John W. Engeman Theater
250 Main Street,
Northport,
NY
11768
250 Main Street,
Northport,
NY
11768
No one has favorited this theater yet
The Northport Theater opened in 1932, and was restored in 1999 (after a severe attack of after-hours vandalism in 1997). The theater featured 520 floor seats plus 85 in the balcony. Home to a stage, wall tapestries, murals, and a marble ticket counter, the theater was closed as a “political statement” on January 22, 2003, the day after the Long Island town of Lindenhurst passed a resolution to condemn the owner’s other Suffolk County theater, the Lindenhurst Theater (located about 20 miles away).
A not-for-profit organization, the Northport Performing Arts Center, acquired and modified the theater for use as a live venue, and it is now the John W. Engeman Theater.
Contributed by
Damien Farley
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 61 comments)
Here’s a bird’s eye view of the Northport:
View link
I went to the Northport Theatre, now the John Engeman theatre in memory of a fallen soldier in Iraq, to see Crazy for You. The place is quite nice. The lobby is more like a classy cocktail lounge in a NYC hotel than a cheesy, popcorn counter in a greasy old movie theatre. They actually bulldozed the interior of the theatre to start from scratch. Now 400 seats, the orchestra sweeps up in stadium formate to where the balcony used to be. All seats get a great view. They installed $400K sound system, and all the singers have rather expensive wireless mics, just like on Broadway. The “cup holders” at each seat hold the cocktail glasses quite nicely. Even the wine glasses are stemless so they fit nicely into the seats.
The actors were all equity, and the choreography was fantastic. The owners actually produce the show — they do not simply play host to touring companies. They have their own scenic studios in Lake Ronkonkema, and the movement of scenes was silent and rapid.
I recommend this venue for a fine evening of entertainment.
Cool.
The theatre is currently presenting a musical stage version of a movie that probably played there when originally released in 1947: View link
1) This should be listed as the NORTHPORT Theater! It’s a decades old neighborhood movie house with a LONG HISTORY dating back to the 1930s!!!!! (Hysterical hyperbole)!!!!! It should not be listed as it’s latest incarnation AS A PLAYHOUSE from the last 10 years or so!! This makes it “invisible” to posters , researchers and fans!!!! Please let’s fix this. A theater such as this should have hundreds of postings, recollections and warm memories. This is a huge error. Saps, longislandmovies,ed solerno,Bway, Lost Memory, Warren G. back me up here! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In theory the last name standing is the CT rule (not always observed) and as you note problematic. As a Long Islander I know the new name and access it as such. It could also be argued that one would look up the name of the community and try the entries there hoping a specific AKA would appear.
Looking through old issues of the Smithtown Messenger there were several references to the Northport being renovated while still open in the Spring/Summer of 1950. Among the renovations were the installation of air conditioning, a remodeling of the lobby (necessitating the use of an alternate entrance)and upgrading of the sound and rest rooms.
To the site administrators : this was a busy local neighborhood MOVIE theater for almost 5 DECADES. It should not be represented here, as a “performing arts theatre” This site is not called “Performing Arts Treasures. Com” Please address this.
“Bloop,” I believe that the policy is to list theatres under their current name if the place is still being used for its original purpose.
The theater’s current name (if open) is the name that is used for the theater. That’s to be consistent on the site, and it’s the policy.