Mineola Theatre
120 Mineola Boulevard,
Mineola,
NY
11501
120 Mineola Boulevard,
Mineola,
NY
11501
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Additional photo of exterior uploaded.
In the early 1960’s, I saw Molly Picon star in Milk and Honey at the Mineola Playhouse. I wish that I could remember the exact year — does anyone have a record of this? Perhaps 1961??? Milk and Honey was a superb production and Molly Picon was at her best. It was a spectacular performance, one that I will never forget.
My Grandmother Hilda Wendell a widow with a young son,was an investor and worked in the Mineola,lost her investment,but met,and married a man, Alvin Hammell,from Chicago,who worked for RCA he sold talking picture machines, they moved to Laurleton,NY,where my dad was a projectionist,and showed army films at West Point….I have photos and memorabilia.I have a store in The Ritz Theatre in Scranton PA…..Ron Wendell
Lost treasure indeed. Just as was the crime of destroying the original Pennsylvania Station.
I attended several performances in the Mineola, sitting in the balcony, when it went legit toward the end and the entrance was moved from Mineola Boulevard. I was really surprised by the space. I don’t think movie-goers often appreciate the space they’re in and look around as a live theatre person would.
If you start with this photo of Frank Calderone standing in the auditorium of the Mineola sometime in the 1960’s, you can access a number of images associated with this theatre from the terrific Long Island Library Resources Council’s Long Island Memories website. Click “Next” in the upper right corner of the page header to advance through the photographs. Click on the images to zoom in for detail and click on the thumbnail to move the “red box” around to change the area of detail viewed in the larger image.
They include outstanding images of the exterior such as this one and interior shots like this one. Some of these may have been posted here previously, but they are well worth the time spent scrolling through.
All of these are from Hofstra University Library’s Calderone Theatre collection.
When the Mineola went “legit” they closed the entrance on Mineola Boulevard and opened one on the adjacent street – still the same lobby, different access. As I recall the new marquee had a more “Broadway” appearance. A review of photoes associated with previous comments show the original marquee and the auditorium at various times but not the new entrance. It would be nice if somebody had access to that and included a link.
I have a program brochure from 1966 from Peter Pan. Sandee Duncan played Wendy and Betsy Palmer as Peter Pan. It was playing there in April of 1966 and we were on a first grade field trip. Other shows were advertised as coming soon. They were The Music Man with Bert Parks and Life with Father with Tom Ewell.
Mea Culpa. I was confused between the Westbury Theatre and Mineola’s Corpus Christi church — both of which had Midmer Losh organs. The Moeller information seemed so precise that it forced me to double check.
Thanks, Lost Memory.
I remember during the demolition I saw some of the pipes dangling out of what had been the house right chamber. Sad.
The organ may have been a Midmer Losh. A check of the ACCHOS website allows you to go through the archives of their journal. One of the issues has a complete Opus list for Midmer Losh, and the Mineola Theatre is listed. Midmer Losh was a lot closer than Moeller in Maryland.
Saw Gertrude Berg in “Dear Me the Sky is Falling” and a production of the Nutcracker there. Probably still have the Playbills for same.
I remember seeing its destruction. Looked to me like there had been some kind of organ in it. I saw part of a chamber (house right) with a chest and pipes all ready for the wrecking ball and dumpster. I bet it was a Midmer-Losh. I never saw the console even though I had patronized the theatre.
Anyone interested in a pair of vintage ticket stubs from the Mineola Theater? I dont know what shows were there but the dates on the stubs are Feb 6 1965 and Sept 17 1966.
I saw productions of My Fair Lady, and Oliver! here in the early to mid 60’s. Myrna Loy starred here in a production of Barefoot in the Park, Betsy Palmer in The King and I. It was quite a place in it’s day.
CT member phillipgoldberg noted way at the top of this thread that the Mineola Theatre was razed for a parking garage. While there is a multi-level parking garage down First Street that probably shares some of the former footprint of the old theatre, a non-descript 4 story medical-professional building now sits at 120 Mineola Boulevard. Many of the medical offices within the building are affiliated with nearby Winthrop Hospital.
Lost, when Mineola Blvd crosses Old Country Road just a few blocks to the south, it becomes Franklin Avenue. This may not have always been the case, which may explain the Times' 1936 report of the theatre’s address – that is, if it wasn’t just an outright error.
I remember when my Aunt and Uncle and my parents and I saw John Cullum playing the lead role in a stage production of “Kiss Me Kate” at the Mineola Theatre when I was 12 years old back in 1969. My Dad and and I saw the movie “Patton” there too.
Many thanks for the most recent,and all,photo and comment contributors.
It’s just amazing to see these early photos and history of my hometown’s lost movie theater.
I spent many enjoyable visits to the Mineola from the 1950’s thru the 1970’s.
Still can’t beleive there was no effective community effort to preserve such a treasure. Sad.
I seem to remember my mother trying to take me to see Mary Martin in PETER PAN here in the 60s, but it was sold out on a rainy day. However, I could’ve imagined it, I’m not sure. LOL.
But I did check it out right after it closed down as a movie house. Is there anything sadder than an empty playhouse on its way to be demolished?
Here’s an ad from the Mineola’s Playhouse days:
Winter Jubilee of Stars – LI Press 11/24/63
As a discount house, it seems this theater was in the RKO chain, as indicated by the following block ad RKO ran in Newsday back on 12/9/80:
80 cents at all times
Arlene Francis (panelist on the 1950-1967 CBS TV game show “What’s My Line?,” Broadway actress and more) opened in the play “Kind Sir” at the Mineola Playhouse on December 26, 1963. This was announced on “What’s My Line?” EPISODE #690 of December 8, 1963. – Suzanne
Would be fantastic to see some early images of the Mineola Theatre…..Thanks for the history and look forward to your photos being posted here!
My Grandfather, John Young Jr., was the contractor who built this theater.
The architect was George Keister.
I have some orignal photos I will try to get digitized.
I remember this theater. Thanks for posting the photo links.
My parents took me to see a production of the operetta The Student Prince at the Mineola Playhouse when I was five years old and it started my love affair with music. This was probably around 1963-64. It’s one of my earliest memories.