Mineola Theatre
120 Mineola Boulevard,
Mineola,
NY
11501
120 Mineola Boulevard,
Mineola,
NY
11501
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 39 comments found
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.
The information wasn’t meant as a surprise. It was meant to confirm what Mortonman observed during the demolition of this theater.
Most theatres in the Mineola’s category had organs, so that comes as no surprise. The console might have been sold and/or removed early in the Mineola’s history.
The Mineola did have a theater organ. A Moller organ opus 4817 size 2/8 was installed in 1927.
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.
Here are new links to photos taken for the 1926 grand opening:
View link
View link
View link
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.
Its possible that in 1936, Franklin Avenue ran north of Old Country Road. We would need an old map to find out. On the other hand, many of those old NY Times articles contained errors. Even if this theater was located on Franlin Avenue, it would still be listed here by its modern address.
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.
GAS BOMB IN MOVIE CAUSES STAMPEDE; 11 Hurt as 500 Rush Out of Mineola Theatre Gasping for Fresh Air. MANY CHILDREN IN CROWD Manager Lays Mustard Attack to Labor Dispute — Had Just Reopened After a Fire.
NY Times May 16, 1936
MINEOLA, L.I., May 15. — A mustard gas bomb was exploded in the Mineola Theatre, a motion-picture house on Franklin Avenue here, tonight, forcing the 500 patrons to flee and sending eleven of them to the hospital for treatment.
The Times gives a location of Franklin Avenue.
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.
This 1926 image shows the Mineola being prepared for its grand opening. The entrance and marquee were later moved around the corner to make way for more retail space (compare to the photo that I posted above on 7/27/05):
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/mineola1926.jpg
These two 1926 images show the original auditorium, which had three chandeliers spaced across the width of the ceiling. The stage is shown with asbestos “fire curtain” in place, which conceals the fabric curtain behind it:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/mineola1926a.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/mineola1926b.jpg
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 for Calderone’s Theatres from December, 1927. The Mineola and Valley Stream presented stage plays part of the week, with the Shirley Grey Players dividing their time between the two theatres:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/caldfive.jpg
Here’s an ad from the Mineola’s Playhouse days:
Winter Jubilee of Stars – LI Press 11/24/63