Does that building that may have been the “Monroe Theater” still exist? I can’t remember if I ever had seen that building, and it looks too tall for me to have missed it.
Robert, (or anyone), if you know anything at all about the Monroe Theater if it’s not listed here, it’s easy to add a listing to this site, just click “add theater”. All you really need is the address and name, but of course it’s nice if you know a little about it to put in the description, but not mandatory, people can just add stuff as we go along.
Yup, the theater has really shaped up.
Images #3, 4, and 5 above are mine. I took them in the middle of July. The building has really shaped up quite nicely.
“Fast Eddie”, while I don’t seem to mind the talk about Ridgewood to an extent, I was under the impression that this site was not a “message board”, it’s comments about theaters under each theater, not a “chat” message board, so yes, technically people are supposed to be talking about the “architecture, etc” the particular theaters as you mentioned would be “boring”.
Boring, maybe – how much can you talk about it’s features, etc – I don’t know, but if it gets “boring”, you shouldn’t post a comment. Message boards are meant for chat – but I don’t really think this is a “message board”.
The Plaza Theater in Patchogue had a similar problem (see The Plaza theater on this site). It was constantly being broken into. They would sal the door, and they would go in, over and over. Finally they boarded the whole thing, and they pried the boards off over and over.
Finally they cement blocked the whole front up, and that finally put a stop to it.
Looking at the interior photos (also linked in that page) to the Marboro’s photos, they look strikingly similar in condition, just the Plaza’s condition multiplied worse because it has been abandoned so much longer.
What a shame. I am sure that the theater has deteriorated significantly from when those photos in the link above were taken. It’s sad that between neglect, and worse, intruders, the theater gets worse by the day.
Warren, I guess I should really ask this in the Midway section, but since we are talking about it here…
It sounds like basically nothing of the old midway still exists? I haven’t been in there in about 12 years, way before the renovation, and remember the lobby looking much like it did when it was one theater. I think I remember there being a “lobby balcony” which lead to the two theaters upstairs in the old balcony. I remember a lot of old ornamentation still existing both in the lobby and the 4 theaters. Was it completely gutted? When you say “collapsed”, do you mean the interior, or did they actually have to rebuild the exterior “bones” of the building too?
It seems the Marboro would also have to be completely gutted and rebuilt in that case, if the Midway (which appeared in good shape) needed so much reconstruction.
For those interested in the Sunwave, almost next door to the Patchogue 13, I added the theater to the site thanks to Andy’s help in getting the name. /theaters/7842/
In addition, the third store that occupies the old theater is a liqour store. It’s three for three. Three stores occupying the space of the Sunwave theater, and all three are alcohol serving establishments – I guess a happy place indeed.
The whole front of the former theater has neon beer signs, in all the windows.
Thanks Andy! It makes perfect sense, as that shopping center is called “Sunwave Plaza”, obviously a play on the intersection, Sunrise Highway and Waverly Ave.
I think I will add an entry for that theater. I don’t have too much information on it, other than the name and that it closed in the mid-80’s, but hopefully as time goes on, people will add some more information on it.
As for Howard’s Cafe, I am always sorry to see a theater close, but Howard’s sure is a good replacement to the theater. I had many a more good time at Howard’s than I ever would have had at the theater!
They have now opened stores up in the theaters old location. Aside from the large size of the stores that now occupy the location, there is no evidence a the theater ever even existed.
In addition, I don’t know where else to really ask this, but maybe someone familiar with Patchogue will see this here.
I am trying to find out the name of the movie theater that was once in the shopping center just east of the UA Patchogue 13. It was in the shopping center that is where Staples and Walbaums are the anchor stores in at the SW corner of Waverly Ave and Sunrise.
The theater was in the taller section in the middle of the Shopping Center. Currently, Howard’s Cafe (a great little bar and grill), and La Strata Italian restaurant occupy the space once held by the movie theater. Any information would be appreciated (like when it closed, how many screens, etc, and what it’s name was).
Yeah, you are right, the Patchogue’s days are numbered. It is dying a slow death now that the Island 16 opened up just north of it at the Expressway and the LIE. You can see it in the condition of the theaters. When I wrote the description above, I wasn’t sure of one thing, it is still called, “UA Movies at Patchogue”, but it’s obvious that Regal owns it. Did Regal buy out UA, or did they just buy the UA Patchogue. If Regal doesn’t own UA, it seems bizzarre that they would still call it “UA Movies at Pacthcogue” if they just bought this particular theater, which still has UA in the official name.
Also, they may be doing it for extra money, but it’s also the kiss of death…on Sunday mornings, they even rent out one or two of the theaters in the multiplex to a church that does church services in the theater, a sign that they can use all the money they can get.
