Syosset Triplex

I believe an Office Depot was opened on the former site of the theater, yet when I drove past the place last April, the store had gone out of business and the space was for rent.

This theatre had 3 projector Cinerama in the early 60's. The Able and Charly booths were built into the outside walls sticking out over the walkways. I saw GONE WITH THE WIND in 70MM IN 1968. I believe the theatre had private press showings of MAD MAD WORLD IN 70MM IN 1963 before the WARNER CINERAMA IN NYC had been renovated for the No. 1963 opening.

This modern palace used to be where exclusive engagements for Long Island were shown before the "150". The parking lot was tremendous It was near Lollipop farm, which is now David Lerner and Associates. After being vacant for years, the Office Depot, which had replaced the theater, was doubled in footprint and stories. Its now a mini-mall palace. The two anchor stores are a Marshal's Mega-store and a Petco, which used to be in Hicksville.

Ah man....memories of seeing great films on that LARGE screen: "Alien", "Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life", "Pink Floyd: The Wall", "Outland", "The Killing Fields", "The Shining"...and years before those films, a school bus trip to see a matinee of "Godspell" (an underrated musical that shows an empty Manhattan thru much of the film...and a then-brand new World Trade Center still unfinished, with the end of a song on top of the first finished tower!)

I wince every time i drive by....

As an addendum to that last statement...i meant driving by on Jericho Turnpike, not the World Trade Center site. (A totally different version of wincing...)

"The day they knocked down the Pally, my sister stood and cried.
The day they knocked down the Pally, part of her childhood died."
--the Kinks, "Come Dancing"

I remember moving to Syosset at the age of 9 in 1981, about two or three years before they converted the Syosset into a triplex. The last movie they played there before the conversion was "Superman III", I believe. I also remember seeing a triple-bill of the "Star Wars" trilogy there. My Dad was ready to kill me for dragging him to six hours of "Star Wars."

This was such a huge part of growing up. Me and my best friends went there all the time, either just to hang out during the summer or, in high school, on dates. Saw a lot of great movies there ("Poltergeist", "Batman", "When Harry Met Sally") and some not-so-great movies ("Cobra"). It was located perfectly next to McDonald's and within walking distance of Syosset House diner and Carvel, perfect for carless teens.

When they closed the place down, I felt just like that Kinks song. It really felt like a huge part of my childhood was gone. As a result, I have refused to set foot in the retail space that now festers there on principle. It also increased my hatred of souless, anticeptic multiplexes. I'd much rather go out of my way to the Babylon Triplex, one of the last vestiges of the old-school movie theaters than to the zillion-screen megaplex off the highway.

CaptRonLI
I could not agree more, I drive in from Queens to go to the Manhasset or Squire because they still have the feeling of days gone bye. The Syosset was a class house all the way.

Very well put, Capt. Ron LI. That must've been such a treat to see the "Star Wars" Trilogy in 70mm there.

This theater was a class-act and ran a lot of roadshows during the '50s and '60s.

There's an old UA in Buena Park, CA that was converted to retail space. It was a fine theater for about three years after it opened, with 70mm/THX Sound capability. It went downhill after that. As with many UA theaters, it was eventually closed. Now, you can still see where the old large auditoriums were inside of the store. Though it wasn't the greatest theater in the world, its presentation was impressive and I have a lot of great memories there. It's odd to see clothing racks sitting where I saw "Aliens" and "Robocop."

Unfortunately, it wasn't even converted. I never realized that there was so much space there, because the theater was on this little hill that they completely leveled. I also remember the theater was run by this tough but nice old lady. My wife's cousin worked there as an usher (long before I ever met my wife).

I always wanted to buy an old movie theater (I was thinking about the Whitman until, well, you know...) and convert it into a 2nd-run house, but a COOL 2nd-run house, with midnight showings and events and stuff like that. Back in the 50's, 60's and 70's, going to the movies used to be an event. Now, it' sjust there.

My friend Pab ended up buying what is now the DeMarco Cinemas in Vineland, NJ. It's currently struggling, so show him some love (you can Google it on the web). I'll let him know about this site and hopefully get him to post something on here.

The old lady went to the D-150 when this theatre closed.

Dear Cinema Treasures Readers,

After years of research, Michael Coate and I are proud to announce that "70mm In NY" has been posted on our site, www.fromscripttodvd.com

To navigate directly to this part of the site, copy and paste the following into your browser:

http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/70mm_in_new_york_main_page.htm

We've included a number of interesting features about "70mm In NY," including an introductory article about the history of 70mm In NY; a theatre list of 70mm equipped houses; a list of the longest running 70mm engagements in NY, and much, much more.

We feel the most exciting part of the site is the list of 70mm engagements. You can click on any year from 1955 through 2004 and find out information on which films played in the NYC-region in 70mm.

