P.S. I have a huge ad collection. One ad I cannot find: I’m looking for ads for “Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things”…playing at ANY Long Island theater or drive in. So far, I have found nothing.
…the surreal part was standing in the vacant lot of the Commack Drive In, and having the RKO still standing (and operating)…and thinking “OK, at least that will never close”…
That would be GREAT to see. Yeah, I monitored the Commack D.I. in it’s A.D. stages… I moved upstate in 1997…imagine my shock when I returned! I agree with what you said about the Commack’s play list…by 1977, however, it was main-stream movies all the way (I call this the “Star Wars/Disco Era”—which I think was the rotten part of the 1970’s.) The Smithtown D.I. still showed “grind house” horror fare up until 1980. I saved some pull-top soda can tabs that I had found at Commack in the 1980’s…I guess they were from the 1970’s…who would clean between the gravel? D'oh! I should have saved a cup of the gravel too!
…Like I said before, Larkfield was as cheap and generic as theaters come ——just a huge square box—no decor whatsoever, very UNcomfortable small seats, but I have so many memories…I think the last thing I saw there was “The Shining” (1980). I will never forget seeing “Tales from the Crypt” there in 1972. Gave me nightmares for weeks. For years, I had dreams that took place in and around this theater!
Saps! I’m freaking! LOL. My friends name was Bruce…kinda odd sorta chubby guy— very slightly effeminate, but friendly. He lived in Northport in the “Sand Pit” …pardon; “Northport Bay Estates”. He did not work there long. I believe, it was Fall 1979 (Junior year at Northport High). Not only did I see “The Big Bus” at Larkfield, (years later) Bruce stole the poster and gave it to me! He told me stories of the “couple” that owned the theater. Did they have the required “huge pile of valuable one-sheets” in a locked room?! I do not remember the soda machines, but they had CANDY machines, which was unusual for a theater with a snack bar. What’s the point? ….
“Undertaker…” is very available on budget DVDs. My copy has “Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things” as a co-feature! “The Corpse Grinders” often played with “Undertaker…” in it’s original release. I’m amazed at how some of these movies that I have only read about in the Psychotronic film book, yet never saw, not only played on Long Island, but at good ole Commack Drive In!
Hmmm….by the location ,demeanor and age of this theater…I’m surprised at how few posts there are here with stories and recollections on this decades old neighborhood theater!
“Boggy Creek” was great scare-the-crap-outta-kids movie! I saw it at the (cut-rate) Larkfield in East Northport. “Live and Let Dive” was better than the the three or four Bond movies that followed it. ‘73 was a great year for “grind house” type movies (that are not listed in that big ad).
Or a snapshot from the 80’s?? I remember driving by this theater, I think it was still open by 1989 (!). Can anyone confirm this? I remember it looking very generic, with light colored brick work (very 1960’s).
I also had a friend who worked there in the late 1970’s. He got/stole for me some GREAT one sheet posters: The Poseidon Adventure, Phantasm, Grease, etc. He remembers The Bakers too! Where are they NOW? Would LOVE to speak to them!
you now have to scroll down for my posts about the Route 110 Drive In and Flea Market OR search the list for the post. Sorry about that! Meanwhile-let’s work on getting a damn picture of the place!
I agree 100% with the above poster “Irv"
NYC now feels like Aaron Spelling had just dumped off thousands of his kids that just came into their trust funds…and the money is burning a hole in their pockets…. totally creepy!
Thanks BobT! YES; I would haved loved to have seen that double bill there! I have the newspaper ad for it (in bad shape). Better yet, I would have loved to seen that double bill there, then next door to Cooky’s Steak Pub for surf'n turf! I think that was my all time favorite Long Island restaurant. Also, remember the HUGE birdcage in the Walt Whitman mall, filled with parrots? Also, what’s a “nabe”—where did that term come from?
EdSolero; I collect old newspapers (Newsday, Daily News, NY Post)(because of the movie ads only) and the funny thing is, they are so hard to find EXCEPT FOR these years:-1963 (Kennedy shot), 1968 (The other Kennedy shot), 1969 (Man on the Moon), 1974 (Nixon Resigns), 1977 (Elvis Dies), 1980 (Lennon Shot). LOL . I’m too familiar with all the movie time tables from those years because I find them over and over again! I actually identify movies with deaths now! “Orca” = Elvis Dies, etc. So;according to newspapers people saved because of their importance: NOTHING HAPPENED in 1964, 1965,1966,1967, 1970,1971,1972,1973,1975,1976,1978,1979,etc. LOL….
Like many other theaters on Long Island, this one turned into a teen hangout that will test your patience until you snap!*
P.S. I have a huge ad collection. One ad I cannot find: I’m looking for ads for “Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things”…playing at ANY Long Island theater or drive in. So far, I have found nothing.
