Freeport Theater
25 E. Sunrise Highway,
Freeport,
NY
11520
25 E. Sunrise Highway,
Freeport,
NY
11520
1 person
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Opened in November 1922, the Freeport Theater was on Sunrise Highway near the Century’s Grove. The theater has been demolished.
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SteveSmith
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Recent comments (view all 52 comments)
The photo from 1973 is very different from what I can recall of the look of the Freeport in 1946. That whole massive white box like facade is closer to the look I remember from around 1956, but the marquee is different. Century Circuit did a makeover of many of its theaters in the late 1940’s focusing on the facade, marquee and entry lobby.
The Rialto, Patio and Albermarle in Brooklyn come to mind. They did another up dating on some theaters in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.
Century redid the marquee of the Bellerose in the late 40s; the Park in the 60s when they also upgraded the interior. The facades of the Baldwin and Fantasy became white in the late 60s and the marquees simplified. They added sinage to the Alan which only, originally, had the name on a semi-circular marquee and put the signage for the Floral on the corner of the building when the widening of Jericho Turnpike necessitated the removal of the marquee. They also took the vertical away at the same time.
In the early 70s I worked as an usher at the other theatre in Freeport,The Grove. As thst and The Freeport were owned by Century,on occasion I would sub at this theatre.It was huge,and quite popular,especially on the weekends. But as the problems in Freeport grew the attendance here and at the Grove dwindled.
After it closed as a theatre , but before being torn down, it was operated as a disco/nightclub for the 25 and over crowd. Then I believe it was an automotive shop for a bit. After that- dark,then torn down.
When I was little I would go here on Sat matinees, saw The Three Stooges, Robinson Caruso on Mars, Cold Turkey, The Russians are Coming, and many others.
I do remember there was an orchestra, loge and balcony, with a smoking section in one of the upper levels. The same was true at the Grove
I see in the Village Voice, dated Oct, 1, 1970 “Hello, Dolly!” was playing at the Freeport. So at that point it was still getting good bookings
The Fantasy and the Freeport always had the premiere bookings. The Grove and Queens were right up there, too.
A December 1969 booking, Russ Meyers “Vixen” rated X
Some early 70s bookings, though the choices were large mainstream films, some it appears were move overs from Merrick. But the theatre was still solid, as the Village of Freeports problems had not fully come to light just yet.
Nov 1970- “2001: A Space Odyssey” Jan 1971-“MAS*H” Feb 1971-“Joe” April 1971-“Tora! Tora! Tora!”
June 1971 saw a booking of “Escape From the Planet of the Apes”.
Then in October 1971 20th hauled out “MAS*H” again as the lower half on a double bill with “The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker”
Some bookings of the 1960s and 1970s:
8/63-BYE, BYE BIRDIE
8/65-WHATS NEW PUSSYCAT?
8/69-MONTEREY POP
4/70-THE REIVERS
4/70-FUNNY GIRL
4/71-TORA! TORA! TORA!
4/71-CELEBRATION AT BIG SUR
The Freeport Theatre closed on September 15, 1972. Its last presentation was a double bill:
THE PUBLIC EYE/ MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS