Although some people in their postings have referred to the auditorium as beautiful, the only time I was there as a young child for a mid week matinee I thought it was gray and bleak. I do remember the boxes and also little “windows” on either side of the procenium. I presume that had something to do with vaudeville where they displayed the identity of the act that was on.
I wss never in the Drake but was impressed to read one time that the owners would close the theatre for a week or two each year and give it a really thorough cleaning. Must have been a mom and pop shop.
As part of it’s attempt to operate theatres north of the Jamaica Av/ Jericho Tpk corridor Century had plans to build a free standing theatre on the north side of Hillside Av in Bellerose, Queens. I remember the bulletin board they erected which said “On this site will be built another link in the chain of Century theatres.” But that never happened when the theatre business went sour. I wonder if actual plans for this theatre were ever drawn up?
And what ever happened to all the Century ephemera? One of the sites on one of their Brooklyn theatres mentions a montage of all the marques of the Brooklyn theatres. Somewhere I have a couple of the theatre programs they mailed to your home.
Somewhere I saw a painting of the facade of the theatre. It was on some one of the other movie theatre sites, the name of which escapes me.
Also, it was planned that there would be a small multiplex in the shopping center King Kullen was opening outside of the village proper. UA went bankrupt and all that ever existed was the footprint.
As of 2/24 when I made my comment I hadn’t seen it. But sometimes the postings are listed in the wrong city and hard to track down,which I’ll do in time.
They worked day and night to get the original theatre open on the appointed date. One, night at about 10 PM and one man was laying the tile floor in the one auditorium. The opening was like three days away. I think they did make the deadline but not all auditoriums were online at first.
There are two problems with this theatre. Parking is one. They have limited parking of their own but have cut a deal with the neighboring Executive Plaza office building to use their space. A good solution. Who goes to a matinee on a weekday.
The other problem is the tiny lobby. When there is a crowd, crowd being defined as over twenty, you’re out in the elements and the marquee is just a small projection.
Because a stadium theatre opened just down the road, literally, the owners were forced to convert some of the theatres to stadium seating. But not all. Theatre number two is a big, traditional auditorium. That’s where the Silver Screen Classics are shown. They used to rotate between the multiplexes, Hickville Tuesday, Farmingdale Wed etc. Now it seems that every Monday in every Multiplex there is a classic. Now the price has doubled to $2.00.
Why is there no listing for the hard top Bay theatre. When I had to go to summer camp with the army we would weekend in Alex Bay. I was wandering around the street once time and came upon this good sized theatre. The doors were wide open. I never actually went back to see a performance if it was open. And I question that because there was a small neon sign which said Bay Theatre and had an arrow which was lying on the floor of the auditorium, leading me to believe the theatre was closed. In hind sight I’m sorry I never checked it out. Who would have thought that forty plus years later I’d find this site on my computer?
Well, the sign that a new cinema deluxe will be coming, after having been displayed for almost a year, is gone. I believe the reason is the new stadium theatre which just opened at the new Tanger Outlet which is only a stones throw away. I think they are going to bide their time. If they tear it down before opening a new complex they might just as well forget about it. All their patrons will have gone elsewhere. They seemed to have a pretty good crowd the other night when I went past.
The layout of the auditorium in the original single screen theatre.
The most desirable location center and the last dozen or so rows were railed off from the rest. The seats were luxurious and there was a premium admission price. This was the loge
It’s interesting that the executive offices of the chain that operated this theatre were next store to the theatre. I’d been in many Prudential houses in my day but it was sadly neglected to put it mildly.
The conversion to the PAC resulted in the loss of several dozen seats to accommodate the techie stuff needed for live performances.
The sound system for films is spectacular. This is such a jewel box of a space I’m glad is was rescued. Actually, the PAC has added to the right side of the original structure to provide a bar/reception area on the main level and offices on the balcony level.
The newowners had to completely rebuild the place. The previous owners illegally subdivided a couple of the auditoriums resulting in 10 houses, not the seven they had permits for. The town closed them down. Then the former owners removed EVERYTHING from the space. The new owners had to reequip the place. I think the total
auditorium count is 7 not 8.
My thought was that the Movieland name had nothing to do with the one used by BS Moss in Douglaston. I thought it might be associated with Movieland in Coram. But knowing that at least one lawyer was one of a group which owns the Coram house I would hope not.
As far as naming a theatre is concerned I think they could have chosen something better than Island Cinemas when the 16 plex in Holtsville was already well established.
This site is frought with misinformation. The RKO Babylon Twin was built at the same time as the other RKO twins. It was not on Sunrise Highway but on Merrick Rd (Montauk Highway). The last time I was in the area it was used as retail space. When first constructed as a twin it was, virtually, identical to the Twin in Rockville Centre. Short and stubby. In later years they added to the back making it long and narrow. No way was this in Copiague. I might buy Lindenhurst, but more probably West Babylon, just west of the South Bay.
