Uniondale Mini Cinema

The unassuming Mini Cinema, set back in a bland suburban parking lot, (it is now a church I believe), was supposedly only the second theater in the US to play "Rocky Horror Picture Show" after its groundbreaking new life started at Manhattan's Waverly. (Creator and co-star Richard O'Brian visited once, watching the film in front of the rock-concert-sized speakers in the rear corners of the auditorium.)

Run by counter-cultural types, this theater had its own four-page monthly schedule you could pick up in colleges and record stores all over Long Island, (much like NYC's Film Forum does, though on newsprint), and it was nicknamed "SAM" after the Marx Brothers' father (yes, all the Marx Bros. films showed there too.) And the place showed every cult, classic, and hoping-to-be-cult/classic film throughout the 70s and early 80s. (It was where i first smelled pot, during a showing of "The Harder They Come".)

Truly the only theater i've ever been to, where the hippie manager's dog walked around with a kerchief around its neck in the lobby, and there was a Dannon yogurt dispenser!

It was a trip !! we would go for the three stooges festivals .
where else could you buy Rolling papers and munchies at the same counter. You would get a Contact High just driving past the parking lot . those were the days ,,good old mini cinema

Loved the place. Saw every damm thing they showed, as it was walking distance from my house. Saw world premiere of Rock n Roll HIgh School. Todd Browning's Freaks many times. Blood Sucking Freaks. Eraserhead. Asparagus. El Topo. Rust Never Sleeps. Pink Floyd at Pompeii. KIng of Hearts. I could go on and on. Birthday Parties for the place where they just strung hours of stuff together. If you were getting high, the ushers would join you for a hit. Want to bring in booze? Never a problem. Beer bottled rolling up and down the aisles. What a place. Never saw an unpleasant scene in 10 years. Just the height of cool. There will never be another.

My friend recently found a flyer from a 24hr Russ Myer festival that played here in the 70's. Where did those fun days go?

I suppose the greatest irony of all is that the Uniondale Mini Cinema apparently became, of all things, a church. There used to be a venue similar to the UMC, the Off-the-Wall Cinema, in the Central Square section of Cambridge, Ma. I only went there once, as a 10-year-old for a two-part Warner Bros. cartoon festival in May of 1986, but I remember the programming was highly eclectic - filmed concerts from the 1950s through the '70s, 16mm prints of foreign flicks along the lines of '8 1/2' and the original 'Breathless', and old classroom instructional films, among other offerings - and the atmosphere was more akin to that of an underground coffeehouse than anything traditionally resembling a movie theatre. Much like apparently the UMC, the Off-the-Wall space is now used for something that couldn't be farther removed from its exciting, rebellious heyday: a senior citizens' center, of all things.

It's a damm shame that places like the Mini don't exist anymore -- even in NY City. The Film Forum and other venues in NYC show some interesting stuff, but its all so damm serious. People trying to show how sophisticated their taste are and what wonderfully intelligent people they must be. The Mini was about going to to the movies and having fun. It will always be a treasured part of my memories of growing up on Long Island and, believe me, those great memories of Long Island are few and far between. It really harkens back to an era where people weren't afraid to let their hair down for a few hours and let themselves go. There will never be another. Maybe somewhere in the great USA there are theaters like the Mini still packing the kids in. Eraserhead or El Topo, anyone?

The days of single screen theatres have sadly ended for the most part, but I always felt this kind of programming could exist in a complex where one screen could be totally off-beat. Imagine one screen of a plex where the outside of the auditorium doors and wall were made to look like a small neighborhood cienema. It could have a mini marquee and even its own candystand. The confines of a plex would keep the costs down and the theatre could take alot of chances with bookings. The Westbury would make an interesting house like this, since it is large enough to quad and keep its gothic flavor intact. I guess the owners never got their live theatre idea going, although the exterior still seems well maintained.

The closest contemporary theatres seem to come to the type of bookings joints such as the Uniondale Mini Cinema used to offer on a consistent basis are the chances some of the better-known art houses scattered throughout the country - the Sunshine on Houston Street, the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, Ma., and the Nuart in West L.A., to name just a few - take with their weekend midnight programming. The last attempt I know of in NYC to take a full-fledged run at the deliberately non-commercial programming which was the norm at the Uniondale Mini Cinema was a few years ago when a guy who operated an underground moviehouse in Seattle moved all his theatre's property - seats, projectors, and all the films he owned - cross-country on a flatbed truck and rented what had been a beauty-supply warehouse on or near Rivington Street on the LES and converted it into a cinema. His operation lasted only about 6-8 months, and even though I'm not sure what it was that drove it out of business, I imagine it was one or both of two possibilities: the lack of an audience my age (i.e., the 25-to-34 bracket) far more willing to catch some buzz-worthy, 'hip' option at the Angelika or Film Forum (and I'm certainly culpable - I never made it to his theatre) than something a bit more quirky in a non-traditional atmosphere and property values that make maintaining such an operation as dicey a proposition as ever.