The same as when you see a “storefront church” in a shopping center, it’s the kiss of death for the shopping center (a sign they can’t get normal stores to rent there anymore), the same is true for a theater, and especially for a multiplex, such as the Patchogue, that it is dying.
Sad, I had many a good time at the patchogue (as I did at the now closed nearby Brookhaven Multiplex), but it’s days do appear numbered.
It sure is, and it really was in nice shape when it closed. It’s a shame really. NA claims they had no intention of closing it when they built the new modern Island 16 so nearby, but I have my doubts. The Island 16 killed the Brookhaven Multiplex (which NA also owns) and probly crippled the UA Patchogue 13 multiplex too.
By the way, the actual address for the former Brookhaven Multplex Cinemas was 440 S Expressway Service Road.
Well, today I did go to Greenpoint, and got a chance to see the interior of the Meserole. See below for a link too current photo of the exterior I took today.
The theater was just like everyone described above. You walk into the “lobby” area, where all the checkouts are lined up, and you walk towards the main auditorium on a downward sloped floor.
The pharmacy is under the balcony. To deal with the sloped floor of the original theater, either Eckerd (Genovese) or the Roller RInk people seemed to have dug out the auditorium area to make the floor flat. There are downward inclines on either side of the store to that you have to go down to get to the main part of the store which is in a “pit”. The pharmacy area is much higher up, apparently the height of the upper end of the theater’s original floor, when it still sloped towards the stage.
The screen area is all intact, and as mentioned, they actally show slides of sales and stuff on the screen. The balcony is fully intact (along with all the ornamentation), however they put a wall up there so you can’t see it.
Also as mentioned, a disco ball still hangs in the center of the aditorium from the roller rink days.
Truly an amazing transformation from theater to store. If it can’t be a theater anymore, this is the next best thing for sure. I wish other companies would have done it this way when converting to retail space, instead of destroying or covering everything.
Here’s a current photo taken today of the Chopin Theater.
I went into the Burger King, and it’s very obvious that it was a theater, although none of the ornamentation survives in view. The eagle still exists at the roof. There looks like there were two entrances to the building, one from Manhattan Ave, and one from the sidestreet. The chairs and tables for Burger King are located in the lobby areas, and they decorated the interior in sort of an “old theater look”, but it’s all new materials.
The Burger King only seems to occupy the lobby areas, and possibly the area under the balcony (if it had one). The main auditorium part of the building appears to be a large vacant store on the sidestreet.
The website I found with that “Nazi” reference was for a Nazi propaganda film called “Victory in the West” which played (according to the author at the Mozart right up until the point when the US entered the war. Of course I don’t know what kind of film that is, or if the aurthor was correct (or it was just his opinion).
Interesting, it didn’t look like the building fronted on Broadway (although obviously it does or did seeing that it’s address is on Broadway). Isn’t the marquee in JF Lundy’s link in the same spot as the entrance to the Pilgrim Church is now? Was that an additional entrance, or was it already moved at that early date already?
Wow, thanks JF!
Here’s a current photo of the building I took a few weeks ago, which is now a church. They have really kept the exterior in good shape, so hopefully they have done the same on the interior.
If anyone ever finds any interior photos, either current or past, please post them.
Thanks Bob. I want to go to Greenpoint to check out the drug store that is in the Meserole theater in the near future, and will drive by the Chopin while there. Speaking of Greenpoint, has the RKO Greenpoint been completely demolished, or just converted to stores? I may drive by that site too, I understand it was right near the big Greenpoint savings bank on Manhattan Ave.
There’s not much parking in Forest Hills either, but that didn’t stop them from doing it to the Midway Theater (and there are other theaters near there too). The subway is also a block away there.
There is a theater listed at 424 Seneca Ave on the Cinematour site. It was known as the “Majestic Theater”. I don’t know any other information about that one. It was at the intersection of Seneca Ave and Greene Ave. It’s not listed on this site yet. Anyone know any information on that one too? Maybe it had a different name too.
Thanks Peter. Unfortunatley, they only list the Mozart as “Myrtle Ave” with no number.
I am now wondering if it is the Irving Theater with a different name. /theaters/7528/
But then again, maybe it was a seperate theater.
I will also look into that “open air” movie thater that I think was at that corner of Myrtle and Seneca. I think it actually was in the Times Newsweekly that I read about it in, but not 100% sure it was at that location.
Does that building that may have been the “Monroe Theater” still exist? I can’t remember if I ever had seen that building, and it looks too tall for me to have missed it.
