Bellmore The Movies
222 Petit Avenue,
Bellmore,
NY
11710
222 Petit Avenue,
Bellmore,
NY
11710
4 people
favorited this theater
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This was also affectionately called The Itch because of the occasional rodent that would skitter across your feet.
Contrary to the heading, not the last single screen theatre. There is the Sag Harbor, Montauk and, across the city line the North Shore Towers. Seasonally they also show movies on Ocean Beach, Fire Island, at the Community center.
Great pictures all,guys.
Thanks Chris.
According to its current signage, the theater is called the Bellmore Movies & The Showplace. This article, which discusses the theater’s programming, also includes seven photos and a video: View link.
I was just browsing the American Images site and, incorrectly, in Merrick, they have a photo of the theatre with a traditional marquee proclaiming “The Movies”. Still haven’t come upon one of the old “Bellmore” marquee before they modernized the building’s facade.
According to the current signboard affixed to the front of the theatre the name should be Bellmore Movies. On the destroyed marquee it read The Movies. However, the original, antique marquee read Bellmore. When the old marquee was in place the facade of the building was so rustic that I felt that they should have had a hitching post rather than parking spaces, seriously.
Is the main name in the introduction correct? Currently listed as Bellmore Movies here:
View link
It’s my understanding that the owners got seats from the Park East when it closed. That was some time ago.
A double bill
View link
When I was in high school we called the place “The Itch”.
It had just been renovated and they must have used some kind of sandpaper/burlap combination for the seats.
Memories:
The siren at the firehouse going off next door while the cute blonde got chomped on in the opening of “Jaws”, almost had to buy my girlfriend new shorts and pull her down out of the ceiling.
RCDTJ… I realize this, of course. It just seems to me that if a theatre is going to run such a rare and important engagement as THE JAZZ SINGER that they would make sure to have the proper aperture plate on hand. Apart from the recent showings at the Loew’s Jersey, this was the only showing of the film’s restored print in the NYC area. What a shame they couldn’t present it properly.
A little trick they may have tried, is removing the anamorphic attachment from the prime scope lens. The image would of course be smaller but the ratio might just be closer to the 1.33 required to show these fims properly.
You have to realize that most theaters only have a 1.85 and 2.35 plate and lens. It’s very rare that they would have to run 1.33 or 1.66
So, no one had or was able to cut a proper Academy-ratio aperture plate for this presentation. That’s disappointing to hear. I won’t be coming to this theatre for any pre-1953 revivals!
Was at the screening of the “Jazz Singer”. While the print was OK for some reason it was screened as a “wide screen” film. When Jolson sang the projectionist had to lower the film on the screen because Al’s head was cut off. After the film there was a Q & A session hosted by the President of the “Al Jolson Society” which was very imformative.
You ain’t heard nothin' yet — “The Jazz Singer” starring Al Jolson screens here Sunday (12/2/07) at 11am for $5./ticket. I’ve never seen it on the big screen, and with the controvery over the recent DVD’s lack of critical perspective commentary about Jolson’s use of blackface, I’m curious to attend. They say a representative from the Al Jolson Society plans to be attending and available for Q & A after the film.
Mickey Rooney and his wife appeared in their touring show here recently.
Thanks RCDTJ I am happy to hear that. What an interesting
signs of changing times story
Both. The union operators became managers so it IS still a union booth.
Since they went platter and eliminated the reel-to-reel operation, is it now a manager/operator house, or do they still use local 640 projectionists?
Bellemore has a century head and RCA soundhead. 3000Watt Kniesley lamphouse. Christie platter. Smart ModVI no surrounds. They also run video. Also has century on century backup with 1600Watt lamp. They run a lot of live shows too.
This is the last operating single screen in Nassau county N.Y.
longislandmovies, I agree with you. I wonder when the Roslyn was built. I worked the house in the late early 60s for a while, it sure was creaky, The curtain went up and down and squeeked going up and squeeked even louder coming down. But it had a lot of charm back then, with a couple of older dedicated employees like the candy lady who was in her 70s and always gave me free soda with a wink like, don’t tell the boss.
THE OLD KB ROSLYN IS ALSO OLD…………i still think this has it beat…………