All the new RKO twins were to debut at the same time but the opening on this one was delayed to they could complete the “lavish finishing touches”. Yes, that’s what the ad said. Since I lived fairly near there I drove over to take a look. They hadn’t even put on the roof. Lavishing finishing touches my …
The Skyway was small and seasonal. Remember, past it’s early days of fishing Greeport is a summer community. Even the current hard top closes after Labor day.
This completion of this theatre was delayed for a time because of a shortage of building materials, particularly steel. I believe the Korean “War” was the reason. For a considerable period of time there was only one completed “arch” of steel which, eventually, became the front of the theatre. When they added the additional auduitoriums in latter years they literally added to the building rather than just chopping it up. Really ugly. They did some chopping to. But as an earlier comment mentioned the way the name Meadowbrook was displayed on the marquee was unique. Something to be said for blue. (See my comments on the Salisbury in Westbury)
My memories of the Music Hall are mostly of the Christmas and Easter shows which my parents took me to each year (by bus and subway). At one time there was a small box office in the subway area where you could buy tickets. You then entered somewhere in the lounge. There weren’t too many times when we were part of the lines that would stretch almost back to the plaza.
While we’re sharing memories, way back when when it was a single screen theatre, Gone With the Wind was being revived. And didn’t we have a hurricane and one panel of the marquee blew off but the letters remained in tact proclaiming “Gone With the Wind”.
During the summer they show movies in a space called The Community theatre in the community of Ocean Beach. I wonder if this is the same space. Also, I believe, years ago they had summer movies in the Fire Island community of Point-O-Woods.
The two, “alleged” smaller theatres are in former stores. In the older, free standing theatres it was common to have a long lobby to the auditorium. This provided a store on either side. Hence, the alleged theatres.
Per my comments above the theatre is still standing. Although the marquee is still in place the theatre name has been removed. As I said, it’s very obvious what it was. As my computer skills improve, and I establish the old theatre on this site I may even take a picture.
Although some people in their postings have referred to the auditorium as beautiful, the only time I was there as a young child for a mid week matinee I thought it was gray and bleak. I do remember the boxes and also little “windows” on either side of the procenium. I presume that had something to do with vaudeville where they displayed the identity of the act that was on.
I wss never in the Drake but was impressed to read one time that the owners would close the theatre for a week or two each year and give it a really thorough cleaning. Must have been a mom and pop shop.
As part of it’s attempt to operate theatres north of the Jamaica Av/ Jericho Tpk corridor Century had plans to build a free standing theatre on the north side of Hillside Av in Bellerose, Queens. I remember the bulletin board they erected which said “On this site will be built another link in the chain of Century theatres.” But that never happened when the theatre business went sour. I wonder if actual plans for this theatre were ever drawn up?
And what ever happened to all the Century ephemera? One of the sites on one of their Brooklyn theatres mentions a montage of all the marques of the Brooklyn theatres. Somewhere I have a couple of the theatre programs they mailed to your home.
Somewhere I saw a painting of the facade of the theatre. It was on some one of the other movie theatre sites, the name of which escapes me.
Also, it was planned that there would be a small multiplex in the shopping center King Kullen was opening outside of the village proper. UA went bankrupt and all that ever existed was the footprint.
One interesting note on this, the manager was murdered on the premises. It seems he was “entertaining” after hours and ……
I remember the movie times listing a theatre in Point-O-Woods on Fire Island.
As of 2/24 when I made my comment I hadn’t seen it. But sometimes the postings are listed in the wrong city and hard to track down,which I’ll do in time.
They worked day and night to get the original theatre open on the appointed date. One, night at about 10 PM and one man was laying the tile floor in the one auditorium. The opening was like three days away. I think they did make the deadline but not all auditoriums were online at first.
There are two problems with this theatre. Parking is one. They have limited parking of their own but have cut a deal with the neighboring Executive Plaza office building to use their space. A good solution. Who goes to a matinee on a weekday.
The other problem is the tiny lobby. When there is a crowd, crowd being defined as over twenty, you’re out in the elements and the marquee is just a small projection.
Because a stadium theatre opened just down the road, literally, the owners were forced to convert some of the theatres to stadium seating. But not all. Theatre number two is a big, traditional auditorium. That’s where the Silver Screen Classics are shown. They used to rotate between the multiplexes, Hickville Tuesday, Farmingdale Wed etc. Now it seems that every Monday in every Multiplex there is a classic. Now the price has doubled to $2.00.