As we've seen on this wonderful site, there are quite a few 70mm fans from the New York/New Jersey region, and we hope that you will enjoy this look back on 70mm presentation in your area.

There are some sections of "70mm In NY" that are coming soon, so we please check back.

We encourage your feedback.

Best regards,
William Kallay
Michael Coate
"70mm In NY"

http://www.in70mm.com/news/2003/syosset/syosset_li.htm

This site is awesome

That is an awesome site and it lists Syosset/Syosset Triplex/The Syosset and the theatre down the road Cinema 150/The Syosset. Some confussion when The Syosset gets listed twice. As best as I can tell this theatre opened in 1956 and started out as a 70mm Todd-AO Theatre showing roadshows. It went to 3 strip CINERAMA from 6/25/59-5/26/64. I have seen photos of the Able and Charly booths sticking out of the sides of the building. It played CINERAMA type travelogue programs until August 1961. When no CINERAMA product was available other films would be shown. It had a 146 degree louvered screen with a 30 foot radius that was placed in front of the Todd-AO screen. It went to 70mm CINERAMA on 5/27/64. The style of this theatre should not be listed as unknown, but should be CINERAMA.

This theater was known as the UA Syosset/

The confussion started when they closed the older Syosset triplex. Up until then the other theatre was know as Cinema 150. When Cinema 150 was remodeled the older theatre had closed so UA renamed it The Syosset.

I saw the Windjammer in either Cinemiracle or Cinerama here. I remember seeing Mutiny on the Bounty (1963), A Star is Born (1976), and Fiddler on the Roof (1972) here, as well. La Dolce Vita had a long run here in the early 60s.

This site has pictures of the program from when Windjammer played here in Cinemiracle. Also tickets from West Side Story playing here roadshow.
http://www.syossetscrapbook.freeservers.com/scrapbookpart1.html

The Syosset Theater is listed as opening in 1956 with 1450 seats. There are more photos of the Syosset on this website:
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/70mm_in_new_york_theatres_photos.htm

I read that the Syosset Theatre closed for a brief time in 1959. Was this closing due to equipment upgrade to 70mm or was there another purpose for the closing?

Yes, it did close for Three weeks in 1959, to install Cinerama. And Reopened on June 24th, This is Cinerama. And the Ad's said, "Cinerama Comes To Oyster Bay, Home of Cinerama"! Those were the good ole days.

The Syosset Theatre was located at 565 Jericho Tpke. Seating was 1450 as stated previously.

The Cinerama Flims were shown in this order, This is Cinerama, Seven Wonders of the World, then in March1960, Can Can in Todd-ao, it was Shown on the Cinerama Screen that was a real hoot. Then Cinerama Holiday, Windjammer, and South Seas Adventure, the Cinerama Screen was removed in August 1961. And was reinstalled in 1963, for the Wanderful World of the Brothers Gimm, and How the West was Won.

I loved this theatre and the D-150. They will never be able to be replaced.

More photos of the Syosset Theater:
http://cinerama.topcities.com/syosset.htm

nice pics

The Sunday before "This is Cinerama" opened at the Syosset, there was a 1/2 page ad in the NY Times with an order form to order advance seats. Adult prices varied between $1.35 and $2.80 and children were .90 at all times.

I forgot to add Cinerama started here June 26, 1959.

Here is an ad to order tickets for the roadshow of "This is Cinerama"
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/CineramaSyosset.jpg

Hey nhp bob, you sure the school trip to "Godspell" was for the UA Syosset and not the UA Cinema 150 down the street? The last feature to play The Syosset before it was mutilated was actualy the prestigious booking of Lou Ferrigno in "Hercules". "Superman III" opened on June 16, 1983 and Herc followed it on August 26th for a week. The Syosset was a great place to see a big show. It was not as ornate as say The Bayshore but it's 70MM was first rate. The Syosset had "The Towering Inferno" while The 150 had "Earthquake". Opening night of 'Alien" was an event, waiting for the sold out crowd to exit, outside online on a warm night, not knowing what to expect. Why was waiting outside on line for theatres like The 150, The Syosset, The Bayshore or The Hicksville North/South no big deal? Some of Syosset's big exclusive engagements included, "All The Presidents Men", "The World According To Garp", "The Way We Were", "A Star Is Born" and "For Pete's Sake". Streisand did very in Syosset.

Growing up in Syosset I remember going to a movie was an event. I remember seeing such classics as The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins & Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad...World. I can even remember going to the theater to celebrate mass because of reconstruction or something going on at St. Edwards. My most memorable event was sneaking off to see Woodstock & having the manager throw everybody out before the show started due to his impatience with certain people smoking pot in the theater. I was mad because I didnt get to see the movie that day and I lost my dollar!

I finally took the Syosset Theater photograph I took in the 1970ies out of my long lost photo album to scan it, and am now having problems with my scanner!

