Greenport Theatre

one of the last /best lobby areas in a theater on longisland.

Does anyone remember a theatre near Greenport located in an old Quanset (or Quonset) hut? (Those are the cheap military structures that resemble half of a large tin can.) Maybe it's already in the database? I think it was on the main road (Route 25) a couple of miles west of Greenport, possibly on the outskirts of Southold. It was still operating (barely) in the 1970s.

This theater opened in 1939 after the previous theater on the site was destroyed in the 1938 storm. It was air conditioned with a Minneapolis Honeywell control system and run by Prudential from opening until United Artists took over circuit. It closed in the late 70's, reopened as a single screen several years later in 80's, closed again and reopened in 90's as multi screen. Believe it was designed by Eberson's office in subdued art deco style.

Quonset hut theater was on Main Road (Rte.25) in Mattituck opened circa 1947. Closed by 1960. Think it may be auto parts store today.

the old theater in mattituck is an auto parts store was the bike shop before that.

I dont think i have ever seen a big gross out of this theater / how it keeps going i dont no,,,,,

If anyone cares, I'm sure the Quonset hut was still showing movies into the 1970s, maybe even early 1980s. I wonder if that was the only Quonsetstyle theater in the world? Hmmmm - vague recollection that Suffolk Air Force Base in Westhampton also had one, or maybe that was their church...

There were a number of other quonset movie theaters in the country as documented elsewhere on this site.

I don't know how the Greenport stayed open but they are planning a huge renovation over the winter. With the new hotel opening right next store and more people coming out every year, this theater should do very well.

This theater will never do WELL hold on maybe .......

The former mansger of MATTITUCK owned or still runs this theater .

Actually, the theater has been sold twice in the last two years.

longislandmovies

Why do you feel this place is cursed?

This theater stays open for the love of the movie bsns not for the profits this theater does not make.1rst let me say i like this theater very much but this is why it does not make money (imo)1.Mattituck takes most of the North fork movie bsns as it is central on the fork and Greenport is so east.2.Greenport should always run mattinee in the summer not just rainy day mat. 3.Never been a fan of one show a night or weekends only.

Greenport has begun major renovations in January. They will also do major renovations after next summer.

Does anyone of another theater that was on Front Street a long time ago. It is now a furniture store.

does anyone know when the renovations on the greenport village cinemas will be done?

The theater will reopen this coming Friday the 24th. They are not finished yet with the first phase of renovation though. The second phase, which will be a major overhaul of the projection and sound systems, will begin after the summer. Some work was done on the projection already so there will be some improvement to the presentation now.

The theater is about a week behind in reopening. It should be opened the week of the 25th. Major work was done on the lobby, concession and bathrooms. A cafe was put in. A new concession stand and box office was put in. New carpeting and tile was installed. A lot of projection room work was done. New automations and house light controls were installed. Nothing was done to the theaters themselves, though. All the theaters will be completely renovated after the summer including upgraded sound systems and new screens and maskings.

The theater did open on Wednesday the 29th of June. Everything but the cafe is up and running.

Does anyone have old/historic photos of this theater? i have new photos of the lobby that I can post.

Did you see the photos that are hanging in the lobby? They are amazing. There are about 4 or 5 from about the 1930's to about the 1950's or so. The roof was entirely replaced at some point.

The Greenport Theatre was been fully restored over the winter -- in addition to the new cafe and the lobby renovations that took place last year, the carpets, the seats, the acoustic wall-padding are all brand new. A stroke of genuis, the Theatre doubles as an art gallery -- terrific stuff hanging on the walls. The whole thing is tasteful, beautiful, fun, and most importantly, judging from the crowds this weekened, it inspires folks to hang out at the movies this summer. Website here: http://www.greenporttheater.com/ Special screenings and live performances throughout the summer and fall. (By the way, it seems to be called the "Greenport Theatre" now, instead of Greenport Village Cinema.)

Yes, the Greenport has undergone huge renovations. The seat are not new. They have been painted and reupholstered. Also, a new marquee has been installed complete with a blade running from the roof down to the top of the marquee. There will be more renovations ahead including upgraded sound and screen maskings. A lot of work has been done to improve the picture and sound already. All of the projection equipment has been repaired or upgraded. Opening night sold out 2 of the shows.

Special thanks should go to this theater for saving and reusing the two marquee signs from the now-lost Beekman theater (Upper East Side, NYC). The site mentions a "Beekman Room" and there is an image of a screen with the distinctive signage to either side. The Beekman name will live on through this, which is fortunate.

Yes, the Beekman room is now theater #1. The original balcony. The beekman signs are on either side of the screen, fully functional with neon.

Nice theater , i hope it does well...

Wow, that is just amazing. Anyone have any photos of the signs in theater 1?

I'll take them next time I'm there.

Greenporttheater.com shows quite a few interior shots, including of the Beekman signs.

Thanks! I just noticed that, they look great!. Unfortunately, those photos are a part of a slideshow, and you can't pause it to look at the photo carefully.

great web site..............

To chelydra; I think you might be confusing the Drive-In which was right at the corner of Chapel Lane and Route 25.
I do however remember the original Greenport Theater. My Grandmother had a summer home on Ram Island, Shelter Island, and we'd drive to the Ferry and park, and go across on foot. She'd treat us to a movie and dinner at Mitchell's. Anyone remember Mitchell's? Back then it was a big screen theater. Late 60's Early 70's.