Robert, (or anyone), if you know anything at all about the Monroe Theater if it’s not listed here, it’s easy to add a listing to this site, just click “add theater”. All you really need is the address and name, but of course it’s nice if you know a little about it to put in the description, but not mandatory, people can just add stuff as we go along.
Robert, of course that would be “on topic” for a theater! I also love that.
Yup, the theater has really shaped up.
Images #3, 4, and 5 above are mine. I took them in the middle of July. The building has really shaped up quite nicely.
“Fast Eddie”, while I don’t seem to mind the talk about Ridgewood to an extent, I was under the impression that this site was not a “message board”, it’s comments about theaters under each theater, not a “chat” message board, so yes, technically people are supposed to be talking about the “architecture, etc” the particular theaters as you mentioned would be “boring”.
Boring, maybe – how much can you talk about it’s features, etc – I don’t know, but if it gets “boring”, you shouldn’t post a comment. Message boards are meant for chat – but I don’t really think this is a “message board”.
The Plaza Theater in Patchogue had a similar problem (see The Plaza theater on this site). It was constantly being broken into. They would sal the door, and they would go in, over and over. Finally they boarded the whole thing, and they pried the boards off over and over.
Finally they cement blocked the whole front up, and that finally put a stop to it.
Looking at the interior photos (also linked in that page) to the Marboro’s photos, they look strikingly similar in condition, just the Plaza’s condition multiplied worse because it has been abandoned so much longer.
What a shame. I am sure that the theater has deteriorated significantly from when those photos in the link above were taken. It’s sad that between neglect, and worse, intruders, the theater gets worse by the day.
Warren, I guess I should really ask this in the Midway section, but since we are talking about it here…
It sounds like basically nothing of the old midway still exists? I haven’t been in there in about 12 years, way before the renovation, and remember the lobby looking much like it did when it was one theater. I think I remember there being a “lobby balcony” which lead to the two theaters upstairs in the old balcony. I remember a lot of old ornamentation still existing both in the lobby and the 4 theaters. Was it completely gutted? When you say “collapsed”, do you mean the interior, or did they actually have to rebuild the exterior “bones” of the building too?
It seems the Marboro would also have to be completely gutted and rebuilt in that case, if the Midway (which appeared in good shape) needed so much reconstruction.
For those interested in the Sunwave, almost next door to the Patchogue 13, I added the theater to the site thanks to Andy’s help in getting the name.
/theaters/7842/
In addition, the third store that occupies the old theater is a liqour store. It’s three for three. Three stores occupying the space of the Sunwave theater, and all three are alcohol serving establishments – I guess a happy place indeed.
The whole front of the former theater has neon beer signs, in all the windows.
Thanks Andy! It makes perfect sense, as that shopping center is called “Sunwave Plaza”, obviously a play on the intersection, Sunrise Highway and Waverly Ave.
I think I will add an entry for that theater. I don’t have too much information on it, other than the name and that it closed in the mid-80’s, but hopefully as time goes on, people will add some more information on it.
As for Howard’s Cafe, I am always sorry to see a theater close, but Howard’s sure is a good replacement to the theater. I had many a more good time at Howard’s than I ever would have had at the theater!
The SouthPort Shopping Center now occupies the site of the Shirley Drive-In.
The address of the Drive-n was on Montauk Highway in Shirley.
They have now opened stores up in the theaters old location. Aside from the large size of the stores that now occupy the location, there is no evidence a the theater ever even existed.
In addition, I don’t know where else to really ask this, but maybe someone familiar with Patchogue will see this here.
I am trying to find out the name of the movie theater that was once in the shopping center just east of the UA Patchogue 13. It was in the shopping center that is where Staples and Walbaums are the anchor stores in at the SW corner of Waverly Ave and Sunrise.
The theater was in the taller section in the middle of the Shopping Center. Currently, Howard’s Cafe (a great little bar and grill), and La Strata Italian restaurant occupy the space once held by the movie theater. Any information would be appreciated (like when it closed, how many screens, etc, and what it’s name was).
Yeah, you are right, the Patchogue’s days are numbered. It is dying a slow death now that the Island 16 opened up just north of it at the Expressway and the LIE. You can see it in the condition of the theaters. When I wrote the description above, I wasn’t sure of one thing, it is still called, “UA Movies at Patchogue”, but it’s obvious that Regal owns it. Did Regal buy out UA, or did they just buy the UA Patchogue. If Regal doesn’t own UA, it seems bizzarre that they would still call it “UA Movies at Pacthcogue” if they just bought this particular theater, which still has UA in the official name.
Also, they may be doing it for extra money, but it’s also the kiss of death…on Sunday mornings, they even rent out one or two of the theaters in the multiplex to a church that does church services in the theater, a sign that they can use all the money they can get.