A couple of the original owners of the Uniondale Mini Cinema opened a second theatre, the Cine Capri, in Old Bethpage. Both the Mini and the Cine Capri changed bills on Wednesdays and Sundays. Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays they showed slower ("art") movies; while the Wednesday through Saturday schedule catered to concert movies, drug films and the like.

I recall some adventures at the Mini in part three of my article, "An Unbearable Likeness of Being":

http://home.comcast.net/~flickhead/An-Unbearable-Likeness.html#FW

If anyone knows any of the old owners, I'd love to ask them if they still have any videos from the Mini's various birthday parties. I remember horsing around outside and getting on some of their tapes. It sure would be fun to see me yacking it up as stoned dummie (with a full head of hair) in the Mini parkig lot 25 years ago.

Alas, the UMC had closed (I believe) by the time I got my drivers license in 1983, so I never got the chance to really appreciate it, but I do have fond memories of seeing "Rocky Horror" and "A Clockwork Orange" there in 1980. "Orange," in fact, was preceeded by "Thank You, Mask Man," an underground cartoon based on a Lenny Bruce routine! In retrospect, it's hard to believe a place as cool as the UMC actually existed in Nassau County - I guesss the 70s were a different time. I agree that today's arthouses, even the ones on the Village, just don't compare.

This theater was on Jerusalam Ave waaaaaaaaaaaaay in the back. It came right before you went over the bridge into Merrick. Red brick shopping center, right? Yep, this place closed long before I was old enough to be able to go there but I knew people who had been there. Said it was legendary.

Uniondale has changed a lot since the 70's. So many things changed on LI from the early 70's through the 80's that a counter culture place like this was doomed.

Stopped by last Sunday to take a photograph for this webpage. Although the theater has been gone well over 20 years now, the building is still surprisingly recognizable as the Mini-cinema - on the outside, at least. The marquee, ticket booth, and poster window are all still there. Maybe not for long, though, as the church that now inhabits the building seems to have expansion plans under way. Interestingly enough, the adjoining strip mall seems long gone also, having been converted to some kind of "Nassau Library Administrative Building." Weird.

Stopped by last Sunday to take a photograph for this webpage. Although the theater has been gone well over 20 years now, the building is still surprisingly recognizable as the Mini-cinema - on the outside, at least. The marquee, ticket booth, and poster window are all still there. Maybe not for long, though, as the church that now inhabits the building seems to have expansion plans under way. Interestingly enough, the adjoining strip mall seems long gone also, having been converted to some kind of "Nassau Library Administrative Building." Weird.

Weird.

This theater and it's strip mall are way off the beaten track in a neighborhood that has seen better days.

We used to show films tailor made for the Mini audience as "The Marzano Mini Players" the even had a special projector converted so that we could show our 8mm shorts. Marzano, Mike Russo and myself being the main filmmakers.
This was the theater where I first saw Eraserhead, Taxi Driver, A Clockwork Orange... so many more.

Those were the days...so many memories.

When the Mini Cinema was being constructed, us kids used to play
on the on the beams. I didn't know that this was to be my
introduction to the form of the theatersphere.

I could be wrong, but when it was completed, it may have opened to
the public for viewing prior to the grand opening run.
We did not see the opening show, but shortly afterwards
we did see "Kelly's Heroes". Everybody loved "Oddball"!
I guess the same way Ronald McDonald recruits children to
be his future employees, Oddball recruited me.

Poster snapolit points out the unmistakeable sound of the beer
bottle, which bounces and then rolls down the auditorium.

I don't see any irony with the theater being a church.
A movie theater can be considered as being a kind of church.

Z: Since you were there from the very beginning (before the beginning, in fact) hopefully you can answer these burning questions:

1) What year did the Mini Cinema open?

2) Did it open as a revival house? That's incredible if it did (i.e. that it didn't open as a first run theater and eventually become a revivial house) but who knows? Was it the same management all along, or was there a major change at some point?

Those aren't questions for a little kid playing around a construction site. Kelly's Heroes was a current release film at the time with the "star studded cast". I remember posters for Boatniks then.
This may have been in 1970, but you will need to ask a grown-up.

The function of the site is not RETAIL but the home of Grace Apostolic Church of Uniondale. It still have the original seats and the sloping floors.

My younger sister frequented the Mini Cinema before I was lured into it's wild world. I saw many low-budget exploitation/horror & Cult (before they were cult) films there. As well they often screened trailers to oddball obscurities like "The Incredible Torture Show" & "Shriek Of The Mutilated." The latter played a double bill with "The Hills Have Eyes." You won't see this today.

