What’s with Gainesville, TX and a host of oddly named short term theatres. Happy Hour, Electric and Favorite. How big was this community in 1907 that three theatres opened? That would be interesting.
There’s alot of LIRR stuff online including a list of stations past and present and the last dates of service. There are all sorts of pictures. As a result of your earlier comment alluding to the Creedmoor spur I was looking at them last night.
just realized I never identified JL as Jerry Lewis in my first reference altho most people would know that. Heading should, therefore, be changed to Center Cinema previously known as the Jerry Lewis Theatre.
Firstly, the name should be corrected to Center Cinema since that’s how it spent most of it’s short life.
Contrary to my 4/22/09 posting, the theatre was not part of the original Moriches Shopping Town altho' there had been much discussion about it. Rather, on February 9, 1972 the former Hale’s was retrofitted to provide the sloping floor. Presumably the roof line was also lowered to conform to the JL look. Seating capacity was 350. Adults $1.50; children 50 cents. Altho as a JL it wouldn’t show “X” rated films ads strangely indicated “This is an adult theatre”.
As with many mom and pop JL’s it didn’t last long. After being shuttered for some time it reopened at the Center Cinema on November 28, 1973.
Boy Nash you’re really going back on the train. I remember crossing over the tracks as a short cut to my confirmation classes at Holy Trinity Lutheran on Commonwealth Blvd. The third rail was already disabled then and I never recall seeing any freight service to the coal yard. That was in the late 40s.
Tracked down the shopping center where the hard top was, now to solidify the location. I walked around the back for clues since sometimes the building has telltale signs. In the middle of the building is a double door whereas all the other stores have single exit doors. A possibility but not conclusive.
Also, a number of years before this theatre was built there was a sign on Route 110 announcing the building of a multiplex on the site where the driving range is. I don’t recall which chain was supposed to do it but, as I recall, there was also an artist sketch of the building.
Then, later when the now Regal opened it was basically on an adjacent piece of property around the corner off 100 although the pylon is on 110.
The little Starbucks on 110 at the tip of the multiplex property actually looked like a mini theatre when the steel work went up.
There was also to be another multiplex at Republic Airport containing 12 theatres but that never materialized. It would have been ridiculous to have three multiplexes with 36 screens within walking distance of each other in a town that, in good times, had trouble supporting one theatre.
Oddly enough, in the year before it closed a new pylon was erected. It just said United Artists Theatres. The actual features display area was actually split in two leading me to believe that the theatre was to be twinned. When it closed after featureing Miss Congeniality I was sure. Months later Sandra Bullock was still in place. Eventually they did the renovation adding windows at the second story level where, today, you can see people running around the track.
A second 150 was to have been built in the Gardiner Manor Shopping Center on Sunrise Highway in Bay Shore. The sign announcing it was up for a long time but nothing came of it.
I was just in Riverhead today. Nothing seems to be happening at the theatre. Who pays the electric bill for the marquee. Once, as a child summering on eastern LI I attended a showing of The Key with William Holden and Sophia Loren. There was also a promo with the local WT Grant store. The theatre gave you a key and you went to Grant’s to see if it opened the box. It did and I won boys briefs.
Referencing Sammie Girl’s earlier posting Riverhead had the misfortune of having a downtown populated by chain stores that either went out of business or had financial difficulty. Freeport also had a similar problem. Add Sears to the closed stores. Riverhead now has more empties than full. The Marine Store relocated to Route 58 and the Bagel Store across from the school complex. Chase took over one of the banks and closed their original Main Street branch. The Dinosauer and Reptile Museums closed but the Atlantis Marina packs them in. Except for some specialty type stores the restaurants are the big thing. It’s the courts that keep them alive.