Bob, how could I have forgotten about that cinematic masterpiece that was Lou Ferrigno in "Hercules"? :-) "Superman III" was, I think, the last movie I saw there (although I sort of remember seeing the "Star Wars" trilogy there before it was converted into a triplex...but I could be mixed up).

Like I said this was a great place for a teen growing up in Syosset back in the 80's. Your 'rents would drop you off at the movie theater and you could pop into McDonald's right next door for a pre- or post-movie meal. If you're feeling really adventurous, you could walk down to the diner or Carvel.

Ah "Hercules", I only remember that CaptRonLI because I was there for the last night. I came up from my theatre to say goodbye because I knew what fate was instore the old girl. A fate completely underserved.

Oh yeah McDonald's had a great location and that was for the young'ins but I couldn't count how many I broke a show and heard someone say "Let's go to the diner for coffee and cake!" to top off the evening.

SYOSSET THEATER PICTURE: http://andrewlerner.blogspot.com/2005/08/blog-post_25.html PHOTOGRAPH 1973 PICTURE_______________________________________________________________

PICTURE PICTURE PICTURE http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/609/275/1600/Syosset%20Theater1.jpg PHOTOGRAPH PHOTOGRAPH PHOTOGRAPH 02/24/1976

Neither link worked for me.

http://andrewlerner.blogspot.com/2005/08/syosset-theater.html
http://andrewlerner.blogspot.com/2005/08/syosset-theater.html
http://andrewlerner.blogspot.com/2005/08/syosset-theater.html

I have never heard of this roadshow "Young Winston", does anyone know where it opened in Manhattan?
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/YoungWinston.jpg

I believe the NYC roadshow run of "Young Winston" played at the Columbia.

U.S. premiere, by the way, was held at Grauman's Chinese during FILMEX, Nov. 9, 1972. L.A. roadshow run began the following day at Loew's Beverly.

World premiere, I believe, was in London.

Okay, I feel really stupid for asking this, but I've gotta know....

I grew up in the 70's and (mainly) 80's, so I'm not familiar with movie theater lingo. What, exactly, is a "roadshow"?

Again, I apologize for my ignorance! :)

Capt. Ron: Here's an excellent explanation of the roadshow concept from Marty Hart's American Widescreen Museum site:

http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/widescreen/showmanship.htm

You shouldn't feel ignorant about it - the concept was practically dead by the early 1970's, sad to say.

I believe that "Oklahoma" was shown here only on the theatre's gala opening night to demonstrate its Todd-AO capabiltiy, though the movie later returned for a roadshow engagment. Here are some views from November or December 1956 with a double-feature of "Between Heaven and Hell" and "Stagecoach to Fury." Note the opening flags still draped on the exterior:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/137-3723_IMG.jpg
www.18.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/137-3717_IMG.jpg

There is more information about "Oklahoma!" engagements in the New York City area here:

http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/70mm_in_new_york_1955.htm

...and here:
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/todd_ao_50th_aniversary.htm

So, in other words, more than a full year passed before "Oklahoma!" played a full engagement at the Syosset in Todd-AO, and by that time the movie was also being distributed in a CinemaScope version.

So, in other words, more than a full year passed before "Oklahoma!" played an actual engagement at the Syosset in Todd-AO, and by that time the movie was also being distributed in a CinemaScope version.

So, in other words, more than a full year passed before "Oklahoma!" played an actual engagement at the Syosset in Todd-AO, and by that time the movie was also being distributed in a CinemaScope version.

Yes.

Oooohhhhh...NOW I get it. So it's sort of like the "exclusive engagements" of the 70's, right? Where one theater in the county would be playing a movie. Thanks Bill!

PICTURE OF THE SYOSSET THEATER IN 1976
PICTURE OF THE SYOSSET THEATER IN 1976
PICTURE OF THE SYOSSET THEATER IN 1976
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/609/275/1600/Syosset%20Theater1.jpg
PICTURE OF THE SYOSSET THEATER IN 1976
PICTURE OF THE SYOSSET THEATER IN 1976
PICTURE OF THE SYOSSET THEATER IN 1976
PICTURE OF THE SYOSSET THEATER IN 1976

The Mission in 70mm
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/Mission.jpg

If an Office Depot replaced this theater, the address should be:

565 Jericho Tpke
Syosset, NY 11791

"How the West Was Won" wrapping up a three-strip Cinerama reserved-seat engagement here in 1964:
Last 9 Days - LI Star Journal 5/18/64

Not even the classy Syosset escaped porno chic in 1972 with a pair of soft x flicks.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/LoveUnder17.jpg

I believe the SYOSSET's most successful engagement was the 78-week run of "The Sound Of Music."

Another long, successful run was "How The West Was Won" at 43 weeks.

http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/sound_of_music_40th_tribute.htm
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/htwww_roadshow_engage.htm

Historical Note: The SYOSSET was the first custom-built Todd-AO 70mm theatre in the world. (Every venue that ran Todd-AO presentations prior to the SYOSSET were retrofits.)

