchestra floor as they were clearly properly oriented towards the screen. Still, that means they date to the late 1970's! Any decor that may remain from the theater's original architecture is obscured by a thick red padding that now adorns the walls and a drap commercial drop ceiling in the lobby and foyer spaces. I haven't been in the balcony theaters for many years, so I'm not sure if any original design elements are visible.

Mike... I appreciate your point of view as the theater's manager, but I wonder if the place wouldn't benefit from some TLC by Regal rather than bulldozing the structure and starting new. There is much history here and to have it unceremoniously razed - without even the consideration of upgrading the facilities - would be a shame. I would love it if any of the original design could be salvaged. Perhaps the drop ceiling could be removed to expose the original lobby decor - if any of it still exists. Even a gut job within the shell of the old theater with a restoration of the facade would be preferrable to a brand new structure. It's really quite a handsome building and some of that character ought to be preserved.

And whatever happens - fix that air conditioning!

Ed...
The air conditioning has been fixed. Of course I can agree that I would like to see the building preserved. However, the issue as always is the cost. They have found that because of the layout of the theatre it would cost far more money to do that then just replace the existing theatre. I've heard someone mention the plumbing being a huge problem. It is a shame but I myself am begining to believe that this will end up being a situation where Regal just sucks what they can from this theatre and sells it when it is no longer profitable. Maybe they can use another bank on those five corners!

Hey Mike... I'm sure you know this already, but your theater's greatest asset is the wonderful staff you have. Particularly the gentleman who presides up front where the tickets are ripped. A very friendly bunch and I hope you treat them well! If I ever bring myself to take another stab and test out the theater's A/C, I'll be sure to say hello to you.

I'm not sure if you are referring to Lanny Brown. He has worked at the Lynbrook for over 25 years...and yes a true gentleman. If you do give us another chance please ask for me. I'd like to share some theatre knowledge with you. Thanks for the response!

Also Ed...I did run the Lynbrook for a brief time in 2005...I was 21 and still going to school so I couldnt watch it for too long. I'm currently an Assistant Manager at Lynbrook but split my time with Westbury as well. I will be leaving the company soon for a better opportunity.

I would love to know how to change the blurb at the top of the page. It would be nice if someone that knows and has worked at the theatre could put up something that isnt so anti-regal/ua.

Mike... I think the state of the Lynbrook itself speaks to the lack of attention UA paid this once proud theater. Those uncomfortably padded wooden seats I sat in to watch "The Simpsons" earlier this month are probably the very same seats in which I watched "1941" back in December of '79! It has been the experience of many here on CT that UA allowed a number of its theaters (mostly older single-screen nabes split into 2, 3 or 4 screens) to suffer wear and tear with minimal maintenance - at least here in the NYC area. However, I don't think that Regal has been in control long enough to fairly pass judgment on their care of the theater.

Perhaps the comments should be adjusted to reflect the promise of new ownership. At least the A/C has been fixed and the burned-out lights on the marquee replaced! If you go to the "About Us" link at the top of any CT page, you can send a message to the CT editors via the "Contact Us" link there.

My problem is the overall point of this website and what it should be and what it isnt. That blurb clearly is not needed in the sense that its vague. The problem as I have said with remodeling is the layout of the building. As well as the village of Lynbrook not willing to coperate with the needs of the theatre. Regal currently owns over 540 theatres...Lynbrook is not a prime location to take so much concern over. The industry itself isnt exactly thriving and the importance of building in other areas that would be more profitable should be the target for now. Granted I do agree that UA had negleted many of there theatres I believe Regal has a better idea of how to go about these older houses. Regal has closed the unproffitable Meadowbrook, sold Douglaston, closing Patchogue on 9/9/07, and the new Deer Park theatre will open soon. Lynbrook is still to some extent profitable and because of that I think they will do something with it. I respect you're desire to keep open the older theatre's and have them retrofitted...it just isnt as simple as it seems.

Mike, despite your corporate stance, you're still a cutie-pie.

I often wonder if more locals would visit the Lynbrook if it were a more inviting and well kept place. Fixing that A/C will probably go a long way. Replacing the seats would be another. It's not as if there are any more modern stadium-styled multiplexes in the area. I can't imagine the Franklin Square theater being any more comfortable than the Lynbrook - and certainly its auditoriums are smaller than the Lynbrook's four main rooms. Malverne is the same story - thought it has its own niche audience due to the more sophisticated offerings there. Sunrise Cinemas is a dinosaur from the late '70's and both it and the nearby Green Acres likely suffer from an unfortunate racial stigma in the view of many Lynbrook residents.