Always liked the images and they were in a number of Century’s shopping center theatres. What ever happened to them when the theatres closed. And what happened to all the stuff in the Century front office. Another posting mentioned a montage of the marquees of all the Brooklyn theatres. I remember the old coming attractions fliers they used to send out. Until I moved I had samples of each. Who would have known I’d find Cinema Treasures. If I still had them I could share. That’s why people save stuff, you never know when you might have use for it.
I was only in the York once. I don’t remember what the interior looked like and only, vaguely, the exterior since I drove by the location on occasion. Also, don’t remember what the movie was but I was driving a 4 door blue Valiant. When I came out of the movie the lot was filled with dozens of blue Valiants from then LILCO, now LIPA. Altho' their cars were a different shade than mine the lighting in the parking lot made them all look the same. I walked up and down, up and down. Now whenever I have trouble locating my current car it’s hit the door lock button, look for the flashing lights and the horn.
I remember the one cashier very well. She was tall, attractive and had a luxurious head of dark hair worn in the Andrew Sisters' style of the day. Story was she was a single mom with two sons, a widow, or heaven forbid, a divorcee. The ticket takers all looked alike, tall and old in those heavy military looking uniforms.
I remember a promo they had geared to grammar school children at Floral Park – Bellerose School, and, probably its Queens County equivalent at the time King Solomon’s Mines was showing. We all, somehow, received long, narrow colored paper good for a free admission at some given show – if we had the right color. In restrospect these were probably ½ of an 8 ½ x 11 to keep costs down. We all lined up in front of the theatre and way around the side of the building on 246th street (odd, in the evening if there was a line it faced the other way to 245th Street). Anyway the winning “color” was white and there were darned few of those in evidence.
There are plenty of Long Island RR photo and data online including information on when the Creedmoor Line was discontinued.
What’s with Gainesville, TX and a host of oddly named short term theatres. Happy Hour, Electric and Favorite. How big was this community in 1907 that three theatres opened? That would be interesting.
Does anybody see a pattern here in oddly named theatres in Gainesville, TX that only last two year – see posting for the Favorite.
Sorry, I can’t pass up the opportunity to point out that the theatre was misnamed, else it would have lasted longer.
All the comments above lead to the conclusion that the address of the theatre was 1350 Peninsula Blvd. The heading should be amended accordingly.
I believe this was twinned at the end of it’s life.
There’s alot of LIRR stuff online including a list of stations past and present and the last dates of service. There are all sorts of pictures. As a result of your earlier comment alluding to the Creedmoor spur I was looking at them last night.
It’s a shame it’s come to be the eyesore that it is. When it first opened the ads read “Showplace of Long Island”.
just realized I never identified JL as Jerry Lewis in my first reference altho most people would know that. Heading should, therefore, be changed to Center Cinema previously known as the Jerry Lewis Theatre.
Firstly, the name should be corrected to Center Cinema since that’s how it spent most of it’s short life.
Contrary to my 4/22/09 posting, the theatre was not part of the original Moriches Shopping Town altho' there had been much discussion about it. Rather, on February 9, 1972 the former Hale’s was retrofitted to provide the sloping floor. Presumably the roof line was also lowered to conform to the JL look. Seating capacity was 350. Adults $1.50; children 50 cents. Altho as a JL it wouldn’t show “X” rated films ads strangely indicated “This is an adult theatre”.
As with many mom and pop JL’s it didn’t last long. After being shuttered for some time it reopened at the Center Cinema on November 28, 1973.
Boy Nash you’re really going back on the train. I remember crossing over the tracks as a short cut to my confirmation classes at Holy Trinity Lutheran on Commonwealth Blvd. The third rail was already disabled then and I never recall seeing any freight service to the coal yard. That was in the late 40s.
So what happened at the June 18th meeting?
Tracked down the shopping center where the hard top was, now to solidify the location. I walked around the back for clues since sometimes the building has telltale signs. In the middle of the building is a double door whereas all the other stores have single exit doors. A possibility but not conclusive.
