The original single screen theatre was built by James Kenneth Smelley Senior. The balcony became theatre 2 when it was expanded to include two additional auditoriums created in adjacent retail space. The management apologizes that, because of the age of the building, the balcony theatre cannot comply with ADA standards.
The Plextex, together with the Forum 6 in Uvalde, is operated by Henson Theatres.
Need some clarification of the overview. When the Strand burnt it’s “program was transferred to Strom’s Houlton Theatre”. When the Liberty opened it was reported to taking the place of the Strand. The Houlton is not on CT nor can I find any reference to it.
Uploaded partial image ads for the Liberty which appear on the Facebook page of the Columbia County Historical Society and Museum Association and a page from the March 22, 1918 St. Helens Mist on which an ad for the Liberty appears together with one for a Gem Theatre. Need to research whether that was in Saint Helens or in an adjacent community.
Uploaded a better photo of the Columbia before renovations found on the Facebook page of the Columbia County Historical Society and Museum Association.
The theatre which was purchased by Harvey L. Kaylie in 2003 for $575,000 is now on the market for $1.1 million. He died in 2018 but the building is officially an LLC. The theatre closed in the middle of the Covid pandemic and has been reportedly gutted. The property is considered very desirable and, therefore, not likely to remain a theatre. The East End is down to the Sag Harbor, Mattituck, East Hampton and the Hampton Bays. The latter has be touted as a site for a CVS.
The theatre was built in 1927 as the Star by Harry Nugent. The building contained Village offices and retail space. Nugent and his family lived in an apartment over the theatre. It was gutted by fire on February 13, 1933. Nugent and his family escaped.
It reopened in 1947 as a partial rebuild. In 1951 is became the Westhampton Summer Playhouse and attracted many noted actors and a national reputation. In 1952 there was even a “show bus” that originated in Patchogue and made stops along the way.
I’ve uploaded an image as the Hampton Star from the Westhampton Beach Library collection and one of an advertising flyer for the Summer Playhouse.
Uploaded images of two ads for the Grand in early 1938 from the Linton Daily Citizen. Interestingly, the Grand does not appear in the Citizen in 1939 but the Cine which opened in the fall of 1938 does. It is also not listed in the 1939 Village Directory.
On the surface it would seem that the Grand closed when the Cine opened but there is strong evidence to the contrary.
The Sher-Ritz was located at 49 North Main Street. I’ve uploaded images of four ads that appeared in the Linton Daily Citizen. In the ones for 1938 an ad for the Grand appears. In the ones for 1939 there is an ad for the Cine. There is no ad for the Grand. Despite information on CT it is my belief that the Grand ceased operation when the Cine opened.
I found an announcement that a Central Theatre was being built on Dalies Avenue which I’ve uploaded. However I couldn’t find a year for the announcement. I subsequently found a one line reference that the Central and Cortez Theatres were operating in Belen in the 1950s. While the announcement would offer the possibility that the Central became the Onate the later reference disputes it.
No new update on their Facebook page. Went by today. They have finished reframing and enclosing the tiny box office area. It would seem that all the windows to be replaced have been installed. They are now covered with brown paper. The trench and the pile of dirt in the front of the theatre are still there. Behind the fencing there is a dump truck and a small Bobcat. Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter of a waste of time and money since, if it ever opens, it won’t survive. A number of well established Long Island theatres did not survive Covid. They either closed on the spot or couldn’t successfully reestablish.
There were continuance performances at the theatre requiring some indirect lighting at all times (which also was supposed to be a deterrent for any hanky panky).
That link also says the Liberty was managed by T.K. Metz who also owned the Empress Theatre in town. That theatre is not on CT. At the time it was built ceilings were high to maximize the sound of the $5000 organ which was installed. The damage from the fire was estimated at $12,000. Interesting statistics.
The original single screen theatre was built by James Kenneth Smelley Senior. The balcony became theatre 2 when it was expanded to include two additional auditoriums created in adjacent retail space. The management apologizes that, because of the age of the building, the balcony theatre cannot comply with ADA standards.
The Plextex, together with the Forum 6 in Uvalde, is operated by Henson Theatres.
In 2013 it was the Forum 4 and described in a review as “old”. Operated by Henson Theatres who advertise it as being at 2501 Highway East.
