Many of the old theatres had downstair dressing rooms and cages for animal acts. Before they levelled and rebuilt the Southampton they used some of the downstairs area for an additional auditorium. The entrance was separate from the lobby. Stairs descending from the outside, albeit covered by a canopy.
Do you have any Century memorabilia? I had all sorts of programs, announcement of the Meadow and Shore before I moved. Never thought I’d have use for them. Who could have anticipated CT?
When I was a child my parents happened to drive thru Patchogue. That was probably in the 1950s. I was a movie theatre nut even then. The Granada was already dark by that time, and before it was converted to retail. When I came upon CT a few years ago it was one of the first things I went to check out, just to reassure that my memory was correct.
I also remember the Old Town Theatre in Smithtown Branch, which I added to CT earlier this year.
I also thought there was a Moriches Theatre, not the Center Moriches or the Jerry Lewis which became the Center Cinema. That I haven’t been able to confirm.
They announced another 150 theatre for the Gardiner Manor Shopping Center in Bay Shore. But that never materialized and all the existing Bay Shore theatres- Bay Shore, Regent, Cinema, Bay Shore Sunrise Drive In, Fifth Avenue Drive in, Loew’s South Shore Mall and the Encore closed.
That someone was me, fairly recently. I believe it’s also referenced in the other comments on this site which you have to access apart from the first hit. Lead says there are 24 comments.
Unfortunately there are a number of listings set up as, for example, UA Twin,without a clue as to where they are. But current CT logic gives you many ways of tracking down a theatre/theater.
It’s been announced that the Westbury Performing Arts Center will open in March 2012. After an 8 million dollar plus renovation the theatre will have approximately 400 seats in the orchestra and 300 in the balcony. There will be a Broadway sized procenium stage.
Ed, you’ll notice that the aka portion of this theatre lists it as Astor Plaza, not Loews. You’ll find a lot of inconsistencies on how the theatres were set up. There are some Century’s listed with the Century, some without. But the aka ability does give you the best crack at something which is listed by it’s most recent name.
What didn’t get any respect is the other Phantom musical. I’ve only seen it in local productions but found some really good stuff in it. The Carlotta part is a hoot.
The problem with this and other abandoned theatres is generally the ceiling particularly since, in order to achieve the effects they installed fabric on which they painted. Obviously, that would be the first to go and, hence, all the tatter that one sees in this and other pictures. However, wall murals and structural elements abound.
Interesting photo from 2010. Church is French not Spanish. Didn’t realize Century originated the Silver Screen Classic concept which is so popular with the General Amusment Multiplexes. When I lived in Farmingdale the classic usually sold out and it was in the largest auditorium.
Before they twinned it they used to have the movie times on the pylon. I was to meet a friend of mine, who was alway late there, so I told him the picture began 20 minutes earlier than the stated time. When he arrived, on time, because of my fib, he exited the car laughing because he saw the time on the pylon. He said, “You know me”.
On those rare occasions when the Radio City Music Hall, largely unknown, subway box office was closed spent time on line by the Guild to go in thru the main entrance.
amending my comment about theatres in Patchogue there was also the Star Palace at the time of the first Unique. But that was long gone before I came on this earth.
The Plaza was the only post world war II theatre built in Patchogue Village. It had no commercial functions. Alto originally a single screen it was twinned. It then closed and remained derelect for more than two decades. Despite attempts to repurpose it as a media center it was torn down this year. Of all the theatres that once existed in the village proper or on Sunrise Highway the Patchogue Theatre for the performing Arts is the only one in operation. The Sun Wave Twin is now retail, the Multiplex (and the previous All Weather Drive In originally in the space) and the Granada were demolished, the Rialto burnt down. The original Unique, precursor to the second one which became the Rialto was only demolished in the past two years having served as a retail space. The space occupied by the original Unique and the second Unique (aka Rialto) is now a housing complex.
And they’re not going to favor the photo of the facade. Here you have a fabulous theatre with a non-descript, ugly marquee. For all one knows it’s a hotel not a performance space.
Last movie to play here was Miss Congeniality. The poster remained in the display box many months after the theatre closed.
Many of the old theatres had downstair dressing rooms and cages for animal acts. Before they levelled and rebuilt the Southampton they used some of the downstairs area for an additional auditorium. The entrance was separate from the lobby. Stairs descending from the outside, albeit covered by a canopy.
How many dressing rooms were there? Were they on the main or basement level?
