Malverne Cinema
350 Hempstead Avenue,
Malverne,
NY
11565
350 Hempstead Avenue,
Malverne,
NY
11565
2 people
favorited this theater
The Malverne Theatre was opened in 1946. Built for the Kenney Amusement Corporation, it had a seating capacity for 688 on a single floor. There was a 12-seat cry room located on the left side of the projection booth. Interior decoration were carried out by the Rambusch Decorating Company.
It took over as one of Long Island’s premiere art theatres after Westbury was run into oblivion and closed. The theatre was one of Long Island’s oldest neighborhood discount houses. The previous owner (who also had the Roslyn and Levittown)twinned it and ran it into the ground. It was rarely heated or air conditioned.
The present owners came in and quaded it making four cute little theatres that showed art films, foreign releases and an occasional mainstream moveover. They later added two more tiny cinemas in a former retail space.
A wonderful place to see offbeat films, always clean and well managed. Plus they run cartoons and family films on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Contributed by
RobertR
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Recent comments (view all 37 comments)
Here are new links to images described above on 10/20/05:
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So… I finally got to the Malverne for a flick tonight. Saw “W” in theater 1. I knew going in that the screen would be small, but the price was right and with the weather, we decided to keep it local. I think my brother in law has just as big a screen for his basement projection TV at his house!
I poked around and was able to peer into a few of the other rooms before I left. Theaters 2 and 4 are the best of the lot – with at least reasonably sized screens for the size of the rooms. Problem with all of the rooms is the center aisle, rendering all seats at least slightly off from center screen. Another advantage to the two larger rooms would be the screens seem to be more or less head-on with respect to the seating array.
In theater 1, the screen is right of center on the back wall (partly to accommodate a fire exit) and angled slightly away from the seats on the left side of the aisle as you walk in. This is due to where the projection ports are located at the rear of the auditorium. The screen is also mounted without matting in a 1.85:1 ratio – so a scope film (like “W”) is projected on only a portion of the screen – almost like an unmatted letterbox with blank space at the top and bottom. Not to mention that the far left and right edges of the image were somewhat over-projected beyond the screen’s borders. This was all fairly distracting – at least for me. But, in the course of a 2 hour movie, you wind up getting used to it. Happily, the room did feature nice stereo sound.
Seems that the building retains the original auditorium slope in the two roooms (1 and 2) occupying the former rear of the original theater as well as in the hallway between the two rooms that lead to screens 3 and 4. I wasn’t able to peak into the screening room (#5), but it must be really tiny. Probably very similar to the small screen at the UA Lynbrook – which also occupies former retail space just off the lobby. The door to the projection room for #5 was open, and as my wife was purchasing some popcorn at the candy counter, I watched the big platter at work.
All the rooms seem reasonably appointed with relatively comfortable seats and light-absorbing dark red upholstery on the walls. Overall, the place seemed very clean and well maintained. The $5.50 Weds special is a great bargain – if you can contend with the small screens – and even the concession stand prices are very reasonable. It wouldn’t be my first choice, but on a slow Wednesday evening, I’d probably allow my wife to twist my arm into going again.
I forgot one more notable thing about the Malverne experience – at least at the screening for “W” tonight at 7pm: No trailers! Slide show, lights down and then – bam – right into the movie.
As a twin
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Creative programming in a cozy environment. Friendly staff and owners, too.
Finally going to start upgrading to stereo in existing screens. Woohoo!!!!
Ahhh…I remember seeing movies there and then going to Itgens for cool bugers and icecream.
It’s the best place to catch up on the artier Oscar nominees.
The Malverne is a great local theater showing interesting films.
Too bad the Baskin Robbins next door closed a few years ago…
Chris
This has been my favorite LI movie theater for the past 8 years .