UA Quartet

Tinseltoes on May 17, 2012 at 9:31 am

Here’s a 1980s tax photo showing the marquee: lunaimaging

scottyscott on October 21, 2011 at 9:53 am

I worked at the quartet from july 1977-august 1979..Mike Hochstien was the manager and there were several assistants(Kevin Kilkenny, Frank Nardi)..It was one of the best experiences of my youth…we would hit the Gable Inn after work on weekends…Nearly all the kids in my niehgborhood worked there in the mid-late 70’s-Loretta B.Patricia B, David B, Arlene L, Jodi P, Linda P,Craig B. Kenny M.,Sue G….It was a time I will cherish in my heart forever as I will the friends I made there. It seems like 100 years ago. Scott M.

Ed Solero on September 4, 2011 at 6:38 pm

Hey intass123… Kurt already posted those pics last month. Click on the “photos” tab at the top of this page to see them all.

kurt on August 7, 2011 at 10:29 am

I was the assistant manager at the Quartet Theatre in the summer of 1980 under Rose G. I found her to be a nasty and vulgar person who would not have survived the era of political correctness that we have today. On more than one occasion I witnessed here mouthing off to patrons and wondered how she got away with such awful behavior.

In late August Beverly replaced Rose and I was shipped off to another theatre. I returned to the Quartet in January 1981 as the manager and remained there for exactly five years to the day.

I’ve noticed the many posts regarding Eddie Hambrect. I’d like to share my memories.

Eddie played Santa Claus for us for three Christmas seasons and did an outstanding job. He was loved by both patrons and our staff, his efforts were greatly appreciated. I’m saddened to hear of his passing. He will always be remembered warmly.

Many others contributed valuable efforts over a long period that helped me get over some rough spots. I’d like to thank Lisa C., Kathryn S., Ritsa G., Barbara G., Graham H., John D., Julie H., Vito Q., Sean O., Paul F., Dennis O., Jerry M., Diedre L., Liz G., Mike H., Anthony T., Jane D., Richard B., John M for all your help. My apologies to anyone I may have missed and to those whose stay was shorter but not any less appreciated.

Together we overcame three fires in my first six months, all of them suspicious. There were a group of jerks in the neighborhood who I’m sure had a hand in these incidents. Thankfully no one was ever hurt.

The summer of 1982 featured Rocky 3 on two screens and ET on two screens. We sold out each show all day, everyday, for three months. It was exhausting and my thanks again to everyone who got us through that summer.

In August of 1983 on the opening night of Nightmare on Elm Street 3 we drew such a rowdy crowd of maniacs I feared for our safety. We needed about half a dozen police cars to disperse the crowd and we closed the theatre at 8:30. UA got their panties in a twist over the lost ticket and concession sales, they didn’t care about us.

We featured a Walt Disney film each Easter and Christmas which was challenging on a different level. Hundreds of kids each day and what a mess they made, popcorn everywhere.

I wish I had kept notes at the time, there are so many stories to tell.

If anyone sees this entry that worked for me, please say hi.

I’ll attempt to post a couple of pictures showing the renovation of the lobby in 1985 and craziness of Halloween in 1981.

I’ll attempt to post a couple of pictures showing the renovation of the lobby in 1985 and craziness of Halloween in 1981.

intass123 on March 23, 2011 at 11:01 am

I remember Eddie. He also worked at “Save More” (now marinos) on 29th avenue. Eddie was always a sweet man.

Sorry to hear of his passing. I am sure he is in heaven. He was super nice.

mtdc9579 on March 2, 2010 at 3:27 pm

Does anyone remember the “Coin Box”, it was there before Mike’s Comic Hut. I sold them a 1927S Penny for 25 cents. I wish I’d never done that.

Joe Vogel on October 1, 2009 at 12:49 am

Correcting my comment above: The issue of Boxoffice I cited used a variant spelling of the architect’s name. It should read Maurice D. Sornik.

roadwarrior23249 on August 20, 2009 at 10:17 pm

Update, the orange Korean supermarket is in full swing, went in for a peek and got the look of death, aka “what the hell are YOU doing in here” . Hard to believe I went on dates here through the 80’s and with my grandma in the 70’s. Saw all the classic 80’s horror flicks there! Kinda disgusting, they sell these softball size live frogs to boil and eat out of an old rubbermaid. ….Probably have illegal dog and cat too…

gabesz on August 18, 2008 at 7:57 pm

Lefty:
I hope you get to see this.

Can you tell me how you know that Mr. Warhop passed away? I knew him from before he was with UA Theatres and when he was only a young guy managing local theatres in Queens. He was a friend of many years. His second wife (the young one) from South America somewhere gave birth about the same time when we had my son. So the boys are about the same age now. The news you relayed here is truly distressing for me to read. I never knew he had the cancer or that he passed away from it. The last time I saw hime was when my son was about a year old or so(same age as his son) and he was happy and healthy. We had a friendship where he would have told me his issues with his health, and he never told me of anything wrong. What a shame since I know he purchased a home to retire to in FL with his new family along with his older kids. If anyone can shed light on this, I would appreciate if you could let me know. Thanks all.

bobosan on March 17, 2008 at 7:58 pm

I just posted my UA Quartet photo on my Flickr page:

View link

roadwarrior23249 on September 12, 2007 at 9:52 pm

Great to see whats going on to the area, the “new” stores that took the theaters place are now gone and the entire place is empty, just a matter of time before the job is done and its all torn down for “another” restaurant!

Moiselover on July 27, 2007 at 2:10 pm

I grew up on Crocheron ave. Just up the road from the Quartet movie theatre. I saw so many movies there in the 80’s and 90’s. We loved this place because we could go there by ourselves. I do remember Eddie and I remember the first movie I saw after the Quartet closed was Titanic at the Bayside theater and there Eddie was taking our tickets at the door. I loved that area we always had Chinese food after the movie at Kam Ying. We also would go to Murray’s to get my girl scout uniforms. I loved Flushing so much in those days. The best part about the Quartet is that when we were in Junior High School we would all chip in and buy one ticket then the rest of us would ride our bikes around to the back door and and the person inside would open the side door and sneak the rest of us in. Those were the days. We also would sneak in from one theatre to the next. One time these teens that were working there caught my little brother sneaking in and they brought him upsatirs to some office and they had him in a chair with a lamp on him making him cry and called my parents to come pick him up. At the time he was so scared but looking back it’s really funny. The Highlight of my movie time at the Quartet was seeing E.T., the lines were wrapped around the block. I saw it twice. The only movie I ever saw in the movies twice. When ever I drive down to that area I am saddened by the disgusting look of the area. When I was a kid you had the Pizza Place, Kam Ying, Murray’s and good old Cookie King where my mom always bought cookies for the holiday’s. Let’s not forget Bridie’s Pub that became T.J. McCarthy’s my high school drinking hole. Ooh those were the days.