I tried to have my super-8 features played there (Long Island Cannibal Massacre, Weasels Rip My Flesh), but they had dropped the super 8 midnight series. It was a great, bygone era for all of us.

The address for this theater was:
886 Jerusalem Ave
Uniondale,NY 11553

I was one of the Assistant Managers for the Mini Cinema. I worked there for many years. If those walls could talk, if you knew what it was like behind the scenes, you brain would explode into a rainbow of stars woven by drumbeats. One glaring clarification: the original owners never opened a place called the Cine Capri on Long Island. I know because I managed that theatre. It was opened by a businessman who simply saw it as an oppportunity to compete with the Mini Cinema. The Mini Cinema owners did open a second art theatre on Hempstead Turnpike called "The Flick". Credit for much of the Mini Cinema's success goes to a young man named Billy Contin who ran the place. He looked like a Hell's Angel and was sharp as a razor. Alas, Billy's for the most part, dead now. But he was the one. Props to Bill.

I remember names like "Josh" and Jeff Batista whom worked at the theatre... does anyone know what became of them ?

Joseph Cacace

Josh still lives and works on Long Island. Don't know what happened to Jeff. Kathy, the snack-stand girl moved to Costa Rica. Billy's main girlfriend, Arlene, became born-again and lives in Eastern Long Island. Mel, works in Manhattan, hasn't changed at all.

Oh, wow. The memories. I practically lived at the Mini for many years. Rocky Horror, The Kids are Alright, The Grateful Dead movie, concerts, parties - the place was legend.

I drive past there every day on my way to work in Hempstead and not a day goes by that I don't think about all the good times I had there. I remember Jeff Batista (I believe he lived in East Meadow) and I briefly dated one of the assistant managers - I wish I could remember his name. He went on to manage the Jerry Lewis theater in East Meadow.

Wow, what memories. I worked at the Mini, and managed it for a while until it closed in September 1981. Even still have the picture of the last Marquee I put up 'That's All Folks'. Sad end to an amazing era. Nothing ever like it.

Props to Billy Contin. Josh lives in CT now, and think his beloved dog Bandit has passed on. Melvin is the same. Jeff Batista was the best Dr. Frankenfurter ever, right?

It was a unique place that provided community and entertainment for a tremendously varied audience who could come together, even for one night. It reflected a time and culture, that just doesn't exist today. Sadly. But, we must grow up at some point, right?

Hey Terry, this is BobT. Don't know if you'd remember me but I was the manager of the UA Cinema 150 in Syosset and I worked with Jan Jordan for a while down on the first floor at UFD. Everybody saw Rocky Horror at the Mini. I think you guys were the only ones ever to show it at Sunday matinees too. I remember your Midnight Show Program at UA, with Pat Starace's T-shirts. I'm sure you've seen Kentucky Fried Movie more times than anyone needed to. While we were producing "Day Of The Dead", didn't you get to go to Pittsburg? Maybe you'll remember you lent me your copy of the Bugs Bunny short "Slick Hare" that I played at the 150 with the restored "Metropolis"? That made a great booking even greater, thanks to you. I saw you over at The Meadowbrook page. It's amazing that after twenty years there are still people talking fondly of our places, yet between the Mini-Cinema, The Meadowbrook, and The UA Cinema 150, all are gone, but thanks to this site, not forgotten.

Hey Bob, I do remember you. Pat is the one who told me of this site, actually. The UFDC days were interesting, to say the least. Still in touch with some of the old crew. I still speak with Leo Fisch. Saw him, Salah Hassanein, Bill Lewis, Joe Reid and John Kelly two weeks ago when I was in NY for a Motion Picture Bookers Club function. The 150 was an awesome theatre, for sure. Wonder what happened to Jan? What are you up to now?

Hey I knew Jan Jordon quite well from when she was running the UA Video stores. Remember them at the Astoria, Quartet, Bellvue, Midway and I forget where else. Did you guys know Richie Cortez? He worked for UA then left to open the Hollywood Twin and then returned to do something for Salah with UFD and wound up working with Jan for UA Video. A friend in California heard Jan passed but I don't know if it's true.