This is a night view of the Greenport Theater.

I SPENT THIS PAST WEEKEND IN GREENPORT...IT IS A GREAT LITTLE TOWN
WITH OUT THE HAMPTON GRIDLOCK...

AS FOR THE THEATRE...IN GREAT SHAPE FROM THE STREET TO SCREENS..

AND VERY CLEAN...THE BOX OFFICE ONE OF THOSE 4X4 STAND A
LONES...STAFF VERY FRIENDLY...I MET M.O.D. JESSEY VERY BRIGHT YOUNG
MAN..TOLD ME THE CURRENT OWNER HAD IT FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS..
I TOLD HIM ABOUT CT..WE SHOULD HEAR FROM HIM SOON...
WAS NICE TO SEE AN OLD THEATRE THAT WASN'T A CHURCH OR FLEA MARKET..
OH YEAH, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SUNNY AND 85.. THERE WAS STILL A LOT
OF PEOPLE GOING TO THE AFTERNOON SHOWS...
GO GREEN....GREENPORT THAT IS!

Thats good to hear ....always liked this theater.....

www.greenporttheater.com

This is a postcard picture of a Greenport Opera House from the Suffolk County Public Library. The text with the picture claims that the Opera House was later converted into a movie theater which was demolished at some point. If this information is accurate, the Opera House was not this Greenport Theater. Any ideas?

yes ,theater was a greenport opera house ,not the same as this theater..

I don't see the Greenport Opera House/movie theater listed on C.T. Did it have another name when it was a movie theater or was it still called the Greenport Opera House when it showed movies? Any idea where it was located?

The Greenport Opera House is listed as a movie theatre in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 edition. I will add a page for it.

Okay thanks. I have one more Long Island mystery theater. I found a Town Theater with two different locations given. One location given is Smithtown and the other is Smithtown Branch. I'm not sure where Smithtown Branch is located on Long Island. There is a Village of the Branch located just east of Smithtown. Maybe that area was part of Smithtown at one time. The Town Theater was a small theater with a little over 200 seats. Thats about all of the information that I have found so far.

I have a Town Theatre, Smithtown Branch, NY with a seating capacity of 220, listed in the 1943 edition of Film Daily Yearbook as (Closed). It doesn't appear in the 1941 edition of F.D.Y. that I have or the 1950 edition.

Smithtown had the 605 seat Smithtown Theatre operating in 1941 & 1943.

There is a Smithtown Theater listed here as the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts. The Town Theater must have had a very short life as a theater. I also found an Old Town Theater operating in Smithtown in 1947 as a live performance theater. I don't know if there was any connection between the Town and Old Town theaters. It looks like the Town Theater will continue to be a mystery. Thanks Ken.

SMITHTOWN THEATRE ON MAIN STREET 25 OR 25A.....

I GET THE TWO ROADS MISSED UP...

LIKE MOST OF THE SINGLE THEATRES FROM THE EARLY 20'S..HAD A STAGE LIFE, MOVIE LIFE,NOW PERFORMING ARTS...
THE PLAYHOUSE IN GREATNECK HAD A LARGE STAGE FLYING SCREEN AND A LARGE BAND PIT...TWO FLOORS OF DRESSING ROOMS...ONLY WISH SOMEONE IN A GREATNECK WOULD HAVE TURNED IT INTO A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER..
THE SQUIRE WAS A CAR SHOW ROOM AND SERVICE CENTER IN AN OTHER LIFE

The previous theater on the site was destroyed in the big hurricane of 1938. It may have been called the Opera House at one point. Postcard view linked above could be of site on which Greenport Theater of today sits.

The architect was John Eberson.

Here's a vintage postcard view of the Greenport Theatre: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/439088015_b05e80632a_o.jpg

Single screen days
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c32%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=91&ProductID=30816

1984 Photo

1986 Photo

I never could figure out why this large theatre was built in the first place in 1939. Grant you the closest theatres were in Riverhead but this was so large before it was quaded. When my parents and I used to vacation on Shelter Island we, too, like a previous posting, took the ferry over and walked to the theatre. I don't recall it being particularly full, even in season. It now only operates for the summer. It's all well and good that the signage from the old Beekman has been used, but it looks lost on the front of the building particularly with the very impressive blade.

Large theatres are those with 3,000 seats or more. I would hardly call the Greenport "large." Theatres of under 1,000 seats are "small."

Figuring the size of most early eastern Suffolk County theatres, 1,000 is large. Except for the original Southampton and the Suffolk you're talking 200, 300, 400.

Just renewing the link for this theater.

I have enjoyed this theater very much this summer, where I visit it from my wife's mother's place in Shelter Island. It is now open every day during the tourist season, as opposed to serving the public only 4-5 days of the week in previous years. They have also expanded the cafe, which serves both movie patrons and general customers, which should help generate additional revenue.(It's like a less upscale version of what the Cinemart has produced in Forest Hills.) Attendance seems to be pretty healthy.

In short, the Greenport is doing very well - and best of luck to it!

The Greenport actually closed up shop for the season just after Labor Day. Given the number of September events scheduled in Greenport, I am surprised that the theater closed so soon. Still, the Greenport did very fine business this summer. Look forward to a great 2010!

Just framed a pen and ink drawing of the GREENPORT THEATER I bought in 1989 .It took 20 years but it looks great. lol