Lyceum Theatre

178 Park Avenue,
Amityville, NY 11701

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Prior to showing movies the Lyceum Theatre was an established theatre hall. In 1906 it was moved from it’s frontage on Park Avenue to the rear of the property to allow for the contruction of two retail stores. Entrance was then on a narrow walkway between the stores. Movies were only one of the sources of entertainment available. With the opening of the Star Theatre in 1913 the days of the Lyceum Theatre as a movie house were over.

It burnt down in 1915. Attempts to revive the Lyceum Theatre occurred in 1923 and 1924 when movies were shown in the school hall of St. Martin’s under that name.

Contributed by rvb

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on April 16, 2011 at 6:37 am

This was about a hundred years ago, but can anyone dig up an address or crossroads, more info or photos?

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on April 16, 2011 at 1:29 pm

There is a timeline provided on this local insurance company website that was allegedly prepared by William T Lauder, director of the Amityville Historical Society. It is noted that the Lyceum was built (along with the Triangle Building, which still stands) in 1892.

Not sure if the location of the theatre was anywhere near the Triangle, which is bounded by Broadway, Park Ave and Ireland Place.

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on April 16, 2011 at 1:44 pm

This website is offering for sale a vintage aerial map of Amityville from 1925, featuring small images of a number of local landmarks including the “Amityville Lyceum.” Not sure how that reconciles with the information above that the building burnt down in 1915. St. Martin’s R.C. church is also listed separately on the list of images on the map.

robboehm
robboehm on April 16, 2011 at 4:56 pm

Inasmuch as the Lyceum burnt down in 1915 I don’t know what the “Amityville Lyceum” would have been. The blurb from the Historical Society dated 1983 said the newer buildings were still in existance. I’ll give them a call next week to see if I can get a more precise location.

robboehm
robboehm on April 19, 2011 at 1:28 pm

According to Mr. Purdy of the Historical Society the entrance to the current Park Avenue Grill, 178 Park Av is at the approximate location of the alley which led to the Lyceum auditorium from Park Avenue. Also, with respect to the aerial map mentioned above he said that the Star Theatre can be seen on Broadway. (The name of the Star was changed to Amityville when acquired by Prudential.)

robboehm
robboehm on April 22, 2014 at 12:25 pm

As an aside, a large multipurpose theater was being planned in 1927 on Merrick Road at Richmond (current site of the Rosyln Savings Bank). The house on the property was moved and excavation begun but the project was cancelled. Might have been as a result of the Great depression.

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