Do you have any Century memorabilia? I had all sorts of programs, announcement of the Meadow and Shore before I moved. Never thought I’d have use for them. Who could have anticipated CT?
When I was a child my parents happened to drive thru Patchogue. That was probably in the 1950s. I was a movie theatre nut even then. The Granada was already dark by that time, and before it was converted to retail. When I came upon CT a few years ago it was one of the first things I went to check out, just to reassure that my memory was correct.
I also remember the Old Town Theatre in Smithtown Branch, which I added to CT earlier this year.
I also thought there was a Moriches Theatre, not the Center Moriches or the Jerry Lewis which became the Center Cinema. That I haven’t been able to confirm.
POMovie2 Maybe you could go to the Encore site and flesh out the info. Was there a sloped floor. A more exact location, etc.
Rivoli, from your postings it seems that you really got around the Century Circuit as a sub for one whose main house was the Grove.
They announced another 150 theatre for the Gardiner Manor Shopping Center in Bay Shore. But that never materialized and all the existing Bay Shore theatres- Bay Shore, Regent, Cinema, Bay Shore Sunrise Drive In, Fifth Avenue Drive in, Loew’s South Shore Mall and the Encore closed.
I wouldn’t say they had the same look, except for the official Century carpet, and the fact they dated to the 1930s,but they were well maintained.
That someone was me, fairly recently. I believe it’s also referenced in the other comments on this site which you have to access apart from the first hit. Lead says there are 24 comments.
The Fantasy and the Freeport always had the premiere bookings. The Grove and Queens were right up there, too.
Unfortunately there are a number of listings set up as, for example, UA Twin,without a clue as to where they are. But current CT logic gives you many ways of tracking down a theatre/theater.
It’s been announced that the Westbury Performing Arts Center will open in March 2012. After an 8 million dollar plus renovation the theatre will have approximately 400 seats in the orchestra and 300 in the balcony. There will be a Broadway sized procenium stage.
Ed, you’ll notice that the aka portion of this theatre lists it as Astor Plaza, not Loews. You’ll find a lot of inconsistencies on how the theatres were set up. There are some Century’s listed with the Century, some without. But the aka ability does give you the best crack at something which is listed by it’s most recent name.
What didn’t get any respect is the other Phantom musical. I’ve only seen it in local productions but found some really good stuff in it. The Carlotta part is a hoot.
The problem with this and other abandoned theatres is generally the ceiling particularly since, in order to achieve the effects they installed fabric on which they painted. Obviously, that would be the first to go and, hence, all the tatter that one sees in this and other pictures. However, wall murals and structural elements abound.
Interesting photo from 2010. Church is French not Spanish. Didn’t realize Century originated the Silver Screen Classic concept which is so popular with the General Amusment Multiplexes. When I lived in Farmingdale the classic usually sold out and it was in the largest auditorium.
Before they twinned it they used to have the movie times on the pylon. I was to meet a friend of mine, who was alway late there, so I told him the picture began 20 minutes earlier than the stated time. When he arrived, on time, because of my fib, he exited the car laughing because he saw the time on the pylon. He said, “You know me”.
On those rare occasions when the Radio City Music Hall, largely unknown, subway box office was closed spent time on line by the Guild to go in thru the main entrance.
The Granada was a retail site, still with the sloped floor. The entire block was demolished and is now the site of the courthouse complex.
amending my comment about theatres in Patchogue there was also the Star Palace at the time of the first Unique. But that was long gone before I came on this earth.
The Plaza was the only post world war II theatre built in Patchogue Village. It had no commercial functions. Alto originally a single screen it was twinned. It then closed and remained derelect for more than two decades. Despite attempts to repurpose it as a media center it was torn down this year. Of all the theatres that once existed in the village proper or on Sunrise Highway the Patchogue Theatre for the performing Arts is the only one in operation. The Sun Wave Twin is now retail, the Multiplex (and the previous All Weather Drive In originally in the space) and the Granada were demolished, the Rialto burnt down. The original Unique, precursor to the second one which became the Rialto was only demolished in the past two years having served as a retail space. The space occupied by the original Unique and the second Unique (aka Rialto) is now a housing complex.
Timing is right since the theatre was constructed 1960-61.
And they’re not going to favor the photo of the facade. Here you have a fabulous theatre with a non-descript, ugly marquee. For all one knows it’s a hotel not a performance space.
AXtel