hello Everyone,
My name is Keli Messinetti, My Dad is Ralph E. Donnelly, he was the owner and originator of the Mini-Cinema.(anyone know why it was called Mini?) He thought, let me open a fun theatre , with a great sound system, hippie managers , near a college, and give the kids a safe house to spend their time, and wha-la the Mini. To think he used to drop me and a load of friends off and say have fun, and pick us up with our eyes all glassy-still blows me away , considering he was one of the straightest people I have ever met, an Irishman that never drank....anyway after a successful run at the mini-he went on to run RKO theatres in Ny, and then became president of City-Cinemas, the largest chain of theatres in Manhattan. He is a member of the Academy, he also belongs to the film society of Lincoln Center, and was pres. of a childrens charity called Variety Club. He has also been invited and went many times to Cannes,Vancouver, Sundance, Telluride just to name a few festivals. He has also cruised the world as a guest speaker with Movie Stars . Today he is in Tampa, Florida
, up till recently lived with his wife of 54 years Gloria, he now resides in a senior community and suffers from Alzheimers. Most important , last year at Showeast in Orlando he received a life time acheivment award his comment which so affected so many was " It is great to know that I am remebered it is important." Thanx for remebering, Keli

Hey Keli,
Your dad is a great man!! He was and is all this and so much more. He was a leader, mentor and inspiration to so many. I worked for him as a manager of the Mini, and at Cinema 5 (Hewlett Twin). We worked together at many a Variety Telethon as we both served on the board and I am very honored to call him a friend. I was so sorry to hear about his ailment. So very sad. Please give my best to your dad and your mom for me. Thanks.
Terry

Thanx Terry,
It does please him when we talk about the mini and people he used to know, the past is easier to remember, I will print this and read it to him, it will make his day.....Keli

Hi Kelli,
Sorry to hear about the latest update on your dad's condition.
He is a great guy with a greatsense of humor and an infectious
laugh.I always enjoyed his company and loved working with him
on many Bookers club projects.I remember when we roasted him
and no one laughed louder than he when I was particularly
rough on him.He enjoyed it immensely.Please send my love to him and your mom.You are all in my thoughts and prayers on a regular
basis.
Leo F

I worked at the Mini in mid-70's, rising through the ranks to asst. manager. An amazing parade of characters, on screen and in the audience. Spent one year as housemates with Billy Contin & Arlene Hewitt. We had so much fun, so much of the time. Of course, every 90 minutes we were interrupted by people entering or leaving theatre. I was the one who went on to open Cine Capri, and that is where the rolling papers (and Power Hitters) were sold at the snack stand. At the Mini Cinema, the repertory began with art films, such as Sorrow And The Pity and Felini films, but the counterculture films came to dominate and the art films stopped drawing. On behalf of everyone who worked at the Mini, we especially thank our blissed-out customers who were too stoned to realize the stash and other things that dropped out of their pockets during the shows. After closing time, we used to find the most amazing things on that auditorium floor, and they propelled many a late night staff party! The Mini Cinema was a really good time in life.

I too have many many memories... For me Saturday night Grateful Dead Movie... that was a long run before Rocky Horror took over... I always felt it was Rocky that began the down fall of the mini.. Once Rocky started there were lines circling the parking lot to get in... for every show... and due to such large crowds there was an accident when someone got pushed through the front window.. but enough of the bad... I lived in East Meadow, close enough to walk there. How about the carrots at the Bugs Bunny Festival. Now my favorite comment over the years which I still tell.. I had older brothers, so my parents knew what went on in the mini.... (lots of herb)so...
when ever I came home reaking of pot, my mom would say "you smell like smoke" and I knew what she meant, all I had to say is, "I was at the Mini". End of discussion. Now this is a true story. I was there with about 10 buddies... we had a large plaster pipe that had a lon tube that everyone one could get a hot off of... I was sitting on the aisle.. one of the onwners stop and said "come on guys, joints and handpipes are fine but please" We were more that happy to accomadate. It was a great place for sure... Yes I remember the dog now. And then the Jerry Lewis theater.. loved the mural

Keli,
How's your bother?

If memory serves me correct between the time that the Mini closed it's doors for good and became a church, it was home to the Uniondale or nassau County school book depository.
Now I'm sure you all remember going to the Klimczuk's (sic?) house at Christmas time to see the massively gaudy display of Christmas cheer! Remember?... just about a hundred yards or so west of the Mini.
Anyway I'll never forget the display of "The Black Madonna and Child" which later on (late 80's) turned into the P.C. "African American Madonna and Child"! Whatta' rip! I wet my pants laughing when I saw that. And then there was that crazy antique Mickey Mouse doll on the tricycle...
But alas, all good things must come to an end. I believe the old man kicked and the kids didn't have the gumption to continue the tradition and sold the house. Makes me wonder what happened to all that stuff...

Hey Keli. My name is Robert Manek. I use to work with your brother Shuan at the Calderone. What times!!! Write back at robertmanek2002@yahoo.com

I worked at the Mini for many years and have some fond memories. Whatever happened to Billy & Josh?

candygirl,

Billy sadly passed away many, many years ago. Josh (last I heard) is married and living in CT, yet commutes to a computer firm he works at on Long Island.

