One of the other sites, West Islip Twin, mentioned entering via a turnstile. That was also the case here. As far as the “A” in the address is concerned that is because the theatre was added to the existing group of stores, considerably after the fact.
This was a weird location for a theatre, in the middle of nowhere on a street parallel to the Long Island Railroad. Oh, well, at least no problem getting a parking space. I don’t remember a turnstile here, but I do remember one at the Glen Oaks.
Still waiting for somebody to find and post photos of the theatre when it was. It would be nice to see the original (which stylistically was similar to the Community, which for some reason is not listed in Queen Village, but Queens), and the later wedged shaped one No takers on my clock trivia question? I think it was a jewelers in Queens Village.
And if you will compare the 1987 photo with one from the early days of the theatre the marquee size double even though the style remained the same. This shot shows individual bulbs around the exterior. I seem to recall neon.
In addition to changing the type of movies shown they also changed the marquee. The background color used to be green, the chasing lights yellow. Also the chasing lights from the side panels continued across the front to the other side.
My question, how does one change an incorrect posting. This theatre was located in West Babylon at 701 Montauk Highway, not 901 Sunrise Highway in Copaigue. It was not demolished but exists as retail space per earlier postings. I went by the other day and realized that the f.y.e.(music, movies) sign on the facade doesn’t fully cover the old “holes” in the facade where the original theatre i.d. was. You can seen where the size of the theatres was doubled, that is, made longer, because of the way the rooftop A.C units are placed – midway on the building. When first built the A.C. units were at the back of the building.
The only giveaways I remember were done by the Century Circuit. When I attended the Bellerose Theatre I remember getting Currier and Ives Prints. Couldn’t put a date on it. I think maybe Skouras also did this.
It’s interesting that the renovations to become a bowling alley cost $450,000. When the theatre had its last hurrah the renovations cost in excess of $100,000, a figure which it proudly touted in its ads. For a period of time they also had dish night, which I thought went out with the 40s.
Warren, funny you should have posted this. I came upon the photo of the Mayfair on the Long Island Memories site and started to do some research on it thru the library. Yes, it was a movie theatre. In the twenties the admission was 15 cents. And it had a modern feature for its time – a sloping floor. My next step is to contact the Village of Great Neck Plaza historian.
Many thanks. Just completed the “paperwork” to put the new Deer Park Stadium 16 & Imax up and have five others in the research stage. I was so happy to find this site. I thought I was the only obsessive one on the subject.
Thanks. Problem here is I have a laptop and don’t use a mouse. Do I have an equivalent of “right click”? Obviously, I’m just learning as specific needs/desires show up. I’ve been eyeballing various courses at the library but this sort of thing is beyond the basic sort of stuff they are offering.
I just entered “hampton bays historical society”. When a series of items came up I clicked on the first one. When the home page came up I clicked on Hampton Bays history and voila, as they say. If something special is going on the home page doesn’t always come up first. Would that be a problem to access? I’m very new to the computer and haven’t a clue how I’d create a link.
Main Street/ Montauk Highway same difference. It just depends upon what is in fashion.
As far as the photo is concerned I just enter “hampton bays historical society”. On the home page is a category “Hampton Bays History”. Click on that and there is the image of the theatre from 1935. You can actually see the 35 cent admission price on the side of the building. Today the home page came up first. Sometimes there is a feature showing some current activity and you have to scroll to get you back to the home page.
Glad you found my posting of this site Lost Memory. You have the techie knowledge to access the image from the Hampton Bays Historical Society. As far as closing and opening again the society records have no knowledge of this but a family relative, who is at the society, gave me the info I had. She’s trying to check further through family members, building permits and fire commissioner reports. Hopefully, we’ll be able to flesh this out more.
Ditto on the Mermaid and did see it at the Music Hall (probably the first show when the admission was only 90 cents, and probably using the “secret” subway level box office and bypassing the long lines outside. Hope you read the bio of Esther. It’s really a great read.
Any theatre on a major highway service road is a plus. It’s almost odd that this one was positioned at a relatively obscure location some twenty years ago and now that there has been major development eastward closed it down in favor of the new one in Holtsville a couple of exits back. When you look at the spotty location of theatres out here any viewing involves a drive of 20 miles (which is one of the reasons I rarely go, even to see pictures I want to see).
When I did an advanced search on Hemstead Theatre there were only seven hits. Number 5 shows the theatre with the policemen already available, the preceeding one is entitled Fulton Avenue. The text mentions the sign on the building. This maybe too tricky to enlarge enough to actually see the sign and not worth the effort.
Warren could you also access the photo from the Long Island Memories site that has the sign stating on this site will be constructed the Hemptead Theatre. I came upon it just a few moments ago.
One of the other sites, West Islip Twin, mentioned entering via a turnstile. That was also the case here. As far as the “A” in the address is concerned that is because the theatre was added to the existing group of stores, considerably after the fact.
This was a weird location for a theatre, in the middle of nowhere on a street parallel to the Long Island Railroad. Oh, well, at least no problem getting a parking space. I don’t remember a turnstile here, but I do remember one at the Glen Oaks.