Need some clarification of the overview. When the Strand burnt it’s “program was transferred to Strom’s Houlton Theatre”. When the Liberty opened it was reported to taking the place of the Strand. The Houlton is not on CT nor can I find any reference to it.
Uploaded partial image ads for the Liberty which appear on the Facebook page of the Columbia County Historical Society and Museum Association and a page from the March 22, 1918 St. Helens Mist on which an ad for the Liberty appears together with one for a Gem Theatre. Need to research whether that was in Saint Helens or in an adjacent community.
Uploaded a better photo of the Columbia before renovations found on the Facebook page of the Columbia County Historical Society and Museum Association.
Closing feature of the 48th season is Hello Dolly.
If it was the Grand then that name should be removed as an alternative on the Roxy site.
The theatre which was purchased by Harvey L. Kaylie in 2003 for $575,000 is now on the market for $1.1 million. He died in 2018 but the building is officially an LLC. The theatre closed in the middle of the Covid pandemic and has been reportedly gutted. The property is considered very desirable and, therefore, not likely to remain a theatre. The East End is down to the Sag Harbor, Mattituck, East Hampton and the Hampton Bays. The latter has be touted as a site for a CVS.
The theatre was built in 1927 as the Star by Harry Nugent. The building contained Village offices and retail space. Nugent and his family lived in an apartment over the theatre. It was gutted by fire on February 13, 1933. Nugent and his family escaped.
It reopened in 1947 as a partial rebuild. In 1951 is became the Westhampton Summer Playhouse and attracted many noted actors and a national reputation. In 1952 there was even a “show bus” that originated in Patchogue and made stops along the way.
I’ve uploaded an image as the Hampton Star from the Westhampton Beach Library collection and one of an advertising flyer for the Summer Playhouse.
CVS discussion still active If it closes that would leave the East End with only the Easthampton, Sag Harbor and Mattituck venues.
Uploaded images of two ads for the Grand in early 1938 from the Linton Daily Citizen. Interestingly, the Grand does not appear in the Citizen in 1939 but the Cine which opened in the fall of 1938 does. It is also not listed in the 1939 Village Directory.
On the surface it would seem that the Grand closed when the Cine opened but there is strong evidence to the contrary.
The Sher-Ritz was located at 49 North Main Street. I’ve uploaded images of four ads that appeared in the Linton Daily Citizen. In the ones for 1938 an ad for the Grand appears. In the ones for 1939 there is an ad for the Cine. There is no ad for the Grand. Despite information on CT it is my belief that the Grand ceased operation when the Cine opened.
Uploaded images of two 1939 ads for the Cine from the Linton Daily Citizen: 4/22 and 6/16.
I found an announcement that a Central Theatre was being built on Dalies Avenue which I’ve uploaded. However I couldn’t find a year for the announcement. I subsequently found a one line reference that the Central and Cortez Theatres were operating in Belen in the 1950s. While the announcement would offer the possibility that the Central became the Onate the later reference disputes it.
Uploaded a photo by Karen Dube.
Uploaded an ad for the Star from the November 30, 1944 Delphos Daily Herald.
No new update on their Facebook page. Went by today. They have finished reframing and enclosing the tiny box office area. It would seem that all the windows to be replaced have been installed. They are now covered with brown paper. The trench and the pile of dirt in the front of the theatre are still there. Behind the fencing there is a dump truck and a small Bobcat. Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter of a waste of time and money since, if it ever opens, it won’t survive. A number of well established Long Island theatres did not survive Covid. They either closed on the spot or couldn’t successfully reestablish.
David. One down three to go.
Do we really need anything more than a good movie at a reasonable price?
Mercy also purchased the Lois Theatre in Toppenish, WA in 1926 and after remodeling it renamed it the Liberty. That theatre has a site on CT.
Uploaded a photo of a 1959 flyer for the Gayety.
Did some tracking down and found a 1947 picture of the Collins. It later became the Melba. Uploaded it on the Melba site.
I have uploaded a 1947 photo of the Melba as the Collins. When did the name change?
There were continuance performances at the theatre requiring some indirect lighting at all times (which also was supposed to be a deterrent for any hanky panky).
That link also says the Liberty was managed by T.K. Metz who also owned the Empress Theatre in town. That theatre is not on CT. At the time it was built ceilings were high to maximize the sound of the $5000 organ which was installed. The damage from the fire was estimated at $12,000. Interesting statistics.
Remains of movies past still on the pylon.