When $1.65 an hour was ok to live on, the theatres were a great way to enjoy working.

Hey, here is a fun anecdocte about the mini. For years the projectionists' union stuck us with a pretty poor projectionist. He was the guy who insisted on playing George Benson's "This Masquerade" between every show. And I recall him not being very attentive to running the films.

We had this new projectionist straight out of military academy, Gary, whom we on the staff had thoroughly corrupted. We really wanted to bring him on as the full time projectionist.

Eventually the mini brought a union action against the old projectionist, claiming he was continually incompetent. At the hearing his defense was...and can't you just predict it...he could not stop screwing up because of all the 2nd hand pot smoke wafting upwards from the auditorium!

and Gary is still doing projection and sound for UA out of Denver.

Keli... I remember meeting you at The Mini and at your dad's nostalia/movie poster shop in East Meadow (you had these great eyes and beautiful blond hair! And I assume you still have both!). Your dad allowed me to exhibit my own short film at The Mini Cinema - for a whole week! - and he inspired me to get into "the business" as a writer. Please tell him that I sent my love and that I wish him all the best. What a great, great man. - Michael Kriegsman, Los Angeles

There is an ad here for the Mini in 1975
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/DoorEve1975.jpg

Hey Michael,
Great to hear from you, I think I do remember you....those were fun days yes actually my hair and eyes are the same Thanx I love the flaterry at 45 , you have no idea how many people thank my Dad for the oppoutunities he gave them it is pretty neat..today he was just OK, it is a very hard disease to handle , I do love still having him and enjoying his company...coming to LA this weekend for a funeral my Uncle passed away...keep in touch and again Thanx I love the positive stuff it puts a smile on mine and his face...Keli

Hi Min-Fans ! Mike Russo here with some real exciting news now! I have spent the last year or so compiling ALOT of the Mini-Cinema footage I shot back in 1977 1985 with Joe Marzano...Joe Marzano the Originator of the Marzano Mini-Players & Sadly he passed but he did leave me with all of the Mini-Movies & Rocky Horror Mini-Cinema Films.. I will be posting all of it up on my YOUTUBE site in the next few weeks...Some amazing stuff here, tell everyone cause I got stuff that everybody has forgotten about including the RoseLand & Club Heat Halloween Parties from 1979 that I Shot personally with Joe..Including interviews with Richard Obrien and Sal Piro, Dori, Gale, April and many more! Hold On Cause here come the Memories! Go to YOUTUBE.COM and tpye in Mini cinema...My email is Russo1732@Aol.com Id love to hear from some of the Mini-Cinema regulars...Peace....Mikey

Mikey... What a blast from the past that youtube.com clip was! To see the lobby - and the candy counter! What memories! Please let us know when you post more! Thanks again. Best - Michael Kriegsman

From the Howard Stern Show 8-14-06(quoted from marksfriggin.com):

Gary and Howard talked about this mini-cinema theater that used to be there and how they would play some really weird movies there. Gary said they had a movie called ''Gums'' that was about a mermaid that blew guys to death. Howard said he'd like to see that movie and he'd also like to start his own mini-cinema, he figures the fans would like something like that.

Yes I saw Gums and Pelvis double feature

I was only there once.I saw Led Zeppelin's the song remains the same with my best friend and our mom's,we were in 5th-6th grade.The scene was crazy EVERYBODY smoking pot and drinking i'll never forget it.Long live the mini cinema!

Gosh, as one of the former management team, I can't imagine we were letting in 5th graders with all the pot and drink. But then again, the writer doesn't claim that it was his first time in 5th grade.

Happy New Year everyone.

Mike: Loved the Utube clip. Brought back a bunch of great memories. What a treat to see. Thanks very much for posting.

Thanks for all the posts. it certainly brought back a bunch of memories from a time I don't remember well. I think I saw a few concert films (dead, Pink Floyd) along with rocky Horror, Quadrophenia? The Hills have Eyes (scared the shit of of me). I think there was a double feature of kentucky fried Movie and groove Tube once. Waiting to get in was as much fun as the movie most nights.
Did you guys play Where's Papa? or Harold and Maude? I kinda remember seeing them there, but can't be sure.

Thanks for the youtube vids. The old A&P Supermarket looks just as bad as it does now

Thanks for all the posts. it certainly brought back a bunch of memories from a time I don't remember well. I think I saw a few concert films (dead, Pink Floyd) along with rocky Horror, Quadrophenia? The Hills have Eyes (scared the shit of of me). I think there was a double feature of kentucky fried Movie and groove Tube once. Waiting to get in was as much fun as the movie most nights.
Did you guys play Where's Papa? or Harold and Maude? I kinda remember seeing them there, but can't be sure.