When the Syosset was triplexed, the two Todd-AO capable
Norelco 35/70 projectors were left intact and used in the upstairs #3 auditorium. Although a platter was also installed, UA projection chief Joe Kelly decided that any 70mm engagements in the
#3 house would be run reel-to-reel, with a projectionist
asigned just for that auditorium.

Wow, lots of great info here, thanks. My first ever job, as a 15 year-old SHS student, was at the Triplex the summer that "Batman" played on all three screens. I only worked there 5 months until I decided I'd rather be going to the movies on weekends than selling popcorn to classmates, but I wound up with 5 years' worth of memories. Even had my first date there (back when teenagers still went on dates) to see "When Harry Met Sally...". Last movie I saw here was "Wolf" with Jack Nicholson, not a great fate. A couple of years ago I saw my old manager was still working at the UA theater in Westbury, taking tickets -- not actually sure if she was still managing, or just taking tickets! I'd take tickets too if it meant I could have the old place back...

Yes Jason, it's hard to believe that both those wonderful theatres are gone. But the same thing has happened all over Long Island, I still have fond memories of Freeport with the Grove and Freeport theatres. All the big houses are gone and the folks today have mostly only the tiny boxes to sit in to watch a movie. You mention Westbury, do you remember the Raceway Cinema? I worked there for the opening reserved seat hard ticket engagement of
"Thorouhlly Modern Millie"
Oh well, at least we have Cinema Treasures and our memories.

OK guys I need your help. My parents got engaged on JUNE 29, 1966 after a date at the Syosset. I have HALF of my mom's ticket stub that I unearthed recently and it has the time (8:30 pm) and date, as well as the price ($3.75). These were for reserved seats. My brother and I are planning a 30th anniversary shindig for them this coming summer (they were married in '67) and I'd really like to find out the NAME of the show. Any thoughts, besides trying to find old copies of Newsday on microfiche? Thanks!

According to the great 70mm in New York website, "The Sound of Music" opened at the Syosset as part of an expanded hard-ticket roadshow engagement on June 25th, 1965, and played for 78 weeks! That would have definitely carried it through June of 1966 and beyond.

Good luck with your plans, LI-Tom! Happy Holidays to all!

Ed! You're a genius! That would be wonderful because it also happens to be my 5-year old daughter's favorite movie! Anyone else feel free to weigh in. Big shout out to EdSolero!

oooops I meant 40th anniversary. not a big math guy :)

I worked the Syosset during that time and I believe Ed is correct.
"The Sound Of Music" was playing for what seemed like forever.
All we need now is for our resident 70mm expert Michael Coate to weigh in and make it official.

Weighing in...

I can confirm "The Sound Of Music" was indeed the film playing at the SYOSSET on LI-Tom's requested date of June 29, 1966. The film's incredible run at that theatre was 6/23/65-12/20/66.

In response to Vito's request for me to weigh in on this matter, technically, I weighed in the moment EdSolero linked to my "Sound Of Music" tribute article a few posts ago which contained the info LI-Tom was seeking.

BTW, in reading EdSolero's last post, I'm reminded of something that has caught my attention numerous times. That being the number of folks who think that the website run by Bill Kallay and myself is called "70mm in New York" when, in fact, the website is called "From Script To DVD." The "70mm in NY" thing is simply *one article* (and a large one at that!) among many articles that are posted on our site. The "Sound Of Music" tribute article to which Ed linked (although he typed into his post "70mm in NY") is yet another article separate from "70mm in NY."

Perhaps Bill and I created the confusion when we introduced Cinema Treasures readers to our site by providing links to the "70mm in NY" piece. We thought at the time that "70mm in NY" would be the ideal introduction to Cinema Treasures readers given the number of classic theatres mentioned in the article and year-by-year film lists and also because of the number of readers interested in the concept of "showmanship." I guess we figured that CT readers would have explored our site in more detail once realizing there was content other than just the "70mm in NY" thing.

The "70mm in NY" project, by the way, is among our site's most popular pages, and we no doubt have you Cinema Treasures readers to thank for that!

Isn't there a more specific address available for this theatre than Jericho Turnpike, which is a very long roadway? For lack of an exact building number, what was the nearest cross street to Jericho Turnpike?

Andrew Lerner posted a link to his blog a while back where he states that the theater was replaced by an Office Depot, which later expanded to include several other stores, including a Petco. Lost Memory followed up with the address for the Office Depot in Syosset as 565 Jericho Tunrpike. I just looked up Petco in Syosset and it, too, has a 565 Jericho Turnpike address. I think we can go with that, at least until we see any evidence that the theater used a different number.