The strongest competition to the Lynbrook probably comes from the Fantasy in RVC - which, again, offers no stadium-style comforts. The Fantasy probably has more parking spaces available, due to the large lot behind the stores across the street, so that gives it a definite edge. Is parking the big obstacle in gutting the Lynbrook for a stadium-plex refit?

By the way, I agree with Mike that the introductory comments above should probably be re-written - if only to present a more objective and historically minded intro. I think the thread of comments sufficiently bemoan the theater's fall from stylish single screen playhouse to dissected and neglected plex.

Well Ed I agree your right about the RVC Fantasy being the strongest competition. When the movies aren't in Lynbrook me and my friends go to RVC. They usually have it if Lynbrook doesnt, we dont go to Green Acres cause of the shootings and stuff in the past, Malverne and Franklin Square are far for walking.

Mike I'm sure for some of the work such as painting possibly installing seats and whatnot can be done by students for community service hours. What ever happend to the Fantasy Playhouse? I don't know how you could demolish that theartre. Like the Lynbrookteen dude pointed out it has alot of history. I too was up in the stage for some party years ago. The theatre has been around quite awhile. I've found pictures online www.lynbrookpba.org/OldLynbrook1.htm Check it out.

You do have a great staff Mike.

This page on the Lynbrook Fire Department's website recounts an incident from earlier this year when the theater's popcorn machine suffered from technical difficulties. There are some photos of the lobby - and its depressing drop ceiling.

I lived in Hempstead when I was a kid in the sixties and I can remember going to the Lynbrook Theatre on Wednesday, May 28, 1969, to see a double feature of "Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines" and "Planet of the Apes." Someone at Fox must have thought that would make a good pairing, the ads called it "The Perfect Mates! Apes and Men!" Anyway, "Men" started at 7 P.M. and since it was over two hours long -- and had an Intermission! -- "Apes" didn't start until after 10 P.M. I remember my father wondering how I and my siblings were going to get up to go to school the next day. Since I was only nine back then, I can't now recall the next day. But I do remember the Lynbrook at that occasion. It had a nice lobby and was a big theatre with a balcony. I vividly recall sitting in the center/front of the balcony. "Planet of the Apes" was -- and still is -- my favorite movie, so to see it like that was a great thrill. I'm sorry to read that the theatre eventually got divided up and is now in such bad shape, but that's been the fate of most movie houses. Actually I'm surprised the Lynbrook is still standing!

seating capacities at lynbrook
1. 312 dts/DS
2. 415 dts/DS
3. 240
4. 225
5. 202 KS
6. 120 KS

No Cupholders, 3 and 4 which are upstairs don't have Dolby Stereo or digital sound and 5 and 6 which opened in 1989 only have Kintex Stereo

I assume #1 is the left side of the old orchestra and #5 is the backstage theater which would make #6 the tiny storefront conversion that is off the front of the lobby. What does "KS" stand for?

Also... Were seats lost along the left side of theater 1 to accommodate the passageway to get to theater 5?

yes, seats were remove to accomadate the hallway. Theatre 1 lost about 100 seats. KS stands for Kintek Stereo, a cheaper sound system. The bad part it is mono in the front with stereo surround.

The only other location in Nassau that Kintek Stereo is AMC Nassau Metroplex screens 7 to 10

Thanks, 7train... When I was in #1 to see "The Simpsons Movie" over the summer, I thought the room seemed a little tighter than I recalled from the 1980's, when I frequented the Lynbrook with regularity. The removal of seats results in the aisle now being somewhat left of center in relation to the screen.

Is the theater a little tighter or are you a little wider?

Saps, sad to say a little bit of both!

Mike
well being manager of lynbrook you could probably answer this.
Students at ther highschool and middle schools need community service hours. if they're in national honnor society they need more. Couldn't students do some of the fixing up?
i know certain paints are lethal if inhaled and students wouldn't be allowed to paint with it. if it isn't an inhalent than students could paint, and do some other jobs right?

Regal does not allow us to use community service workers. I would assume they consider it a liability if they aren't on the books. Even so...the theatre needs to be a knockdown/buildup site...you can only go so long covering things up. It would be sad to see a historic theatre like the Lynbrook be torn down...I pretty much grew up there. However...it's time to pull the plug.