Thanks for the youtube vids. The old A&P Supermarket looks just as bad as it does now

Yes, plenty of showings of Harold & Maude as well as Where's Papa? (later retitiled "Going Ape" all because of the one scene in the ape costume).

"I kinda remember seeing them there, but can't be sure." Wow, in just a few words you summed up what it felt like to spend a night at the Mini-Cinema!

The grand opening
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/UniondaleMiniCinema.jpg

Harder They Come
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/HardertheyCome.jpg

I saw the YouTube videos and they were great. They seem to have vanished, however. Were they taken down for some reason? Will they be back or are they available somewhere else. Thanks.

I agree - those videos were great. Especially the "Rocky Horror" parody. Mikeyboomer - please put them back! I assumed because there were no copyright issues they would be up forever, so I was taking my time going through them.

Hi there everyone....Youtube pulled down my Videos due to some ignorant square state folks who flagged 3 of my works...im back up under Filmaker69 and im putting all the Rocky Horror Mini-Cinema & Mini-Movie stuff back up !

one of the saddest moments in my life was when I moved once and upon unpacking somehow my mini-cinema poster was gone. I remain to this day proud that I was included in that poster of all the fans - twice. the only one who was. because I was there every freakin' weekend of my teenage years, I think.

It was the greatest haven for a moviestruck teenager relagated to having to put up with living in suburbia. I realize there's been a lot tame talk about the mini but I remember people passing bongs around the place, so let's be honest about one of the things that made that place so great. it was a really a magical playland where people could come, get high, eat fun food (mr. shiftee ice cream, anyone!), and watch really great movies.

I became such a regular that the guys started letting me in for free and I used to help out taking tickets sometimes, sometimes even watching the front door for bathroom breaks. it was never just about the movies. it was about the people there. people who were having fun sharing the things they loved with other lovers of the same damn thing. and for the people who worked there? what other kind of job could you possibly want to have?

I wish I could remember names. there was one guy who worked there, we were taking tickets for 200 motels, and there were two guys really, really stoned coming in and we started echo-talking to freak them out. ah, yes. how young we all were...

I remember the night the place was robbed. I came out to see the employees and everyone was really flipped out, but held it together and didn't stop the movie, if I remember correctly. the show must go on.

I was with four friends in the parking lot one night. a car came by and two undercover cops flashed their badges at us. they pulled us out of the car and wanted to know what we were smoking. they pulled a roach out of the ashtray and threatened to arrest us. they frisked us. took the pot that one of the guys had. and drove off. end of that story.

the best thing in the world were the all-nighters. freaks, marx brothers, god knows what else, contests. I won a contest once. I told a really awful joke with a friend of mine and we won. the all-nighters were a great big sleep over party with no grown-ups. what wonderful memories to compensate for the chronic anxiety that is most of the time during one's later teen years. and the guys that worked there were like older brothers to me. just being who they were let me know that those tough teen angst will pass and even though somethings may make more sense someday, other things will make even less.

but my favorite movies, my absolute favorite shows were robert downey films. greaser's palace. putney swope. pound.

and downey would come and speak. here was a real movie director coming to speak to a bunch of stoned kids on long island. about 10 years ago, I was with a friend in a restaurant in LA and he pointed out downey sitting alone at another table. he was reading the racing charts. I had my friend who knew him introduce me. we talked about me seeing him at the mini back in the day. that was nice.

the entire place was a dreamland that shaped my life forever. I make films now. and the mini helped me to fall in love with films of all kinds. it was there I discovered fellini. from goddard to godzilla, the mini was the best film school in the world, with all the popcorn you could eat.

and I would have to say that my love of world music began the first time I saw the harder they come one midnight at the mini.

have you ever tried to tell people, explain to them, what it was like there? you can't. that's just the way it is. it was special and you can't really point to anything one other thing and say it was just like that. the mini was and is beyond description.

if you were there, you know.

that's about all...

oh, yeah. one more thing.

to this day I'm still haunted by that voice from the 3-D movie -- "put the mask on! put the mask on!" and I search vainly for a pair of 3-D glasses....

Dr. B - If you really needed the 3-D glasses, I just have to wonder whether were you really smoking enough.

Your list of flicks tells me that you were a mini fan during my era there (yes, brief as it lived there were distinct eras). I too long for my missing Mini Cinema poster. Just not an eBay item I guess.

Bob Downey visited the Mini during his tour to raise money to finish his film in progress. I remember the names Shithead & Granola. Those were the lead characters' names and perhaps the working title as well. Don't remember much about it other than their cocaine binge. He wanted to talk about his new work but of course we all wanted to talk about Bingo Gas Station Motel Cheeseburger With A Side Of Aircraft Noise And You'll Be Gary Indiana.