Michael Coate... You are quite correct for pointing out the proper name for your indispensible website! I apologize for perpetuating any misunderstandings as to the site's identity. Call it editorial laziness, but it seems more expeditious to refer to it as "70mm in NY" since that is how so many on CT know it. Out of respect, I will endeavor to be more accurate when referring to the terrific resource you have created. As far as I'm concerned, there are four invaluable resources online when it comes to cinema and movie houses: Cinema Treasures (of course); From Script to DVD; American Widescreen Museum; Internet Movie Database. I think I prefer them in that order, too - although I suppose it depends on just what it is I need to look up!

My sincerest wishes for a very happy and prosperous new year for all!

Michael, I wanted to add my thanks for your magnificent site. It is the most comprehensive, well thought out site I have found pertaining to 70mm. It is a kick to wallow around in it as I reminisce about the good times working during the 70mm roadshow hey day, and it has also helped me win a bet once.

Curiously, though this 1959 ad includes a mail-order coupon, no more specific address is given than Jericho Turnpike. Would the post office deliver mail to just a street name?:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/syosset59.jpg

I saw Streisand's "A Star is Born" here, or as Mad magazine more aptly put it, "A Bore is Starred." Even at the tender age of 19 I could tell a real stinker when I saw it.

Warren, I would imagine the name was enough to deliver mail and packages. I hate to complicate things even more, but a previous post lists the Syosset address as 565 Jericho Turnpike, but the address for the D-150 Cinema in Woodbury, which was just a short distance from the Syosset, was 7500 Jericho Turnpike. I lived just across from the D-150 at The Woodbury Townhouses at 7640 Jericho Turnpike. So how did the numbers differ so much? Do they start over at the Syosset/Woodbury border? These two theatres were very close together, during the busy summer months I would often work the matinee show at one and then the evening show at the other.

Hey Vito... Yes, address numbering schemes vary on Long Island from town to town - even when it's the same thoroughfare (such as Jericho Turnpike, Hillside Avenue, Sunrise Highway, Merrick Road, etc.) running continuously through each town. The numbering for Woodbury would be different from that of Syosset.

Thanks Ed, I haven't lived on the Island since 1987 and forgot how the numbering works. However now that you mention it,I do sorta remember getting a bit confused looking for buildings going from town to town. As far as finding theatres, we weren't given building numbers, just the theatre name and town. Warren, I think that's how the mail sometimes gets delivered as well.

This ad celebrating the 50th anniversary of United Artists Theatres shows all of the UA outlets in Nassau & Suffolk Counties in 1976:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/ua50th.jpg

The Syosset Theatre first opened on November 20th, 1956, under Skouras management. In this ad from the Long Island Press, the "Surprise Preview of the biggest picture ever to come out of Hollywood" was "Oklahoma!" in Todd-AO. The first actual program at the Syosset was a double bill of "Between Heaven and Hell" and "Stagecoach to Fury":
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/syopener.jpg

That confirms the opening year of 1956 that I posted on Jan 1, 2005. The link that I posted on that same date has changed so here is an updated link with photos of the Syosset Theater. Also, shouldn't the name of this theater be UA Syosset Triplex? That was the name on the building in a 1980's photo which is at the bottom of this page.

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

Regarding the surprise preview of "Oklahoma", in those days the title of the movie was often kept secret from the public, you did not know what you were going to see until the movie started. In fact we in the booth did not know which picture it was until the print arrived, and even then we were fooled by the title on the film cans which were sometimes mislabeled and did not represent which picture was actually inside.
All very hush-hush and rather mysterious and fun, and they were indeed “sneak previews”

Re: Warren's October 1966 ad. I wonder how MGM got away with proclaiming "Winner of 6 Academy Awards" in their "Zhivago" ads. They were counting Art Direction and Set Decoration as two separate awards, and they're not. But that put them one Oscar up on "The Sound of Music". I love both movies dearly, but it's still false advertising.

Vito, from what I know, they STILL ship films with false names today, particularly the big blockbusters, ie "Star Wars", "Superman Returns", "Fantastic Four", etc.

I miss this and the 150 everytime I drive by with my wife and son to see my parents. I guess it's fitting that my folks are leaving Syosset now, because the Syosset that I knew is long gone (to quote another song lyric, "those days are gone forever, I should just let 'em go...").

CaptRonLI, I am told, perhaps you would agree, that the main reason for mislabling today has a lot to do with piracy, keeping people from knowing what treaure is in those cans. I remember just before I retired we had a preview of a rather important picture, the print was delivered a couple of hours before the showing by a private courier who stayed in the booth with the print until the show was over,and then took the print away.The idea of course to reduce the risk of piracy. I don't know how much good all that does, from what I hear you can, if you know the right people, easily obtain DVD copies of recent and unreleased movies.I find that disturbing.
I too miss those two great theatres, I often did relief work at both of them, Syosset as a single screen and tripex. But we can't
"let' em go", folks like us have to keep them alive in spirt here at Cinema Treasures.