Why is there no listing for the hard top Bay theatre. When I had to go to summer camp with the army we would weekend in Alex Bay. I was wandering around the street once time and came upon this good sized theatre. The doors were wide open. I never actually went back to see a performance if it was open. And I question that because there was a small neon sign which said Bay Theatre and had an arrow which was lying on the floor of the auditorium, leading me to believe the theatre was closed. In hind sight I’m sorry I never checked it out. Who would have thought that forty plus years later I’d find this site on my computer?
Well, the sign that a new cinema deluxe will be coming, after having been displayed for almost a year, is gone. I believe the reason is the new stadium theatre which just opened at the new Tanger Outlet which is only a stones throw away. I think they are going to bide their time. If they tear it down before opening a new complex they might just as well forget about it. All their patrons will have gone elsewhere. They seemed to have a pretty good crowd the other night when I went past.
The layout of the auditorium in the original single screen theatre.
The most desirable location center and the last dozen or so rows were railed off from the rest. The seats were luxurious and there was a premium admission price. This was the loge
It’s interesting that the executive offices of the chain that operated this theatre were next store to the theatre. I’d been in many Prudential houses in my day but it was sadly neglected to put it mildly.
Which came first the Glen Cove or the Town. They were built side by side and looked identical from the outside.
The conversion to the PAC resulted in the loss of several dozen seats to accommodate the techie stuff needed for live performances.
The sound system for films is spectacular. This is such a jewel box of a space I’m glad is was rescued. Actually, the PAC has added to the right side of the original structure to provide a bar/reception area on the main level and offices on the balcony level.
The newowners had to completely rebuild the place. The previous owners illegally subdivided a couple of the auditoriums resulting in 10 houses, not the seven they had permits for. The town closed them down. Then the former owners removed EVERYTHING from the space. The new owners had to reequip the place. I think the total
auditorium count is 7 not 8.
My thought was that the Movieland name had nothing to do with the one used by BS Moss in Douglaston. I thought it might be associated with Movieland in Coram. But knowing that at least one lawyer was one of a group which owns the Coram house I would hope not.
As far as naming a theatre is concerned I think they could have chosen something better than Island Cinemas when the 16 plex in Holtsville was already well established.
This site is frought with misinformation. The RKO Babylon Twin was built at the same time as the other RKO twins. It was not on Sunrise Highway but on Merrick Rd (Montauk Highway). The last time I was in the area it was used as retail space. When first constructed as a twin it was, virtually, identical to the Twin in Rockville Centre. Short and stubby. In later years they added to the back making it long and narrow. No way was this in Copiague. I might buy Lindenhurst, but more probably West Babylon, just west of the South Bay.
All the new RKO twins were to debut at the same time but the opening on this one was delayed to they could complete the “lavish finishing touches”. Yes, that’s what the ad said. Since I lived fairly near there I drove over to take a look. They hadn’t even put on the roof. Lavishing finishing touches my …
The Skyway was small and seasonal. Remember, past it’s early days of fishing Greeport is a summer community. Even the current hard top closes after Labor day.
To fill in the gaps, between being a Jerry Lewis and becoming the Flick it was known as the East Meadow twin.
This completion of this theatre was delayed for a time because of a shortage of building materials, particularly steel. I believe the Korean “War” was the reason. For a considerable period of time there was only one completed “arch” of steel which, eventually, became the front of the theatre. When they added the additional auduitoriums in latter years they literally added to the building rather than just chopping it up. Really ugly. They did some chopping to. But as an earlier comment mentioned the way the name Meadowbrook was displayed on the marquee was unique. Something to be said for blue. (See my comments on the Salisbury in Westbury)
My memories of the Music Hall are mostly of the Christmas and Easter shows which my parents took me to each year (by bus and subway). At one time there was a small box office in the subway area where you could buy tickets. You then entered somewhere in the lounge. There weren’t too many times when we were part of the lines that would stretch almost back to the plaza.
While we’re sharing memories, way back when when it was a single screen theatre, Gone With the Wind was being revived. And didn’t we have a hurricane and one panel of the marquee blew off but the letters remained in tact proclaiming “Gone With the Wind”.
During the summer they show movies in a space called The Community theatre in the community of Ocean Beach. I wonder if this is the same space. Also, I believe, years ago they had summer movies in the Fire Island community of Point-O-Woods.
The two, “alleged” smaller theatres are in former stores. In the older, free standing theatres it was common to have a long lobby to the auditorium. This provided a store on either side. Hence, the alleged theatres.
Per my comments above the theatre is still standing. Although the marquee is still in place the theatre name has been removed. As I said, it’s very obvious what it was. As my computer skills improve, and I establish the old theatre on this site I may even take a picture.