The Borman 6 Girl got to have soul!

for some reason I thought it was called simply "robert downey (a fool)". apparently, according to imdb it had a couple of titles. it was a series of short skits.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427550/

also, do you remember when he brought Pablo Ferro's 20 minute history of america that he did for, I think ABC, and they hated it, but it was an amazing compilation of clips.

yes, I was gone from long island by '76. was out of the midnight scene by the time rocky horror kicked in.

I mutter "bingo cheeseburger" all the time and when I try to explain where that comes from to kids, they think I'm nuts.

sadly, jessie was right. the world has been taken more and more over by the evil "bingo gas station motel cheeseburger with a side of aircraft noise and you'll be gary indiana." so it goes.

there was a punk band in the early 80's named Borman 6 but they're not listed at all music guide. I have a 12" of theirs somewhere.

We would see Pink Flamingo's every week, smoke a little pot and buy some yogurt in the vending machine when we got the munchies...sigh, I'm so missing the 70's

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone.

Same to you all.

Exhibitor Ralph E. Donnelly died Sept. 21 in Palm Harbor, Fla. He was 75.

~~Donnelly was a pioneer of specialized exhibition, and established the First Avenue Screening Room in Manhattan and the Mini Cinema in Uniondale, New York. ~~

He was a founder of the annual ShowEast convention. Starting in his teens as an usher, he ultimately became president of Cinema 5 Theaters in Manhattan. He was also head film buyer at City Cinemas, RKO-Stanley Warner Theaters, Creative Film Services and Associated Independent Theaters. A past president of the Variety Club and the Motion Picture Bookers Club, he was also a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and was on the board of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. After Donnelly retired, he served as a shipboard host on cruises, screening films and leading discussions of film lore. He is survived by his wife, Gloria; a sister; three children and five grandchildren.

P.s.

MISS U POPOP!!

Ralph was an absolutely wonderful gentleman and a fantastic boss and colleague. I had the true honor of working for him at the Mini Cinema and for many years along side him at Variety - The Childrens Charity of New York. I am a better person for knowing him, and proud to call him a friend. He was a funny, smart, classy, warm and loving human being and heaven's gain is our tremendous loss.

He loved the Mini Cinema, and all cinema.

Thank you. my Mom and I really appreciate all of your kind words!

True, good and gentle all the way to the end, my Dad sincerely has left a legacy, within a month of his passing(and he was buried with not only photos but a tape of the Wizard of Oz) a tribute was give to him at the bookers club luncheon,I can not tell you the line up of successful people who needed to reach out with tears and tell my Mom and I how in different ways and oppourtunity's if it hadn't been for Ralph they wouldn't be who they are, it was extremely warming.
He was of course a remakkable Grandfather, to both Myles and Kyra, because of him they too have a major appreciation for theatre, arts, music, and movies. Kyra remembers each and every play and takes musical Theatre in a performing arts highschool, and Myles actually made it this year, for the first time without his pop to Showeast...he lives in our hearts everysingle day, he will never be forgotten...Keli

Ralph was always a class act - something painfully absent from the business today. It was a privilege to have worked with him at Cinema 5 and City Cinemas.

I was truly sad to hear of Ralph's passing. He will be missed on many levels. He and his lovley wife Gloria Were class people. And i enjoyed every minute I spent in thier company. My deepest symppathy
to his family. Frank Devlin

Gee, so many memories on this thread...here's one more, about how I met Josh. In 7th grade, my best friend and I won a contest at Brookside JHS, for the best exhibit idea for a glass showcase in the school hallway: posting baby pictures of the school's teachers. The prize was two free movie passes to the Uniondale Mini Cinema, provided by our English teacher, Sharon L. -- who was the sister of Josh of the Uniondale Mini Cinema. Josh graciously allowed my friend and me to use those two free movie pass more than once - in fact, we used those passes for the next FIVE YEARS, until we graduated from high school. Harold and Maude, Brewster McCloud, all the Miss Marple mysteries, everything... What great memories...

I worked the candy counter at the Mini (c. 1975), quite peripherally to Billy, Arlene, Josh and Randy. This was the place where I first saw Women in Love, Greasers Palace, Putney Swope, Day for Night, The Harder They Come, Pink Flamingos, Jimi Hendrix, and got my first flashes of film criticism. (Some guy went to great lengths one night to explain Chinatown as a parable of Watergate). I was there for Bob Downey's appearance, too. Years later, when I revisited Animal Crackers for my book, OTTO KAHN: ART MONEY & MODERN TIME, I should have acknowledged the Mini, too. So, a belated thanks to the Donnellys, and the entire Mini crew, for some of the best of times, ever, on Long Island.

