Paramount
370 New York Avenue,
Huntington,
NY
11743
370 New York Avenue,
Huntington,
NY
11743
1 person
favorited this theater
The 1,666-seat Huntington Theatre first opened in 1927 and was one of the first theatres built beyond the New York City limits by A. H. Schwartz, in this case before he started the Century Circuit. Until the arrival of “talkies”, the Huntington Theatre presented vaudeville with the movies. For decades, Century’s Huntington Theatre was considered one of the top theatres on the North Shore of Suffolk County, but it eventually fell victim to multiplexes in shopping malls.
After Century became involved in a merger with RKO-Stanley Warner, the Huntington Theatre was actually abandoned and left to deteriorate. In 1976, a local dance company considered taking over, but found little left of the auditorium except the large balcony, which now overlooked empty space. A new stage had to be built, bringing it up to the balcony level. The dance company went broke making the theatre operational again.
After that, several more attempts were made to revive the theatre by showing cult movies and presenting laser light shows, but all failed.
In 1983, the Inter-Media Art Center (IMAC), a non-profit performing arts group that had been using other facilities, took over the theatre and completed the work that started in 1976 with the erection of the new stage that used the former balcony as the auditorium. The leaking roof was repaired, new electrical wiring, heating and cooling systems, dressing rooms, and toilet facilities were installed, all in a matter of weeks so that IMAC could open in the spring of 1984.
Starting with a five-part dance series, IMAC met public and press acceptance and has been operating ever since. Most of its concerts are musical, covering jazz, blues, folk, country, contemporary, and international, but also include dance and theater.
IMAC moved out of the building in mid-2009, due to large the large overheads with maintenance. On September 30, 2011, it reopened at a concert venue known as the Paramount, now with a 1,555 seating capacity.
Contributed by
Warren G. Harris
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
Although parking remains a issue with some, it appears that a majority of merchants and residents of Huntington village [and neighboring communities] believe that it will benefit the Town. The Zoning Board of Appeals seems to agree…
“PARAMOUNT THEATRE PLANS APPROVED"
[Reported by: Alessandra Malito – The Long-Islander, 2 September 2010 (v.171, issue 33)]
The Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals has approved plans to move forward with Paramount Theatre, a live entertainment venue planned at the site of the former IMAC.
The ZBA on Aug. 27 accepted a proposal submitted by Paramount Theatre LLC to resurrect live entertainment in Huntington village so long as several of their conditions regarding traffic and safety are agreed upon.
Paramount requested a special use permit to renovate the New York Avenue theater and use municipal parking to account for increased occupancy from 700 to 1,665 seats. Parking plans include the use of valet service to and from the upper Elm Street lot and incentives to park in Town Hall and in a lot at the train station, from which shuttle service will be provided. They also asked for permission to erect a marquee on the front of the building, where a two-story glass wall will overlook the busy road.
The complete article appears in The Long-Islander.
Sounds like it will soon be another overpriced Long Island venue. :(
And what has happened to this project. The Islip deal fell through, the Patchogue Plaza deal fell through, work seems have stopped on the Suffolk in Riverhead and I haven’t heard any more about the Westbury.
A New Stage for Old Theaters: nytimes
They’re still in the demolition phase so the October date which was originally given is unlikely.
This venue is scheduled to reopen on September 30 as a music venue. Elvis Costello is performing on opening night. This theatre will now be known as the Paramount Theater.
They’re going to have to move their butts on this. When I did my August 18th posting the front of the building was open at the balcony level and they were still filling a dumpster.
As of today, this theater has reopened as the Paramount. It’s now strictly a concert venue. http://long-island.newsday.com/things-to-do/music/paramount-opens-with-sold-out-costello-gig-1.3214242
“Chsnging the Tune in Huntington” (complete with color photos): nytimes
It seems that a significant alteration of the theater’s interior was undertaken during the renovations. I’m not sure what remained of the original decor and architecture when it was home to IMAC, but I don’t think much, if anything, remains today.