Still waiting for somebody to find and post photos of the theatre when it was. It would be nice to see the original (which stylistically was similar to the Community, which for some reason is not listed in Queen Village, but Queens), and the later wedged shaped one No takers on my clock trivia question? I think it was a jewelers in Queens Village.
And if you will compare the 1987 photo with one from the early days of the theatre the marquee size double even though the style remained the same. This shot shows individual bulbs around the exterior. I seem to recall neon.
In addition to changing the type of movies shown they also changed the marquee. The background color used to be green, the chasing lights yellow. Also the chasing lights from the side panels continued across the front to the other side.
My question, how does one change an incorrect posting. This theatre was located in West Babylon at 701 Montauk Highway, not 901 Sunrise Highway in Copaigue. It was not demolished but exists as retail space per earlier postings. I went by the other day and realized that the f.y.e.(music, movies) sign on the facade doesn’t fully cover the old “holes” in the facade where the original theatre i.d. was. You can seen where the size of the theatres was doubled, that is, made longer, because of the way the rooftop A.C units are placed – midway on the building. When first built the A.C. units were at the back of the building.
The only giveaways I remember were done by the Century Circuit. When I attended the Bellerose Theatre I remember getting Currier and Ives Prints. Couldn’t put a date on it. I think maybe Skouras also did this.
It’s interesting that the renovations to become a bowling alley cost $450,000. When the theatre had its last hurrah the renovations cost in excess of $100,000, a figure which it proudly touted in its ads. For a period of time they also had dish night, which I thought went out with the 40s.
Warren, funny you should have posted this. I came upon the photo of the Mayfair on the Long Island Memories site and started to do some research on it thru the library. Yes, it was a movie theatre. In the twenties the admission was 15 cents. And it had a modern feature for its time – a sloping floor. My next step is to contact the Village of Great Neck Plaza historian.
This megaplex is unique in that rather than being a free standing theatre or as part of a mall, it is part of the Tanger Outlet Stores complex.
The seating capacities of the individual auditoriums are as follows:
Theatres 1 & 16 282
Theatres 2 & 7 159
Theatres 3,6,12,15 131
Theatres 4,5,13,14 103
Theatres 8 & 11 187
Theatre 9 (IMAX) 328
Theatre 10 335
Many thanks. Just completed the “paperwork” to put the new Deer Park Stadium 16 & Imax up and have five others in the research stage. I was so happy to find this site. I thought I was the only obsessive one on the subject.
Thanks. Problem here is I have a laptop and don’t use a mouse. Do I have an equivalent of “right click”? Obviously, I’m just learning as specific needs/desires show up. I’ve been eyeballing various courses at the library but this sort of thing is beyond the basic sort of stuff they are offering.
Thanks, you made my day. I’ve got to get to your level so I don’t have to rely on you or Warren to access images I’ve found.
Something weird is going on with this site. When I went back to check my 5:39 entry it wasn’t there. So I put in another one. Now both are there.
I just entered “hampton bays historical society”. When a series of items came up I clicked on the first one. When the home page came up I clicked on Hampton Bays history and voila, as they say. If something special is going on the home page doesn’t always come up first. Would that be a problem to access? I’m very new to the computer and haven’t a clue how I’d create a link.
Seats from this theatre found additional life in the Bellmore Movies.
Main Street/ Montauk Highway same difference. It just depends upon what is in fashion.
As far as the photo is concerned I just enter “hampton bays historical society”. On the home page is a category “Hampton Bays History”. Click on that and there is the image of the theatre from 1935. You can actually see the 35 cent admission price on the side of the building. Today the home page came up first. Sometimes there is a feature showing some current activity and you have to scroll to get you back to the home page.
Glad you found my posting of this site Lost Memory. You have the techie knowledge to access the image from the Hampton Bays Historical Society. As far as closing and opening again the society records have no knowledge of this but a family relative, who is at the society, gave me the info I had. She’s trying to check further through family members, building permits and fire commissioner reports. Hopefully, we’ll be able to flesh this out more.
Not being from Queens I never visited the theatre . But my cousin did all the time and that is where he contracted ringworm.
Ditto on the Mermaid and did see it at the Music Hall (probably the first show when the admission was only 90 cents, and probably using the “secret” subway level box office and bypassing the long lines outside. Hope you read the bio of Esther. It’s really a great read.
Any theatre on a major highway service road is a plus. It’s almost odd that this one was positioned at a relatively obscure location some twenty years ago and now that there has been major development eastward closed it down in favor of the new one in Holtsville a couple of exits back. When you look at the spotty location of theatres out here any viewing involves a drive of 20 miles (which is one of the reasons I rarely go, even to see pictures I want to see).
True, but it adds to the picture of in the day.
When I did an advanced search on Hemstead Theatre there were only seven hits. Number 5 shows the theatre with the policemen already available, the preceeding one is entitled Fulton Avenue. The text mentions the sign on the building. This maybe too tricky to enlarge enough to actually see the sign and not worth the effort.
Thank you.
Warren could you also access the photo from the Long Island Memories site that has the sign stating on this site will be constructed the Hemptead Theatre. I came upon it just a few moments ago.