I actually have the original mini cinema poster featuring all the patrons, I will take a photograph and post it in the very near future. I knew quite a few of the guys who projected there. I also knew Joe Marzano, he acted and did voice overs for a few of my 16mm films. The cine capri in Old Bethpage I believe was run by a guy called Gee Gee, an Israeli, and I do recall he tried to turn all his art cinemas into porn houses but would run into trouble with the town boards in doing so. I saw Night of the Living Dead and Freaks at the Cine Capri around the 4th of July in 1978 (I have the ad for it, I'll also snap that and post it in the near future). The Nassau Library system is now the strip mall, my wife is a librarian and they hold meetings there. The Uniondale mini cinema is a church that has made add on's to the building.

definitely let me know when you post the poster!

You bet I will, I'll try and have it posted early next week!

Happy New Year.

Any chance you posted the poster somewhere yet?

Sorry Terry, I got hung up with holiday madness. I'll dig it out, snap a shot and post it early next week. I'll inform you all when it's up!
Happy New Year

thanks so much.

Ok folks,
I took two pictures of the poster, one with flash, the other without. Here's the links, ENJOY!
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1425/uniondale1fj6.jpg
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8632/uniondale3ck4.jpg

OK, the infamous poster is back. Now let's start the task of seeing how many of these people can be identified (though certainly that would be none of us if matching against today's photographs!). I am sure on some and will guess on others, welcoming corrections if necessary. The big photo at the 4 o'clock position is Billy Contin (left) and me (Randy Warren) during our regime as manager and assistant manager respectively. I am guessing the bottom right corner is the fellow who designed each month's program ("Sam"). Bottom, just left of center, is Tom, who was assistant manager just before me. Don't remember his last name but he rode a Triumph motorcycle with 10-inch extended front end. I trashed it for him. I think that is his girlfriend just below. Directly below The Mini Cinema logo, with hands behind his back, is Jeff (Hauser?), who was manager just before Billy. The toilet bowl was part of our in-house lore, of the time that a customer came running through the front door and right into the men's room, with a narc in hot pursuit (remember the NORML benefits?). Supposedly the customer was able to flush something down the toilet just before he could be visited. Upper left of the toilet is Donna, box office cashier. Upper left from Donna is I-can't-believe-I-forgot-her-name, whose boyfriend was the late great staff member Spider. Far left, the big guy in light colors looks like Dave Figger, who installed audio systems in cars back then. Just below Divine is Josh, who was also asistant manager at one time before leaving for Colorado. And I can't be sure with this angle but very top and just left of center, with the big grin, looks like Gary, the projectionist who replaced Tom (not shown). And of crouse, the Egg Lady.

Yikes!!! Every face, every stoned grimace looks like...ME!

BTW, MANY thanks for posting the poster!

okay, just under the E in fillmore moving left is a group of five kids. I'm the 2nd one from the right. the rest are friends from high school. there's a 2nd picture which I'm not sure where, but maybe just along that same line to the left of spanky, two kids - me & my brother, I think. I'm the one drinking the beer. but not sure about that one.

thanks for the memories.

if you get around to taking some close-ups, that would be scary fun.

and now I have names to faces. remember billy and randy, josh and jeff.

Gary Stanley (a/k/a Ashley Stanhole) was the projectionist, at the top grinning with his eyes closed.

Paul Wise is directly above where it says "Harold & Maude" and "Taking Off".

The late David Franklin is at the bottom left with his head cocked, appearing as if he's drawing from a bong; looking over at him in profile is Steve Dwyer, a/k/a Wazoo.

thanks for posting. this is great. there was another poster done around 1980, which I must have somewhere. so funny seeing some of these people again, and that circular bench in the lobby.
Josh was manager at the Mini after Billy, and then went on to manage the Flick in East Meadow. Hard to make out Mel Wertzel, but assume he is there somewhere. He was Assistant manager of the mini, and then went on to run the Flick when they bought that (before Josh went there).
Ralph Donnelly is in the lower left above the audience shot.
the guy who did this poster, and Sam, was Jed I think, and yes that is him in the lower right!

Strange how we treasure these memories.// TerryP. don't know if you remember a skinny guy, brown hair, frameless glasses. That was me, Lew. Used to be Asst.Mgr at the Mini until Randyman hired me away to work at the Cine-Capri.//Randyman: in the unlikely event that you return here, I hope this finds you well. I don't recall if we parted well, but it was 32 years ago. I stay in touch with Mel. He's fine. Lives in the Village, though I don't recall you knowing him. Kathy Geller married, moved to Costa Rica. Would love to contact her but it's improbable. I live in Australia, long-time remarried. Best to all.