The same as when you see a “storefront church” in a shopping center, it’s the kiss of death for the shopping center (a sign they can’t get normal stores to rent there anymore), the same is true for a theater, and especially for a multiplex, such as the Patchogue, that it is dying.
Sad, I had many a good time at the patchogue (as I did at the now closed nearby Brookhaven Multiplex), but it’s days do appear numbered.
It sure is, and it really was in nice shape when it closed. It’s a shame really. NA claims they had no intention of closing it when they built the new modern Island 16 so nearby, but I have my doubts. The Island 16 killed the Brookhaven Multiplex (which NA also owns) and probly crippled the UA Patchogue 13 multiplex too.
By the way, the actual address for the former Brookhaven Multplex Cinemas was 440 S Expressway Service Road.
Well, today I did go to Greenpoint, and got a chance to see the interior of the Meserole. See below for a link too current photo of the exterior I took today.
The theater was just like everyone described above. You walk into the “lobby” area, where all the checkouts are lined up, and you walk towards the main auditorium on a downward sloped floor.
The pharmacy is under the balcony. To deal with the sloped floor of the original theater, either Eckerd (Genovese) or the Roller RInk people seemed to have dug out the auditorium area to make the floor flat. There are downward inclines on either side of the store to that you have to go down to get to the main part of the store which is in a “pit”. The pharmacy area is much higher up, apparently the height of the upper end of the theater’s original floor, when it still sloped towards the stage.
The screen area is all intact, and as mentioned, they actally show slides of sales and stuff on the screen. The balcony is fully intact (along with all the ornamentation), however they put a wall up there so you can’t see it.
Also as mentioned, a disco ball still hangs in the center of the aditorium from the roller rink days.
Truly an amazing transformation from theater to store. If it can’t be a theater anymore, this is the next best thing for sure. I wish other companies would have done it this way when converting to retail space, instead of destroying or covering everything.
Here’s a link to an exterior photo of the Meserole
Here’s a current photo taken today of the Chopin Theater.
I went into the Burger King, and it’s very obvious that it was a theater, although none of the ornamentation survives in view. The eagle still exists at the roof. There looks like there were two entrances to the building, one from Manhattan Ave, and one from the sidestreet. The chairs and tables for Burger King are located in the lobby areas, and they decorated the interior in sort of an “old theater look”, but it’s all new materials.
The Burger King only seems to occupy the lobby areas, and possibly the area under the balcony (if it had one). The main auditorium part of the building appears to be a large vacant store on the sidestreet.
Click here for current photo of the building.
The website I found with that “Nazi” reference was for a Nazi propaganda film called “Victory in the West” which played (according to the author at the Mozart right up until the point when the US entered the war. Of course I don’t know what kind of film that is, or if the aurthor was correct (or it was just his opinion).
Interesting, it didn’t look like the building fronted on Broadway (although obviously it does or did seeing that it’s address is on Broadway). Isn’t the marquee in JF Lundy’s link in the same spot as the entrance to the Pilgrim Church is now? Was that an additional entrance, or was it already moved at that early date already?
Wow, thanks JF!
Here’s a current photo of the building I took a few weeks ago, which is now a church. They have really kept the exterior in good shape, so hopefully they have done the same on the interior.
If anyone ever finds any interior photos, either current or past, please post them.
The link should work for a few weeks:
View link
Thanks Bob. I want to go to Greenpoint to check out the drug store that is in the Meserole theater in the near future, and will drive by the Chopin while there. Speaking of Greenpoint, has the RKO Greenpoint been completely demolished, or just converted to stores? I may drive by that site too, I understand it was right near the big Greenpoint savings bank on Manhattan Ave.
There’s not much parking in Forest Hills either, but that didn’t stop them from doing it to the Midway Theater (and there are other theaters near there too). The subway is also a block away there.
There is a theater listed at 424 Seneca Ave on the Cinematour site. It was known as the “Majestic Theater”. I don’t know any other information about that one. It was at the intersection of Seneca Ave and Greene Ave. It’s not listed on this site yet. Anyone know any information on that one too? Maybe it had a different name too.
Thanks Peter. Unfortunatley, they only list the Mozart as “Myrtle Ave” with no number.
I am now wondering if it is the Irving Theater with a different name.
/theaters/7528/
But then again, maybe it was a seperate theater.
I will also look into that “open air” movie thater that I think was at that corner of Myrtle and Seneca. I think it actually was in the Times Newsweekly that I read about it in, but not 100% sure it was at that location.
Oh, I forgot, here are the links to the Rivoli and the Chopin (where the Mozart conversation started)
/theaters/7087/
/theaters/4669/