Vito, what was the name of the important picture? We can see if it stood the test of time.

Bill, the year was 2005 and the picture was "King Kong". I don't know about the teat of time but it did do very well at the box-office.
Just to keep on-topic I want to share one of my treasured memories of the Syosset, which was working opening weekend of "Sound of Music", I believe it was early summer of 1965, with my parents in the audience and then giving them a tour of the booth

If I might be allowed to go off the topic of Syosset, I wondered, speaking of sneak previews, what happened to the comment cards given to patrons viewing the movie. I recall the studio folks gathering nervously in the managers office after the preview to look over the cards.I haven't seen that in many years and wondered if any areas like LA still do that. I retired in 2005 after 50 years in the buisness of show, I saw a lot of changes some good and some not, but I thought the patrons enjoyed being given a chance to express their opinion after a screening and wondered if it still happens anywhere.

I attended a preview of Paramount's "In and Out" (Kevin Kline and Joan Cusack) and was asked to fill out a comment sheet. It was fun to do it, but I now realize that was in 1997 - 10 years ago already. I also wonder if it still gets done today.

Yep, I knew it had to do with piracy, which I think is an even bigger problem today than it was, say, twenty years ago. My favorite memories of the Syosset are, of course, girl-related. Sitting in the back row, just getting away with enough to not be considered indecent...heh, I loved growing up in Syosset during the 80s. Vito, you'd know this--there was this older woman who managed the theater. Do you know what happened to her? She seemed stern, but was really a sweetheart (she helped me when a car was blocking my car in the lot because the person didn't set their emergency break).

Sorry Ron, I have lost track of all the old managers and projectionist from back then. My last day at Syosset was
25 years ago back in November 1982. In those last days I bounced between the D-150 and Syosset, but I lived in Woodbury which made an easy commute. But of course my favotite Syosset/D-150 times were in the 60s working Roadshows at both theatres. I'm glad you never got caught in the back row :)

Correction: My last shift at Syosset was in November 1987,
which is when I joined National Amusements where I stayed until retiring in 2005

When I worked at the Triplex in '89, the manager was an older lady named Mary McCarthy. She terrorized the mostly teenaged staff but she ran a tight ship. I saw her at the Syosset in '97 organizing lines for "Titanic", and I even saw her at the UA in Westbury (tearing tickets on a slow Saturday afternoon) three years ago -- clearly a lifer in the organization!

Ah yes, that rings a bell, Mary was the manager when we triplexed the place back in, what was it, late 1984?. I think she had someone named Carol working with her, gosh the memories come flooding back.
Do you remember the full time projectionist named Tom?, I worked his Sundays off for quite a while.

The only projectionist I remember is Norm, who also served as an AV guy at the high school. The other guy's name I can no longer remember!

I was surprised to learn during a recent research session that United Artists renamed the nearby CINEMA 150 as THE SYOSSET *while* this was still in operation. That seems awfully silly on the part of UATC. Any of you Long Islanders recall any confusion created by the name change?

Other postings here have claimed the name change took place *after* the SYOSSET TRIPLEX closed, but I've found information to the contrary, at least as far as newspaper promotion was concerned. (I can't speak for what name appeared on the actual building and/or marquee.)

I saw "Earthquake" in SENSUROUND at the 150 in 1974. No big deal. Now when I go into Best Buy and the have all those horrible booming speaker systems assaulting your ears...makes "Sensuround" sound like someone is typing on tin foil. Saw "Alien" and "Animal House" at the Syosset as well.

Michael... I remember the two theaters in simultaneous operation for a brief time with very similar names. I think newspaper ads and listings always referred to this theater as Syosset Triplex (or just "Triplex" under the town name "Syosset." For a while, the Cinema 150 was listed as Syosset in listings and ads as well, as I recall. I was never at the Syosset Triplex and only attended a few films at the 150, so when looking up the theater for times, I do remember some confusion and double checking to make sure I was looking at the right listing. Am I way off base or was the 150 listed under Woodbury in some papers?

Michael and Ed, The D-150 was in Woodbury, Zip code 11797.
I know there has been a lot of confusion about all this, but I lived in Woodbury at the Fairhaven town houses which are located directly across the dtreet from D-150. In fact I could see the atraction board from my kitchen window. I worked Syosset as a single screen duing the period 1962 thru 1972, and then both houses from 1983 thru 1987. I worked on the installation when the Syosset was triplexed and worked it part time for a while. At no time do I recall the
D-150 ever being called anything but Cinema 150. If it was ever called the "Syosset" it would have had to have been after October
1987 which is when I ran my last show (Dirty Dancing)there.
Michael, I can't recall which closed first the Syosset triplex or the D-150, perhaps if the triplex closed first they may have renamed the D-150 as "Syosset". That would be odd however since the theatre was in Woodbury. OK Michael my friend, you now have you work cut out for you to sort all this out. If anyone can do it, you can. :)

The triplex closed first. I worked there from 1992-1995 and was there till the end. The 150 was still open for a while after that, a few years I think. Used to go back and visit Ms. McCarthy!

