Argo Theater
485 Hempstead Turnpike,
Elmont,
NY
11003
485 Hempstead Turnpike,
Elmont,
NY
11003
2 people
favorited this theater
The Argo Theater opened in 1950. This one-time Century Theater stands on Hempstead Turnpike in the Elmont section of Nassau County. From the outside, the Argo Theater appears to have a balcony.
After Century gave up on it, the theater was an independent for a brief time. After closing, the building has served as a club, a store and now appears closed. It stands less than a mile from Belmont Racetrack.
Contributed by
philipgoldberg
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Recent comments (view all 32 comments)
Oh, Johnnybingc what great statement about the business I worked in from 1974 to late 1983.I could see the showmanship going as far back as the late 70’s. Really when all these Twins,Triples and 4plexes started to open up. I saw a change of “run them and run them out”.I bet it is 100 times worse today.
What about the pundit who says there are currently 40,000 screens in the USA but there will only be 1,000 in ten years because of all the hand held gagetry.
Robbie, thank you so much for your long and detailed description of the Argo’s interior! You brought back so many memories!!
Among the films I’ve seen there…“Godzilla’s Revenge”/“War of the Gargantuas” (double bill); “The Neptune Factor”; Disney’s “Pinocchio”; “Friday the 13th 3D”; and most likely many more that I can’t quite recall right now.
Re-linking.
Before the illuminated sign was erected atop the concrete slab marquee there was a sign announcing the Elmont Theatre. It didn’t say Century. As a rule Century had it’s name out there on any project which they initiated. This was probably a lease that Century bought into late in the contruction phase. And the name Argo is strange since the Argo Village section of Elmont was no where near the theatre. Guess the name Elmont wasn’t as desirable.
Street view above is completely off and should be re-set for correction.
The one time I went to this theater (lived in New Hyde Park with plenty of other Century theaters closer)…was to “Go Ape For A Day” when the Planet of the Apes marathon happened when “Battle For the Planet of the Apes” got released (but needed help). Nice memory.
It had a hugh projection room with a shower in the bathroon and large windows overlooking the turnpike. Of course working for Century in the day was the ultimate job for a projectionist.
Hey nhpbob… I know first hand that memory can play tricks, and it I think it has done just that in the case of your “Go Ape” recollection. “Battle for the Planet of the Apes” was released in the early summer of 1973 and probably did OK at the box office, given its relatively meager production costs. Fox issued the “Go Ape” marathon the next summer in 1974, probably to drum up interest for its upcoming “Planet of the Apes” network television series – and milk a few extra pennies out of the franchise at the same time.
The architect of the Century’s Argo Theatre was Samuel Lewis Malkind, who also designed the Parsons Theatre in Flushing, New York. Early in his career, Malkind worked as a draftsman in Thomas Lamb’s office.
Later, he was a partner in the firm of Malkind & Weinstein, with Martyn Weinstein (who later changed his name to Martyn Weston.) Malkind & Weinstein were associate architects (with the firm of Reilly & Hall) in the design of Loew’s Coney Island Theatre (later renamed the Shore Theatre) in Brooklyn.
Malkind might have designed other theaters on his own as well, but so far the Argo and the Parsons are the only ones I’ve been able to track down.