…the surreal part was standing in the vacant lot of the Commack Drive In, and having the RKO still standing (and operating)…and thinking “OK, at least that will never close”…
That would be GREAT to see. Yeah, I monitored the Commack D.I. in it’s A.D. stages… I moved upstate in 1997…imagine my shock when I returned! I agree with what you said about the Commack’s play list…by 1977, however, it was main-stream movies all the way (I call this the “Star Wars/Disco Era”—which I think was the rotten part of the 1970’s.) The Smithtown D.I. still showed “grind house” horror fare up until 1980. I saved some pull-top soda can tabs that I had found at Commack in the 1980’s…I guess they were from the 1970’s…who would clean between the gravel? D'oh! I should have saved a cup of the gravel too!
Geo1 also didn’t mention the “attitude” in Rockville Centre…
…oh yeah, I forgot about the high taxes…
Parking your car in Rockville Center (Centre) is a nightmare* Especially on a weekend, or during nice summer/spring nights.
…Like I said before, Larkfield was as cheap and generic as theaters come ——just a huge square box—no decor whatsoever, very UNcomfortable small seats, but I have so many memories…I think the last thing I saw there was “The Shining” (1980). I will never forget seeing “Tales from the Crypt” there in 1972. Gave me nightmares for weeks. For years, I had dreams that took place in and around this theater!
Saps! I’m freaking! LOL. My friends name was Bruce…kinda odd sorta chubby guy— very slightly effeminate, but friendly. He lived in Northport in the “Sand Pit” …pardon; “Northport Bay Estates”. He did not work there long. I believe, it was Fall 1979 (Junior year at Northport High). Not only did I see “The Big Bus” at Larkfield, (years later) Bruce stole the poster and gave it to me! He told me stories of the “couple” that owned the theater. Did they have the required “huge pile of valuable one-sheets” in a locked room?! I do not remember the soda machines, but they had CANDY machines, which was unusual for a theater with a snack bar. What’s the point? ….
I see a common thread here, with theaters closing. Seems like 1984-1988 was doomsday!
“Undertaker…” is very available on budget DVDs. My copy has “Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things” as a co-feature! “The Corpse Grinders” often played with “Undertaker…” in it’s original release. I’m amazed at how some of these movies that I have only read about in the Psychotronic film book, yet never saw, not only played on Long Island, but at good ole Commack Drive In!
Richard W. Haine- EXCELLENT STORY!
Hmmm….by the location ,demeanor and age of this theater…I’m surprised at how few posts there are here with stories and recollections on this decades old neighborhood theater!
“Boggy Creek” was great scare-the-crap-outta-kids movie! I saw it at the (cut-rate) Larkfield in East Northport. “Live and Let Dive” was better than the the three or four Bond movies that followed it. ‘73 was a great year for “grind house” type movies (that are not listed in that big ad).
Or a snapshot from the 80’s?? I remember driving by this theater, I think it was still open by 1989 (!). Can anyone confirm this? I remember it looking very generic, with light colored brick work (very 1960’s).
It’s 1973, all over again! A dazzling UA page (with a Commack Drive In listing!) from one of the most under-appreciated years of the 1970’s!
View link
I also had a friend who worked there in the late 1970’s. He got/stole for me some GREAT one sheet posters: The Poseidon Adventure, Phantasm, Grease, etc. He remembers The Bakers too! Where are they NOW? Would LOVE to speak to them!
you now have to scroll down for my posts about the Route 110 Drive In and Flea Market OR search the list for the post. Sorry about that! Meanwhile-let’s work on getting a damn picture of the place!
OK…that’s why I saw JAWS at Whitman, AFTER it’s long run at the Shore!
I agree 100% with the above poster “Irv"
NYC now feels like Aaron Spelling had just dumped off thousands of his kids that just came into their trust funds…and the money is burning a hole in their pockets…. totally creepy!
How come everytime I click on a Photobucket pic—it just takes me to the home page….
three lousy features at Commack: 1974/1978/1979
View link
Thanks BobT! YES; I would haved loved to have seen that double bill there! I have the newspaper ad for it (in bad shape). Better yet, I would have loved to seen that double bill there, then next door to Cooky’s Steak Pub for surf'n turf! I think that was my all time favorite Long Island restaurant. Also, remember the HUGE birdcage in the Walt Whitman mall, filled with parrots? Also, what’s a “nabe”—where did that term come from?
EdSolero; I collect old newspapers (Newsday, Daily News, NY Post)(because of the movie ads only) and the funny thing is, they are so hard to find EXCEPT FOR these years:-1963 (Kennedy shot), 1968 (The other Kennedy shot), 1969 (Man on the Moon), 1974 (Nixon Resigns), 1977 (Elvis Dies), 1980 (Lennon Shot). LOL . I’m too familiar with all the movie time tables from those years because I find them over and over again! I actually identify movies with deaths now! “Orca” = Elvis Dies, etc. So;according to newspapers people saved because of their importance: NOTHING HAPPENED in 1964, 1965,1966,1967, 1970,1971,1972,1973,1975,1976,1978,1979,etc. LOL….
Longislandmovies; what years did you manage the York ?