Tryin to track down what we referred to as the "old-school crew" ie '92 but I'd love to hear from anyone who was really old-school!!
http://groups.myspace.com/syossettriplex

PS I believe the 150 was called The Syosset for a while when I still worked there, before the Triplex was gone. It was the same company and a lot of times staff from one would work at the other if needed. We also would work at other UA theaters like East Meadow or the drive-in. Ms. McCarthy was a real trip. I wonder where she is now.

I was maybe 7 years old at the time, but it seemed like "2001: A Space Odyssey" (which I thought was pronounced "odds-eye," whatever the heck *that* meant) played at the Syosset a *very* long time.

Also, is it my imagination, or did they not have a gigantic, cheesy-looking, canvas clock face on the front of the theater to promote "A Clockwork Orange?"

Erica, I only worked at the Triplex in 1989 but for years after I went back to visit I saw a lot of the same faces. We probably worked with at least some of the same people. The last time I went to the Triplex was to see "Wolf" with Jack Nicholson. Nice symmetry because "Batman" played on all three screens my first month at the Triplex. I last saw Ms. McCarthy at the UA stadium-seating theater in Westbury about three years ago... she hadn't changed a bit!

hmmm i think i was there for wolf. i know when i started there were some people that had been around a while. did you ever work with sue? she was the asst mgr when i started. i think someone on here mentioned tom the projectionist and i'm pretty sure that was the name of the guy when i worked there. did you ever work with dave gafney? he was a few yrs older than me and i know he was working there a while before i did. or he may have just been at the 150. i'm trying to remember the last time i saw ms. mccarthy, i think it was at the 150 about '99 or so. she was exactly the same. "get to work! this isn't a party!" i like her tho, she drove the kids nuts but she could be so funny and she meant well!

I saw both The Sound of Music, and Funny Girl here, both were advanced, reserved seating.

I remember the Syosset with affection. In 1977 Star Wars was released. I was 17 and my brother had a car. We wanted to see Star Wars in Stereo. We lived in Bellerose in Queens and that was our best bet. So off myself, John and our friend Michael went to Syosset. I remember seeing the huge curved screen and watching those classic words roll across the screen. We went back to see it several other times and other "big screen" kind of movies. Its sad that big movie houses like that have been swept aside by the changing movie business. I too am reminded of the song "Come Dancing" by the Kinks when I think of places like the Syosset Theatre.

Jim Ebersold:

I'm afraid the passage of time may have created a memory lapse. "Star Wars" did not play at SYOSSET...at least not in the original '77 showings. The Long Island engagement you are probably thinking of was at TWIN SOUTH in Hicksville.

DAVE GAFNEY?????? To quote Obi-Wan Kenobi, there's a name I have not heard in a long time...a long time. He and I were really good friends back in high school. Haven't seen him in years, though. Also used to hang out with Josh Bentley, Paul Ianotti, Bryan Coffee...Erica, were you in ACT? I think we probably have a lot of mutual friends...

Exclusive Long Island Engagement.

Those magical words. My parents were fairly regular movie-goers, and it was a great treat to head to the Syosset on a Sunday afternoon.

I saw Mary Poppins here (the greatest movie ever made, to my 10-year-old mind). Also: How the West Was Won (in Cinerama!); It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (hysterically funny sequences); The Sound of Music (of course); Gone With the Wind.

What a grand place it was! Heartbreaking when it became a triplex. I think the last movie I saw there was "Rising Sun", with my parents, and my mother gasping at every curse word. Movies, as well as theaters, had undergone a big change by then - and not necessarily for the better.

I simply loved this theater. It was an event to come here and see a film. Both of my sisters worked there, so I often caught a ride with them. Sometimes I had to see the film more than once while waiting to go home. I don't remeber ever minding at all. I saw West Side Story so many times I learned all the words to the songs. It makes me sad to remember such good times.

capt ron, yes i was in ACT now that you mention it... haven't thought about that in a long time! the other names don't sound familiar but i'd prob know them if i saw them.

i worked there when we had rising sun! i probably sold you your tickets :)

Erica, I think you might've been there when Sue Ferziger and Jill Rothblatt were there. They were really close friends of mine and I used to visit rehearsals when I'd come home from college (I graduated 1990 and was ACT president '89-'90). Still keep in contact with both of them, in fact. Jill's out in California (just wrote an episode of the ABC Family episode "Lincoln Heights") and Sue's here in New York working for Playwrights Horizons (we get together for dinner every month or so). Haven't seen Gaf in well over a decade. Always wondered what happened to him...

yes i remember them! everyone in that group was so much fun, i have wondered over the years where they all ended up. that's cool that jill wrote for tv. if you're in contact with them tell them "accent girl" says hi :)

They're both doing well--both happily married. I keep in touch with both of them and see Sue about once a month for dinner. I'll tell 'em both you said hi.