At the very least, I would hope that some effort would be made to preserve and restore the handsome Merrick Rd facade. While original interior elements may have long ago vanished and would be unfeasible to restore for a gut and multiplex job, there is no reason why the original character of the Lynbrook's exterior (which appears to be in very good shape) shouldn't remain intact. Unless the structure itself is physically unstable, I don't see why the entire building has to come down, Mike. As long as the foundation and outer walls are stout, the mission could be accomplished with a complete interior gutting down to the bare brick walls. This is how the Fantasy Theatre in Rockville Center was renovated - even though they needlessly mutilated the main exterior facade with the modernization. Better still is the example of the Midway Theatre in Forest Hills, Queens, where they pretty much preserved the integrity of the original facade, entrance foyer and lobby while gutting the auditorium space behind to carve out 9 modern and comfortable stadium style rooms - all within the original footprint of the old theatre.

Mike, if I would have to do a video project could i possibly do it on the thearter, get a tour, etc..
is the closed down "Fantasy Play House" part of the theater?

Ed is also right if the building is structurally sound than some renavations could be done. also if they were to tear down the thearter and rebuild what would it do to traffic on Merrick Road?

If students can't do the actual work than could they at least raise money for renevations? that is an equal opportunity for service hours.

Mike here's a tip. If Lynbrook got movies that come out more recently more Peole would go to lynbrook. What me and my friends do is we check were the movies playing. IF it isn't in LYnbrook than we go to Rockville Center. I prefer to go to Lynbrook personally because it is right in town.

Lynbrook only shows first run movies; new releases are split between the Fantasy in RVC and the Lynbrook. Art releases go to the Malverne.

I was here the other day to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. Full matinée prices ($8. adults, $7. kids) and there was NO HEAT in five of the six screens. "We're waiting for the parts" said the young manager (not Mike) and yet they have the nerve to charge full price.

I love and want to preserve old theaters, but this is a shit-heap in need of some serious attention.

I feel like I'm working overtime on this site....anyway...
-If you ask a manager that is there more often than I am...they might help you out with a tour
-Regal can afford to rebuild...this is not a top priority anymore in their minds
-I guess preserving some of the building is possible. Would it be done? I doubt it.
-Lynbrook does get first run films...for some reason not the big ones as of late.
-No heat is a big deal...it has been fixed since. No excuses from me...

No heat in the winter... and on several occasions this summer, there was no A/C. Yup. Definitely not a top priority for Regal. All maintenance deferred until absolutely needed, it seems! What a shame. I guess I still have some emotional attachment to this old dump and still hope that if Regal ever does pay attention to this old work-horse, that it will honor its long history by preserving the facade.

If you want heat, go to Grand Avenue, they usually play date except the seats are tight

well the heat is broken again, it was working for a few days.....anyway tonight was my last shift at this theatre. very sad

Mike,
Thanks for all the answers to the questions I had. Very sorry to hear about your last shift...
It will be ashame to see lynbrook 6 go...

thanks

STILL AS OF TODAY, STILL NO HEAT!!!

Heat is working except for Theatre 5 and the Men's Bathroom.
The bathroom is a icebox.

Also, REGAL spent money on refurbishing E-Walk which is only 8 years old but don't spend a cent on Lynbrook

Well i went and saw Jumper on 2/20 heating and A.C. both worked.
The fantasy playhouse is part of the theater right?

This is a July 2008 photo.

zzzzzzz

I didn't think the photo was that bad.

Behind those two shiny windows on the left is screen no. 6.
(The other screens are two on the orchestra level, two in the balcony and one on the former stage.)

I managed the Lynbrook when it was a quartet in the mid-80's. It was one of the very few UA theatres that had matinees during the week. There was talk of adding screens in 1986 and I remember Salah coming down one day with the mayor to look around. I faced Salah's wrath afterwards due to a popcorn kernel still in the bin from the night before. One of my best memories was having Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight on the weekends upstairs next to the office. What a blast. This was a fun theatre to work and the staff was great.

In its heyday
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c32%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=104&ProductID=30885

As a Quad
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c32%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=104&ProductID=30888

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c32%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=104&ProductID=30889

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c32%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=105&ProductID=30890

Thanks RobertR... those 1986 shots - though maybe 2 or 3 years after I was a regular here - depict the marquee and storefronts as I remember them.

As one of your staff members for about six months in 1986, I will happily accept your kind compliments! The staff WAS awesome, and even at $3.35/hr, I still fondly think of it as my favorite job ever -- lovely brown polyester uniforms notwithstanding. :o) And you're right -- Midnight Madness was just the best!