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?
I’m old enough to remember the campaign of the fifties to “Help Kill the Movie Ticket Tax”. In your various posting, tkm, you mentioned that your dad was at a number of Century houses of different sizes. Was the pay the same or depended upon the house?
Yes. CT shows the seating capacity as 800. I was in it and I can’t see that as being possible. Several hundred less I would think. Funny thing about the Park, it used to have a little dinky marquee, which was appropriate for a little dinky theatre. Then when they renovated the interior they affixed this humongous marquee which looked so out of place.
The theatre in Port Washington was originally known as the Beacon. It’s now been chopped up into little pieces, is called the Port Washington and is run by Clearview. There are a lot of old pictures when you look it up on CT.
Do you have any Century memoriabilia? They used to print a guide which was sent to your home. Who would have thought all these years later these items which I threw away would be treasures? Also, do you have any “in the day” pictures of the Glen Oaks or other theatres. There is only a current usage photo of the GO on CT.
Yes, Chris, this is unique. Sometime back when I was trying to find a theatre in Queens and looked for it by the community name I couldn’t find it. I then discovered many of the Queens theatres were listed as Queens and not by the town names. Some had the town and Queens which made the lookup difficult. I contacted the CT people and had all those corrected. The only one right now which is incorrect is the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria which was recently added including “Queens”. I notified CT but when last I checked they hadn’t done the update.
Staten Island also has community names. I guess I should check out CT references to Staten Island for correction.
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?
I’m old enough to remember the campaign of the fifties to “Help Kill the Movie Ticket Tax”. In your various posting, tkm, you mentioned that your dad was at a number of Century houses of different sizes. Was the pay the same or depended upon the house?
Appliance store was Eldee
I asked about the Park at it’s there. Enter New Hyde Park as the city and four theatres come up : Alan, Herricks, Park East and Park.
Yes. CT shows the seating capacity as 800. I was in it and I can’t see that as being possible. Several hundred less I would think. Funny thing about the Park, it used to have a little dinky marquee, which was appropriate for a little dinky theatre. Then when they renovated the interior they affixed this humongous marquee which looked so out of place.
Speaking of the Park Theatre I think the seating capacity on CT is way out of line. Would tkm have any knowledge of that?
The theatre in Port Washington was originally known as the Beacon. It’s now been chopped up into little pieces, is called the Port Washington and is run by Clearview. There are a lot of old pictures when you look it up on CT.
Do you have any Century memoriabilia? They used to print a guide which was sent to your home. Who would have thought all these years later these items which I threw away would be treasures? Also, do you have any “in the day” pictures of the Glen Oaks or other theatres. There is only a current usage photo of the GO on CT.
Yes, Chris, this is unique. Sometime back when I was trying to find a theatre in Queens and looked for it by the community name I couldn’t find it. I then discovered many of the Queens theatres were listed as Queens and not by the town names. Some had the town and Queens which made the lookup difficult. I contacted the CT people and had all those corrected. The only one right now which is incorrect is the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria which was recently added including “Queens”. I notified CT but when last I checked they hadn’t done the update.
Staten Island also has community names. I guess I should check out CT references to Staten Island for correction.
If you’re ever in Toronto, make sure you take the free tour.