Also, a number of years before this theatre was built there was a sign on Route 110 announcing the building of a multiplex on the site where the driving range is. I don’t recall which chain was supposed to do it but, as I recall, there was also an artist sketch of the building.
Then, later when the now Regal opened it was basically on an adjacent piece of property around the corner off 100 although the pylon is on 110.
The little Starbucks on 110 at the tip of the multiplex property actually looked like a mini theatre when the steel work went up.
There was also to be another multiplex at Republic Airport containing 12 theatres but that never materialized. It would have been ridiculous to have three multiplexes with 36 screens within walking distance of each other in a town that, in good times, had trouble supporting one theatre.
Oddly enough, in the year before it closed a new pylon was erected. It just said United Artists Theatres. The actual features display area was actually split in two leading me to believe that the theatre was to be twinned. When it closed after featureing Miss Congeniality I was sure. Months later Sandra Bullock was still in place. Eventually they did the renovation adding windows at the second story level where, today, you can see people running around the track.
A second 150 was to have been built in the Gardiner Manor Shopping Center on Sunrise Highway in Bay Shore. The sign announcing it was up for a long time but nothing came of it.
I was just in Riverhead today. Nothing seems to be happening at the theatre. Who pays the electric bill for the marquee. Once, as a child summering on eastern LI I attended a showing of The Key with William Holden and Sophia Loren. There was also a promo with the local WT Grant store. The theatre gave you a key and you went to Grant’s to see if it opened the box. It did and I won boys briefs.
Referencing Sammie Girl’s earlier posting Riverhead had the misfortune of having a downtown populated by chain stores that either went out of business or had financial difficulty. Freeport also had a similar problem. Add Sears to the closed stores. Riverhead now has more empties than full. The Marine Store relocated to Route 58 and the Bagel Store across from the school complex. Chase took over one of the banks and closed their original Main Street branch. The Dinosauer and Reptile Museums closed but the Atlantis Marina packs them in. Except for some specialty type stores the restaurants are the big thing. It’s the courts that keep them alive.
Always liked the images and they were in a number of Century’s shopping center theatres. What ever happened to them when the theatres closed. And what happened to all the stuff in the Century front office. Another posting mentioned a montage of the marquees of all the Brooklyn theatres. I remember the old coming attractions fliers they used to send out. Until I moved I had samples of each. Who would have known I’d find Cinema Treasures. If I still had them I could share. That’s why people save stuff, you never know when you might have use for it.
Before it became IMAC it was known as “The Balcony”.
Warren, your September 2006 link no longer works. Any chance of reestablishing it?
It would be nice if someone could locate a photo. I checked American Classic Images but there was none.
I was only in the York once. I don’t remember what the interior looked like and only, vaguely, the exterior since I drove by the location on occasion. Also, don’t remember what the movie was but I was driving a 4 door blue Valiant. When I came out of the movie the lot was filled with dozens of blue Valiants from then LILCO, now LIPA. Altho' their cars were a different shade than mine the lighting in the parking lot made them all look the same. I walked up and down, up and down. Now whenever I have trouble locating my current car it’s hit the door lock button, look for the flashing lights and the horn.
Can’t help you on that. I suggest you call the theatre at 516-783-5440.
I remember the one cashier very well. She was tall, attractive and had a luxurious head of dark hair worn in the Andrew Sisters' style of the day. Story was she was a single mom with two sons, a widow, or heaven forbid, a divorcee. The ticket takers all looked alike, tall and old in those heavy military looking uniforms.
I remember a promo they had geared to grammar school children at Floral Park – Bellerose School, and, probably its Queens County equivalent at the time King Solomon’s Mines was showing. We all, somehow, received long, narrow colored paper good for a free admission at some given show – if we had the right color. In restrospect these were probably ½ of an 8 ½ x 11 to keep costs down. We all lined up in front of the theatre and way around the side of the building on 246th street (odd, in the evening if there was a line it faced the other way to 245th Street). Anyway the winning “color” was white and there were darned few of those in evidence.