"Windjammer," which had an unsuccessful run in the Cinemiracle process at NYC's Roxy Theatre in 1958, opened here two years later in Cinerama on June 28th, 1960. With two showings daily and all seats reserved, tickets were priced at $1.35 and $1.50 for matinees, and $2.20 and $2.80 at nights. Kids were 90 cents at all times. The engagement lasted about four months.

Just for kicks (and to pick up on discussions in other pages on CT), those 1960's prices would translate as follows in 2006 dollars:

- Matinees would be $9 & $10
- Eves would be $14.70 & $18.70
- Kids would be $6 at all times

Interesting to how that stacks up to today's prices - although, we are talking about a hard ticket at a large deluxe suburban theatre. Has a seating capacity ever been noted on this page for any of the Syosset's configurations? The data up top is blank on that score.

The dollar conversion is as per this website's calculator.

The Syosset had 1,400 seats in the Cinerama/70mm days, according to this article from Motion Picture Herald, found on Roland Lataille's Cinerama website:

http://cinerama.topcities.com/syosset.htm

Anyone have access to microfilm of NEWSDAY or another Long Island newspaper? I wish to verify the closing date of the SYOSSET's run of "This Is Cinerama" and the title of the film that followed it. (I believe "This Is Cinerama" premiered at the SYOSSET on June 25, 1959.)

Here's a new link to an ad for the Syosset's grand opening. Please see posting above of 3/7/07 for details: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/syopener.jpg

I went there only once, and saw Shindler's List. I recall the parking lot was full and I had to park behind McDonalds.

I worked there when Schindler's list was playing. What a nightmare. It was one of like 4 theaters on Long Island showing it, so it was always sold out, and people would show up 15 minutes before and then be belligerent that there were no tickets left, screaming that they had driven from so far away and how could we not sell them tickets. Most of the shows would sell out just from phone orders so it would be sold out before we even opened the theater, it was fun explaining that to the customers... Jurassic Park was probably the busiest craziest I ever saw it but that was all families and kids so it was still fun, Schindler's list it was all people with no sense of humor and was just miserable dealing with those crowds!

I worked there for 4 years (HS/College) about 30 years ago and several co-workers are still among my closest friends. It's a little like an old fraternity for us. We went through several managers, including Earl Logue, Lenny Kaplan, Big Ed Healey (Ed was probably an assistant) and Mary McCarthy.

Vito asked about someone named Carol that worked with Mary in 1984. Could it have been Carol Schier? Also Tom's (the operator's) last name was, IIRC, Cuccaro. He had a daughter who worked there as a candy girl for a while.

I did not recall Carols last name but that sounds about right. She she was a part of the wonderful family of people I worked with.
Yup that's Toms last name, I recall that now. He was very protective of the booth door to cinemas 1 and 2 on the lower level. Used to tell me "Vito when you go upstairs to Cinema 3 never leave that door unlocked", he was one of the best.
Tom was also financial secretary on the union executive board.

The architect of the Syosset Theatre was E.C.A. Bullock, who also designed the Meadowbrook Theatre in East Meadow, NY., as well as the U.S. Theatre in Hoboken, New Jersey, and the Mars Theatre, Mars, Pennsylvania. Bullock was a nephew of George and Cornelius Rapp, and worked in their firm for many years following his graduation from the University of Illinois in 1910.

The Syosset Theatre was featured in a two-page spread in the January 5, 1957, issue of Boxoffice Magazine.

The thing that most impressed me about the theatre was the way they emblazoned the name across the entire facade. The only two other theatre that utilized the facade, to a much letter degree, were the Sag Harbor, I believe there is an image at that site, and the Salisbury, which, unfortunately spent most of it's career featuring porn.

The thing that most impressed me about the theatre was the way they emblazoned the name across the entire facade. The only two other theatre that utilized the facade, to a much letter degree, were the Sag Harbor, I believe there is an image at that site, and the Salisbury, which, unfortunately spent most of it's career featuring porn.

PLEASE ADD TO THE TOP

ARCHITECT-E.C.A. BULLOCK

I was the mgr of the Cinema 150 and assiste Mary McCarthy when needed at the Syosset theatre..Great memories at both theatres...good times...fun softball games...good people...Mary is a classy lady and is still going strong helpin out at the westbury drive-in -stadium theatre...drop in and say Hi...Great memories of fighting the Rocky crowds.....had fun inthe theatres...Meadowbrook..pequa..lindenhurst...manhassett..Cinema 150..Home Office...UA Summer picnic...driving "SMH"

Long Island's Cinerama exhibition history posted here.

Hey Peng do you remember a George Forzone

no sorry..was he at the 150 or triplex

at the 150 during the 90's