Interestingly, if you look at the CT listing for the Cambria in Cambria Heights, there is some discussion about the Cameo being known as the Cambria for a period of time. No reference to that here though even in the AKA portion.
I noticed that, too, the other day. What always surprised me about the pylon was that it just said Whitman Theatre. Century was never shy about identifying their properties, particularly on the facades of their later theatres. Perhaps a zoning thing. The simple design may be the reason for it’s survival; it’s innocuous.
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.
Prior to the time I created this site there was quite a bit of discussion about the Edwards on the Old Post Office (also East Hampton) site. It’s probably not feasible to have that moved over here so check it out.
Back in the day people would come at their convenience and leave when the part they came in on came around. You could never do that now. I remember the cashier at the Gramercy Theatre in NYC telling me that one woman came during her lunch break and stayed for 20 minutes. The next day she came 20 minutes later, etc. The cashier said that after the second day she never charged her again. What a way to see a movie.
When it was built this theatre probably cost less than $35,000. Now it’s going to cost ten times that much to bring it back to life.
While in Montreal for Expo 67 I saw Two For the Road here. English with French subtitles. As with smart films playing in foreign markets (I remember the audience in Ghent at a Touch of Class sitting silently while I was laughing)it didn’t go over too well with the locals.
Erwin – I could swear the lyrics specifically mentioned the Center Theatre coming down, or at least that’s what I heard. But that was 60 or so years ago.
They are really pushing the Plaza Media Arts concept with a lot of publicity and the showing of indy films at a local site under the PLAZAMAC auspices. They are on the web at www.plazamac.org They are also on facebook as plazamac.
It’s interesting, in its ads Century Theatres always referred to themselves as being on Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island. And by rights Brooklyn is Kings County, Manhattan is New York County and Staten Island is Richmond.
The Patio was newer than the Town and the 43Street and was quite the place when it opened. Also, as far as movie ads were concerned there were some that said Century/Skouras. I’ve actually seen actual Century/Skouras ads and then down the page a couple that just said Century. This whole relationship seems to be quite complex. When Calderone built the theatre of the same name in Hempstead Skouras managed it, yet he had a number under his own name. Whatever, the majority of them are history anyway. Probably more than 75% of the theatres listed on CT are closed.
I don’t think they monitor this. In the past I’ve seen many instances where they didn’t. The best bet is to go to “About Us” and send them a comment identified as “correction”.
It’s also interesting when you walk into a business and look around and see signs that it had previously been a theatre: the sloping floor in Two Guys in Patchogue was a giveaway to the Granada; openings for the projection in the spaces formerly the Central Islip and the Mattituck; that stepped exterior wall as a giveaway for the Ronkonkoma and (second)Kings Park, etc.. And, of course, the obvious, the name on the facade.
The Community was originally a part of the Citizens Community House, or something like that. That would imply that it was a leased property. Also, when the Community was twinned was that still under the Century banner? Also, at one time the office space at the Community building was entitled Century Management Corporation. What was the nature of that, the actual operation of the theatres of the disposing of old properties? Subsequently Century had an office building on Verbena Avenue in Floral Park.
With respect to the restricted use clause, a number of the Century’s operated under the Springer name before they closed. These properties were leased by Century or built by Century without the clause?
I always thought all the companies owned their own theatres. Thanks to this site I’ve found out that there was a lot of leasing. The Prospect, for example, was built by Century and leased to Loews. Then they got it back. The Merrick was leased to Skouras. On the other hand, Century leased the Lynbrook. In reality, though, the property restriction didn’t mean much since most of the former Century, and everybody elses theatres are gone. A big problem for many, to be of any use in the current day, was the absence of parking. I lived around the corner from the Bellerose and I would think that the majority of the business was walk in. However, on occasion, 245th Street was packed with cars for some very popular film.
As one of the later, and smaller theatres, there was no doorman. You entered at the cashiers booth through a turnstile. The comedy/tragedy mask concept was used in a number of the smaller, later Century Theatres, the Whitman for example. Century was going to build another theatre in the Bellerose area on the north side of Hillside Avenue near Martin Van Buren High School before the movie business slid. Would you have any info on that tkm, being an insider?
The theatre was purchased at auction for $100,000 according to a reference in Lost Broadway Theatres by Nicholas van Hoogstraten.
Interestingly, if you look at the CT listing for the Cambria in Cambria Heights, there is some discussion about the Cameo being known as the Cambria for a period of time. No reference to that here though even in the AKA portion.
I noticed that, too, the other day. What always surprised me about the pylon was that it just said Whitman Theatre. Century was never shy about identifying their properties, particularly on the facades of their later theatres. Perhaps a zoning thing. The simple design may be the reason for it’s survival; it’s innocuous.
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.
Prior to the time I created this site there was quite a bit of discussion about the Edwards on the Old Post Office (also East Hampton) site. It’s probably not feasible to have that moved over here so check it out.
I knew Century had a Paramus Theatre but didn’t realize they had other Jersey locations.
Back in the day people would come at their convenience and leave when the part they came in on came around. You could never do that now. I remember the cashier at the Gramercy Theatre in NYC telling me that one woman came during her lunch break and stayed for 20 minutes. The next day she came 20 minutes later, etc. The cashier said that after the second day she never charged her again. What a way to see a movie.
When it was built this theatre probably cost less than $35,000. Now it’s going to cost ten times that much to bring it back to life.
While in Montreal for Expo 67 I saw Two For the Road here. English with French subtitles. As with smart films playing in foreign markets (I remember the audience in Ghent at a Touch of Class sitting silently while I was laughing)it didn’t go over too well with the locals.
Erwin – I could swear the lyrics specifically mentioned the Center Theatre coming down, or at least that’s what I heard. But that was 60 or so years ago.
I remember a rather bizarre show, presumably on NBC, celebrating that “The Center Theatre’s coming down”.
MarkieS the old drive in is listed. Do a lookup by city – Valley Stream and it’s there.
They are really pushing the Plaza Media Arts concept with a lot of publicity and the showing of indy films at a local site under the PLAZAMAC auspices. They are on the web at www.plazamac.org They are also on facebook as plazamac.
It’s interesting, in its ads Century Theatres always referred to themselves as being on Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island. And by rights Brooklyn is Kings County, Manhattan is New York County and Staten Island is Richmond.
The Patio was newer than the Town and the 43Street and was quite the place when it opened. Also, as far as movie ads were concerned there were some that said Century/Skouras. I’ve actually seen actual Century/Skouras ads and then down the page a couple that just said Century. This whole relationship seems to be quite complex. When Calderone built the theatre of the same name in Hempstead Skouras managed it, yet he had a number under his own name. Whatever, the majority of them are history anyway. Probably more than 75% of the theatres listed on CT are closed.
What was the Omni bit?
I don’t think they monitor this. In the past I’ve seen many instances where they didn’t. The best bet is to go to “About Us” and send them a comment identified as “correction”.
It’s also interesting when you walk into a business and look around and see signs that it had previously been a theatre: the sloping floor in Two Guys in Patchogue was a giveaway to the Granada; openings for the projection in the spaces formerly the Central Islip and the Mattituck; that stepped exterior wall as a giveaway for the Ronkonkoma and (second)Kings Park, etc.. And, of course, the obvious, the name on the facade.
Better notify the folks at CT to make the correction.
John, is there a typo in your posting? Operated from 1917 through 1917?
Queens was always unique among the boroughs, and also, Nassau and Suffolk Counties were originally a part of Queens.
The Community was originally a part of the Citizens Community House, or something like that. That would imply that it was a leased property. Also, when the Community was twinned was that still under the Century banner? Also, at one time the office space at the Community building was entitled Century Management Corporation. What was the nature of that, the actual operation of the theatres of the disposing of old properties? Subsequently Century had an office building on Verbena Avenue in Floral Park.
With respect to the restricted use clause, a number of the Century’s operated under the Springer name before they closed. These properties were leased by Century or built by Century without the clause?
I always thought all the companies owned their own theatres. Thanks to this site I’ve found out that there was a lot of leasing. The Prospect, for example, was built by Century and leased to Loews. Then they got it back. The Merrick was leased to Skouras. On the other hand, Century leased the Lynbrook. In reality, though, the property restriction didn’t mean much since most of the former Century, and everybody elses theatres are gone. A big problem for many, to be of any use in the current day, was the absence of parking. I lived around the corner from the Bellerose and I would think that the majority of the business was walk in. However, on occasion, 245th Street was packed with cars for some very popular film.
tkm, the site doesn’t have a seating capacity for this theatre. As a manager’s daughter would you know that?
As one of the later, and smaller theatres, there was no doorman. You entered at the cashiers booth through a turnstile. The comedy/tragedy mask concept was used in a number of the smaller, later Century Theatres, the Whitman for example. Century was going to build another theatre in the Bellerose area on the north side of Hillside Avenue near Martin Van Buren High School before the movie business slid. Would you have any info on that tkm, being an insider?